Halo Infinite campaign preload won't be available before launch

By Brendan Lowry
last updated

You'll have to wait a little longer to touch down on Zeta Halo.

Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • 343 Industries has announced that you won't be able to preload Halo Infinite's campaign.
  • The campaign launches on Dec. 8, 2021 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET.
  • The campaign's file size is 25.86GB.

343 Industries Community Director Brian "Ske7ch" Jarrard has confirmed on Twitter that people who have preordered Halo Infinite on Xbox and PC will not be able to preload the Halo Infinite campaign ahead of its global launch on Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. Jarrard noted that he's "not sure of the exact technical reasons" why it will not be possible to preload the game.

This news is disappointing since many fans were hoping to download and install the game ahead of the official Halo Infinite launch time, but thankfully, the Halo Infinite campaign is far from the largest modern game out there right now. At 25.86GB, the game's file size is very reasonable, meaning that you'll be able to install and play the game after just a few hours if you have good internet speed. Unfortunately, players with poor internet speeds may not be able to play the game for a long time.

See more

Halo Infinite's campaign can be purchased for $60 and is available on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One consoles, and Windows PCs. Halo Infinite preorders are available if you want to purchase the campaign ahead of its release. Notably, the Halo Infinite multiplayer experience is free-to-play and is live now.

Halo InfiniteMaster Chief's next adventure
Halo Infinite Campaign

A new Great Journey awaits

Halo Infinite's campaign has a great story, incredible gameplay, and breathtaking presentation. It's everything a Halo fan could want, and we can't recommend it enough.

Halo Infinite MultiplayerHalo is back

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Halo Infinite Multiplayer


Halo Infinite's multiplayer has launched a few weeks early, compiling its classic arena multiplayer modes, expanded 24-player Big Team Battle, and more into one free-to-play package.

Brendan Lowry
Brendan Lowry

Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. You'll find him doing reviews, editorials, and general coverage on everything Xbox and PC. Follow him on Twitter.

11 Comments
  • Stream while downloading?
  • That's what I plan on doing.
  • Yup, hell, I might not even bother downloading the campaign.
  • That sounds like a terrible idea. I hope with everyone trying to download at once it doesn't slow my download to crawl.
  • Sigh, due to my current location I don't have reliable, let alone fast, internet. My internet right now is a Visible Wireless hotspot. If I'm lucky I'll be able to play this weekend.
  • Huh? I literally preloaded it earlier this morning. Weird
  • How? I haven't checked the console yet, but it isn't in the Game Pass app yet. Are you sure you didn't just download the multiplayer?
  • Just checked and it is just the MP. Unless you have over 30 GB downloaded. The campagin will be an "add-on".
  • I have the 46 something. But maybe the preload means no preload on console. I downloaded it on Pc and sure as heck it starts up
  • I downloaded it a few days ago. No issues. Was a fast download and installed without issue. Something that GamePass is not known for...
  • Yea, I couldn't be the only one that already had it. This post didn't make sense to me