Halo Infinite's Delay Is a Big Blow to the Xbox Series X's Launch Plans

Ed writes: "The surprise announcement of the release window of the Xbox Series X and the delay of Halo Infinite has changed everything about its launch."

[Sonic-and-Crash]

i dont understand why they didnt prepare a visually acceptable game up to this time really ...and wasnt one random game , is the damn Halo , the only flagship MS has to justify the purchase of Xbox ...they had plenty of time, a powerfull system and the whole MS empire to (probably ) support them technically ... they went really lazy imo ...there is no other explanation.....

[Jin_Sakai]

Halo 4 had a decent campaign but horrible MP while Halo 5 had a horrible campaign but good MP. Then they revealed Halo Infinite and it looked like a current gen game at best. I think it’s safe to say 343i aren’t a talented flagship studio after all.

[IRetrouk]

Taking it a bit bad ain't ya? No need to pick on young miles man, not his fault he turned up looking better than chief🤷‍♂️

[sprinterboy]

They need to move on from halo and gears imo, new blood, new ips

[Viking_mo]

Marquinho

We dont know the full line up yet for the PS5

[RazzerRedux]

"It isn't as if Ps5 had a great launch lineup."

Quick! Talk about PlayStation!

[darthv72]

Neither the 360 nor the XBO have a halo game at launch. Both came out after and that will be the same for SS/SX.

[chiefJohn117]

But I bet the campaign would've been great as well as the MP and that's all that matter!!!. Who GAF if the graphics were current gen that's enough!

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

"It isn't as if Ps5 had a great launch lineup. I mean.. it has a mini game like Miles Morales"

Lol someone is sweating bullets 😅 if they got to make up stuff to lessen the blow for their favorite plastic box lmao

"It will surely hurt XSX launch window but will help it once it gets released, in a proper way"

The delay doesn't gurrantee it will be released in a "proper way" though. It can still end up being a disappointment ala Crackdown 3. But obviously the idea behind the delay is to attempt to make sure that doesn't happen.

[TheKingKratos]

Phill should be fired tbh

[somethingcool87]

They aren't as talented as Bungie for sure, but I think MS is equally guilty on this one. First they had 343i develop this as a current gen title, then had them switch it to next gen lunch title. And we all know they dropped the ball with the dev kits, I mean there are studios that still didn't get their hands on the dev kit as of now. But MS have no problem throwing their own developers under the bus and let them bite the bullet.

[dietis_h]

@marquinho: it was a lot better than that thing that's supposed to be halo.

[sprinterboy]

The medium was the only one I liked, but agree what have they been doing for 7 years? 10 years if you count the lack of games twds 360 era.
At best xbox have only had 4 great years out of 20 when you think about it?
Maybe they just got lucky with the 360 launch and picking the right games at the time halo and gears, but they need to get there act together cause I still believe competition is great for all console companies.

[caddytrek]

Funny because during those 4 best years they were selling a console with a 40% failure rate that ruined your disks.

[RosweeSon]

Bit of luck in the sense that Sony were having a rough gen with ps3 but mainly down to major money changing hands once that did so did the content as developers tend to go for the bigger audiences that’s not shade it’s just how it is if your making a game are you develop solely for a console with 10-15 million say like Dreamcast or 50-100 million at the time ps2s of course your gonna try do ps2. I cannot agree more tho they had a solid few years I was hooked pretty much from launch (month1 rather than day1) solid 9 years but yeah enough was enough paying for online I barely used and fancied a change haven’t looked back, maybe one day. I certainly won’t write them off but not holding my breath either

Caddytrek probably another reason they did so well that gen everyone was replacing their consoles within months I had a easy 3. White/elite which both got repaired and also finally the Star Wars model which I still have but yeah that’s what inflated their console sales hence I said they’d always struggle to clear 50 million this gen with a reliable console 🤷🏻‍♂️😂 ✌🏻😜 I bought at least 3 of the last one and I wasnt alone clearly. I did buy one of their current gen but it got sold months later once I’d smashed the games I was interested in.

[kneon]

What they got right about the 360 launch was releasing 1-2 years ahead of the PS3 in the various regions. Without that lead they would have had no chance at all. And still the PS3 ended up selling more in a shorter period of time, even with a higher price.

[leejohnson222]

343 has had 5 years since halo 5, i would imagine they had better than what was shown

[DarXyde]

Unpolished as it is, a delay is definitely better than not having a delay. It was the right call to make. Pop-in during your world premiere probably isn't a good look, and they can't take it back. Might also help to run it on the Series X hardware too.

What WASN'T the right call was the decision to respond to fan backlash by BSing them. It would have gone over much more smoothly to say, "our priorities weren't in visuals, but the team is hard at work to improve leading up to launch. What we wanted to show was the current gameplay build, and the team is committed to making it a fast, fun, beautiful final product that fans and newcomers alike will be playing for years." Literally all they had to do. Now, the delay just seems to indicate (and perhaps rightly so) that the product was shown before it was ready to have something to counter Sony's June show, which in itself is funny because it is further evidence that they're full of it when they suggest Sony is no longer their competition (the price war between these two as well).

Again, a delay is a great idea, and makes it a passion project. Microsoft is finally learning that delays are sometimes necessary. Game Pass is probably a better sell if Halo Infinite is polished.

[LM1213]

all the things you mentioned doesn't equal talent. some devs have it, some don't.

[cell989]

343 lacks talent and vision. It’s not the first time they drop the ball

[medman]

Halo: Infinitely delayed.

[bouzebbal]

Worst thing is, xbox and 343 were convinced graphics are world class.. Just see how much they praised the graphics during that reveal.. Was really used as a showcase to the console's power.. It's also the only game that got that much focus on the graphics during that show, apart from the ridiculous useless 120fps for Ori

[Phantom68]

lol because they suck when it comes to first-party titles.

