Effect of E3's Cancellation on Infinite's Reveal?

Games Halo Infinite
1

As of mid-March 2020, we still know effectively nothing about Halo Infinite. The operating assumption for most of the community was that we would finally see gameplay at E3 in June with the potential of gameplay at a rumored Xbox Series X reveal event in the Spring. Those plans are obviously now being altered given the cancellation of E3.

So, the obvious question is how will this affect the timeline of Infinite’s marketing/reveal? Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, stated that Microsoft will instead have an “Xbox digital event” to show Microsoft’s vision for the next generation of gaming. However, with E3, Microsoft could count on a predictable viewership count given historical trends. Now, with an entirely online event, that viewership and player engagement is more questionable.

So how do you think Microsoft/343i will play their cards? Keep the reveal plans identical and simply host a 2-3 hour online stream in June? Or separate some of the reveals/debuts over a longer time frame?

Additionally, some people were predicting that the Infinite beta wouldn’t even be occurring until after E3, and given that it’s March and we still don’t even know the dates for the beta, that’s entirely possible.

2

You answered your own question. Microsoft are planning a digital event, so they’ll just show whatever videos/etc. they would’ve shown at E3 there.

On a side note, how worrying is it that we’re still talking about this game being revealed?

3

> 2535425271455392;2:
> You answered your own question. Microsoft are planning a digital event, so they’ll just show whatever videos/etc. they would’ve shown at E3 there.
>
> On a side note, how worrying is it that we’re still talking about this game being revealed?

Well I can imagine very anxiety inspiring. Im not as much worried as I am curious and on edge. It is very very very hard to imagine infinite flopping. But if it does third time is a charm :stuck_out_tongue: . (Its a joke im not really critical of the main halo games) . Also: when is this xbox event?

4

> 2535425271455392;2:
> You answered your own question. Microsoft are planning a digital event, so they’ll just show whatever videos/etc. they would’ve shown at E3 there.
>
> On a side note, how worrying is it that we’re still talking about this game being revealed?

Not really all that worrying considering that it is a launch title and it was supposed to be the big thing at this E3. I mean, Hi is the game that will represent the Series X of the new Xbox line, the top of the top Microsoft has to offer in the console industry. And top of that it is a killer application (or a tleast meant to be) for the new digital XBox platforms like Play-Anywhere, Game Pass and MS’s cloud gaming services to come. It’s the game that is supposed to launch MS back into PC gaming as well nd on top of that it represents a whole new engine (Slipspace) and is the head-figure of the marketing campaign of a whole franchise, including books, comics, action figures, art-books, albums, a series and maybe even a movie to be. Of course they hide it until the last day possible! They need a huge hype train shortly before the launch date mate! :wink:

EDIT: If something it’s annoying! There, I give you that!^^

5

> 2535425271455392;2:
> You answered your own question. Microsoft are planning a digital event, so they’ll just show whatever videos/etc. they would’ve shown at E3 there.
>
> On a side note, how worrying is it that we’re still talking about this game being revealed?

nah its not worrying if anything the lack of anything being said/leaked for the PS5 is a cause for concern.

back to main topic is i don’t see a worry at all with the marketing/reveal everything is still on track for the game to release. (as far as we are aware)

6

I’m guessing they’ll show everything they were going to at their digital event. When that’ll be? Probably around the same time E3 was gonna be.

7

> 2533275031939856;6:
> I’m guessing they’ll show everything they were going to at their digital event. When that’ll be? Probably around the same time E3 was gonna be.

Most probably, yes. We might also see something more XSX related March… 18 was it? On Mixer anyhow. It’s the digital event that replaces GDC! Halo itself though is more of a summer reveal thing I would say.

8

> 2535425271455392;2:
> You answered your own question. Microsoft are planning a digital event, so they’ll just show whatever videos/etc. they would’ve shown at E3 there.
>
> On a side note, how worrying is it that we’re still talking about this game being revealed?

Indeed, there will be a digital event.

But I would also be highly surprised if the shift to digital doesn’t have at least some effect on the timing/spacing of Infinite information.

E3 can guarantee at least a certain level of player viewership/engagement. Online events cannot.

9

Probably it will have an minimal effect, most are looking the reveals in the internet anyway, only thing that possibly changes is less of an crowd which basically means the more usual game focused reveal, more on point, if a less grand.
Whether there will be any form of reveal conference has 0 effect on me personally.

