What if Infinite fails and why would it fail ?

Games Halo Infinite
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What do you think will happen if Halo Infinite fails to meet fan expectations and why do you think it would fail ?

I think that if Halo Infinite fails, Xbox would take a huge hit in sales and I also think that Halo would die because of the community losing all faith in 343. In my opinion the reason it could fail is by building off of Halo 5 (which we know wasn’t the most appreciated halo game and because advanced movement is a dead trend) or going on a entirely new direction (which would result in both classic and new fans being disappointed).

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Preface: I really hope Infinite can pull a Doom 2016 or God of War 2018, however, I’m not certain it will. While the trailers have been positively received so far they’ve only showed off stuff that’s near-universally liked (mainly art-style and soundtrack, which most people who don’t mind the new styles, like myself, are fine with I believe). Once they show off gameplay it’s gonna be a crap-fest. The Halo community is so divided on what they want that no matter what 343 shows there’s pretty much guaranteed to be a large number of dissenters. And if they do continue Halo 5’s storyline with evil Cortana (which they really kinda have to) even more people are gonna get angry. If the Flood or the Didact doesn’t return even more people are gonna be angry. If there’s even a hint of Prometheans, guess what, people are probably gonna get angry. It’s gonna take a miracle for 343 to pull this off and while I fully believe they’re capable of doing it I also believe the community might not accept it regardless. And if this one fails, I don’t think the franchise will be able to recover.

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Halo is not going to “die” if Infinite is considered underwhelming by the fans, similar to Halo 4 & 5.

343i is the single largest developer that Microsoft owns and is entirely devoted to the Halo IP.

It’s possible that a new IP could be positioned as the Xbox brand’s “primary mascot” if Infinite is deemed a failure, but the game series will almost certainly continue.

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I’d say that the unkowns we currently have regarding the surroundings of Infinite, makes it very difficult to even make an educated guess what’d happen to Halo. Or what kind of magnitude of failure. Financial? Player retention? Reviews?

The new engine for instance, is it or is it not going to be available for public use like Unity and UE4? Or third party developers. Since Infinite will release on PC, it is plausible to assume that they could make it available for public use. A failure for Infinite could mean a lack of interest in the engine from developers and private use.

The Series X, if Infinite is meant to be a system seller, a failure here, and if there are no other games worth getting the Series X for, the Xbox brand would face another setback, like Xbox One did even before launch.

i343. The company may likely remain, but I suspect there’ll be some change of faces at the top, perhaps some focus shifts will be seen, like Single player focused games progressing the story, and a free main multiplayer component which stays the sameish for a long period of time, supported by microtransactions and/or battlepasses.

I’d say the future of Halo, xbox and i343 are more rooted in what kind of expectations Microsoft have from it, and how they’d react to whayever failure may befall Infinite.

I’m certainly not certain what to expect as I as an outsider suspect the stakes are high, and they want to make the best and most impressive launch title possible.
However at the same time I fear that what we’ll get will be underwhelming, think Anthem, think Battlefront II, where the focus isn’t the players and the game, but players’ wallets and bank accounts.

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Define failure. Halo 4 and 5 arguably failed to meet fan expectations, but here we are. The truth is that as long as Halo maintains name recognition and 343i manages to churn out at least mediocre games, the games will probably be successful and popular enough that it justifies another sequel. As long as this keeps going, Microsoft will have Halo as a recognizable name in the line-up for their next console, and that’s probably all they need. Xbox hasn’t stood on a single franchise for many years. They have enough sufficiently well known game series that the game line up is more of a numbers game.

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It infinite fails, it will fade away and so will the xbox series x unless new offerings can justify it.

reasons for the failure could be as follows.
-goes in a new gameplay direction that new and old fans don’t like. Like some dumb gimmick (battle royale :)) that changes the formula of Halo.
-keeps enhanced movement
-centered around competitive too much (h5), centered around BTB and invasion too much (halo reach)
both of these communities are needed for a successful halo game
-nothing to grind for (armor + nameplates + skins) either because there is nothing there or it can be bought
-A crappy campaign that is bad design/story wise. (I don’t think it matters what factions are in the campaign just as long as it makes sense and they do not mess up the gameplay)
-No recurring updates/content
-a bad launch (like MCC - Year 1, heck Y1- )