[SpineSaw]

"i dont understand why they didnt prepare a visually acceptable game"

@Sonic I agree %100 with your comment but I'll add to it this. To me I think it's pretty clear why Halo has a problem .. Open world and 120fps. 12Tflops can't get to acceptable in that environment. What's sad is if the Craig reveal never happened and if Microsoft could get away with never showing Craig before release day Microsoft would have released the Halo\Craig game we seen 2wks ago as it is.. Like it or not or accept it or not Xbox has a leadership problem and it's been a screaming problem for years. I own a Xbox One S but PS4 is my gaming console where I spend %99 of my gaming time so I can't speak for every Xbox game but I can go back some 5yrs and talk about Halo MCC, Sea of Thieves, Crackdown3, State of Decay 2 to name a few but these are some huge Xbox titles and all released with some troubles. Some had lack of content, some buggy, some unfinished and some a combo of all and some not working at all like Halo MCC that took years to fix. While other platforms Nintendo and Sony are releasing Game of the Year type games yearly and games on those platforms that are not GOTY type games they are still big hitting bangers while Xbox just can't seem to find any magic at all and to be fair it's not that their not trying cause they are.
They now have more than enough Studios and talent so that's not the problem. IMO The problem is leadership at the top of Xbox gaming. Phil Spencer may be a great guy and everyone likes him but the dude IMO is at the center of all Xbox problems. He may know how to make Microsoft $$$ but he clearly knows nothing about making good games. Just my opinion I don't care if anyone agrees because I game on the best platform no matter the corporation name that makes the consoles I game on.
Microsoft needs changes in the gaming division. Good Lord that Craig reveal looked like a OG Xbox game in its first year and that was almost 20yrs ago. I don't see in what world, any world where someone sees that video and says "after seeing the Sony reveals, I feel good about what we got"!

[Ristul]

A delay was needed, lets face it, the game needs a lot of work. I just dont know if a few months will do the trick when they have had five years to work on it only to end up with what we saw at their show.

[morganfell]

Server error when posting.

[morganfell]

Blaming it on COVID is simple dishonesty. They should have been forthright and stated, "After listening to fan feedback we realized the game wasn't what fans demanded and so we are going to delay the game rather than launch HALO in a state that is less than our gamers deserve."

To blame it on development challenges related to COVID after saying it was polished is pure BS. Polishing a demo isn't the same as doing so for an entire game but this title was in mid beta. There is nothing developmentally related to a game that was easily in the beta window that suddenly came to light after the reveal except fan disappointment.

The other issue at hand here is this gross mismanagement has in all likelihood cost MS any decent shot at next generation. I personally didn't think their chocolate routine was going to work with gamers but this is disastrous. It is time for Nadella to step in and find a new head of Xbox.

[RosweeSon]

Yeah Covids been what 4-5 months what about the other 48-55 months (4/5 years) 😑🤷🏻‍♂️ 😂 soon tho ey 🤞🏻😜

[rainslacker]

At the end there, you assume that the current head of Xbox isn't doing exactly what Nadella wants him to do, which is make Xbox into a service. Do you fire the guy whose doing the job you hired him to do?

[morganfell]

"At the end there, you assume that the current head of Xbox isn't doing exactly what Nadella wants him to do, which is make Xbox into a service."

No. You assume that I do not think Phil is doing what Nadella wants.

I like a great deal of your posts but you are wrong on this account.

The issue is that he is doing it poorly. I do not think Phil is going against the will of MS. He is just executing the playbook poorly. Hence the chocolate remark, which is like Gallagher throwing everything against the wall in attempt to find something that sticks. The service angle requires gamers and Phil's mismanagement is bleeding away the very thing that a service bound entity requires. Personally I am happy and hope that he stays.

[morganfell]

Basically Nadella is Dr. Evil and all of his plans to rule the World are going into the crapper because he has incompetent henchmen like Phil who is basically Number 2 in Austin Powers.

[rainslacker]

Fair enough. I was being a bit quippy with my post, and didn't mean to imply you were ignorant.

However, I question if what he's doing for where Nadella wants to take MS is him actually doing that poorly. For areas outside the console itself, I think he's actually doing some of the right moves. However, the things that will lead to larger gaming markets outside consoles and PC gamers, the so called hardcore, tend to be with games that we generally don't discuss or even pay attention to.

But, as of now, the console market, and the PC market are important to this long term goal, and I can concede that he is doing that poorly, which is what some people have been saying all gen.

[morganfell]

I think MS is pushing GaaS harder than anyone and has the potential to do the most damage to gaming as we know it. They do not have the catalog right now, but move over Ubi and the rest because its their entire plan.

GaaS requires bodies and that is the central area Phil has failed in supporting the MS domination vision. And to get those willing contributors you need flashy billboards that actually materialize at some point. The Xbox has burned through crazy amounts of cash that have done nothing to benefit the gamer (they could care less) but it also hasn't lured people into the fold (and that is their only concern). Initially you have to deliver something to get those warm...or cold bodies that promises garnered. None of their work is of any worth without subscribers on the hook. Things like Scalebound are massive failures that vaporized enormous bundles of capital and have nothing to show for it. The number of people that may have purchased a console in anticipation for a game like that are extremely small so not even that benefit applies.

The idea with GaaS is draw bodies, keep them on the hook constantly, grow your base while doing the least amount of work for the largest amount of money. But the goal is constant cash flow from gamers so some work has to be done. The Xbox numbers do not lie. They are abysmal at best. This is where Phil is not executing Nadella's plan. They need bodies willing to follow them and get on the hook for monthly fees.

Their latest trick is xCloud. I consider services like this, whether it is Sony, MS, or anyone to be smoke and mirror deceptions. It is laughable how hyped people become over some new way to play a game that if you really like you probably own and will run it 99% of the time directly from your platform. Particularly in COVID times, are people really away from home so much and so bored while they are away it is do or die without being able to remotely stream your games? It is a minor convenience that is being blown into a full sized gimmick.

As far as not needing new hardware...this has been done already. Onlive down through PSNow. It is laughable to watch the same people that attacked PSNow talk about xCLoud like it is a revolution. It isn't. Its better because...Microsoft. That Microsoft chalkboard really isn't a joke and it is no longer possible to respect earnestly anyone astroturfing on Redmond's behalf. These fans should be demanding MS deliver first then belief comes later. Until they do that I cannot seriously entertain or regard the ideas of anyone following them with such blind allegiance.

[rdgneoz3]

Covid has affected development for say 5 or so months. Work started about 5 years ago with a demo trailer released in 2018. They've had plenty of time.

