343 - please, Halo Infinite must be delayed

Games Halo Infinite
1

As per subject, I’m shocked I’m saying this, but Halo Infinite needs to be delayed.

If today’s showing is reflective of what it will look like on release, then this game is in trouble.

Gameplay, the story and the premise all have huge potential. However the game looks rough, which is very worrying considering it is being touted as a launch title for Series X. I’m not sure if this game has been in development hell or what, but the textures, enemy models and environments look rough compared to Halo 5.

I love Halo and I have done since Halo CE. But I truly think this game needs to be delayed by 6 months to a year minimum, to give it the love it truly deserves. I don’t know how much this game is held back by being a cross gen release, but really the Series X release should look incredible and based on today it looks messy. H5 Guardians on Xbox One X looks far better graphically overall.

Releasing Xbox’s flagship IP on next gen, looking so average, could be hugely damaging to Halo and Xbox and I think it could spell trouble for Halo long term.

Halo deserves the absolute best. I would be absolutely gutted to see this game release with rough graphics, a lack of polish and looking half baked after all these years since H5 Guardians. 343 have clearly worked hard to try and find a way forward with the Halo franchise that meets fan’s expectations, but releasing a product in this state, which needs a lot more attention and love, is going to be damaging in both fan and critical reception.

I know people are saying it’s a demo, but this game releases in 4 to 5 months time. Unless they are hiding some souped up polished version, which should have been on display today, then 343 are going to have to go all out to have this as it should be by Holiday 2020.

Thoughts? Do people agree this needs delaying?
I’d be happy to wait for a later release, so more time can be spent on this game to make it what all Halo fans deserve. Come on 343, a rushed game is forever bad…

2

The game looks good, keep in mind that demo is a recording of a recording, so the quality will look week. They have been making the game for 5 years, NO WAY SHOULD THEY DELAY IT!

3

I don’t have that kind of time. I’m getting older every day. They’ve got four or five months and I’d play what I saw today.

4

> 2535447175857524;2:
> The game looks good, keep in mind that demo is a recording of a recording, so the quality will look week. They have been making the game for 5 years, NO WAY SHOULD THEY DELAY IT!

You say the demo is a recording, but I’ve seen the 4k screenshots they’ve released as marketing and it’s seriously not good. H5 Guardians on Xbox One X trounces this game graphically, that is not a good sign at all. 5 years in the making means that it’s took a lot of time and investment. A rushed release is forever bad, but a bit more time is 100% worth it if it means Halo gets the love and polish it deserves.

The brute character models are low resolution, the scenery in the background (like the pillars all meshed together) look like MegaBloks or a Forge creation and the shadows and lighting is all over the place.

5

> 2533274798100731;4:
> > 2535447175857524;2:
> > The game looks good, keep in mind that demo is a recording of a recording, so the quality will look week. They have been making the game for 5 years, NO WAY SHOULD THEY DELAY IT!
>
> You say the demo is a recording, but I’ve seen the 4k screenshots they’ve released as marketing and it’s seriously not good. H5 Guardians on Xbox One X trounces this game graphically, that is not a good sign at all. 5 years in the making means that it’s took a lot of time and investment. A rushed release is forever bad, but a bit more time is 100% worth it if it means Halo gets the love and polish it deserves.
>
> The brute character models are low resolution, the scenery in the background (like the pillars all meshed together) look like MegaBloks or a Forge creation and the shadows and lighting is all over the place.

They have said they are still working on polishing the game. Polishing does not take long and is easily done well within 3 months.

6

Who said it would be reflective of what would be put out on release day? It was a demo, not the final things. The game hasn’t even gone gold yet. I’ve also seen new screenshots where guns have more detail than in the demo (apparently there was a minute long vid put out too), so I think we’ll see some change by launch.

7

> 2533274964025169;3:
> I don’t have that kind of time. I’m getting older every day. They’ve got four or five months and I’d play what I saw today.

Yes, I’d play it too as I love Halo. But I’m easily pleased for the main part, many people aren’t and people are undeniably disappointed by a very poor showing for next gen.

8

My lord… you guys are so overdramatic. Do you honestly think they just made the demo this morning and those are the current state of the games graphics?

