Halo Infinite box art puts new grappling hook front and center

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Halo Infinite returns on July 23 with sharp surprise up its sleeve.

Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite (Image credit: Microsoft)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft has unveiled its planned box art for Halo Infinite, ahead of the first gameplay footage at its Xbox Games Showcase event scheduled for July 23.
  • The artwork shows what appears to be an arm-mounted grappling hook, potentially teasing a new gadget for upcoming entry.

Microsoft has provided our first look at box art for Halo Infinite, the long-awaited next entry in the sci-fi shooter franchise. The iconic armored warrior, Master Chief, takes center stage after an almost five-year hiatus, with the title scheduled to launch this holiday in tandem with the next-generation Xbox Series X. And while our first Halo Infinite gameplay debuts on July 23, the latest artwork provides a potential glimpse into a significant gameplay shakeup.

The artwork packs all the staples of Halo's heyday, dominated by the same dreamy landscapes akin to the original Halo: Combat Evolved cover. The Chief also sports refreshed armor, with what appears to include an arm-mounted grappling hook.

Halo Infinite Grappling Hook

Source: Microsoft (Image credit: Source: Microsoft)

The presumed grappling hook suggests a sizeable gameplay shakeup poised for Halo Infinite, likely to toy with heightened verticality through exploration and combat. As shown by titles like Just Cause or Spider-Man, the grappling hook can hugely boost gameplay fluidity when done right. That's not only with improvements to agility but also opening potential opportunities in combat.

Exact implications on Halo Infinite remain purely speculation, but those teasers suggest a return to open-ended level design, and towering structures to explore. A grappling-aided Chief could be a welcome franchise addition, slinging into the next generation smoother than ever.

Halo Infinite is scheduled to receive its full gameplay deep-dive on July 23, as a part of the Xbox Games Showcase live show.

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Matt Brown
Matt Brown

Matt Brown was formerly a Windows Central's Senior Editor, Xbox & PC, at Future. Following over seven years of professional consumer technology and gaming coverage, he’s focused on the world of Microsoft's gaming efforts. You can follow him on Twitter @mattjbrown.