To give a comparison, Ghost of Tsushima work started around the same time, as Infamous First Light came out in August 2014. Yet that released last month and looked miles better than what was shown of Infinite (even on trailers and such in the spring).

[Lore]

I think the point is that this isn’t Cyberpunk 2077 or another Deep systems driven or heavy RNG based RPG, so those confused probably feel that way because this game shouldn’t have taken this long to make. Most people more than likely also made the assumption that this game should have been done well over a year ago but they held off on release to coincide with the Series X launch, which now seems like that wasn’t the case making things even more confusing.

[caddytrek]

"Most people more than likely also made the assumption that this game should have been done well over a year ago but they held off on release to coincide with the Series X launch, which now seems like that wasn’t the case making things even more confusing."

I think that's over thinking things.

I think Microsoft and 343 looked at the history of their recently released games and figured if they slapped a Halo name on it they could get away with releasing another unfinished buggy mess they could say was GaaS and xbox fans would just eat it up with out any questions because it was called Halo.

Unfortunately for them people are getting wary of their BS and actually called them out. Because these days even the most loyal of xbox fans are starting to have trouble blindly defending them over and over.

[Atticus_finch]

At this point it might be too late. I see another crackdown happening. But It doesn't matter, Xbox fans will "love" it though.

[The Wood]

Yeah. . Its 'fun'. . . You know the drill

[NeoGamer232]

They can take as long as they need to. The reality is that CyberPunk is going to be the real must-have game this Holiday season. Everything else is a distant 2nd and below.

[SullysCigar]

Nobody can be surprised by this. It looked absolutely awful.

[medman]

@sullyscigar
What are you talking about? Craig says it looks great! Craig couldn't be more pleased with the spotlight shining on him! Stop all this hate and give Craig a chance to shine....he's not hurting anybody.....yet.

[crazyCoconuts]

Ol' Phil was even yukkin it up about Craig being the mascot. Real funny, Phil.

[Atticus_finch]

The problem is that it wasn't just graphics that looked bad. 1 year is not enough to fix a game that has that many obvious problems.

[F0XH0UND922]

Totally agree! People that said this game looked good were in denial or have really low standards. I'm glad they delayed it so the game can get the polish it deserves.

P.S. Love your username, especially now that I'm enjoying a cigar and a beer! Cheers!

[zsquaresoff]

Can't wait for those obnoxious "halo infinite dealyed, but why that is good thing for Microsoft," bs articles

[majiebeast]

That verge article was just good old ms ball licking embarrassing what passes as journalism these days.

[medman]

LOL....xbox only gamers are in hiding....they really have no tent left to hide under. One disaster after another for that lot....when will they learn? Apparently, never. Broken promises, broken boxes, broken generations. Nothing changes.

[Atticus_finch]

GAMEPASS!!!!!!!!!!

[TKCMuzzer]

Its a bit concerning when you see how many games Sony have released in 5 years and how polished they are. Seems some serious miss management going on. The series x was already a hard sell thanks to MS lacklustre showing and mixed messaging, now it’s an even harder sell. They are pretty much saying, put down your money to play the games you can already play.
It’s not a long shot to say that MS have pretty much sucked all the excitement out of their next gen system.

[caddytrek]

They shouldn't have announced it so early.

And that was after Phil said he wasn't going to announce things too early anymore. I guess some people never learn. I wonder what else will turn out to be untrue when the console launches.

[zeuanimals]

Fable was announced with no gameplay. Let's hope that's not too far off.

[morganfell]

I want to think there is sarcasm in that remark...

[Elda]

More likely 3 to 4 years when released.

[execution17]

I think most of the stuff they announced at their last event was pretty early since they're probably at least 2-3 years away if they were in early development

[morganfell]

I think Phil should get a raise. At this rate everything MS is doing that is to the detriment of gaming has little chance of success.

[Atticus_finch]

I like that perspective a lot.
Thank you Phil Spenser.

[Charal]

So Spencer is the true hero then 😄

[nowitzki2004]

Its not that some people never learn.. Some people benefit from lying to their fanbase that is so gullible.

[onemanwolfp4kv2]

Ive been an xbox fan since the first gen but the sh*t msoft has done here lately is making me strongly consider jumping ship. I thought about getting both so I didn't have to miss out on big titles but this is really rubbing me the wrong way. I guess all those brute memes got to msoft lol

[nowitzki2004]

Do it, its not like you cant switch back or just buy an Xbox One Series X if they start releasing good games.

[sprinterboy]

Agree just wait 2 years for the series X and maybe use xcloud through the tv when available or laptop? For the 1st 2 years plus the series x will be cheaper then.
PlayStation will have already released 10 AAA titles by the time MS get there big hitters out?

[crazyCoconuts]

Or if XCloud turns out ok, just subscribe to GamePass once a year when they have a halfway decent game come out and stream it to your whatever? You don't even need an Xbox

[ClayRules2012]

Well, if you do in the end jump ship, I’ll say it now.....Welcome to the PlayStation family! Lol.

But on a serious not, I am genuinely sorry this is rubbing you and many others the wrong way, as it should (considering what was shown) but that shouldn’t have to be the case. Microsoft and its claims of “Power/Teraflops” and nonsense mean nothing when your results for a demo showing are what was shown for your Behemoth of a Next Gen system seller title like Halo.

I do hope the game turns out to look really “Next Gen” and fantastic in the end and plays wonderfully for fans looking forward to it. You guys deserve better, for all the support you’ve shown Microsoft and their studios, but gosh, for all the $ you’ve paid to support them. They need to get their stuff together and produce games that fans can truly enjoy and devs themselves can truly be proud of.

[elazz]

The demo was on an RTX 2080 Ti. That makes things even worse. Probably other high end components were used like ryzen 3900x. Even when you consider the overhead that is more powerful than series X.

Wasn't the whole showcase on PC? That seems so weird at this stage.

[ClayRules2012]

@elazz

Yeah, now that you mention that, I remember someone mentioned that in a comment on YouTube I think it was, which indeed does make it worse, no doubt. I just don’t understand Microsoft’s decisions, but again, they don’t seem to deliver, and love to talk about power, but their actions don’t deliver with their words.

