Halo Infinite Multiplayer Rumored To Take Center Stage At E3 2021

With Xbox and Bethesda’s E3 2021 plans set for June 13, it’s heavily rumored that Halo Infinite‘s largely unrevealed multiplayer will be a focus of the Xbox portion of the 90-minute showcase. While some small multiplayer nuggets have been shared by developer 343 Industries over the past year, including looks at Halo Infinite‘s revamped classic weapons and armor customization, very little else is known with only months left before the game’s launch.

Following its initial announcement at E3 2018 and its subsequently lackluster 2020 campaign gameplay reveal, Halo Infinite was delayed to Fall 2021 and still has no concrete release date at press time. The follow-up to Halo 5: Guardians has a lot to prove on the lead-up to launch, and 343 has teased big Halo plans for the summer’s digital gaming events. The biggest of these is E3 2021, which is returning in a digital format after being canceled the previous year due to COVID-related safety risks for the normally in-person industry event. According to the latest rumors and official hints, it seems Xbox is ready to make good on its promise of showing more of the most ambitious entry in its flagship franchise.

In his latest podcast, games journalist and insider Jeff Grubb was asked about Halo Infinite and 343’s preparedness for E3 2021. Though Grubb expressed some doubt about “how people are going to react” to the planned footage when they see it (likely in reference to the huge public outcry and mockery in response to the game’s 2020 gameplay reveal), he makes it clear that it’s the type of much-requested return to form that the most vocal and loyal of Halo fans have been asking for to make them “feel like they’re being catered to” by Xbox. He then shared, “What we’re gonna get is a look at Halo multiplayer that’s going to look just like Halo multiplayer,” with battle royale and other Halo Infinite modes likely being reserved for a later date, speculating that 343 is likely too busy completing and polishing the game for release to show off a wider look at the game.

While some E3 rumors have been characteristically spinning out of control ahead of the June 12 – 15 event, Grubb’s assertions about what viewers can expect regarding the next Halo game are in line with what 343 should logically be showing this close to launch. Much of the work on Halo Infinite over the past year has likely been focused not just on implementing ray tracing at launch (rather than in an update as was planned for its original November 2020 release), but also simply finishing the game’s free-to-play multiplayer component. Additionally, updated Spartan armors from Halo Reach and other classic entries were teased in Xbox’s E3 2021 announcement, with Master Chief nowhere to be found in promotional images so far.

Considering how poorly received Halo Infinite‘s campaign gameplay was received initially, a look at multiplayer and little to no visible progress on the game’s campaign may not be what some players are hoping for this summer. However, the hardcore fanbase that Xbox seems eager to please after two mixed entries likely sees a multiplayer-focused gameplay showcase at E3 2021 to be exactly what they’ve been waiting for.

Halo Infinite will be available for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC in Fall 2021.

Source: Jeff Grubb’s Game Mess

About The Author

Phillip Tinner
(412 Articles Published)

Phillip Tinner is a Game News Editor at Screen Rant, and he has written about all things gaming, film, and TV for the site since 2018. Phillip has a B.A. in History from Texas A&M University and is fascinated by the many areas where the virtual and real worlds meet. He can normally be found rewatching an old TV show, taking a hike, or complaining about new video games.

He hopes readers enjoy his content as much as he does researching and producing it, and he can be reached anytime on Twitter @PhilKimTin or LinkedIn.

More From Phillip Tinner