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In the most extreme case? If this fails my guess is MS will take a lot of their assets from 343i and pull them into the Coalition, Turn10, Playground Games and all the other studios producing (presumably, if Hi fails to meet sales expectations that is) more revenue. Head figures at 343i would see a lot of changes too obviously. Whatever mp Hi had it would most probably go the ftp round to keep the game somewhat relevant. Servers could be empty though and MS would still keep it running - you never admit failure after all! The studio with new figure heads might even get a new name, because compared to Bioware our deer 343i has never managed to build a positive reputation for themselves (which sadden me, because the people working there are among the best devs and artists of the industry, I truly do believe it!).

I think Slipspace would become a tool similar to UE4 though, or at least a mod-tool. Mods do prolong a game’s life after all and it might even help this hypothetical sinking ship! Also if the software is capable and easy to use it might be a new platform for both indy and AAA developers - which would result in revenue for MS. The engine has to be good though and not only capable in producing FPS and/or Halo games!

For Halo itself? Imho that means:
a) we’re getting a hard-reboot retelling all Bungie titles with some new mechanics and bigger focus on SP with gameplay strongly reminiscent to to the original. Basically they pull off a Doom, if Hi isn’t exactly this already just as soft-reboot!
b) They soft-reboot the “spiritual”-reboot by making a new trilogy based in anther era of the Halo universe. Maybe with a younger Chief near the beginning of the war or focused on a completely different Spartan altogether in the far future.

I repeat though, this is the worst case scenario. I’m pretty sure MS made sure nothing like this is going to happen! Dunno about the MP, that actually might under-perform, but as long the SP is amazing it will sell and be a system seller as well! For the MP I’m really not sure though, because old fans have already left the party ages ago. People are claiming this is the last chance for 343i etc., but most old-school fans left with H4 already. And purely competitive people have left Halo even earlier with Reach! H4 did nothing to bring them back either (quite the opposite) and H5G, while catering to them, just had a completely different gameplay altogether - and even if that wasn’t the case, it came out a little too late.

Now if Hi goes with AMM imho it will fail, because those kind of players already got CoD, BF and plenty of BR games to chose from. If it’s classic it might be too late, because most went to PS4, Switch or the PC world and found a new home. See what you I mean? I really think it will be an amazing game objectively speaking and it will move a lot of consoles, but it might still fail in one aspect or the other. It also matters how you define failure of course! You might say being in the top 50 most played online games might be enough for instance, while imho a real MP system seller kinda has to be top five for the first few years.

That said TLOU and BotW sold like pancakes and those are not MP focused at all! So what Hi need to do to succeed is having an amazing campaign that surpasses all our expectations!

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If Halo Infinite refuses to break the trend of disappointment, the franchise won’t get another chance at success. While 2010 wasn’t kind to Halo and its creators’ reputation, that reputation was destroyed by 2014. 343 Industries has been repairing it since 2018, and there’s a level of trust and success in them and Halo that was once thought to be impossible to achieve. If Halo Infinite fails, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me”.

As for why it could fail? Chasing market trends, manipulative marketing and monetization, buggy launch, and any other issue you expect from a modern Halo product.

Microsoft have too much money to put an end to Halo. However, they can put an end to 343 Industries should they deem it necessary to do so.

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I can’t see Halo Infinite going “belly-up.” 343 claims they got it right this time and the new art style implies they’re using older styles and themes that the older fans have come to know and love. But if by some crazy twist of fate, that does happen, I think 343 can pull through because they’re a massive company focused exclusively on Halo. Microsoft will likely not pull the plugs on keeping them afloat. Look how they redeemed themselves with the Master Chief Collection over time.

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I’m worried about Halo Infinite nostalgia pandering too much. None of what I’ve seen so far makes it seem like 343i isn’t going to attempt to do just that. They did that a little bit in Halo 5: Guardians with its opening theme, Halo 2 BR, Halo CE Pistol, the Halo 2 Beam Rifle, the Remember Reach update, and numerous playlists that try to play with more of a “classic style”.