[elazz]

If you have a mid end pc or better you could still play those games. I assume you already have an Xbox one so most experiences you'll have access too. So I guess you could get a PS5 first and see how things evolve in the upcoming years without missing any experience. Might as well get ps5 and switch if you have the budget

[sprinterboy]

It's a no brainer to get the playstation first imo and use the wait and see approach for series X year 2.
The problem is see MS having is I believe the series S will sell way better than the X which leaves things in limbo abit tbh cause the rumoured ps5 will be around the corner then too so do xbox gamers just wait for the series X pro? So that just leaves the series X possibly being discontinued mid gen in favour of the more popular series S model and the hardcore xbox fan picking up a series X Pro in year 3

[sprinterboy]

Just buy a cheap mid range pc if you have good Internet and use xcloud? What I'm doing is stadia and xcloud through the tv when it's available and just dip in and out when the AAA exclusives come out and play the cool indie games like ori etc.
Ps5 day 1 and switch pro if it's coming out?

[343_Guilty_Spark]

You act like you can't get both. I'll get a PS5 for exclusives. Xbox for GP and Mp.

[Atticus_finch]

GaMEpASs!!!!1!!!!!!

[caddytrek]

I'll get a PS5 for goty quality games and get a month of game pass on PC if Microsoft actually makes a game I want.

[sprinterboy]

I have more than enough money for all consoles but when your 44 you tend to play one system due to time.
Why would I choose MS over playstation when playstation has proved the games for 25 plus years compared to 4 years at best for xbox during the early years of 360

[Atticus_finch]

If we are being reasonable buying a Series X is a huge gamble given how they haven't even showed games running on it. It seems very strange.

[TKCMuzzer]

Just jump, hang onto your current Xbox. Sounds like the X won’t be relevant for a couple of years.

[KeenBean345]

They need something asap as this launch is looking shocking now. Halo is a system seller like how BoTW sold the switch at launch and not having something like that is disastrous. Let's hope they have a plan B but I doubt it

[medman]

343=trash
I heard Craig was the problem. I also heard Craig is now the lead developer. Brutes do it best. At least that's what Craig says.

[Atticus_finch]

Its obvious that Sony paid 343 to delay the game, why are people so blind.

[Pyrofire95]

I don't think the delay is a MASSIVE blow to launch the way the XSX is being promoted anyway I think it will sell most of if not all it's stock anyway, I imagine there will just be some disappointed Halo fans that will have to spend their time on a different game over the holidays.

[jznrpg]

If it’s anything like last gen I don’t think so. I saw stacks and stacks of Xbox’s at 2 Best Buy’s and others stores had plenty but you couldn’t find a PS4 for a few months unless you were lucky . The only reason I see them selling all of their stock is if they only make a very limited amount of them .

[dietis_h]

microsoft doesn't have anything that sells as much as halo so yes this is a huge blow.

[Pyrofire95]

I guess most of my faith lays in believing Xbox has fans and they'd get the console even without Halo but I guess by my downvotes you people don't think Xbox has any value outside of Halo.
*I* was wrong.

[THC CELL]

Oh no
https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[JesusBuiltmyHotrod]

MS simply is not good at this, not near Sony or Nintendo. They do not know how to manage studios and foster talent like the other two...just embarassing launch lineup for a new console.

[GoodGuy09]

Good and I did have a feeling they would. Wouldnt even mind if it took til fall-winter of next year too.

[zero_jp]

There is no one to blame for this but the ineptness of 343 Industries. Folks were crying about 60FPS being wanted for all games and doing away with 30. And not oh we need 120. Another stupid decision by 343 in a long litany of stupid decisions since they took over the franchise from Bungie now delaying the game entirely because the graphics need to be upgraded to passable levels do to the 120FPS that no one asked for.

What we asked for was no more 30FPS games that’s what we asked for. Of course Microsoft hears what they want to hear so they said: Hey guys how about the next Halo be 120FPS with graphics from the 2006 Xbox 360 era I bet they’ll love it! Turns out they were dead wrong, just like they were wrong on Chief not being the focal point of the last Halo.

Think I’m being too harsh? May I present into evidence Crackdown 3? Remember that supposed gem? I do. So here we go again with the never ending next year will be the year Microsoft blows the gaming world away. Next year is the year Xbox shows us the games. Next year this, next year that. They just saved me and many other people a boat load of money.

I’m all about PS5 and skipping the Series-X entirely until further notice. Hey Microsoft you cannot be trusted! So I’ll get one next year when you actually produce something worthwhile.

[rainslacker]

MS made those decisions based on it placating the people who asked for things, even though those people asking for them are not a majority in any sense of term.

I hate to say it, but we, as gamers, here on forums, that complain about almost everything, are not the general game playing public. that is the market that MS needs to capture. The hardcore have already mostly made up their minds.

When you go around trying to please everyone, you typically end up pleasing no one, and in MS case, you just ended up having to have your fan base constantly defend everything you do. But eventually, attrition takes its toll, and if you keep disillusioning various parts of your stable base, they falter, and you start to see that your loyal fan base isn't so loyal anymore.

Keeping fans is simple. It's not about giving everyone what they want. It's about making something that keeps them engaged. It's about giving them reason to play your system, or use your services. You don't get that by saying you have 120fps, or you have the most powerful machine, or that you brought a bunch of studios, or any of those many other things that MS has done this gen(outside BC as that does theoretically give people reason). It's simple, and it's the one thing that people said MS needed to focus on all gen....and that's good games. Not convincing people they are going to be interested in games that they never would have looked at in the past, but something they don't have to make excuses for.

[Elda]

It's pretty disappointing to want to buy a new console & it has no AAA first party software to see what the console can actually do. Folks that want to buy the XBSX will have some current AA & indie timed exclusives within the first 6 months or so along with multi-plats,it seems they have a long way off to start releasing AAA first party next gen games to play. It's a possibility Halo Infinite may not be released until Fall of 2021.

[rainslacker]

I'm was looking over their launch line up, and I couldn't find one game that would be what I'd call a system seller for launch....and the requirements for that are pretty low at launch. Even if its not the most impressive game, every system releases with at least something that can at least show off a bit of what the system can do. Even if we disregard the exclusive debate, there just isn't anything there. Quite a few games that may be worth a play, but really, nothing equivalent to say a Killzone Shadowfall, or Ryse: Son of Rome. Not amazing games, but at least something the fans can gawk at for a bit.

