Summary
343 Industries has announced that a third-person mode is coming toHalo Infinitenext month. Branded as a “new way to play,” this third-person mode is a big step not just forHalo Infinite, but for the entire franchise, since first-person gameplay has always been a pillar of theHaloseries.
Halo Infinitegarnered a healthy amount of popularity when it launched back in December 2021, managing a peak of over 250,000 Steam players and ranking highly among the most played Xbox games. It was even discovered late last year thatHalo Infinitehad accrued over 30 million unique players, but concurrent player counts told a different story. After its initial popularity wore off,Halo Infinite’s active player base took a nosedive due to its long list of missing modes and features, such as split-screen co-op, Forge, and more. 343 Industries added a lot of them over time, but they haven’t done much to pump up the numbers.
Now, it seems the studio is implementing more radical methods to get players interested inHalo Infiniteagain. A recent post from 343’s official Twitter account revealed athird-person mode forHalo Infinitevia a minute-long gameplay trailer.Third-person modes forHalogameswere previously only achievable by way of mods, so this is a bit of a paradigm shift for theHaloseries, which cut its teeth on first-person gameplay and has never featured third-person perspectives aside from the transitions when a player mans a turret or vehicle.
Halo Infinite’s Third-Person Mode Has Some Fans Upset Over the Game’s “Fortnite-ification”
Halo Infinitefans are understandably polarized by the third-person mode, with some expressing excitement about the novel feature and pledging to return to the game when 343 makes it available. Meanwhile, detractors argue that the third-person mode makesHalo Infinitelook likeFortniteand isn’t the best use of the studio’s resources. While this argument can be stretched out endlessly, the new mode is at least good news for players who have been requesting a third-person perspective for a long time. 343’s tweet didn’t reveal a lot of details, but did confirm thatHalo Infinite’s third-person mode will debut in November 2024.
Regardless of where one may stand onHalo Infinite’s upcoming perspective change, it still shows that 343 is willing to venture into uncharted waters for theHalofranchise. With thenext mainlineHalogamecurrently in development at 343, it remains to be seen whether the studio plans to experiment with similarly novel ideas for the campaign, or stick to the tried-and-true first-person perspective.
Halo Infinite
WHERE TO PLAY
When all hope is lost and humanity’s fate hangs in the balance, the Master Chief is ready to confront the most ruthless foe he’s ever faced. Step inside the armor of humanity’s greatest hero to experience an epic open-world adventure and explore the massive scale of the Halo ring.With Network Campaign Co-Op and Mission Replay, you can relive your favorite moments, rediscover collectibles and explore the wonders of Zeta Halo on your own or with up to three other fireteam members.Experience Halo’s celebrated multiplayer reimagined and free-to-play! With over 70 maps in matchmaking, billions of customization configurations, and countless community Forge creations to experience, Halo Infinite is the franchise’s most expansive multiplayer offering to date.Enjoy an unprecedented variety of gameplay experiences, ranging from fast-paced intense ranked modes to whimsical mayhem in Custom Games, or even co-operative coordination in the wave-based survival mode Firefight: King of the Hill. Assemble your Fireteam and conquer every mode – Halo offers endless opportunities for teamwork, strategy, and unforgettable victories.
