UPDATE 8/25/2021 – 14:37 EDT: It was officially announced at Gamescom 2021 that Halo Infinite will indeed launch on PC and Xbox systems on December 8, 2021. The original story follows.
A new online listing may have leaked the release date for Halo Infinite, claiming the game is coming to Xbox consoles and PC on December 8, 2021. Microsoft has yet to confirm this release date, so it must be taken with a grain of salt until it has been officially announced.
Halo Infinite was infamously delayed in August 2020, leading to the Xbox Series X/S losing its big launch window exclusive. Part of the reason for the delay was the backlash from fans following Halo Infinite‘s initial showing, which was so widely criticized that it caused 343 Industries and Xbox to push the game back by an entire year. Since then, Microsoft has gradually been showing new footage of the game and hosting previews, which have seen a much more positive response.
Now, it appears rumors of further delays for Halo Infinite may be unfounded. Retweeted by Nibel on Twitter, the ALumia_Italia Twitter account shared a Microsoft Store listing for Halo Infinite, which has a December 8 release date. The UK/European Microsoft Store page still lists the game as having a December 31 release date, which is a placeholder given to games that only have a release year and not a specific date.
This leak came about after Halo Infinite was conspicuously missing from Xbox’s Gamescom 2021 event, where major announcements were made regarding other Xbox franchises. It’s possible that Microsoft wants a separate event that is dedicated to Halo Infinite to announce the release date and pre-orders, instead of attaching it to a show containing other reveals. There’s a strong chance that this release date will be given at Gamescom 2021’s Opening Night Live event, which is currently expected to feature an announcement regarding the Saints Row series.
Recently, developer 343 denied fresh delay rumors, which became widely speculated online after Halo Infinite’s delay of co-op and Forge. The fact that the game is missing content at launch, including co-op and the Forge, shows the developers are prioritizing different aspects of the development. It seems the flagship Xbox console exclusive will be receiving its content in gradual upgrades, with a focus being given to the single-player campaign and multiplayer modes at launch and everything else slowly being added over time. Losing Halo Infinite at launch was a major blow to the Xbox Series X/S at the start of its lifespan, and it’s unlikely Microsoft would allow anything else to keep it from releasing this holiday season.
Halo Infinite will be available for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC in Holiday 2021.
