After Cyberpunk 2077, Halo Infinite’s delay is welcomed by fans

After Cyberpunk 2077, Halo Infinite’s delay is well received by fans. In August 343 Industries dropped the bombshell that Halo Infinite would no longer be released with the Xbox Series X and would instead be delayed until 2021. As 343 said, this was done to ensure that the team would have enough time to deliver a Halo game experience that meets our vision. At the time, it felt like a major blow to the fans and their expectations.

In an otherwise emotionally charged year, both positive and negative, with pitching and delay issues, this news was significantly controversial. Especially in the run-up to the release of Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Now that the consoles have arrived and we’ve had a few months to process the news, the decision seems wiser than ever, especially given the reaction around Cyberpunk 2077.

Cyberpunk 2077 was one of the most anticipated games of the year (and perhaps of the generation). But, with all the delays, it is clear that CD Projekt Red released Cyberpunk 2077 earlier than it should have been and therefore has attracted a lot of negative press, particularly regarding its performance on the last generation of consoles. We still do not know what the situation of Halo Infinite would have been like. But something like this could have been the fate of Halo Infinite if it had been launched as planned last November.

It is well documented how badly the original launch of Xbox One in 2013 was handled, and Microsoft could not afford to make the same mistakes again with Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Ultimately, any negative pressure around Halo Infinite would have been a massive blow to the brand at launch. This is what Xbox boss Phil Spencer said about the decision in August:

We are disappointed, we know it was something people expected this year, but we are also incredibly committed to delivering a great game and I think that is the most important thing. I’ll apologise to the fans, because I never like to set expectations and then not meet them, but I also think we’re making the right decision for the long term, both for Xbox and Halo and our customers.

Phil spencer

Looking back now, the collective decision of 343 Industries and Phil Spencer’s team, as difficult as it must have been to make, certainly seems to have been sensible. And while Cyberpunk 2077 will probably recover over time, we are hopeful that the extra year will allow Halo Infinite to really fly out the door when it is finally launched next fall. In fact, Halo Infinite’s catch-shares confirm the good path the game is taking after the delay.