The top 3 priorities 343 should have, but don't

Games Halo Infinite
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343 has really not been focussing on the important changes that need to happen. First the game needs to play right, before all this work on cosmetics should be happening.

The top 3 issues with Infinite are simple, and easy to spot:

1 - Netcode/Desync

2 - Matchmaking algorithm/SBMM

3 - Aim controls on both PC and Controller

The obvious first issue is desync. Until it’s fixed weapons like the Pulse Carbine, Plasma Pistol, and Disruptor are absolutely neutered. And the amount of corner-killing is so ridiculous you even see it happen from the shooter’s perspective sometimes (which has never been the case in Halo, you would only experience it as the defender, and outside of major lag spikes by a much shorter time window). Desync HAS to come first, period. It should be the top priority at 343i.

Second is Matchmaking, right now the system is designed to stack teams so that one is meant to win, and the other is meant to lose, in order to maintain near-50% win loss ratios for every player. What it should be doing is trying as hard as possible to match teams evenly, so that the effort put into the match has more of a factor in the outcome. In a regular play session you’ll more often either win by a large margin, or lose by one, than you will get paired against a relatively evenly matched team. That HAS to change, your w/l% should NOT be factored when matchmaking, only close-skill level matching and connection should.

And finally is aiming. Starting with controller, there’s a whole video going into Infinite’s code, and MCC’s that explains how it’s different, and how it impacts the game. Look up Critical Infinite’s Why Halo aiming SUCKs part 1 on YouTube if you want to check it out. The short version is: In Infinite your reticle does not slow down in a radius around the enemy, but rather only while the enemy is within the reticle already. That makes adjusting your aim during a gunfight far less comfortable and intuitive in Infinite than other shooters on most of the game’s weapons. This needs to be addressed, and the best part is it’s a pretty easy fix, they just need to change some number values in the weapon coding on a per-weapon basis to make it feel better. They can even make it optional so people who actually like the current aiming mechanics can stick with them.

For M&K that’s a trickier topic. M&K suffers a lot and I’m far less experienced with it. But if I had to suggest a fix, it would be to allow the reticle to turn red again, and possibly enable bullet magnetism, but to a smaller degree than controller has. Movement in Infinite is very jarring compared to other M&K shooters, because of your ability to change direction on a dime. A little forgiveness should be afforded to them the same way it is to controller users.

2 Likes
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So if you are trying to use controller this should help with the aiming a lot.

“https://forums.halowaypoint.com/t/need-help-aiming-in-infinite-if-it-feels-off-to-you-try-this-set-up-for-controllers/11780”

I made it because yeah the default aiming and control scheme in Infinite is bad. Now it feels super smooth and very similar to Destiny aiming which i love.

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For me the 3 things are:

  • Netcode/Desync/Matchmaking algorithm.
  • The very severe lack of content.
  • The aggressive predatory MTX cosmetics system/Lack of proper progression.
4

Why 343 changed the traditional aiming in this game is beyond me…
Why 343 created a halo game that has a worse connection than a game running on dial up in 2004.
Why 343 is working on the store, customization rather than fixing bugs, weapon placements, equipment placements, map spawns is beyond me.
Why 343 requires you to be connected to the internet for a “LAN” is beyond me…
Why 343 listen to Ubernick that started playing Halo when Halo Reach came out is beyond me.

I had high hopes for this game but it will slowly fade out like MCC and only will be played by hardcore veterans with an average of 2000 - 3000 players daily.

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It’s not the default settings I take issue with, my settings have been tweaked already. It’s the baseline mechanics for aim assist that have been altered in a way that fundamentally makes the game uncomfortable to aim.

They also really need to re-implement movement acceleration. On-a-dime strafing is not a mechanic I appreciate in Halo.

It does increase the skill gap, that’s true. But it also really messes with the “feel” of the Halo dance.

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Thank you for taking the time out to make a post on the aiming.

343 needs to talk about the aiming. At least dedicate an article to it or something.

1 Like
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  1. Desync.
  2. Progression.
  3. Content.

Hopefully all the telemetry they are collecting in S2 helps with desync.

Progression needs to be an XP rank (weighted to performance). Then they can change the CSR to be less of a progression; smaller scale with a max cap. And while we are at it - change the weekly challenges to cumulative score with weightings for winning, consecutive games, finishing the game, daily play, trying different modes, and participating in events.

Content. More maps and a pathway to spotlight Forge creations.

PS. With the aim - it took me a while to appreciate the relationship between FOV and sensitivity. You really need to find the balance between the two. And secondly the max threshold of the sticks is under rated. You need it high on the left (fast strafe) and lower on the right (smoother aiming).

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Yes Desync should be the priority but I think that we should consider the possibility that its a part of the game at this point, I mean why hasn’t it been fixed. Game needs some PVE modes. PVP just isn’t cutting it anymore. I like that people are bringing up progression, I just don’t know though. In a game designed around a cosmetic store front and selling you a battle pass every few months does progression even matter anymore?

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Part of the Season 2 update was putting in telemetry - so I’d wager they are not really sure why it happens.

And or their initial attempts to fix it just ended up causing worse problems elsewhere.

Some have suggested it’s tied with Xbox One support - which is not easily dropped. Not without producing enough Series S/X consoles to meet demand if you pulled the plug.

Others have pointed out that curb sliding et al is a side effect of the problems causing desync. Maybe they are having trouble fixing desync but maintaining the feel of how Infinite plays.

Plus they have a couple of huge updates coming - co-op campaign and forge. It may just simply not be the time to overhaul major parts of the game code. Get all the parts stable first and lay the ground work for fixing the desync.

Whatever it is, it sounds complicated.