Microsoft Studios head Matt Booty discussed the launch of Halo Infinite, saying that the launch was similar to a runner crossing the finish line and then tripping and falling.
“The classic runner’s mistake of tripping and stumbling as you meet the finish line. We have to recover there. The onus is on us,” he said.
Speaking on the Friends Per Second podcast (with GameSpot’s own Lucy James), Booty said that Halo Infinite was off to a great start, reaching 20 million players and setting records out of the gate. Booty said that completing Halo Infinite during the pandemic represented a worst-case scenario with hundreds of developers working remotely around the world to complete a major AAA title.
While Halo Infinite’s multiplayer had a strong launch, interest and engagement quickly waned, in part due to a lack of compelling content.
“These days, with a game like Halo Infinite, the mission of the game is just the beginning. There has to be a plan for sustaining content, there has to be a plan for regular ongoing engagement. And we just failed from plan to this,” Buti said.
In response to this, Booty said that the developers at 343 have “cut back” and come up with a new setup to help deliver content in an efficient manner. The studio previously stated that it would need to slow down updates for Halo Infinite in order to get it back up and running properly in the future, and that seems to be what Booty is hinting at. Booty also talked about the leadership changes at 343 as an example of how the team intends to make Halo Infinite the game it should be for fans.
“Thank you to the players who stuck with us through this. We know it exists way more demand and there’s so much more we could offer,” Booty said. “That’s our focus right now… on quality of life for the game and normal content streaming, getting back to that.”
Halo Infinite’s next big update, The Winter Update, will arrive on November 8th with some major changes and improvements, as well as new features like campaign co-op and the Forge. This will be Halo Infinite’s biggest update ever.
The products discussed here were independently selected by our editors. GameSpot may receive a share of the revenue if you purchase anything featured on our site.