[Elda]

Agreed.

[BillyG0AT]

I get why they delayed it. I'm glad they did...but....I WISH THEY COULD JUST GET IT RIGHT ONE TIME.

We put down serious money for these consoles.

[Bathyj]

Not yet we haven't

[BillyG0AT]

I didn't mean we have, I mean we do.

[caddytrek]

I dunno, I plan on buying a PS5 and after 4 generations of awesome consoles and equally awesome games I'm not worried about my investment at all. Maybe it's just that you're buying the wrong console.

[BillyG0AT]

I buy buy both. As I am not a 12 year old fanboy who says things like "the wrong console"

[caddytrek]

Ok, then go ahead and buy the wrong console again and don't complain when it continues to disappoint you.

[dietis_h]

@billygoat: if you want to waste your money on a console that hasn't delivered anything substantial so far, go right ahead.

[rainslacker]

I'm actually feeling bad for the fan boys. It's like everything they want to be excited for just gets the rug pulled out from under them. It's almost a weekly occurrence now. Seeing them so excited for what MS is going to bring, and then proceed to say how it's going to turn the tides, or destroy Sony, and then MS comes along and makes up some reason why that actually won't be happening now.

The level of incompetence with MS PR and marketing right now is mind boggling. The X1 reveal was a disaster, but that's because of what they were trying to do, mixed with misguided and poor messaging. This time it's just them seeming to have no clue what they're doing, and trying too hard to stay relevant when they don't have what they need to do so.

This is what happens when you wait four years to finally start doing what everyone said needed to be done. Its like trying to finish that big school project that requires some actual work the day before it's due. You can scrounge some stuff together, but it's obvious that you procrastinated and didn't do what you needed to actually learn or complete the project on time.

[Elda]

They had more than enough time to have at least 2 AAA next gen exclusives for the XBSX when it releases,even if the games were 8 to 12 hrs long.

[waverider]

Microsoft just shoot them self in the foot with a bazouka. After all the damage control made in the next week after the reveal, that was old build, shadows, ray tracing would save with a patch. It was all lies. The game got huge problems. The series X doesnt seem easy to work with. Thats for me seem easy to see. Dont know why. But a game that was being made for 5 years was reveal running on PC four months before launch..... WIth huge problems in every single aspect. The question here is what was Microsoft Thinking? Why even launch at november. The dont have a single must have title. Fable and State of decay were CGI.... Forza, CGI?.

[sprinterboy]

Don't think we've seen a game actually running on the series x either so close to launch?

[waverider]

Its strange. Very strange.

[russo121]

Will COVID be blamed for that? I mean, it's so weird and a possibility MS delays xbsx?

[IRetrouk]

It's a massive blow, it was the show stopper, the main course, I'm not really sure what games ms are going to promote to differentiate themselves this xmas, gonna be a hard sell.

[sprinterboy]

I think at this point most gamers know what there buying this November and it's not a series X, gonna be slow start but I can see it working out year 2 maybe depending on the big hitters they have coming we've yet too see? Either that or anither long gen for MS.

[IRetrouk]

I do believe their devs will come into their own at some point, it just feels rushed to me man, cant shake the feeling, as long as they stick to their game promise I will buy one eventually, just have no need for one at all at launch.

[Apex13]

So basically, buy an Xbox SX and play all the games you can play on your Cheaper Xbox one for the next two years till exclusives are ready. Phill, wtf have you done 🤦🏿‍♂️🤦 🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍ ♂️ This is Xbox one launch all over again. 2 years of hype f-Ed from your first showing and then second showing. I think I’m PS5 just like I was PS4 after selling my Xbox one due to a lack of decent exclusives. Oh well, I was ready to hand over the Money but what is the point of all this power if you can’t be responsible? See what o did there.

[rainslacker]

This isn't the X1 launch. They knew what they wanted for the X1 launch, and they had it ready to go. They delivered that message about as clearly as they could, until it came to the point where they realized people didn't want what they had. Now, they have something people want, which is games, but they don't have those games ready to go. They waited to long, and are trying to scramble something up at the last minute and hoping for the best. It's turned around and bit them on the ass over and over again so far, and the disaster that is MS PR right now isn't about what they're bringing, it's about how they are trying too hard to stay relevant without the products to actually do so.

[TheTony316]

This is worse. At least with Xbone they had a clear vision and some actual exclusives at launch.

[Apex13]

Very true. It’s a sad state and I hope Nintendo don’t drop a console in 5 years time that yet again overtakes the Xbox. I think this will be their last console and they will focus on gamepass and xcloud

[sprinterboy]

1st 2 years will be slow for series X imo, infact I see the series S selling better, putting the abysmal sales of the first 2 years of series X in question? As ps5 Pro will only be a year away? Its a win win for Playstation again this gen and the sales gap will be huge but that's not to say gamepass won't bring in some nice pennies for MS also though.

[Minute Man 721]

Pro 2 in 2 years?

[sprinterboy]

No in 3

[NealGamby]

Off subject: This site needs to get its crap together. No other website I know of do you have to continually clear your cache to be able to get around an error and actually use the site.

On subject: They are using the Covid situation as an excuse for how Halo looks and its delay. I knew they would.

[Sunny_D]

I’m also getting those spam “You’re the 5 millionth visitor to the website, claim your prize” crap as well.

[rainslacker]

The Covid excuse annoys me. Not that I don't think that it didn't help, but using it now seems inappropriate. I've heard first hand accounts from several devs about how it's disrupted their current development. I also know of a few big games that are having their announcement delayed because of the time it takes to set up working from home for a lot of them, or the fact that you can't do everything like that.

But, they didn't just suddenly realize that this game wasn't ready. They willingly showed it, then made excuses when the criticisms came. They tried to laugh with the memes, and did as much damage control as they could. I think I recall one mention of Covid, but of course, the game was still going to be ready for launch.

