Halo Infinite sounds like the most ambitious Halo game ever.
What you need to know
- 343 Industries has announced in a new video that Halo Infinite will feature a day/night cycle that will change how enemies behave based on the time of day.
- Dynamic wind and fog systems have been announced as well, and it’s possible that rain or snowstorms will be added after the game’s release.
- The developers also announced that there will be several different biomes in Halo Infinite, such as swamps, highlands, and war-torn “deadlands.”
- A reactive AI spawning system was confirmed in the video as well.
In a new update video developers from 343 Industries revealed some exciting details about some of the systems that players can expect in Halo Infinite when it launches later this year. The first piece of news the developers shared is that Halo Infinite’s day/night cycle will have an impact on what types of enemies spawn as well as how enemies behave. At night, players can expect more Banished patrol Phantoms flying overhead, but may also have more stealthy opportunities to kill Grunts while they’re sleeping. Additionally, players will also be more likely to encounter enemies with visual effects that look cool in the dark, such as Jackals that have bright energy shield gauntlets and enemies that have personal energy shields on their armor, like Elites. Players may also be able to spot bioluminescent wildlife as well, which would no doubt be cool to see.
A dynamic weather system was also announced, with the developers stating that for now, players can expect dynamic wind and fog. 343 Industries is choosing not to implement rain and snowstorms at launch, although the developers haven’t ruled out implementing weather effects like these in the future.
Thirdly, the developers stated that while the majority of the game’s world is themed around the Pacific Northwest, there will be PNW-themed sub-biomes in the environment. Examples of these will include marshy swamps, mountainous highlands, and war-torn “deadlands” devastated by previous battles. Players will also be able to explore caves and caverns in the environment, and can also find Banished bases, UNSC Marine holdouts, Forerunner structures, and other points of interest. It sounds like there will even be sections of the maps where part of the Halo ring is exposed to space and you can push enemies off of it into the void, which is sure to be hilarious.
Finally, 343 Industries announced the addition of a reactive AI spawning system that will change the type of enemies you face depending on what weapons and vehicles you’re using. For example, if you enter an area on foot, the game will make sure that you’re fighting enemies that are fun to engage with in that context. This will help ensure that each playthrough feels a little different, and also guarantees that players will have a good time no matter what they choose to enter the fray with.
What do you think of what Halo Infinite’s developers revealed in this video? Let me know in the comments. Halo Infinite is expected to launch in Fall 2021 on the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One consoles, and Windows 10 PCs. The game’s price is expected to be $60, though the multiplayer will be free to play. It will also run at 120 FPS on Xbox Series X and Series S, which is exciting. Also, we highly recommend checking out the Master Chief Collection while you wait for Halo Infinite, as it bundles all of the pre-Xbox One Halo shooters together for an excellent price. This easily makes it one of the best Xbox One shooters on the market, and it recently got even better with the arrival of Season 5 of the MCC that added tons of new cosmetics to Halo 3 and Halo: Reach.
The next adventure in the saga
Halo Infinite
$60 at Best Buy
See at Microsoft
See at Steam
A new Great Journey awaits
Halo Infinite is sure to be an incredible game filled with wonder, adventure, and more. We just can’t be sure when we’ll be seeing it all.
Finish the Fight
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
$40 at Microsoft (Xbox One)
$40 at Microsoft (PC)
$40 at Steam
Experience the entirety of Halo history
The Master Chief Collection is a collection of every Halo shooter from the pre-Xbox One era, offering incredible value at an incredible price.