Just read the update.
Nothing was addressed in terms of fixes or current problems being fixed. Desync, localised server searching, anti cheat, cross platform support. None of it was mentioned or addressed.
We will have to wait longer for campaign co op now. But there’s no mention of missing campaign content currently not in the game (various unlocks and stances etc apparently in the campaign but unlockable)
In terms of multiplayer. They showed us more purchases that will be available in the store, they showed a new battle pass we will have to purchase. Priority more towards cosmetic items being the only thing that looks complete. And then the maps.
A single screenshot of the two new maps and some concept art. No over all layout or look at the map in whole. Big team looks ok, but the arena map. No idea what I’m looking at here. Also, what if the competitive community rejects the map? Will it be removed from match making like Behemoth was?
Too little was shown. And frankly for the amount of money these guys are bringing in from the store on a daily basis at this point - I don’t give a hoot about their balance between real life and working- every single person needs to strike that balance on their own accord. Why dedicate 1/4 your article to this? Some kinda guilt trip on the pushy fan base? The bells and whistles of infinite pre launch have well and truly worn off at this point. Anyone happy to accept this shortfall of content after a 6 month wait is the problem with the community.
Yea something is better than nothing.
But honestly,
This is not enough.
It’s something they should have addressed internally when making the decision to become a live service model over a full release game….
The fact they have not got that down pat internally highlights the fact they have no idea how to maintain the game and keep it alive.
I don’t mean to be ungrateful or entitled. But this was their decision and now it seems they are unable to maintain demand. This season 2 update is doomed because of this fact.
1 new map for comp and 1 new BtB map. After six months- is a joke.
Having delays on content promises is a joke.
Saying they have life/ work issues while also further delaying content - is a joke.
Two new maps with reuse the same biomes and assets as everything already in the game. 1 for BTB and 1 for 4v4…so really just one new map if you only play BTB or only play 4v4 like many people.
After half a year since released? And co-op is delayed too to maybe at some point in Season 2? And we’re further splitting up armors into more cores which everyone already hates so they can sell us the color blue 5 separate times?
This is your live service game 343i? Is this a joke?
It’s bad enough to come out and say “hey we have to delay again” without even apologizing sincerely, but to point blame at your community for impacting work/life balance is next level. I want devs to have a good work life balance as much as the next guy but don’t put the onus on your community to define your team’s workload. That just points to poor leadership at 343i. And just as you said, they have been raking in piles of cash this whole time with the only bug-free feature of this game - the store. Just insane.
They should have had the game done before it released. Makes priority zero easier when your back end code isn’t a tangled mess of wires and you can easily put out content like flipping a switch…
I swear if I have to hear 343 complain about the holidays or break time or toxic community blah blah blah, make a game that works or gtfo of the industry.
I also want to add that the maps we are currently playing on. We’re in the beta and flights before launch. Therefore while we say we have had no new content for the six months since launch- these maps are in fact much older than that- 7-8 months at least.
So in all that time. Till now.
Only concept art of 2 new maps has been produced for this live service by this team.
A life to work ratio. Seems to be way more in favour of “life” at this point…
I get it tho. Online store practically runs itself and we all saw how many people bought the cat ears lol.
But seriously it’s suppose to be a “live” service.
But it feels pretty damn dead/ weak pulse. At this point .
They literally addressed anti-cheat and that issues were still being worked on (presumably desync since everyone’s talking about it).
And?
Did you miss this part: “We will have a lot more to share about the Season 2 maps, modes, customization options, and narrative content in April, as our marketing and promotional campaign kicks into high gear.”
Yeah to hell with this attitude. The game industry absolutely sucks when it comes to work life balance. Just because you’re butthurt and want them to work faster doesn’t mean they should be miserable on a day to day basis. It’s a game. Chill.
Yeah, and the leadership is taking a stance that they’re not gonna crunch to get the content out faster.
Not addressing any of the issues in regards to the campaign implies their is nothing being updated on that front/ in the May update….
My attitude is my opinion. You may or may not agree with it, but it was their decision to take the live service route with infinite- the content we have now is the same we have had since the flight- making it almost 9 months old. In this time NOTHING has been added. Which tells me that they have had more than enough time to sustain their personal lives and little to no work has been done on the game- can you prove me wrong on this?
The only constant thing functioning in game since launch has been the store. Their revenue.
So while you may like to thank them for the tidbits of information they have been forced into offering up tonight. I see it as a window into a much larger problem. And will make the point that most of the community will see it as- it’s simply not enough.
FYI trying to push the company responsible for one of your favourite franchises to do better- while the population drops violently as it was almost seemingly abandoned over the past few months is not being “but hurt” as you put it.
It’s just trying to voice hope.
I don’t see what being opposed to that is going to achieve to be honest.
Staten said his bit on the internet tonight. And I said mine.
Where did they blame the community in that update? They thanked the community for understanding they need work/life balance.
Where in the update did they call the community toxic and insisting on crunch?
No it doesn’t. I’m sure there’s a million things coming in the May update that they didn’t mention in there. It was such a tiny update. I think you’re just in a bummed out mood and you’re reading way too hard into this.
Yup their content release schedule is actually pretty crappy. They’re not doing a great job as a live service game.
Nah nah nah. That’s not how this works. You’re making the claim. You have to prove that they haven’t worked on anything. And the only way you’d be able to do that is if you’ve got an inside source, or you work there.