The people that produce these games aren't amateurs. They're not dumb. They know when a game is ready to release and when it's not, and they know how long it takes to do things. They have directors and engineers and team leads who can tell them this stuff. So unless their producer was mislead by the studio about how long it would take to finish this game, MS has no excuse at this point. If they were mislead, then they need better producers who know what they're doing, and the higher ups need to pay more attention to the development of these games. In no way was that Halo demo passable for a game set to release within 3-4 months. Even if it was from the start of this year, it was painfully obvious, even to people who aren't game developers, producers, or work in the industry.

[danny818]

everyone on this website was saying it looked bad and that Halo has no more fans. Now everyone is saying its a big blow lmao make up your minds

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

Many people are just “concern trolling” as they don’t care about nor have interest in Halo or Xbox.

[pwnmaster3000]

You don’t need to be a fan or even like halo to know it’s a blow... this was MS big game and it’s flag ship game. MS fanboys holy grail and now it’s delayed.

Spin all you want but it’s a big blow.

[TheProblem]

It's not hard to see the two aren't mutually exclusive. It did look bad AND it is a huge blow. The delay should make for a better product and in any other year it wouldn't be such a big deal. But this was billed as a launch game for MS's next console. A console that is already losing the battle for mindshare

[Sunny_D]

Even if it’s true to an extent, this is the game MS highlighted as THE big game for launch.

[Bathyj]

It's not a big blow to me. It's a massive blow for Microsoft. They have nothing now except to Game pass.

It's going to be funny to see if he can keep that stupid smug face up he always has. He must be pissed. I bet he is not wearing a Halo t-shirt in his next video.

[TheProblem]

He has gone awfully quiet since their July games showcase

[Bathyj]

I meant to put Phil's name in there. My bad. I think you got who I meant when I said stupid smug face.

[TheProblem]

Absolutely knew who you meant. Can’t stand the smug face either. He is like a used car salesman 😀

[rainslacker]

He's been extremely quiet. I think one press interview since that time. One that was probably very controlled with what the interviewer could ask.

I know Spencer keeps up with what people are saying, or is at least informed on what people are saying. I think he's starting to realize that he's not seen as a reliable steady rock when it come to his promises.

I also think Greenburg has said more in the past 3 months than he has in the past 5 years.

[rainslacker]

Halo has seemed to have lost players from last gen to this one, and this is still a big blow to MS. Both for the XSX release, as this was their flagship product used to start the X1 hype train, and for the fact that they now don't have a single AAA title to release which will supposedly show off their next gen console.

So, one doesn't have to make up their minds, because realistically, both the things can be true at the same time.

I think it's the right thing to do to delay this game if it isn't ready. I said they probably should after watching their last showing. I didn't think they'd actually do it, but since they have, at least Xbox gamers won't be buying a half-finished product at launch.

[Wotbot]

This is good news

[caddytrek]

For Sony...

[Hedstrom]

I would bet MS doesn't care. They only want you as a monthly subscriber. It doesn't Mather wich gen!

[Father__Merrin]

the worst thing about this all is most on n4g were defending halo now its turned out what users were unhappy about halo reveal has now come to be true. poor old Craig

[MrPerfect813]

What in the actual fuck. I was looking forward to Halo at launch. At this point I might as well get the ps5 at launch and just wait for xbox series X to have a halo infinite launch. Between this and marvel avengers exclusives ( I am a huge marvel fan) Microsoft is making hard to be an Xbox fan.

[Bathyj]

Not to rub salt in the wound because I can tell your pissed as you should be, but it's been hard to be an Xbox fan for 10 years.

[Atticus_finch]

Life is short. Get a Ps5.
You will not regret it.

[Darkborn]

Do you know how many youtubers I've see that were die hard Xbox fans randomly buy a ps4 for laughs and ended up shelving or selling their Xbox one x's? A lot. Plus I know many friends who did the same thing. Once you realize there are more than 5 games, your eyes are opened.

[MrPerfect813]

The only reason I haven't made the full switch ( i have a ps4 pro to play MLB the show and exclusives) is rocket league with the kids, apex with my friends... now both are getting cross play or have it already, I just need the mass effect remaster to get announced

[Valkron1]

I'm just hoping it will be ready in 2021

[neomahi]

Maybe they're going to delay the launch of the Xbox Series X, wouldn't be a bad idea honestly. Set themselves up for a better all out launch. Even if Sony has a years lead, that could be better than launching with crap.

[DarkGHOST]

So basically xbox now has nothing to compete with ps5

[Bathyj]

Not true. They have 90 games you'd never play and 10 you've already played for a dollar a month.

[JesusBuiltmyHotrod]

lol...yeah i'm sure sony is scared....

[Atticus_finch]

GAMEPASS!!!!!

[XabiDaChosenOne]

But I thought it was a months old demo?

[Darkborn]

They further clarified to a week or two old.

[toobsteak]

It blows bigtime.

[camillion]

At this point, and I hope to say it. Price point absolutely doesn't matter as pertaining to Microsoft. Sony console could be 100 more dollars, and most people are still buying it. The 12tflop nonsense has worked out disastrously Microsoft. I told some friends months ago that that power advantage would be their undoing. I literally said" If those xbox games don't look immediately better out of the gate. Their dead on arrival!!!! Microsoft and alias put so much weight on the power advantage. That it never dawned on them that if they didn't have the software to match the claim immediately. People aint going from sony to them(and no game pass isnt going to do it). Unless they have ps4 like energy. Hope is Hope, and reality is the truth that inconveniences your dreams!!!!!

[Bathyj]

It's true. They set themselves up to fail. You don't pick up a girl in a bar bragging about your 12 Tflops only to get your pants donwn and leave her sorely disappointed. You would be better off under selling and over delivering.

At least that's what my friend told me.

[rainslacker]

It dawned on them. It just dawned on them too late.

What's more confusing is that the game in question shouldn't have been in the state it was at their show. Not after so long in development. This indicates other issues are going on, possibly with their new game engine, or management troubles within the studio, or possibly with MS way of managing studios. 343 isn't talentless as some people say. I don't think they are as good as Bungie was at making Halo, but they can at least make a deliverable game of acceptable quality. What they showed may end up being that one day, but the project is obviously behind.

When I first heard Halo was launching with XSX, I thought they were just delaying the game to fluff up their next gen launch. Now it just seems that they knew it was behind schedule, so decided to spin the delay to market their new gen.

