343:
Let's talk about Halo Infinite playlists!
We've been reading your feedback, and we're working on plans to add Fiesta, Tactical Slayer (SWAT), and Free-For-All playlists as we speak.
Microsoft's live service shooter seems to finally be on the up and up.
I mean, the game is finally at a very good place gameplay-wise.
Shame they did not launch it in this state.
Yeah, I got into it again on PC just recently, and it's far better than it used to be. There is ONE thing that infuriates me though, and it's fully directed at Microsoft in particular. The fact that they can't accommodate split-screen on PC's simply because there is no way to sign into more than a single Microsoft account on Windows OS. Even though you can have multiple controllers connected at the same time. So, it's 100% an issue of Microsoft just not caring enough to do anything about it.
Pretty much every GaaS launches like that though, what sets the best apart from the rest is the devs ability to listen and improve and 343 has done that in spades which is why it's having such a boom.
Nope, a solid GaaS kicks off strong and keeps improving through updates, all while the devs actually hear what the players are saying and 343 really dropped the ball on that launch.
Indeed.
Thanks to 343i and XGS continued support, Halo Infinite has been definitely getting better and better over the past years.
343i is definitely the best Xbox studio to be ahead of Halo games and the actual results is nothing but proof that all you need is the right people in the right places. The last shake up definitely is doing wonders for that game.
Hopefully their upcoming Halo will be even better!
@Vits
I would love to hear any examples of that because the most successful GaaS games follow this pattern like Fortnite, Apex, Halo, COD, No Mans Sky, FF14, Destiny, GTA:O, Fallout 76, Sea of Thieves etc.
Sure.
Genshin Impact, World of Warcraft, Dota 2, Crossfire, Path of Exile, Honor of Kings, Free Fire, League Of Legends, Honkai: Star Rail, Overwatch 1. You know, games that are actually monsters of revenue in their respective categories.
But I'm sure you find a reason for those not counting. And only the ones that fit your narrative to do.
@sparky77,
I don't think you should include Apex in your list, that game was good from the get go, unless you're counting Titanfall 1 & 2 for some weird reason.
The new 343 listens to fans. The old 343 (before Microsoft cleaned house) laughed and dismissed fan complaints about bugs with their software.
Glad MS FINALLY gave this studio a kick in the ass.
It was aways at a good experience gameplay wise, I never see anyone that played the game say it was bad, all criticism was based on the slow addition of content and no forge.
It is dated and basic gameplay.
I get nostalgic, but something should improve over a decade.
Gameplay was already excellent. It needed more content at launch and now it has it.
They briefly pass Density 2 after an update and this is a celebration for them? This has briefly happened in the past after updates as well.
Give it a few weeks for the update bump to wear off.
And of course Destiny 2 has a new update of it's own in the works.
You can really feel the desperation from Microsoft going into the holidays, all the usual sites are writing these types of articles over and over trying to see if they can get something to stick.
"More players than a 6year old dead game..congratulations."
Well, Sony paid 3.7 Billion to acquire that "old dead game" and its studio.
So they definitely need all that investment to pay out, and Destiny is nothing but Bungie´s biggest (and only) successful IP.
Halo is bungies biggest and best game. The've done it before and theyl do it again, that must be what Sony saw. That must be why they invested. Not because of destiny 2 but because if potential. No one would spend 3.6bn to only get back a few hundred thousand a year on dlc for this dead horse.
Let's see what they have in store for the games in a year or two time.
343 would beg to hit destiny’s lowest play count.
Cool.. funny that a Microsoft controlled data info is worth an article while destiny still absolutely destroys halos player retention numbers.
So what were they doing this entire last year. Fixing Craig's face.
I feel like these basic modes should have been there for launch, but at least some player's worst fears of having to wait until the end of the first season for this stuff isn't true.
Have they ever said anything about adding in new maps over the next few months?
This is pretty much the consequence of going down the F2P route.
Of course, many are asking why such basic features aren't available after 6 years of dev. I mean, Halo 3 launched with 4 player co-op, Forge, Theatre AND industry standard playlists. Not to mention, all game modes available in Custom.
Obviously, because the business model is F2P, 343i thought of ways to ensure their horrendous progression system would be complimented by the playlists. They knew that if everyone finished their "Win 3 Oddball matches" challenge, then Team Objective playlist will become a ghost town, since the majority of players would just play Team Slayer. Thus "Quick Play" playlist. A combined playlist might make sense in Ranked, but 0 sense in Social where people don't want randomised game modes, but pick the game mode of their choice then have some fun after a hard day's work.
Then we have the Lobby and UI which the former is nonexistent and the latter abysmal. In Halo 3, you could vote for which map to play on. You could chat pre-game. You could stick with the matchmade party if you thought you were a great team, and continue as the same team to the next game. None of that is available in Halo Infinite, 14 years later. This is a statement of the games industry in 2021.