Halo Infinite

Dovahkiin

Well-known member
Details from a 343i Q&A on Infinite.
CONFIRMED: In order to help make the ring feel alive, so in addition to day and night, they have weather systems. This includes a wind system. However, there are not rain storms or snow storms at launch, though they are "excited about the future."
IMPLIED: This also seemingly confirms future campaign content (which we'd assumed before.)
CONFIRMED: Day night does affect what enemies you'll run into. Grunts sleep more at night, phantoms have search lights and are around more, etc. Coils, shield enemies, etc. also appear more in darker areas and at nighttime.
CONFIRMED: There is no hostile wildlife in the game at the moment. There are apparently some cute "space gophers" though, so that's cool. There is wildlife that is bioluminescent that appears at night.
CONFIRMED: Dual-wielding is not in the game, and it is not currently in the cards. "We can do everything", but they want to focus on the weapons, grenades, melee, and their focus on equipment is why dual-wielding is not present.
CONFIRMED: There are no playable Elites (sadness) being supported because "this is a Master Chief and Spartan story." They did say "never say never" to that and that we may see them one day in the game.
CONFIRMED: Weapon upgrades were toyed around with as an idea for the campaign for customizing them and such, and they felt it was a rabbit hole, but the game veered too far away from what Halo is about, so they decided to take a "different avenue" in things you can progress. You are able to upgrade equipment items you unlock throughout the game, and there are "cool weapon variants" you can find and unlock in the game.
CONFIRMED: You can hold only one piece of equipment in Multiplayer, and it is currently a "use it and it is gone" sort in the Multiplayer. They do, however, want to implement tools so that you can change this in custom games to allow multiple pieces of equipment to be used at once.
CONFIRMED: The game is not open world. It is inspired by missions like Silent Cartographer, as an example. Paraphrasing a bit here, but an example they gave was what if you could keep a Scorpion you had at the end of one mission and take it to the next? What if you could take that scorpion, and instead of driving it up to a gate, you took it up a hill and destroyed a wraith before it even knew you were there? The world has many paths to get to the objectives you need to reach. Like Silent Cartographer on steroids.
CONFIRMED: There will be multiple biomes. "Pacific Northwest" is the primary biome, but there will be sub-biomes, such as swampy wetlands, wartorn areas referred to as "the Deadlands" which feature environmental storytelling, hexagon caves, forerunner architecture to explore, Banished bases.
CONFIRMED: The hexagonal pillars are still an important environmental structure as an "underlying" structure of the damaged ring. They have continued to work on their rendering, such as their shaders and how they are grouped.
CONFIRMED: Nothing is stopping you from, for instance, grabbing a banshee is jumping to some objectives farther out in the story. You can do that. The story is structured with a general path, but there are multiple places you can go outside of the primary story beat that is present in the game, allowing you to stray from the path, rescue marines, fight Banished, explore structures, regardless of if that is what the game demands at this moment. The core story serves as an ever-present anchor that will often drop you off, so you can't jump ahead and experience primary story content, but side areas and invisible walls are not what limit you. He story is crafted to flow you through the areas in a natural way. So...
CONFIRMED: There is a linear thread still, and the story will progress in a linear fashion. Some areas will unlock and be visitable based on your progress in the story, or you may be able to find things because of what vehicles you now have access to, you can take Marines with you that you've rescued. You can't cut ahead in the story, but it's up to you how you tackle it.
CONFIRMED: There are many ways to find story elements on Zeta Halo beyond the "Golden Path." An example given was a crashed pelican that has skidded across the terrain.
CONFIRMED: There are audio logs in the game you can find that tell stories of battles on the ring, personal stories, etc. They compliment environmental storytelling in many areas as well. They were likened to a "cool radio drama."
CONFIRMED: The ring in the skybox is a full 3D model, not a painted skybox so that the ring can have a characteristic attribute to it. This also makes it much easier to see directly where the areas you are present on on the ring connect to the actual ring, as well as allowing it to cast more realistic shadows onto the world. There is even a point where the ring briefly will eclipse the sun and give a cool "midnight feel."
CONFIRMED: Cutscenes are affected by the day/night cycles, as they are still all done live in-engine. Thanks to the smooth transitions between gameplay and cutscenes, whatever time of day it is, whatever weapon you have in your hand, etc. is all present in the cutscenes, as well. Transitions between cutscene and gameplay will always be smooth, as well.
CONFIRMED: They have put a lot of effort into mixing relatable scenery (trees, etc.) with the major megastructures, rocks, etc. that will be found so that the sense of scale will not be lost on the player.
CONFIRMED: Banished maintain their "heavy metal, red war paint" aesthetic from Halo Wars 2 which we will see in their structures, etc. We will see they have structures with spikes that were dropped from orbit and dug into the environment, slammed onto the ground, crushing whatever was below, which contrasts against the environment.
CONFIRMED: Yes, you can knock things off of the edge of Zeta Halo. An example given was a while playing they even managed to, by luck, knock a Wraith off of the ledge of the ring and into the abyss. It is difficult, but it can be pulled off with luck and skill combined.
CONFIRMED: A lot of the concerns brought up by the community after the July reveal was on a list of things they wanted to address, and they are thankful for the extra time to do so.
CONFIRMED: There will both be outposts and bases you can encounter, as well as patrols and random encounters you can come across between locations.
CONFIRMED: There is a system in place to recognize what you have done/are doing. If you are on foot, encounters will spawn that are meant to be fun to do on foot, but if you come in a flying vehicle, there will also be things there that are designed to be fun to encounter while flying. This is not designed to punish you, simply to be a fun encounter based on how you're exploring.
EXAMPLE: In previous Halo games, the linear experience was designed around what vehicles they knew you may have. But here, encounters are designed to be fun in, say, a Wasp (he mentioned the Wasp specifically, so this seemingly confirms the Wasp will be in the game.) and so will spawn if you are in a Wasp.
Additionally, Point of Light's been released, and although I've yet to finish it myself, it's garnered a pretty positive response for the most part. Also has some pretty big lore details and hints for the future that I'll share below.

