Halo Infinite Multiplayer Goes Free To Play

I’m the first to admit Xbox’s recent successes are less than competitive in the games front. PS5 titles are set to be stronger than the Xbox Series X lineup. That said, Halo Infinite should be a strong showing out of the gate for Microsoft. The tricky part of the Halo series in 2020 is that many moved on from it years ago. With the rise of Call of Duty style games and Fornite battle royales, many don’t play Halo multiplayer like they did in the mid-2000s. The Xbox team knows this, which is why Halo Infinite multiplayer is set to go free to play at launch. Here’s why this move is yet another consumer-friendly way Microsoft hopes to sway gamers.

Huge News: Halo Infinite Multiplayer will be Free to Play

Image Credit: Microsoft

It’s a leak that I didn’t believe at first, but it’s true. Microsoft is now confirming that Halo Infinite multiplayer is going to be free for all. That’s a huge way to get a player base going. Not to mention, 343 Studios also confirmed that multiplayer will run at 120 FPS on the Xbox Series X. Overall, the Xbox Games Showcase saw little in major, jaw-dropping titles. Halo Infinite’s preview gave fans the most to digest, but many found the graphics to be a bit stale. If one thing was going to help turn the tides of public sentiment around the game, then it’s free access.

Image Credit: Microsoft

Much like Call of Duty Warzone, players who don’t purchase Halo Infinite will be able to play the multiplayer. If Warzone taught us anything, then it’s free games that offer a full experience can be wildly successful. Other elements rumored to come to Infinite are a battle pass system and new customization options. Microsoft did not touch on those elements yet, but any sort of microtransactions could turn some players off. Therefore, it’s important Microsoft does this right.

Historic Multiplayer Experience Goes Modern

Image Credit: Microsoft

It’s hard to explain to kids today what a massive success the first three Halo games were for online multiplayer. I won’t dive into fond memories of my personal experiences (at least not on this post) but the game paved the way for Call of Duty and Battlefront to start focusing on online multiplayer. LAN parties of the old Halo 2 and 3 games still find their way into indie gaming shops. Even the Master Chief Collection, which spans Halo through Halo 4, sees consistent traffic for Xbox One and PC. A new, modern multiplayer game which is free to play might just boost Halo back into the mainstream.

That is only going to happen with a great experience. Servers aren’t a problem; Microsoft itself is a huge supplier for cloud technology and server support. The real challenge will be the additional offerings most gamers expect nowadays. Right now, MCC does use a battle pass system, but the achievements and progress don’t expire with a new season. Instead, you continue building on progress made into the next round of upgrades and items. If they continue this, then the free to play model might be enough to get some to consider switching to Xbox Series X. That said, never count out the PS5’s insanely supportive fanbase given the success of the PS4 and the great games on the docket for Sony.

Will you play Halo Infinite multiplayer now that it’s free to play and running at such a high frames per second rate? If so, then let us know in the comments! Thanks for reading Comic Years for all things gaming, comics, and pop culture.

Featured Image Credit: Microsoft

Taylor is the Gaming Editor of Comic Years and a lifelong fan of video games. He holds two degrees in Political Communication and wrote a Master's Thesis on resistance movements, race, and the exploitation of college athletes. His wife and two Toy Australian Sheppards keep him sane.