9

> 2535447175857524;5:
> > 2533274798100731;4:
> > > 2535447175857524;2:
> > > The game looks good, keep in mind that demo is a recording of a recording, so the quality will look week. They have been making the game for 5 years, NO WAY SHOULD THEY DELAY IT!
> >
> > You say the demo is a recording, but I’ve seen the 4k screenshots they’ve released as marketing and it’s seriously not good. H5 Guardians on Xbox One X trounces this game graphically, that is not a good sign at all. 5 years in the making means that it’s took a lot of time and investment. A rushed release is forever bad, but a bit more time is 100% worth it if it means Halo gets the love and polish it deserves.
> >
> > The brute character models are low resolution, the scenery in the background (like the pillars all meshed together) look like MegaBloks or a Forge creation and the shadows and lighting is all over the place.
>
> They have said they are still working on polishing the game. Polishing does not take long and is easily done well within 3 months.

Time will tell. I’m really hopeful you’re right but I’m also worried. Halo 5 Guardians looked far better and impressive in the months before it’s release. People are worried for a reason.

10

They say the game is being shown on the xbox one x not the series X.
Well xbox one is trash (xbox one x uses it’s power for frames and resolution not textures and such so it’s included in) and if what they’re saying is true it makes sense the game looks ugly for an open world on a weak console.

Problem is if this is true why AREN’T they showing it on the series X?
My thoughts go towards the Series X only having differences towards resolution, framerate, AO, draw distance. Still that could have at least made the vertical slice look nicer that they showed.

If it’s on series x than holy -Yoink- LOL
450 employees, five years, nearly limitless budget… 343 is a mess internally like they always have been. Never should have let these nu-nerds into the industry.

11

> 2533274812652989;6:
> Who said it would be reflective of what would be put out on release day? It was a demo, not the final things. The game hasn’t even gone gold yet. I’ve also seen new screenshots where guns have more detail than in the demo (apparently there was a minute long vid put out too), so I think we’ll see some change by launch.

Hey.

I am really hopeful regarding the things you say but not entirely confident. I’ve seen some of those conflicting images too, but I also remember how good H5 looked graphically at E3 2015 a few months before release, so I know 343 are capable of putting out the good stuff.

I’m concerned 343 are struggling with multiple console versions, getting this game ready for 2020 amidst this pandemic and that this game is not getting the time it needs to shine as well as it should.

It is only a demo, but a demo 4 months away from release is potentially very telling.

12

> 2533274798100731;11:
> > 2533274812652989;6:
> > Who said it would be reflective of what would be put out on release day? It was a demo, not the final things. The game hasn’t even gone gold yet. I’ve also seen new screenshots where guns have more detail than in the demo (apparently there was a minute long vid put out too), so I think we’ll see some change by launch.
>
> Hey.
>
> I am really hopeful regarding the things you say but not entirely confident. I’ve seen some of those conflicting images too, but I also remember how good H5 looked graphically at E3 2015 a few months before release, so I know 343 are capable of putting out the good stuff.
>
> I’m concerned 343 are struggling with multiple console versions, getting this game ready for 2020 amidst this pandemic and that this game is not getting the time it needs to shine as well as it should.
>
> It is only a demo, but a demo 4 months away from release is potentially very telling.

That pandemic line should be front and center. Yes, 5 looked good, but the team wasn’t also dealing with a pandemic and working mostly from home without the studio. Doesn’t excuse everything, but I doubt 343 was in an ideal situation to showcase.

13

> 2533274808548953;8:
> My lord… you guys are so overdramatic. Do you honestly think they just made with demo this morning and those are the current state of the games graphics?

I don’t think it is overly dramatic at all. I wish it was man.

I can only compare to 343’s previous showings of Halo games pre release. Neither H4 or H5 looked so rough months prior to release. That’s my evidence and the bar I’m looking to.

I really believe in 343 and this game, but I don’t know about when this demo would have been made. I’d be going for the most up to date build to show off to the world if I was 343, especially as it’s a few months away from launch and their first gameplay showing. I do believe this is the current build, they are putting up 4k screenshots of this as marketing. Why would they put up 4K screenshots of an old build?

14

i need more time to play halo 5

15

This demo was likely made months ago in preparation for an early June event (E3). I’d like to believe the game has improved since then and will continue to improve until launch.

16

I think the game looks pretty strong- in motion. Stills are quite rough. But, some texture and lighting work would make a dramatic difference. Sometimes a little bit of that stuff can go a very long way.

In any case, I think that delaying Infinite is pretty much a non-option at this point. The Xbox Showcase this morning demonstrated the unfortunate fact that Microsoft still expects Halo to carry the entire Xbox brand.

It’ll look better than the demo when it launches, undoubtedly. It’s unfortunate that they put it out in that state, though. First impressions are everything and an army of trolls just received mountains of ammunition to blast this game and the Series X with.

