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Because E3 is right around the corner, I wanted to make realistic predictions for Halo: Infinite to see how many of them will end up being true. These predictions are not based on the things that I would like to see in Infinite. Rather, they are based on the available evidence that supports them, as well as some conjecture and speculation among the Halo community.
We already know that 343 Industries is re-implementing split-screen compatibility, Master Chief will return as the main character, and that Infinite will tell a simpler story than Halo 5:Guardians. In addition, it has been confirmed by 343 that Infinite will feature Reach-style armor customization, while monetization and the adoption of a live service model are not out of the question. At the present time, we know little about the direction that the story of Infinite has taken, and whether Infinite will feature classic or modern mechanics.
Prediction 1 (story):Halo: Infinitewill be a soft reboot of the Reclaimer Saga, just likeRiddickwas a soft reboot of the Riddick Trilogy.
Evidence: Halo Infinite is a "spiritual reboot", will be at E3 2019 | VG247
Pitch Black (2000) was a science-fiction action horror film starring Vin Diesel. The Chronicles of Riddick (2004), a sequel to Pitch Black, received poor reviews because it was inconsistent with the tone and narrative established in the first film. The third film in the trilogy, Riddick (2013), went back to the roots of the Riddick character and world, mostly disregarding the ending of Chronicles but using it as a springboard for a new story with familiar elements. I believe that 343 has taken critical reception to Guardians into account, and that as such, Infinite will acknowledge the events of Guardians. However, like Riddick, it will branch off of them in a way that tells a more focused and perhaps intimate story. Some retroactive continuity is also expected.
Prediction 2 (story): Fireteam Osiris and Blue Team will be almost entirely absent fromInfinite.*
Evidence: No More Jameson Locke In Halo Infinite, Master Chief Will Be The Primary Focus - SegmentNext
Halo 5: Guardians had the narrative problem of trying to coordinate too many characters at one time. To add insult to injury, the majority of the campaign was spent playing as Spartan Locke, a character that few people cared about, while the cooperative mechanics weren’t executed well. Therefore, I believe that 343 has streamlined the story of Infinite by omitting Fireteam Osiris and Blue Team as playable characters. If they are present in Infinite in any capacity, they will be limited to cinematics.
Prediction 3 (story): The Flood will return as the primary antagonist ofHalo: Infinite.
Evidence: 'Halo: Infinite' Could Bring Back The Series' Mature Rating
Halo Infinite might take place on Zeta Halo — here's what you need to know | Windows Central
Fans have been asking for the return of the Flood since Halo 4. The general consensus has been that the Prometheans, an enemy type that was introduced in Halo 4 and supposed to replace the Flood, aren’t much fun to fight. (Personally, I enjoyed fighting the Prometheans in Halos 4 and 5. I think they are a welcome addition to the franchise, but I understand that others feel differently.) Fans were pleased to see the Flood return in the Halo Wars 2 DLC, “Awakening the Nightmare.” This means that they should persist to Infinite’s timeline. Evidence also suggests that Infinite will take place on Installation 07, a Halo ring whose history with the Flood is deep and could have implications for the current timeline.*
Prediction 4 (game design):Halo: Infinitewill be the first open-world Halo game, but not in the traditional sense.
Evidence: Halo Infinite Is Possibly Open World, Built On A New Engine
If the rumors are true, Microsoft has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the new Slipspace engine. This explains Infinite’s lengthier development cycle. More importantly, the Slipspace engine could support a fully realized, lifelike open world, with hidden secrets to discover, environments to explore, and locations to visit. It will not be the kind of open world that facilitates fast traveling, nor will there be idle NPCs who offer side-quests. Elements like these are inherent to RPGs, and likely will not translate appropriately to a Halo game. Anything is possible, though.
Prediction 5 (gameplay):Halo: Infinitewill feature enhanced mobility mechanics, but they will be dialed back to accommodate new and old fans of the franchise.
Evidence: “Ross also explained that the team will be engaging with fans along the road to development to make sure they’re creating the experience that players want.” (Smith, 2019, retrieved from Halo Infinite Development Wants to Avoid Crunch)
I understand that this prediction is the most controversial. However, a loyal community has still formed around Guardians’ multiplayer mode, so I do not realistically see 343 abolishing enhanced mobility mechanics altogether. But the success of <mark>-REDACTED-</mark>, the overwhelming demand for The**Master Chief Collection on PC, and a back-to-the-basics philosophy that Infinite appears to have incorporated lead me to believe that 343 won’t abolish the classic mechanics either.
And those are my realistic predictions for Halo: Infinite. I could make more predictions, including the return of Warzone and a more sophisticated Forge mode, but they do not warrant entire passages. What are your realistic predictions for Infinite?