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> 2535419216296555;10:
> I’m worried about Halo Infinite nostalgia pandering too much. None of what I’ve seen so far makes it seem like 343i isn’t going to attempt to do just that. They did that a little bit in Halo 5: Guardians with its opening theme, Halo 2 BR, Halo CE Pistol, the Halo 2 Beam Rifle, the Remember Reach update, and numerous playlists that try to play with more of a “classic style”.

They kinda had to after the push back from the community. Like many said, evolution and new additios are good and needed, but not at the cost of the core game that made Halo great in first place! I agree though that pandering alone ain’t gonna safe them.

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“What do you think will happen if Halo Infinite fails to meet fan expectations?”
Three things could happen; 1.) Halo dies. No more Halo.
2.) 343i gets dissolved ans a new studio takes their place.
3.) Halo goes on a very long hiatus. No Halo content for years.

“and why do you think it would fail?”
The broadest and most basic assumption I can make, 343i doesn’t learn from their mistakes.

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Another purely speculatory thread. There’s too many moving variables. There’s no definition of what “failure” would be. This isn’t the first thread like this, but should be the last (it won’t be). Anyone can take as many stabs at what could happen but there’s no way to have any clue.

If it fails, by whatever measure you decide, you’ll find out what happens.

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I try not to think about Halo failing because Halo really needs a miracle and a come back. MCC on PC shows people care about Halo but to answer your question…

If Halo: Infinite fails, I think that is it, that’s the end of Halo. Unfortunately the Reclaimer Saga was not well received. Where some people praised the story of Halo 4, a lot of people are starting to say they hate it now. Halo: 5 may have been financially successful but the reviews and fan backlash was immense. I even heard writers got fired or changed afterward. Also this would be a huge detriment to the Xbox Series X, the console already lacks exclusives and lets be honest Halo sells Microsoft. I can imagine this would be the final console if it fails and they focus on just PC gaming hardware and software.

The only way I can see Halo: Infinite truly failing is the story wasn’t great, they changed the mechanics of the game too much, the game was too short, the game was too linear, the multiplayer was horrible, not enough customizable options, not enough feedback from developers or fans, gamebreaking bugs or glitches, ridiculous achievements (Looking at you LASO.)

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> 2535419216296555;10:
> I’m worried about Halo Infinite nostalgia pandering too much. None of what I’ve seen so far makes it seem like 343i isn’t going to attempt to do just that. They did that a little bit in Halo 5: Guardians with its opening theme, Halo 2 BR, Halo CE Pistol, the Halo 2 Beam Rifle, the Remember Reach update, and numerous playlists that try to play with more of a “classic style”.

Exactly. Based on what infinite has shown, I feel like 343 is playing it too safe by simply doing what the majority says the loudest. Granted, it can’t be even remotely as bad as H5 that way… But I hate the idea of Halo becoming another stagnant vampire franchise feeding on nostalgia and repeating itself into oblivion.

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> 2535459079655548;15:
> > 2535419216296555;10:
> > I’m worried about Halo Infinite nostalgia pandering too much. None of what I’ve seen so far makes it seem like 343i isn’t going to attempt to do just that. They did that a little bit in Halo 5: Guardians with its opening theme, Halo 2 BR, Halo CE Pistol, the Halo 2 Beam Rifle, the Remember Reach update, and numerous playlists that try to play with more of a “classic style”.
>
> Exactly. Based on what infinite has shown, I feel like 343 is playing it too safe by simply doing what the majority says the loudest. Granted, it can’t be even remotely as bad as H5 that way… But I hate the idea of Halo becoming another stagnant vampire franchise feeding on nostalgia and repeating itself into oblivion.

As the original trilogy evolved with time, I wouldn’t worry too much about what would happen if 343 Industries were to do the unthinkable by making a Halo game for the majority of fans (assuming you’re right and we are the majority).

On a serious note, we’ve been told and shown that this is a hybrid game numerous times. Grunts are still ugly goblins, Elites are still beefy, there’s still microtransactions and loot boxes, and there’ll probably be sprint and some form of advanced movement. Outside of its visuals being much more faithful to Halo’s identity, you have little to fear.

