Halo Infinite: 3 questions we have after the latest development update

In a recent, massive "Inside Infinite" blog post from Microsoft's 343 Industries, the studio gave detailed insight into several aspects of Halo Infinite's development. Plenty of screenshots of the coating customization systems were shown off, one of the game's multiplayer maps was teased, and it was confirmed that there would be no lootboxes or randomness in the rewards system. Halo Infinite was even given an official release date of Fall 2021, with many speculating the date may be November 15 due to a tease from 343 Industries' founder Bonnie Ross.

While this update was meant to answer some questions fans have about Halo Infinite, we were left with a couple of new ones after going over the post with a keen eye. Here's a look at what they are.

Will there be a social space?

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One of the more unusual aspects of the screenshots showing off armor customization and weapon models in the blog post is that the renders are complete with full backgrounds. For example, the rocket launcher and sniper rifle are above some sort of hologram table with a Spartan looking over it, and the images that showcase various armor coatings are in what looks to be a vehicle bay.

This got us wondering: will Halo Infinite have a social space similar to Destiny 2's Tower? Considering 343 Industries has stated that Halo Infinite will represent the next 10 years of the Halo franchise, it doesn't seem far-fetched to think there will be social features in the game like this that encourages players to mingle. We expect that, if a social space exists, you'll be able to explore it and meet other players between matches or while customizing your gear.

As for where these social spaces might be, the most likely option is the UNSC Infinity, which was prominently featured in both of the Halo games before Infinite. However, the developers could also add different social spaces over time, which could open new oppurtunities.

How deep does the customization go?

One of the biggest sections in the blog post was centered around player progression and customization. In it, Halo Infinite's Lead Progression Designer Chris Blohm gave some significant insight into the depth of Halo Infinite's armor customization:

The comment that the developers will "go further" has us wondering how 343 Industries plans to expand customization beyond what was offered in Halo: Reach. Will we be able to add accessories to our Spartan such as ammo pouches and holstered knives? Will we be able to apply different color and texture coatings to individual pieces of armor? What kind of visor customization "surprise" do the developers have in store?

It's also entirely possible that these new, advanced options will extend to weapons and vehicles as well. Perhaps we will be able to change the look of our weapon sights and scopes, or maybe we can add customized parts to the chassis of vehicles. Ultimately only time will tell, but it's exciting to think that Halo Infinite will feature deeper customization than ever before.

How will abilities work in multiplayer?

Lastly, in the various teaser images the developers showed off for one of Halo Infinite's multiplayer maps, pickup items with holographic icons are visible in the scene. These include an item previewed by a Spartan helmet that's half-visible and another that has the same icon used for the grappling hook on the HUD seen in Halo Infinite's official gameplay reveal.

Fans are speculating that these pickups are Active Camouflage and the new Grappling Hook respectively, and it suggests that Halo Infinite's abilities may work like the Armor Abilities in Halo: Reach and Halo 4, which were also pickups on the map.

However, what we don't know is how specifically these abilities will work. Will players be able to spawn with them? Are the pickups single-use only, or can they be used multiple times? If they can be used several times, how long will the cooldown be between each use? These are important pieces of information since things like this have a huge impact on gameplay, so we hope to see more details from 343 Industries soon.

Your thoughts

What do you think of the Inside Infinite update? What are some things you'd still like to know about Halo Infinite? Let us know.

Halo Infinite is expected to release during Fall 2021 on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One consoles, and Windows 10 PCs. While you wait for the game to arrive, we highly recommend checking out the Master Chief Collection. It gives you all the pre-Xbox One era Halo shooters for an awesome price, solidifying it as one of the best Xbox One shooters around.