Unfortunately, like so much of everything else MS has tried to market this gen, it backfired on them.

MS waited to long to get their studios up and running.

[Elda]

They probably didn't start development until 2 years ago,if they had started 5 years ago with a $500 million dollar budget which I think is untrue the game should be ready & when showcased it should have looked like a multi million dollar game.

[Destiny1080]

Phil Spencer 2020: "The Roadmap Has Never Been Stronger"
Phil Spencer 2020: "The maths says we have to reveal games every time we're on stage"
Phil Spencer 2020: "feeling good after seeing Sony’s showcase"

[JesusBuiltmyHotrod]

Phil says what people want to hear, he gets exposed over and over but he has this weird cult fanbase, it's bizarre and pathetic.

[Atticus_finch]

Phil is hilarious, I really don't know how people trust him.

[Darkborn]

That's what I was saying before the last Xbox event. Since Phil said he feels good it's obviously the opposite. The only truths he's ever told was when he said he purchased the studios. Other than that, it's all lies and mistruths.

[TheTony316]

Just wait for 2024. It's gonna be awesome.

[agnosticgamer]

Better to delay it and get it right than rush a product out the door. COVID certainly played a hand in the state it was in for the Xbox Showcase. It's better to recognize that now and give the time to fix it... Than to have it at launch for the sake of having a Halo at launch.

[dietis_h]

don't blame covid for this. they had plenty of time to impress before covid.

[Bathyj]

Damn I'm upset now. I never thought this would affect me so directly. Sony just jacked up the price of PS5 another hundred bucks.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

$200 price hike in less than a month 😩

[caddytrek]

I'm laughing at the idea of this.

But I still think Sony will come it at $400 at least for the digital only. Then have another mic drop like they did when they announced the PS4 at $400 when all the press was saying it was going to be $500 like the xbone.

[russo121]

That's a real problem, MS just increased value and price of Sony's next gen platform.

[Bathyj]

I don't think Sony will deliberately charge more because they think they can. Price is the only way MS can really hurt them. Sony want to just match the price and not be undercut.

Besides they have their boots in their throat. They won't let up. They will push down.

[BlackIceJoe]

This is more proof that Halo: Infinite should have been a Xbox Series X exclusive.

I know Microsoft and 343 won't be able to take full advantage of the new system, but I still think the best move is cancel the Xbox One version.

[caddytrek]

But what of all the talk of how cross gen doesn't effect development because it's just about sliders?

That would be a pretty huge pile of double talk... but that's never stopped them before I guess....

[BlackIceJoe]

That is true, but everyone that uses their brain knows that last gen consoles hold games for new systems back.

[SpineSaw]

this is Halo Infinite on a reported $500 million budget, This is Halo Infinite on a new game engine, on new most powa 'ful console ever built that was built by the same people that brought you the Xbox One X and this console is even easier to build a game on and this is Halo Infinite built from the ground up on the Xbox Series X with years in development and then the glorious day comes to show the world and reveal the greatest game ever made.........ANNNNNND........ you get Craig! ....and 2 weeks later they delay Craig. This is Xbox running at %100 peak performance. This is what happens when people have no clue what their doing...... Any questions?

[Darkborn]

Legit I think Sony might just tweet the release date and price and maybe Jack up the price another 100 bucks. Even if they do supposedly have more to show for launch, why should they? If the competition is chopping off limbs just like last time, who cares?

[DaniMacYo]

Ha!

[JayRyu]

Better to delay the game and get it to higher fidelity for the Series X. I like 343 as a studio. Halo 4 and 5 were good games. Not everyone liked the storyline of 5 but the gameplay and graphics between these two games were getting better and better.

[TheTony316]

Don't worry guys. Just wait for next year. Oh and 2024 will be the greatest year in Xbox history with games like Fable and Hellblade

[sagapo]

If Cyberpunk (nextgen version) would be released at the same time of XsX release, that would be great! Perhaps a bundle in the making? Wouldn’t care for Halo as much then to be honest.

[averagejoe26]

Nope. Next gen Cyberpunk versions are already confirmed for late 2021. Not even close to launch.

[crxss]

looks like they'll have to make a day one edition again lol

[Hillyhill]

I just don’t get it... i mean i’m a Nintendo first PS guy 2nd but I always liked Xbox up until about half way through the X360 era... in fact, back then I was an Xbox guy period... i loved the OG Xbox and then they followed it up with the 360 which was great besides for the RROD fiasco which i had to buy 3 systems for. I did that though because xbox was the place where my friends and myself played the games we liked. Common sense thought that after they blundered the Xbox One Launch that there was no way that they would do the same for the Series X launch and I really had been on the fence on which system I was going to get at the end of 2020.

But after their last Series X showcase of Halo Infinite and how proud and dedicated they were to show off a game that looked like a late gen 360 game and they lied again about the build being old and then lied again saying they just needed to add Ray tracing and paid Digital Foundry to say it was the lighting at the showcase and now the game won’t be ready until 2021 or who knows when? Huh.... to think I was ready to go back to Xbox... Is this a joke and they are joking with their fanbase and will just pull out 2 to 3 exclusives that I’m interested in before launch? I don’t get it Microsoft and I’m sticking with Sony and Nintendo... Thanks for making the decision that much easier for me during the upcoming gen.

[xetiro]

Nothing wrong with delaying a game in order to deliver a better game. But for me that's an independent matter from the total disaster this really represents from Microsoft and Xbox, once again:

1) A game years in the making with virtually "Infinite" budget when putted into perspective;
2) A marketing strategy around XSX ramped up recently with the support of having Halo Infinite both as launch title and as a day one GamePass marketing flag;
3) An entire event reveal show off at July 23rd where they start with hands-on gameplay on Halo Infinite;
3.1) Demo is off course visually and technically disappointing;
3.2) Demo is not even running on XSX devkit, but on a PC with "representative" specs; I know this is not a critical issue, but why a first party team working on the most important first party IP has a launch title doesn't go with a demo "proudly" running on native hardware at this point?
4) Boommm!!! Less then 15 days after they postpone the game for unknown date somewhere next year, and the reason that takes most of the justification is CODVID-19;

They put themselves into this situation...again...why??? Is like they can't help themselves but to screw their own business when it comes to Xbox...