Bastion, which was teased in Halo 5, is revealed to be a mobile Shield World acting as the Librarian's secret laboratory. It's basically a vault for her most valuable research, mostly involving the Precursors, Forerunners, Ancient Humans, and Living Time. The interior is also modeled on the surface of Earth, albeit with minor modifications so as to be more dramatic and aesthetically pleasing, like “the rough gem of Earth cut into a polished jewel.” By the end of the book, it winds up in Spark's possession, who endeavors to keep it away from the Created and catch up on the Librarian's research in the meantime.
The other central object of the book is a Forerunner ship called the Eden, which the Librarian arranged to travel to another galaxy and, get this, reseed the motherfucking Precursors. Apparently two plant-like Precursors briefly survived their genocide by the Forerunners in Path Kethona, albeit with serious wounds. While they were able to heal themselves, they opted to die instead, and from their corpses came seeds that germinated over the next million years into the following...

On the cavern floor thousands of green teardrop plants as large as melons awaken with the light, unfurling wide leathery leaves that fan gently over the ground with the grace of a bowing dancer, and exposing a glowing starburst of delicate white blooms dangling from groups of lantern-like stems. The spectacle is breathtaking.

... and will one day grow into adult Precursors in some other galaxy. Accompanying them are spores that are reminiscent of the Flood, but the Librarian (or an AI imprint of her, more accurately) is unconcerned that they'll develop into the Flood because, in her own words...

“To understand the Flood, one must understand that the concept of one-mind unity inherent in the Flood was not an aspect inherent in the Precursor race as a whole. There was corruption, yes. But there was purity. There was division, and unity. Inclusion and exclusion. All Precursors were not created the same. Just as the last living Precursor, the Primordial, relished in suffering, so did others celebrate joy.

