After Microsoft kicked off its E3 2018 conference with the first trailer for Halo: Infinite, it’s fair to say that expectations for the next Halo installment are pretty high. So far, 343 Industries only discussed the new Slipspace engine that will power this new Halo game, but the developer has finally shared some details about its vision for the next Halo.
Speaking at during Variety’s Entertainment and Technology Summit earlier this month, Elizabeth Van Wyck, Head of Business, Operations & Esports for the Halo Franchise said that 343 Industries will be laser focused on building the best multiplayer experience that will also push the Halo esports community forward.
“In developing for the next [Halo] game, it is a key piece of how we think about how we built out multiplayer, which is the mode that our esports is built off of,” she said. “Thinking about how people will view it. Thinking about how they will play it. But at the end of the day, we have to build an awesome game,” she added.
Another thing we learned about Halo: Infinite this week is that it will feature microtransactions, which isn’t really surprising since that Halo 5 already had some. According to a job listing for an Online Experience Design Director (via Gamespot), developer 343 Industries is looking for someone that will oversee “Progression in- and out-of-game; microtransactions and integration of our business plan throughout the game; and, finally, social and engagement features that encourage players to return again and again with their friends.”
Microsoft has included microtransactions in many of its recent games including Gears of War 4 and Forza Motorsport 7, and they can be a good way to finance free content updates. Halo: 5 Guardians was supported for many months after its initial release in Fall 2015, and we expect Microsoft to do even better with Halo: Infinite, which will also be released on Windows 10 in addition to Xbox One.
