The popular 343 Industries to adjust Halo Infinite progression over the past few weeks. While many fans are welcoming these changes and improvements, others feel that the studio isn't doing enough to deliver a worthy multiplayer experience.
Halo Infinite's multiplayer surprised fans when it launched unexpectedly this November. In the weeks following its rollout, the mode has been praised as a return to form for the revered sci-fi franchise, featuring gunplay and physics systems that have been polished to a sheen befitting of the Halo legacy. Not everything has been perfect in this multiplayer mode, however, as many players have been feeling frustrated with how progression has been implemented; rather than leveling up via in-game performance like most competitive shooters, Halo Infinite requires players to complete randomized daily challenges tied to certain game modes and strategies. Since players currently have no control over what game mode they are placed in, this model has led to issues like empty Halo Infinite matches as gamers shuffle through the playlist in an effort to earn XP.
The controversial Battle and progression system continue to stoke fervent and, at times, toxic discussion, resulting in a temporary shutdown of the Halo subreddit. Gaming content creator Skill Up recently shared a screenshot of the shutdown post on Twitter, commenting that he hopes 343 can turn the situation around. The Reddit post itself, created by -343-Guilty-Spark-, cites doxxing and death threats as reasons for the shutdown. The post ends with "At the end of the day this is a video game and this level of vitriol is unwarranted."
The reports of doxxing and death threats, if true, are certainly disturbing. While these are extreme responses, they are unfortunately far from unprecedented; back in October, Naughty Dog are also no strangers to death threats from fans who feel spurned by aspects of the game that they dislike.
There are valid criticisms that can be leveled against Halo Infinite and the execution of its multiplayer particulars; the model isn't very player-friendly and seems to have been implemented to push gamers towards making microtransactions. However, as the aforementioned Reddit post points out, Halo is just a game, and no game should cause such acidic negativity. Hopefully, 343 Industries and the Halo fanbase can reconcile their differences in the coming weeks and months.