Promises after promises and simply can't output nearly as close as one might expect. That's why they disappoint so much...

[Sirk7x]

It will never happen, but MS should just delay the entire console at this point. I know, Christmas sales and all, but with all the crap going on, I wonder how many are going to have the extra money this holiday at all...
For all we know the entire economy could be collapsed in a few months lol.

[BenRC01]

Zero reason to buy at launch now, not that halo would have been or ever will be good again. 1 2 and 3 are in my top 10 all time, they're never getting that magic back with 343.

[JonTheGod]

Halo 1 & Reach are my favourites in the franchise.

[quenomamen]

I told MS not to hire ex Trump lackeys.

[averagejoe26]

Well MS loves to lie so it seems like they hired the right people.

[JonTheGod]

The delay is GOOD for Halo, obviously.

Fix the game before release rather than slowly applying patches whilst leaving a bitter taste in gamers' mouths) is far more beneficial to the franchise, the health of gaming in general, and gamers' reaction/enjoyment.

The delay is also TERRIBLE for Xbox.

Halo is supposed to be the flagship title for Series X/S and now there is very little reason to purchase their next gen console. This debacle massively affects the brand and will no doubt harm console sales. I wonder how many extra PS5 sales will be gained from this.

Phil Spencer needs to be held accountable. He shouldn't be allowed to just schmooze his way out of this one. Not whilst keeping any credibility at least.

[moriarty1889]

Phil AND Bonnie Ross both need to be held accountable.

[TheHan]

I see people are blowing this out of proportion, games get delayed all the time. I could careless as long as they make the game great 👍🏻. Yeah people are gonna say (Well it’s their flag ship game it should be blah blah blah.) Plenty of other great games exclusive or not.

[Father__Merrin]

One word.....Spencer Out!!!

[moriarty1889]

agreed. Spencer sucks and first party has been terrible under him. cancelled games and delays. another crackdown 3 now with halo. pathetic.

[Father__Merrin]

It's beggers belief that they still follow him

[GaboonViper]

But but but he is the second coming and Daddy to TimDog.

[moriarty1889]

they follow him blindly like sheep to the slaughter.

[JeffGUNZ]

What a disaster. This was their flagship, next generation big gem and this is what is going on. MS is a complete and utter joke now. Thank god for Gamepass, other then that, woof.

[Donnie81]

I’d rather have a better halo game so I could care less. I’ll buy a series x day one for the definitive best versions of multiplat games and that’s not debatable. Exclusives come out a few times a year multiplats come out every Tuesday.

[averagejoe26]

It is debatable. In fact, you're flat out wrong.

The DEFINITIVE version of multi-plat games are on PC.

So, no, you won't be playing the definitive versions. Not to mention all of the exclusive content developers are willing to give Sony. Xbox will be missing out big time. Not the definitive versions AND missing some of the best content.

Sad to be an Xbox fanboy. You're just missing out all around.

[Donnie81]

Sad to see a Sony fan think being able to play Spider-Man in a gaas marvel game is that big of a deal . I could care less and devs aren’t giving Sony anything. I know ur idea of a big business deal is when someone orders a 6 ft sub and a few dozen cookies but in the real world big companies are out to make money. And I meant to say the definitive console experience and truth be known better than well over 90% of PCs . But let me guess ssd tflops don’t matter and the ps5 is always gonna be hitting top clocks. Did I miss anything?

[neomahi]

Yeah, it is, but it's good for 343 Industries to save face, unless the product looks the same and it's all just squashing bugs, then they're screwed but, then we're talking about a complete overhaul and if that's the case, can they have it done in that time frame?

I thought the XseX wasn't launching with any first-party games anyway, that everyone already knew that.

[thebobbywhite2629]

I thought the graphics looked great and like classic halo, i didnt want a "visually stunning super realistic game".... like who did? I dont get all you people bitching.

[sinspirit]

Just playing Halo CE the other day. The AI in Halo 1 were actually reacting and moving around when getting shot. In Infinite they just stood perfectly and dull. The graphics are on a next-gen console and they look like last-gen. Not even current-gen. That's the issue, not the art style. Everything looks washed out and the view distance is greatly hindered by a thick fog, the poly count on weapons and severak objects in the environment, and the hexagon pillars on the mountains, scream that they had to lower poly count to get the game to steady performance just to have large levels. The poly count and the bad lighting really make this look like a last gen game. Jagged landscapes, low detail and lifeless looking brutes, terrible muddy textures to supplement low poly count especially on the two motion capture closeups present in the demo.

Gameplay wise, why would a game with focus on physics wherever applicable have an 800 pound man zip lining enemies that don't even budge when hooked onto? You literally had physics teabagging people, grenades and rockets could collide, the environment had tons of physical objects. Did they not have thrusters on MC's back, which made no sense but, oh well. Why wouldn't he use a variation of this? Why is there no forward thinking design with this game? Since Halo 4 it's been convoluted, ruined past themes, and spat on Halo's legacy. The "it's from the books" excuse is irrelevant when the original authors gone and the various new writers don't know how to expand on it, but do know what they need to get a paycheck.

I wont let nostalgia cloud my judgement for poor graphics, AI, meh gameplay without original weaponry and meh grappling hook mechanic, and especially more cringey writing and Michael Bay BS storylines.

[Donnie81]

I agree I thought the game looked amazing. Loved the new take on classic halos art direction.?Not to mention the open world mixed with the new gameplay mechanics and it’s pushing for 120 FPS in multiplayer. Plenty to like there but you got people in these blogs just complain because it’s on the wrong box. They will make up things to complain about if there really isn’t anything . Just ignore them and enjoy what u like

[CrimsonWing69]

It doesn't matter, I was still going to buy a PS5 regardless.

[Dragonscale]

Xbone mk2 incoming. Microsoft couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery.

[XBManiac]

Someone in Microsoft should make a call to Bungie... and ask them some things or pay them to fix Halo.

[Chunky007]

Is this the first console in history to have nothing for its launch line up, other than bc games? Thats just bad

[sinspirit]

The One X, granted it's a mid-gen refresh. It was a slow start without substance to show its worth near launch.

[Jon_Targaryen]

Good, the game looked horrible. Plus all those pop ups were mindblowing