10

> 2533274814945686;3:
> > 2535425271455392;2:
> > You answered your own question. Microsoft are planning a digital event, so they’ll just show whatever videos/etc. they would’ve shown at E3 there.
> >
> > On a side note, how worrying is it that we’re still talking about this game being revealed?
>
> Well I can imagine very anxiety inspiring. Im not as much worried as I am curious and on edge. It is very very very hard to imagine infinite flopping. But if it does third time is a charm :stuck_out_tongue: . (Its a joke im not really critical of the main halo games) . Also: when is this xbox event?

I don’t think the date has been revealed yet, but I imagine it’ll be around the time Microsoft were planning their E3 show.

> 2533274795098161;4:
> > 2535425271455392;2:
> > You answered your own question. Microsoft are planning a digital event, so they’ll just show whatever videos/etc. they would’ve shown at E3 there.
> >
> > On a side note, how worrying is it that we’re still talking about this game being revealed?
>
> Not really all that worrying considering that it is a launch title and it was supposed to be the big thing at this E3. I mean, Hi is the game that will represent the Series X of the new Xbox line, the top of the top Microsoft has to offer in the console industry. And top of that it is a killer application (or a tleast meant to be) for the new digital XBox platforms like Play-Anywhere, Game Pass and MS’s cloud gaming services to come. It’s the game that is supposed to launch MS back into PC gaming as well nd on top of that it represents a whole new engine (Slipspace) and is the head-figure of the marketing campaign of a whole franchise, including books, comics, action figures, art-books, albums, a series and maybe even a movie to be. Of course they hide it until the last day possible! They need a huge hype train shortly before the launch date mate! :wink:
>
> EDIT: If something it’s annoying! There, I give you that!^^

The lack of information could also be used to minimize controversy until the game releases. Halo’s doing better both in terms of reception and sales than it’s been in a long time, and if 343 Industries have another Halo 4, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, or Halo 5: Guardians on the way, that’ll be sure to change. While what little we do know about Halo Infinite has been promising, past behaviors are the greatest indicator of future behaviors.

> 2533274868747146;5:
> > 2535425271455392;2:
> > You answered your own question. Microsoft are planning a digital event, so they’ll just show whatever videos/etc. they would’ve shown at E3 there.
> >
> > On a side note, how worrying is it that we’re still talking about this game being revealed?
>
> nah its not worrying if anything the lack of anything being said/leaked for the PS5 is a cause for concern.
>
> back to main topic is i don’t see a worry at all with the marketing/reveal everything is still on track for the game to release. (as far as we are aware)

“OTHER COMPANY NAME ON PLASTIC BOX BAD” adds nothing to the conversation.

343 Industries stated in 2018 that they’d be transparent with us regarding Halo Infinite’s development, and they absolutely haven’t been. Based on what they stated to us, things aren’t going as they initially planned. We have to wait and see how that lack of communication and feedback will impact the game.

> 2533274935834633;8:
> > 2535425271455392;2:
> > You answered your own question. Microsoft are planning a digital event, so they’ll just show whatever videos/etc. they would’ve shown at E3 there.
> >
> > On a side note, how worrying is it that we’re still talking about this game being revealed?
>
> Indeed, there will be a digital event.
>
> But I would also be highly surprised if the shift to digital doesn’t have at least some effect on the timing/spacing of Infinite information.
>
> E3 can guarantee at least a certain level of player viewership/engagement. Online events cannot.

I don’t really see the potential issue. If someone could click a button to watch E3, why not click another button to watch what both Sony and Nintendo have done (seemingly) without issue?

11

> 2535425271455392;10:
> > 2533274868747146;5:
> > > 2535425271455392;2:
> > > You answered your own question. Microsoft are planning a digital event, so they’ll just show whatever videos/etc. they would’ve shown at E3 there.
> > >
> > > On a side note, how worrying is it that we’re still talking about this game being revealed?
> >
> > nah its not worrying if anything the lack of anything being said/leaked for the PS5 is a cause for concern.
> >
> > back to main topic is i don’t see a worry at all with the marketing/reveal everything is still on track for the game to release. (as far as we are aware)
>
> “OTHER COMPANY NAME ON PLASTIC BOX BAD” adds nothing to the conversation.
>
> 343 Industries stated in 2018 that they’d be transparent with us regarding Halo Infinite’s development, and they absolutely haven’t been. Based on what they stated to us, things aren’t going as they initially planned. We have to wait and see how that lack of communication and feedback will impact the game.
>
>
> > 2533274935834633;8:
> > > 2535425271455392;2:
> > > You answered your own question. Microsoft are planning a digital event, so they’ll just show whatever videos/etc. they would’ve shown at E3 there.
> > >
> > > On a side note, how worrying is it that we’re still talking about this game being revealed?
> >
> > Indeed, there will be a digital event.
> >
> > But I would also be highly surprised if the shift to digital doesn’t have at least some effect on the timing/spacing of Infinite information.
> >
> > E3 can guarantee at least a certain level of player viewership/engagement. Online events cannot.
>
> I don’t really see the potential issue. If someone could click a button to watch E3, why not click another button to watch what both Sony and Nintendo have done (seemingly) without issue?

