What you need to know
- Halo Infinite has released its online portion weeks early with the arrival of the Multiplayer Beta.
- Players will have full access to Halo Infinite's multiplayer, Season 1 Battle Pass, and more ahead of the more general Dec. 8 release.
- 343 Industries has announced that the game's first Battle Pass, Season 1: Heroes of Reach, will now extend until May 2022.
- On top of being healthier for the team, it also means that Season 1 will be packed with limited-time events and more.
Halo Infinite technically doesn't fully release until later this year, but its Multiplayer Beta has released early as part of the Xbox 20th Anniversary Celebration, meaning players can jump into the latest chapter of Halo's online experience right now.
Over at Halo Waypoint, 343 Industries has provided additional information and context on the Multiplayer Beta, including plans for its already active Season 1 Battle Pass. The first wave of additional content for Halo Infinite's multiplayer, dubbed "Heroes of Reach," is now live and available for players to explore. However, instead of the previously-announced three-month duration, the Season 1 Battle Pass has now been extended until May 2022.
This move is to allow the team at 343i more time to rest and recharge after Halo Infinite's launch, and to ensure that Season 2 arrives in great condition and a healthy team. To compensate for the delay of Season 2, the Halo Infinite Multiplayer Beta will now include additional content as part of Season 1. This includes exclusive Xbox 20th Anniversary-themed cosmetics for logging into the game, and the game's first Fracture event ("Tenrai") starting on Nov. 23, 2021.
After Halo Infinite fully releases on Dec. 8, 2021, 343i intends to fully detail Season 1 Battle Pass plans, as well as what players can expect from Season 2 in May. Until then, players will have plenty to explore in the Halo Infinite Multiplayer Beta, which is now available for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
If you're excited to experience the newest Halo adventure, here's how to play the Halo Infinite Multiplayer Beta. Be aware, however, that this beta period does mean you may encounter some known bugs and issues in Halo Infinite's multiplayer, which we're constantly monitoring. Despite that, Halo Infinite is officially here, and it's already shaping up to be one of the best Xbox games of 2021.
Halo Infinite's multiplayer is already available, compiling its classic arena multiplayer modes, expanded 24-player Big Team Battle, and more into one free-to-play package.
All your gaming needs, in one subscription.
Is the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the best value in all of gaming? It's possible. Ultimate bundles your Xbox Live Gold subscription, an Xbox Game Pass subscription for both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, and Xbox Cloud Gaming for on-the-go. Halo Infinite's multiplayer is available now for free, but Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will include the campaign and some multiplayer perks.