17

> 2533274812652989;12:
> > 2533274798100731;11:
> > > 2533274812652989;6:
> > > Who said it would be reflective of what would be put out on release day? It was a demo, not the final things. The game hasn’t even gone gold yet. I’ve also seen new screenshots where guns have more detail than in the demo (apparently there was a minute long vid put out too), so I think we’ll see some change by launch.
> >
> > Hey.
> >
> > I am really hopeful regarding the things you say but not entirely confident. I’ve seen some of those conflicting images too, but I also remember how good H5 looked graphically at E3 2015 a few months before release, so I know 343 are capable of putting out the good stuff.
> >
> > I’m concerned 343 are struggling with multiple console versions, getting this game ready for 2020 amidst this pandemic and that this game is not getting the time it needs to shine as well as it should.
> >
> > It is only a demo, but a demo 4 months away from release is potentially very telling.
>
> That pandemic line should be front and center. Yes, 5 looked good, but the team wasn’t also dealing with a pandemic and working mostly from home without the studio. Doesn’t excuse everything, but I doubt 343 was in an ideal situation to showcase.

Interesting line of thought regarding the pandemic and I guess it could have impacted what they could produce for a showing today. Feasibly it could have been an old build they had planned for E3, but I don’t know if that’s realistic that they’d hold onto an old build demo and then show it.

It’s nice to talk to Halo fans who share concerns and just want the best for Halo, whilst supporting/encouraging 343 to develop the best game.

It’s sad to see people doing memes and jokes on Twitter and other social media platforms about Infinite’s showing today e.g. low res enemy models. Not how I want to see Halo, being reduced to bad meme material.

18

If I understand it correctly it was an older build per this article: Interview: 343 explains how it’s ‘rebooting’ Halo with Infinite | VGC

19

> 2533274798100731;17:
> > 2533274812652989;12:
> > > 2533274798100731;11:
> > > > 2533274812652989;6:
> > > > Who said it would be reflective of what would be put out on release day? It was a demo, not the final things. The game hasn’t even gone gold yet. I’ve also seen new screenshots where guns have more detail than in the demo (apparently there was a minute long vid put out too), so I think we’ll see some change by launch.
> > >
> > > Hey.
> > >
> > > I am really hopeful regarding the things you say but not entirely confident. I’ve seen some of those conflicting images too, but I also remember how good H5 looked graphically at E3 2015 a few months before release, so I know 343 are capable of putting out the good stuff.
> > >
> > > I’m concerned 343 are struggling with multiple console versions, getting this game ready for 2020 amidst this pandemic and that this game is not getting the time it needs to shine as well as it should.
> > >
> > > It is only a demo, but a demo 4 months away from release is potentially very telling.
> >
> > That pandemic line should be front and center. Yes, 5 looked good, but the team wasn’t also dealing with a pandemic and working mostly from home without the studio. Doesn’t excuse everything, but I doubt 343 was in an ideal situation to showcase.
>
> Interesting line of thought regarding the pandemic and I guess it could have impacted what they could produce for a showing today. Feasibly it could have been an old build they had planned for E3, but I don’t know if that’s realistic that they’d hold onto an old build demo and then show it.
>
> It’s nice to talk to Halo fans who share concerns and just want the best for Halo, whilst supporting/encouraging 343 to develop the best game.
>
> It’s sad to see people doing memes and jokes on Twitter and other social media platforms about Infinite’s showing today e.g. low res enemy models. Not how I want to see Halo, being reduced to bad meme material.

I think is safe to say none of us have any real answers. Why use an old build? Who knows, but I can’t imagine the pandemic going on made it easy. I want Infinite to do well, but I also managed my expectations. Anyone expecting a full blown retread of Bungie Halo was fooling themselves. Not saying you did, but a lot of folks strangely did.

Ill reserve judgement until the final product. Folks ringing the death bell have been doing so since Reach.

20

> 2535453407941985;15:
> This demo was likely made months ago in preparation for an early June event (E3). I’d like to believe the game has improved since then and will continue to improve until launch.

I really hope so. I wish they’d somehow highlight that though in the demo footage e.g. Small print at the beginning to say it’s a pre June build or something.

I love Halo and it’s easily my favourite game franchise. I’m very invested, as most of us are and I want this game to be everything it can be. The response across the board has been shaky and 343 not pulling out all the stops to show off this game sooner raises questions too. Perhaps not to hype it up too early but also perhaps because they have been having some development issues behind the scenes, as all AAA game development seems to experience.