It’s not a question of friction of use, but a concern regarding general consumer awareness. E3 generates a lot of gaming “buzz” in the media, and thus the general population is more likely to be aware of “pending announcements”. I’d be highly surprised if the viewership for the digital event isn’t substantially lower than previous E3 conferences. I’m 100% positive that these concerns are being incorporated into whatever new marketing/announcements that Microsoft makes in the coming months.

As for your previous concern, I do share some trepidation about how completely opaque 343i has been with Infinite’s development up till this point. In multiple interviews/videos, 343i stated that it would be more transparent and involve the community to a larger extent in the development of Infinite. Maybe I simply misinterpreted them, but it’s hard for a community to be involved in the development of a game that it knows literally nothing about other than “there is a new pilot character!”

It’s March and we still don’t even know when the beta will occur…

12

Sure Microsoft will show it on via their E3 replacement stream…though I think the virus outbreak may end up leading to the game itself being delayed. What’s going on with the virus and the industry lately is depressing.

13

> 2535425271455392;10:
> > 2533274795098161;4:
> > Not really all that worrying considering that it is a launch title and it was supposed to be the big thing at this E3. I mean, Hi is the game that will represent the Series X of the new Xbox line, the top of the top Microsoft has to offer in the console industry. And top of that it is a killer application (or a tleast meant to be) for the new digital XBox platforms like Play-Anywhere, Game Pass and MS’s cloud gaming services to come. It’s the game that is supposed to launch MS back into PC gaming as well nd on top of that it represents a whole new engine (Slipspace) and is the head-figure of the marketing campaign of a whole franchise, including books, comics, action figures, art-books, albums, a series and maybe even a movie to be. Of course they hide it until the last day possible! They need a huge hype train shortly before the launch date mate! :wink:
> >
> > EDIT: If something it’s annoying! There, I give you that!^^
>
> The lack of information could also be used to minimize controversy until the game releases. Halo’s doing better both in terms of reception and sales than it’s been in a long time, and if 343 Industries have another Halo 4, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, or Halo 5: Guardians on the way, that’ll be sure to change. While what little we do know about Halo Infinite has been promising, past behaviors are the greatest indicator of future behaviors.

The marketing team at MS might have taken that in consideration as well, but frankly if 343i didn’t thought they have chosen the best path possible for Hi than they wouldn’t have taken it in first place. I doubt they feel the necessity to hide it. Also by the devs own admission beta flight-test are really important for mp games. Especially now with a new engine it would be in 343i best interest to put it out as early as possible. Being a launch title and having to abide to those “hype-train” rules is more of a crutch than anything else for them.

Not to mention it was their doing that divided the community in first place, it obvious they can’t make both parties happy now. If it has sprint a lot of the real Halo community won’t buy it, vice-versa if it hasn’t the H5 crowed will get back to whatever mainstream AMM shooter that will come out at the same time. In case the controversy is so big to hurt the game the situation will be a lot worse for MS and 343i if it’s close to the launch of the console. More time also means more possibilities to win an audience back! Hence why I’m certain they believe in the product. MS not changing their marketing plans for Hi is a good sign (technically speaking*)!

*and I’m saying “technically”, because I’m pretty sure it will yet again have sprint as a base mechanic, hence producing something that I just can’t consider to be Halo at its core.

14

I think they will do the same thing with the E3, a virtual conference .

15

The only real downside to this is they won’t have a booth set up with a demo to play. So all we will know about how it plays will be from journalists who have been invited over to either 343i or MS. Or, they will release a public beta.

But we’ll get our general info around the time it was supposed to drop anyway. I’ve got no doubt about that.