The Primordial, and later the Flood, went against the very nature of the Mantle, its First Rule to preserve the balance of Living Time. Incalculable destruction, gratuitous slaughter, and suffering on a galaxywide scale create a distortion and restriction in the flow of Living Time, putting it at risk of collapse.

My people erasing our Creators and continuing the hypocrisy of holding ourselves worthy of the Mantle set the stage for the greatest imbalance Living Time had ever seen. And then the Flood continued this imbalance.

These blooms are not corrupted with vengeance and misery, they are clean and beautiful and right, and they have a great purpose."


Not likely to have a large role in any future games, but I'm quite pleased at the confirmation of benevolent Precursors.
Zeta Halo also appears in the book, and among other unique features, has
  • an extremely verdant surface, but an extensively damaged subterranean framework from the events in Primordium, and lower levels that still have no power at all.
  • native creatures that travel in swarms and can disable starships with electromagnetic attacks.
  • a massive chamber that was once the core of Mendicant Bias, but now serves as a monument that houses the essences of Ancient Humans.
  • a Monitor called Despondent Pyre who is "everywhere and nowhere", along with numerous subordinate Monitors, one of whom is called Adjutant Veridity.
  • Flood research facilities, but ones at no apparent risk of containment breach. For now.

Lastly, the next Troy Denning book and sequel to Shadows of Reach, Divine Wind, has also been announced. Without spoiling anything major for its predecessor, there's a strong chance it will tie into the Halo Wars 2 plot.

Halo-Divine-Wind-banner.jpg
 
Last edited:

Laskar

Would you kindly?
Founder
Details from a 343i Q&A on Infinite.

Additionally, Point of Light's been released, and although I've yet to finish it myself, it's garnered a pretty positive response for the most part. Also has some pretty big lore details and hints for the future that I'll share below.

Bastion, which was teased in Halo 5, is revealed to be a mobile Shield World acting as the Librarian's secret laboratory. It's basically a vault for her most valuable research, mostly involving the Precursors, Forerunners, Ancient Humans, and Living Time. The interior is also modeled on the surface of Earth, albeit with minor modifications so as to be more dramatic and aesthetically pleasing, like “the rough gem of Earth cut into a polished jewel.” By the end of the book, it winds up in Spark's possession, who endeavors to keep it away from the Created and catch up on the Librarian's research in the meantime.
The other central object of the book is a Forerunner ship called the Eden, which the Librarian arranged to travel to another galaxy and, get this, reseed the motherfucking Precursors. Apparently two plant-like Precursors briefly survived their genocide by the Forerunners in Path Kethona, albeit with serious wounds. While they were able to heal themselves, they opted to die instead, and from their corpses came seeds that germinated over the next million years into the following...

On the cavern floor thousands of green teardrop plants as large as melons awaken with the light, unfurling wide leathery leaves that fan gently over the ground with the grace of a bowing dancer, and exposing a glowing starburst of delicate white blooms dangling from groups of lantern-like stems. The spectacle is breathtaking.

... and will one day grow into adult Precursors in some other galaxy. Accompanying them are spores that are reminiscent of the Flood, but the Librarian (or an AI imprint of her, more accurately) is unconcerned that they'll develop into the Flood because, in her own words...

“To understand the Flood, one must understand that the concept of one-mind unity inherent in the Flood was not an aspect inherent in the Precursor race as a whole. There was corruption, yes. But there was purity. There was division, and unity. Inclusion and exclusion. All Precursors were not created the same. Just as the last living Precursor, the Primordial, relished in suffering, so did others celebrate joy.

The Primordial, and later the Flood, went against the very nature of the Mantle, its First Rule to preserve the balance of Living Time. Incalculable destruction, gratuitous slaughter, and suffering on a galaxywide scale create a distortion and restriction in the flow of Living Time, putting it at risk of collapse.

My people erasing our Creators and continuing the hypocrisy of holding ourselves worthy of the Mantle set the stage for the greatest imbalance Living Time had ever seen. And then the Flood continued this imbalance.

