What you need to know
- 343 Industries has announced several changes coming to Halo Infinite following fan feedback from the first technical preview test.
- Several changes will be implemented as early as the next test flight, though some will arrive at launch and after launch as well.
- To participate in future test flights, you'll need to sign up as a Halo Insider.
Following the recent Halo Infinite tech preview test, Halo developer 343 Industries has posted a new "Outcomes" blog post on Halo Waypoint that reports on common points of fan feedback gathered during the test and indicates how the developers are planning to make changes based on that feedback moving forward.
Common pieces of gathered feedback include the desire for more player choice in regards to in-game audio systems like Spartan Chatter and personal AI, the design, size, and placement of UI/UX elements, the underwhelming performance of the Drop Wall equipment, and the observation that the inconsistent performance of the technical preview build impacted the player's ability to aim. The developers also shared positive findings as well, such as the widespread love for the Grappleshot equipment, appreciation for the game's main menu music, the quality of Halo Infinite's AI bots, and appreciation for how accessible Halo Infinite is compared to previous games.
In response to the feedback, the developers have confirmed that there are plans to implement changes that will hopefully rectify the issues discussed in the blog post as early as the next test flight, although some changes won't arrive until (or after) the game launches on Dec. 8 later this year. For example, players can expect new FX that should make it easier to tell what a player's shield strength is in the next beta test, but significant changes to the customization UI and expansions to the Academy training mode won't come until the post-launch period. I strongly recommend giving the full blog post a read to get a complete understanding of the development team's plans.
Arguably the biggest piece of news from this report is 343 Industries' confirmation that players will always have simple daily challenges available that only require them to complete matches to earn XP, which directly addresses why Halo fans were angry about Halo Infinite's Battle Pass progression system. It's great to see the developers respond to this issue so quickly, as it was something that many in the community were very vocal about.
If you want to participate in future Halo Infinite technical previews and contribute feedback yourself, make sure that you check out our guide on how to sign up for the Halo Infinite beta, as you need to be a Halo Insider in order to have a chance at testing the game. Also, keep in mind that Halo Infinite preorders for the game's campaign are available now, although whether or not you should actually preorder the game is a different story.
The next big adventure
Halo Infinite will hopefully be an incredible game filled with wonder, adventure, and more. Based on the beta and what was seen at E3 2021 and Gamescom, we can't wait for the full release.