16

> 2533274935834633;11:
> > 2535425271455392;10:
> > > 2533274868747146;5:
> > > > 2535425271455392;2:
> > > > You answered your own question. Microsoft are planning a digital event, so they’ll just show whatever videos/etc. they would’ve shown at E3 there.
> > > >
> > > > On a side note, how worrying is it that we’re still talking about this game being revealed?
> > >
> > > nah its not worrying if anything the lack of anything being said/leaked for the PS5 is a cause for concern.
> > >
> > > back to main topic is i don’t see a worry at all with the marketing/reveal everything is still on track for the game to release. (as far as we are aware)
> >
> > “OTHER COMPANY NAME ON PLASTIC BOX BAD” adds nothing to the conversation.
> >
> > 343 Industries stated in 2018 that they’d be transparent with us regarding Halo Infinite’s development, and they absolutely haven’t been. Based on what they stated to us, things aren’t going as they initially planned. We have to wait and see how that lack of communication and feedback will impact the game.
> >
> >
> > > 2533274935834633;8:
> > > > 2535425271455392;2:
> > > > You answered your own question. Microsoft are planning a digital event, so they’ll just show whatever videos/etc. they would’ve shown at E3 there.
> > > >
> > > > On a side note, how worrying is it that we’re still talking about this game being revealed?
> > >
> > > Indeed, there will be a digital event.
> > >
> > > But I would also be highly surprised if the shift to digital doesn’t have at least some effect on the timing/spacing of Infinite information.
> > >
> > > E3 can guarantee at least a certain level of player viewership/engagement. Online events cannot.
> >
> > I don’t really see the potential issue. If someone could click a button to watch E3, why not click another button to watch what both Sony and Nintendo have done (seemingly) without issue?
>
> It’s not a question of friction of use, but a concern regarding general consumer awareness. E3 generates a lot of gaming “buzz” in the media, and thus the general population is more likely to be aware of “pending announcements”. I’d be highly surprised if the viewership for the digital event isn’t substantially lower than previous E3 conferences. I’m 100% positive that these concerns are being incorporated into whatever new marketing/announcements that Microsoft makes in the coming months.
>
> As for your previous concern, I do share some trepidation about how completely opaque 343i has been with Infinite’s development up till this point. In multiple interviews/videos, 343i stated that it would be more transparent and involve the community to a larger extent in the development of Infinite. Maybe I simply misinterpreted them, but it’s hard for a community to be involved in the development of a game that it knows literally nothing about other than “there is a new pilot character!”
>
> It’s March and we still don’t even know when the beta will occur…

Well you have Series X and MCC PC. Microsoft probably doesn’t want Infinite to be showcased until Series X is fully revealed as Infinite is the flagship game for the new console. Also I’d guess MCC PC will need to have progressed a certain amount before Infinite flights happen otherwise flights of 1 game may affect the effectiveness of flighting for the other. So my guess for timing is that Infinite flights happen sometime after Halo 3 comes to PC.

17

If everyone’s still stuck inside with businesses closed, viewership for infinite’s reveal skills have a chance at the most viewership they’ve seen in a long time.

18

> 2614366390849210;17:
> If everyone’s still stuck inside with businesses closed, viewership for infinite’s reveal skills have a chance at the most viewership they’ve seen in a long time.

Yeah no kidding. Last night on Xbox I had more friends playing games, watching movies or just on their Xbox then I’ve ever seen at any given time ever! Like nearly everyone was on. At most on average I have like 20 ppl on playing xbox my friends list but last night was 77!!

My point is MS and 343 may want to do something sooner rather then later on an upcoming weekend while most of America is bunkered down in thier homes. At the very least have a reveal show for the new Xbox.

19

Look everyone should just reveal their stuff without e3. Just put it on youtube. We don’t need people to come watch it at a big place. I mean that’s the whole point of e3 but because of the virus they should just release it on youtube.

20

> 2535425010781404;19:
> Look everyone should just reveal their stuff without e3. Just put it on youtube. We don’t need people to come watch it at a big place. I mean that’s the whole point of e3 but because of the virus they should just release it on youtube.

There are a lot of things going on behind the scenes too during E3, it’s no just the show itself. Not to mention for indy devs not being able to present their work together with the big three means losing a ton of attention. So no, just putting everything on YT does not cut it. If something MS should stream a Nintendo like conference and showcasing everything like it was a big event! They could even push it on Mixxer for what I care! :^)