These blooms are not corrupted with vengeance and misery, they are clean and beautiful and right, and they have a great purpose."


Not likely to have a large role in any future games, but I'm quite pleased at the confirmation of benevolent Precursors.
Zeta Halo also appears in the book, and among other unique features, has
  • an extremely verdant surface, but an extensively damaged subterranean framework from the events in Primordium, and lower levels that still have no power at all.
  • native creatures that travel in swarms and can disable starships with electromagnetic attacks.
  • a massive chamber that was once the core of Mendicant Bias, but now serves as a monument that houses the essences of Ancient Humans.
  • a Monitor called Despondent Pyre who is "everywhere and nowhere", along with numerous subordinate Monitors, one of whom is called Adjutant Veridity.
  • Flood research facilities, but ones at no apparent risk of containment breach. For now.

Lastly, the next Troy Denning book and sequel to Shadows of Reach, Divine Wind, has also been announced. Without spoiling anything major for its predecessor, there's a strong chance it will tie into the Halo Wars 2 plot.

Halo-Divine-Wind-banner.jpg
I'm late to the party here, but burlap sacks really, really don't look good on Elites.
Aside from that... not much. Good to see that the next novel from Troy Denning is going to focus on Castor, Veta, and the Ferrets, because that's what he seems to enjoy writing the most. Also, that's clearly a Prelate in the background, unless the Yonhet got much more acrobatic when I wasn't looking.

Just wish these covers had more spice to them, rather than being the characters standing in front of the camera.
 

Dovahkiin

Well-known member
New Inside Infinite update, going into the audio design.

Lots of audio samples in the link I can't embed, including sounds for a new Banished anti-armor weapon called the Skewer.

hi_banishedskewer_conceptart_1200x675-7aa9ae96377647b1bf10ec763a4c280c.jpg


And some ambient audio in a Forerunner environment.


I'm late to the party here, but burlap sacks really, really don't look good on Elites.
Yeah. I actually would have liked to see a visual depiction of the elaborate tabards that Denning introduced as the Covenant's uniform equivalents... but I guess that 'Gadogai's is much more austere as part of his warrior-monk schtick.
that's clearly a Prelate in the background, unless the Yonhet got much more acrobatic when I wasn't looking.
Glad we're finally seeing another one.

Judging by that cover and the events of SoR, I'm guessing that his job will be to kill Castor.
 

Laskar

Would you kindly?
Founder
New Inside Infinite update, going into the audio design.

Lots of audio samples in the link I can't embed, including sounds for a new Banished anti-armor weapon called the Skewer.

hi_banishedskewer_conceptart_1200x675-7aa9ae96377647b1bf10ec763a4c280c.jpg


And some ambient audio in a Forerunner environment.



Yeah. I actually would have liked to see a visual depiction of the elaborate tabards that Denning introduced as the Covenant's uniform equivalents... but I guess that 'Gadogai's is much more austere as part of his warrior-monk schtick.

Glad we're finally seeing another one.

Judging by that cover and the events of SoR, I'm guessing that his job will be to kill Castor.

Someone took the battle rifle sounds from the article and ported them into Halo 5. The result is pure sex for the ears.
 

Dovahkiin

Well-known member
Summary, copypasted from JordanBookWorm on SB...

-support for "super ultrawide" ratios, like 32:9
-advanced graphics settings
-you can use your PC as a local LAN server for both PC and Xbox
-there are crossplay playlists for both ranked and social multiplayer
-matchmaking will be input restricted
-anticheat will be unintrusive, work to slow down the creation of cheat hacks, and work off behavioural observations, rather than data collection
-Steam and MS Store availability from day one
-another confirmation of Spartan Chatter in MP (thank fuck, I hate talking to team mates)
-Infinite is also a major tech investment for future installments in the franchise, with the new engine, dev tools, etc
-Waypoint is getting a complete rebuild, and there's a new mobile app coming to replace Halo Channel.

