Halo Infinite December release date leaks via Microsoft listing

What you need to know

• Halo Infinite will release on December 8, 2021, according to a newly-updated Microsoft Store listing.
• The leak provides long-anticipated clarity on Halo Infinite launch plans, with 343 Industries previously committing to "holiday 2021," following a previous delay in 2020.
• The news implies Halo Infinite could resurface at Geoff Keighley's Opening Night Live show, slated for this Wednesday, as a part of Gamescom 2021.

Halo Infinite will launch on December 8, 2021, according to a new listing uncovered via the Microsoft Store. The listing provides long-anticipated clarity on release plans for the upcoming sci-fi shooter, previously confirmed for "holiday 2021."

Microsoft has repeatedly stressed plans to bring Halo Infinite to market in 2021, following a previous delay that pushed the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S launch title into this year. Developer 343 Industries cited "multiple factors" alongside the announcement, but spotlighted challenges tied to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

While Halo Infinite resurfaced at E3 2021 this June, later followed by public multiplayer technical tests, developer 343 Industries has remained coy on timelines. While Call of Duty: Vanguard, Battlefield 2042, and other imminent shooters now have scheduled launch dates, availability has remained hazy on the next mainline Halo title.

The report comes via Aggiornamenti Lumia on Twitter, a reputable and proven source for leaks via the Microsoft Store. The timing is unusual, less than 24 hours after Microsoft hosted its own Gamescom 2021 conference, but implies a potential showing at Geoff Keighley's Gamescom Opening Night Live show on Wednesday afternoon.

The upcoming mainline entry debuts on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles, plus Windows 10 PCs. Preorders start at $60 on all platforms, with day-one access granted to Xbox Game Pass subscribers. Halo Infinite's multiplayer component will also be available as a standalone free-to-play title on all platforms.

However, Microsoft has scaled back the scope of Halo Infinite in a controversial move to hit this December. The cooperative campaign and the Forge level editor are no longer planned for launch, now expected to arrive later via a post-launch update.

Halo Infinite will launch with a new single-player story campaign, with the return of franchise icon, the Master Chief, on his latest adventure. The title adopts a new open-world setup spanning a virtual ringworld, including returning alien faction, the Banished. The title will also ship with a traditional multiplayer mode, including an expanded 24-player Big Team Battle mode and support for AI-controlled bots.