Halo Infinite Will Get “Wacky” Cosmetics After Launch, Per Leak

More Halo Infinite leaks have appeared online, including an array of “wacky” helmets for multiplayer that seem to go far beyond the established Halo canon. While the multiplayer side of Xbox’s signature shooter hasn’t shied away from eccentric unlockables in the past, developer 343 Industries has stated that the game’s narrative ties directly into HaloInfinite‘s free-to-play multiplayer. The developer has even introduced all-new characters specifically for the mode, so it was unclear how far the developer would stretch things when compared to past entries. Based on newly surfaced images, it appears that 343 is ready to follow in the footsteps of other free-to-play games in providing players with cosmetics of all stripes.

Halo Infinite marks the series’ first dip into the free-to-play market, a place where unusual and over-the-top cosmetics are both accepted and expected. From the early days of Team Fortress 2‘s crossover hats to being able to play as Superman in Fortnite, players accustomed to well-established skin economies in other games may want more than the typical array of sci-fi helmets and armors when they load up Halo Infinite this fall. In addition to its narrative claims, 343 has made it clear that there will also be canon-breaking events called “Fractures” that introduce these types of cosmetics, and recent leaks may have revealed a few well ahead of their official reveals.

As seen in places like the official Halo subreddit thanks to users like Super-boy11, a wide array of different Spartan helmets and armors have apparently leaked. These range from classic looks from the franchise’s history to a wacky but festive snowman head, complete with a carrot nose and top hat. Some, like well-known Twitter leaker Tom Henderson, have implied players expecting mostly canonical armor may be frustrated with some Halo Infinite skins, but it’s still unclear if any leaked skins are guaranteed to come to the game or when they might  arrive. It’s far more likely that a snowman head would appear around the holiday season, which could be as long as a few months after Infinite‘s Fall 2021 release date.

Alongside the helmet leaks, some other aspects of Halo Infinite‘s customization are now out in the open. A look at its code reveals that Halo Infinite may borrow weapon charms from games like Call of Duty and Apex Legends. Additionally, weapons will seemingly have full skins available called Weapon Cores, according to leakers like Reddit user Uncooked_wonton. These come complete with cosmetic upgrades, with the classic Halo: Combat Evolved Assault Rifle serving as an initial example. The most interesting of these cosmetic offerings is the rumored ability to change the horn sound effect on vehicles like the Warthog, which could make for auditory multiplayer shenanigans.

It may have been inevitable that Halo Infinite‘s free-to-play multiplayer would play host to a variety cosmetic oddities to purchase, and it would make the game an industry outlier if Microsoft were to pass on taking advantage of the primary monetization model that live-service gaming offers. When considering all of the extra weapons and skins that 343’s multiplayer team added to Halo Infinite predecessor Halo 5: Guardians over its lifespan, the upcoming entry’s leaked armors and helmets should come as little surprise.

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

Source: Super-boy11/Reddit, Tom Henderson/Twitter, Uncooked_wonton/Reddit

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