haloinfinite_campaign_pc_spire_32x9_wm-4926c5c11eea444daab70d0bd1dbd0e7.png

haloinfinite_campaign_pc_32x9_wm-9194fba57f384695964cd4d794e607d6.png

haloinfinite_campaign_pc_fov78_32x9_wm-3fbf0e1071f741ab96c5d180b81c6730.png

haloinfinite_campaign_pc_ring_21x9-9bc8168f0b9b49d28aa515e31bc93d91.png


We also have this new Mega Bloks pic of Escharum and Fred. Looks like Blue Team will have some presence in Infinite after all!

o738zngdy6w61.jpg
 

Zachowon

The Army Life for me! The POG life for me!
Founder
Summary, copypasted from JordanBookWorm on SB...

-support for "super ultrawide" ratios, like 32:9
-advanced graphics settings
-you can use your PC as a local LAN server for both PC and Xbox
-there are crossplay playlists for both ranked and social multiplayer
-matchmaking will be input restricted
-anticheat will be unintrusive, work to slow down the creation of cheat hacks, and work off behavioural observations, rather than data collection
-Steam and MS Store availability from day one
-another confirmation of Spartan Chatter in MP (thank fuck, I hate talking to team mates)
-Infinite is also a major tech investment for future installments in the franchise, with the new engine, dev tools, etc
-Waypoint is getting a complete rebuild, and there's a new mobile app coming to replace Halo Channel.

haloinfinite_campaign_pc_spire_32x9_wm-4926c5c11eea444daab70d0bd1dbd0e7.png

haloinfinite_campaign_pc_32x9_wm-9194fba57f384695964cd4d794e607d6.png

haloinfinite_campaign_pc_fov78_32x9_wm-3fbf0e1071f741ab96c5d180b81c6730.png

haloinfinite_campaign_pc_ring_21x9-9bc8168f0b9b49d28aa515e31bc93d91.png


We also have this new Mega Bloks pic of Escharum and Fred. Looks like Blue Team will have some presence in Infinite after all!

o738zngdy6w61.jpg
VALHALLA!
Holy shit it looks beautiful
 

Dovahkiin

Well-known member
So back in Issue 108, we introduced you to a new character by the name of Jega ‘Rdomnai, a Sangheili blademaster loyal to Escharum and the Banished forces. We also mentioned that he was only one of several characters you would encounter in your adventures on Zeta Halo. Some will make their intentions obvious, while others might only give hints at their own deeper history. Each is designed to help introduce you to the nature and evolving presence of the Banished in the Halo universe, and I have a feeling that different folks will find different favorites.

To help hold you over a bit until you learn more in the coming months, here’s a couple of Brute brothers you’re likely to run across. A word of advice: they aren’t big fans of Spartans.
cf-hyperiusconcept-3abec560076f42fe90a58cb656878089.jpg


Hyperius concept (David Heidhoff)

cf-tovarusconcept-960eb82ecf9a47509c35a93a3ed87446.jpg


Tovarus concept (Nuare & Zack Lee)
SCRAP PARTY

Also, beefy Brutes tend to need a beefy weapon. Say hello to the Scrap Cannon. Early on, it’s nickname was the “gatling mortar.” What’s that? You don’t enjoy hot metal being hurled at you from uncomfortable distances while you’re just trying to mind your own business and defend humanity? Well, too bad so sad, shouldn’t have made the Brutes mad. Anyway, before I go and make a song out of something else, take a peek at this cool concept art for this deadly and detachable damage-dealer.
cf-scrapcannonconcept-bdddf1868c1b45a9bd4fe0ff4f058e1c.jpg


Scrap Cannon concept (Daniel Chavez)
WOO PIG SOOIE

So we heard you like taking Marines on adventures and stuff. Well, let me introduce you to the Razorback. Think of it as the Warthog’s more spacious and robust cousin—perfect for crashing Banished house parties with and taking on scenic drives.
cf-razorbackconcept-e002067dc8074f52bf0080c4083173c9.jpg


Razorback concept (Darren Bacon and Sparth)
 

Laskar

Would you kindly?
Founder
cf-razorbackconcept-e002067dc8074f52bf0080c4083173c9.jpg


Razorback concept (Darren Bacon and Sparth)
Huh. I had an idea for a Warthog variant called the "Razorback", but it was a 6x6 extended chassis. This is something else. It just looks like a beefier Warthog.