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> 2535459079655548;15:
> > 2535419216296555;10:
> > I’m worried about Halo Infinite nostalgia pandering too much. None of what I’ve seen so far makes it seem like 343i isn’t going to attempt to do just that. They did that a little bit in Halo 5: Guardians with its opening theme, Halo 2 BR, Halo CE Pistol, the Halo 2 Beam Rifle, the Remember Reach update, and numerous playlists that try to play with more of a “classic style”.
>
> Exactly. Based on what infinite has shown, I feel like 343 is playing it too safe by simply doing what the majority says the loudest. Granted, it can’t be even remotely as bad as H5 that way… But I hate the idea of Halo becoming another stagnant vampire franchise feeding on nostalgia and repeating itself into oblivion.

I think it already is becoming that.

The covenant, for example: after 6 games (Reach, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5G), you’d think they would be very weak, barely having enough numbers to keep fighting, especially with all of their internal conflicts and other factions trying to fight them. But, no, they seem to be doing fine enough to keep re-appearing in every major Halo game. (Admittedly, I’m not familiar with the lore, so what I said could be wrong.)

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> 2535419216296555;17:
> > 2535459079655548;15:
> > > 2535419216296555;10:
> > > I’m worried about Halo Infinite nostalgia pandering too much. None of what I’ve seen so far makes it seem like 343i isn’t going to attempt to do just that. They did that a little bit in Halo 5: Guardians with its opening theme, Halo 2 BR, Halo CE Pistol, the Halo 2 Beam Rifle, the Remember Reach update, and numerous playlists that try to play with more of a “classic style”.
> >
> > Exactly. Based on what infinite has shown, I feel like 343 is playing it too safe by simply doing what the majority says the loudest. Granted, it can’t be even remotely as bad as H5 that way… But I hate the idea of Halo becoming another stagnant vampire franchise feeding on nostalgia and repeating itself into oblivion.
>
> I think it already is becoming that.
>
> The covenant, for example: after 6 games (Reach, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5G), you’d think they would be very weak, barely having enough numbers to keep fighting, especially with all of their internal conflicts and other factions trying to fight them. But, no, they seem to be doing fine enough to keep re-appearing in every major Halo game. (Admittedly, I’m not familiar with the lore, so what I said could be wrong.)

Yes, it would do you well to get familiar with the lore. The same thing could easily be said about the UNSC since they were the ones losing it for years (before the Great Schism, which I would argue was the greatest contributor to the Covenant’s downfall; I consider Halo CE’s events to be a minor victory). The Covenant have a lot of species, a lot of tech (faster ships, shielded personnel, hovercraft, etc. they are only inefficient in A.I.), and a lot of resources.

What is commonly misunderstood is that in the Halo Universe, the UNSC and the Covenant are fighting a resource war. Both have hundreds of planets. Even if games like Reach give you the impression that either side was near defeat or victory, that’s not the case. The only time the impression given was true was in Halo 2 during the Great Schism, since it was a fast, close-proximity civil war versus a slower chess-like resource war. This isn’t Star Wars where a galactic empire holds 90% of resources aboard an easily destructible space base. So it makes sense that instead of the Covenant just disappearing after the Great Schism, they split into a variety of factions. Cutting off the head doesn’t kill the beast, it fractures it.

Halo 4 and 5’s Storm Covenant makes logical sense, but they’re a boring faction to fight because you have no clue why you’re even fighting them and vice verse. If it was explained better, and given a purpose, it could work.

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I don’t think the possibility of failure is even attainable. At the end of the day, Halo is Halo. It will be played and in my opinion, I think we are in for one hell of a surprise! :ok_hand:t3:

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> 2533274870308953;9:
> I can’t see Halo Infinite going “belly-up.” 343 claims they got it right this time and the new art style implies they’re using older styles and themes that the older fans have come to know and love. But if by some crazy twist of fate, that does happen, I think 343 can pull through because they’re a massive company focused exclusively on Halo. Microsoft will likely not pull the plugs on keeping them afloat. Look how they redeemed themselves with the Master Chief Collection over time.

I wouldn’t necessarily call it a “redemption” when h3 still has shot registration issues that’s WORSE that the original and the fact that they neglected it and swept it under the rug for FOUR YEARS. Because they decided screw it when halo 5 came out. But it’s DEFINITELY appreciated.