What you need to know
- While Halo Infinite launches on Dec. 8, its co-op Campaign and Forge modes remain set to arrive in future post-launch content updates.
- The two modes are now facing a further delay following changes to the Halo Infinite content roadmap, with co-op Campaign support now expected no earlier than May 2022.
While Halo Infinite remains on track to hit its Dec. 8 release date, its upcoming cooperative Campaign and Forge modes have suffered yet another delay. Developer 343 Industries previously outlined plans to launch its next mainline Halo game without the two modes, promising each via future updates in the months after launch. It follows recent changes to Halo Infinite's post-launch roadmap extending its first multiplayer season three additional months into May 2022.
Halo Infinite's co-op Campaign mode and Forge level editor suffered their first delay back in August, axing the two features from launch day plans. Halo Infinite now launches on Dec. 8 as a single-player experience, coupled with its free-to-play multiplayer, already available via an ongoing early beta. 343 Industries aimed to deliver co-op alongside "Season 2" updates, while Forge would follow in "Season 3," slated for three months and six months post-launch, respectively.
Halo Infinite multiplayer saw a surprise shadow drop on Monday, launching three weeks ahead of schedule, under the guise of an open beta. 343 Industries simultaneously announced plans to extend the first season of multiplayer content extended from February into May 2022. While co-op Campaign and Forge are currently set to launch in their respective seasons, the delay puts both features three months behind schedule.
"[A]t the time that we talked about campaign co-op and Forge I said our goal is to ship campaign co-op in Season 2 and our goal is to ship Forge with Season 3," Halo Infinite creative head, Joseph Staten told Eurogamer. "Yes, we are extending Season 1. So our goal still remains what I said before, which is to ship campaign co-op with Season 2 and Forge with Season 3. But those remain goals. Those remain targets."
The new targets imply Halo Infinite co-op campaign support could arrive around May, while Forge is expected to follow in the latter months of 2022. Staten also stressed those dates are subject to further change, dependent on how other planned changes "move up in the priority stack."
Halo Infinite is slated to launch on Dec. 8, 2021, on Xbox consoles and PC. The upcoming title brings a new open-world spin on the hit sci-fi shooter, and our Halo Infinite campaign preview provides a deeper insight into what players can expect.
Halo Infinite's multiplayer has launched a few weeks early, compiling its classic arena multiplayer modes, expanded 24-player Big Team Battle, and more into one free-to-play package.