I'm kind of disappointed. In one of the updates, 343i said that they were looking at something that fits between the Warthog and the Scorpion, and I hope this ain't it. On the other hand, this could be a Warthog variant that's not just a reskin, and I am absolutely all for that!
 

Dovahkiin

Well-known member





Looks like we're getting numerous updates over the upcoming week, including a dedicated multiplayer overview tomorrow. As for the story stuff...
We are continuing the story of the Master Chief and Cortana from Halo 5, but also telling a story that’s welcoming for new players. Cortana’s fate is one of the Infinite campaign’s big mysteries, and early in the story, you will meet a new UNSC AI, “the Weapon”, that was created to help stop Cortana. Together with the Pilot, the Master Chief, and the Weapon begin an epic adventure to explore Zeta Halo, defeat the Banished forces who control the ring, and unravel even more mysteries along the way.
> Nobody knows how Cortana was deleted
> The Weapon's still around despite having been supposed to self-delete after Cortana
> "Cortana's fate is one of the Infinite campaign's big mysteries."

This seems only marginally less transparent than her Didact quotes in Halo 5. I'm guessing this will just be the reason why she's absent long enough for the Banished to drop in and establish a foothold. Although I am increasingly getting the sense that it will be less about the Created and more about Cortana herself whenever that changes... which could be good or bad for the overarching plot, I think.

Otherwise, I was hoping for more on the campaign, but the multiplayer and graphical improvements both look solid. Also nice to finally see some of the new Forerunner sandbox in what looks like an upgraded Scattershot.

E3x-8uxWYAAoW0P


Also...

E3x-G1fXMAQmfjL
 

Zachowon

The Army Life for me! The POG life for me!
Founder





Looks like we're getting numerous updates over the upcoming week, including a dedicated multiplayer overview tomorrow. As for the story stuff...

> Nobody knows how Cortana was deleted
> The Weapon's still around despite having been supposed to self-delete after Cortana
> "Cortana's fate is one of the Infinite campaign's big mysteries."

This seems only marginally less transparent than her Didact quotes in Halo 5. I'm guessing this will just be the reason why she's absent long enough for the Banished to drop in and establish a foothold. Although I am increasingly getting the sense that it will be less about the Created and more about Cortana herself whenever that changes... which could be good or bad for the overarching plot, I think.

Otherwise, I was hoping for more on the campaign, but the multiplayer and graphical improvements both look solid. Also nice to finally see some of the new Forerunner sandbox in what looks like an upgraded Scattershot.

E3x-8uxWYAAoW0P


Also...

E3x-G1fXMAQmfjL

Why didn't the name the UNSC Marines training center after him? I mean the dude isnwhat every Marine should thrive to be...even though they actually couldn't.

But glad they named a place after him
 

ParadiseLost

Well-known member
Halo Infinite pretty much stole the show at the E3 Xbox/Bethesda showcase, but I think it was largely because pretty much no other games got major announcements or good trailers.

Like, The Outer Worlds 2 teaser trailer was literally just a joke trailer making fun of how bad and uninformative game trailers have been recently.
 

ParadiseLost

Well-known member
The Xbox/bethesda showcase has been the best of E3 so far

Eh.

I wish they'd focused more on releasing information.

For example, Bethesda's Ghostwire Tokyo, coming out in October, got 0 information. I think Microsoft gutted its marketing budget because Sony bought PS5 exclusivity for it before the Bethesda Acquisition deal was announced.

However, Ghostwire Tokyo is probably in my top 3 games for the rest of the year, so I wish it had gotten more info.

Also excited for Eidos Montreal's Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy.
 

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