What do you think is more complicated: Setting up a store? Or creating a multiplayer game?
That’s not what you did. You implied that they shouldn’t prioritize work/life balance because you want more content to be released faster.
Yeah and one post was reasonable while the other one was kinda silly.
The only reason 343i mounted this response was because of the growing loss of faith from the player base, strongly coupled with the decline in numbers.
Crisis response more than anything.
The issue is the absolute lack of anything produced. The fall back excuse of being unable to derive personal life from work and expecting us to care/ understand. When they themselves made the business decision to branch into a live service model.
The content we have now pre dates launch/ as in, it was already in the flights. So the maps and content we have now is 10+ months old.
In those 10 months we have one new map still in concept and features slated for release at the 6 month mark have now been pushed back further….
Sorry chap, but deciding to use the live service model while maintaining their contractors on 18 month working cycles and not renewing contracts sounds like their issues not mine.
Other than negating points made/ do you have any feedback yourself or are you just an employee or absolutely blinded by your faith that 343i have this in hand? Because honestly I’m unsure what your point is at the moment.
The fact that they want to add more game types and we still don’t have elimination to be able to complete the launch set achievements just pisses me off… like don’t make achievements for stuff that isn’t in the game… pretty basic concept… pretty sure that’s literally one of the criteria for achievement design.
Also in regards to what I think is more complicated: setting up a store or maintaining a game.
I think dedicating limited resources who already have life / work balance issues to maintain said store and produce content for the store. Is a gross mis allocation of the same limited company resources already creating delays.
As much as I appreciate getting at least SOME type of communication from 343 this update is completely bogus. Yes we need new content asap but if the fundamental issues with this game aren’t addressed it’s all but worthless. I mean seriously……the amount of desync and lag and rubberbanding should be first priority over anything else. Not to mention the poor optimization and constant crashes on PC. You need a playable game to keep people playing. All the new content in the world doesn’t mean anything unless have a playable game to use it with
So you’re saying that because they made a live service game they’re not entitled to work/life balance? Surely that’s not what you’re saying.
Spoiler alert: All content at launch predates launch, because it was made before launch.
Hold up: That’s not necessarily true. Just because the only thing they’ve released is a piece of concept art doesn’t mean that the level is “in concept.” The last leak I saw was that there were five maps in development as of January. So I really don’t think these maps are still in early graybox testing. Could be wrong though.
Also, there’s two maps coming, not one.
Yup. That sucks. But that’s a part of game development. Unless you want them to crunch to make an arbitrary release date, then that’s just how the cookie crumbles.
Oh so you’re advocating for more exploitative workplace practices because you want it now. Got it.
Let me just scroll up real quick to the comment you replied to…
Did you catch that? Here, let me put the part where I criticize 343 in fancy italics so you can’t miss it.
I’m not pushing for exploitive workplace practices. Nor does what happens within 343i as a business concern me as a consumer. Microsoft just purchased Activision/ Blizzard for billions of dollars. I’m sure they are not about to get caught up in some gross lawsuit about abusing their own employees within 343i. They could however expand their work force or our source more of the work to external contractors as they have done in the past. Certain affinity for example have made many maps for past halo’s etc.
They have options.
They can take on more employees or outsource work via subcontracting companies.
None of this however is my problem.
What is my problem is them using this argument as justification for a content drought- only being addressed because the player base forced them into conversation with us. If pro players had not been so vocal about their concerns with the game then this evenings update would have never materialised and we would still be in the dark as to what’s coming/ albeit without the guilt trip about working conditions.
Except… You’re really harping on the fact that they’re prioritizing work/life balance ahead of planned features. In the previous post you seemingly advocated for endless contract work. So for something that doesn’t concern you as a consumer, you sure do have strong opinions about it.
Cool. Explain to me how outsourcing co-op or hiring more employees will resolve technical issues encountered during co-op development?
So… you do have a problem with work/life balance because you just want it now?
When are people going to acknowledge that halo 5 was/is the better game and start praising their work on it? Monthly content, engaging multiplayer modes, etc. Drop this game already and focus on bringing 5 to MCC.
Ok so base facts.
They have made a post today about work life balances creating delays and effecting their ability to launch core features of the game/ pushing back co-op etc? Yes? This is a fact this happened today?
Also a fact. They have shown off new cosmetic items that look finalised and ready for the store be it in a paid outright stance or a paid battle pass.
Those two things contradict each other. How can they have employees with life work balance issues but have content ready to sell?
And yeah. Obviously having features ready for launch verses waiting almost 12 months for a complete package is preferable.
At this point I think your just bored and looking to argue anything to curb that.
We’re you around for halo reach? Although it was not a “live service” it was so rich in features and content at launch it set a precedent for what halo should have remained. Sadly that team is no longer responsible for the franchise.
The halo 4 team are no longer responsible for the franchise
The halo 5 team are no longer responsible for the franchise
The halo Infinte team now currently
Hold the franchise in their hands and on their terms of development this is as you recall a company that came together as halo fans to maintain the franchise going forward.
This is not being done well right now.
Yes taking on more engineers and people qualified to work on the game will help greatly to lighten the load and ensure more sustainable development. It’s how live service games expand. Continue to grow and thrive in the industry. It’s almost essential to maintain the product.