Halo Infinite's long-awaited campaign co-op does not include online matchmaking in either its current beta phase or final version.
As reported by GamesRadar+, 343 Industries has confirmed that the game will not include an option to connect with a stranger online, only including direct user-to-user invites.
"Online matchmaking will not be available with final co-op," an Xbox spokesperson said. "We encourage you to use the Halo [Looking for Group service] and the new Discord voice call feature on Xbox to find players to party up with as you continue playing the beta."
The campaign co-op beta finally went live on July 15 eight months after Halo Infinite was released. It was delayed from the game's initial release date in December last year. 343 later announced another delay to the mode, saying it wouldn't arrive until May 2022 at the earliest, and only in June confirmed a beta would begin in July.
The game hasn't had the smoothest post-launch period and even 343 admitted its multiplayer mode is lacking content, and while the Season 2 update was meant to address concerns, it too had a bumpy launch.
Elsewhere in the world of Halo, however, excitement has built around a new $20,000 competition launched by content creator Charlie ‘Cr1tikal’ White, who will award the cash to anyone who can complete the game on the hardest difficulty without dying.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.