Halo Infinite: Initial Multiplayer Reactions Are Positive Even As Battle Pass Grind Draws Criticism

Posted on November 15, 2021 by Logan Plant

After a week full of rumors, the reports turned out to be true, as Microsoft released Halo Infinite's multiplayer more than three weeks early. The multiplayer was supposed to launch alongside Infinite's campaign on December 8, but now that it's here to celebrate the franchise's 20th anniversary, the reactions are already pouring in.

After many players had to figure out how to get around Halo Infinite's blue screen, Spartans on PC and Xbox consoles have been jumping into Halo Infinite's multiplayer beta.

Fans Reacting to the Early Release

Even though it had been rumored for the past few days, many Halo fans were still surprised and delighted by the multiplayer's early launch. In addition to raw excitement over the release, fans also reacted to the launch lining up with the 20th anniversary of the franchise.

Players Joking About the Blue Screen

As players waited for the blue screen to go away to jump into the multiplayer, they passed the time by posting jokes and memes about the giant, blue roadblock.

How Halo's Early Release Impacts Other Games

It's a stacked year for FPS games, with the release of a new Battlefield, Halo, Far Cry, Call of Duty, and more. Some players reacted to dropping the other games on their list in favorite of Infinite, while others joked about storage space on their consoles, and the stress on Xbox's servers with the recent release of Forza Horizon 5.

Gameplay Reactions

Of course, now that the game is live, players are reacting to how Halo Infinite feels. Many players are happy with the gameplay, calling it incredible. Some are happy with all of the built-in modes, while a few players are worried about the battle pass progression, calling it an "unenjoyable grind".

"It’s a slog already," one user wrote on Reddit. Many players are agreeing, saying the gameplay is fun, but the progression for the battle pass is way too slow. Season 1 of the battle pass, titled Heroes of Reach, touts more than 100 rewards to earn along with a host of limited time events. The season will run until May 2022.

In the meantime, other folks also want to see the modes split up in different playlists. Right now, Slayer, the main deathmatch mode, is grouped together with the objective-based modes in one large playlist. Many are hoping to see Slayer separated into a different playlist so it is always available.

Modes and progression systems can always change in a live service game like Halo Infinite, so it will be interesting to see how these opinions change over time. Overall though, impressions seem positive — in stark contrast to Battlefield 2042, which is also in the process of launching.

It'll only be a few more weeks until we see the Halo fanbase's reaction to the Halo Infinite campaign. For now, you can check out our Halo Infinite campaign hands-on preview. Or, check out how 343 is approaching battle passes for Infinite's multiplayer.

Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

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