Halo developer 343 Industries has released new information regarding Halo Infinite's sandbox, including possible changes to beloved weapons and vehicles. Xbox's signature first-person shooter franchise has some of the most iconic weapons and vehicles in gaming history, from the purple spikes of the Needler to the front tusks and mounted machine gun of the Warthog. Original developer Bungie got things so right in the first game that it's proven hard to make significant changes to that sandbox that stand the test of time. For every Spartan Laser and Energy Sword, there's a Trip Mine, Focus Rifle, or Brute Prowler ending up as a footnote in franchise history.
Halo Infinite will once again try to shake things up, and players have already seen some of the changes in the game's initial gameplay trailer. Master Chief wields a smaller shotgun called the Bulldog and an automatic rifle called the Commando. He also has the ability to pick up equipment for the first time since Halo 3, showing off both a grappling hook and a deployable energy shield. He can even use the former to grab fusion coils and hurl them at groups of enemies with explosive results.
All these new additions are thanks to 343's sandbox team, and they're the focus of this month's promised Inside Infinite update. In a long discussion with Halo community director Brian Jarrard, the team goes into what must be considered with every addition to a Halo game's sandbox, and try to explain some of the changes that have already been made public. For example, the Bulldog is an effort to introduce a shotgun that isn't a power weapon and could conceivably be something that Master Chief spawns with under certain circumstances. They also mention that the original shotgun is not gone forever and could return via game updates a la the original Rocket Launcher and Halo 1 pistol in Halo 5: Guardians.
On the vehicle front, Brian Berryhill strongly hints at a new addition that would utilize flamethrowers or other ignition-based weaponry. That has been a rarity in Halo to date, with flame only showing up via the M7057 Flamethrower in two games as a standard weapon. The Flamethrower has never been mounted on a vehicle outside the world of Halo Wars, and the game is already borrowing from that series in other areas. There are also hints that a weapon that's been in the series since the original game will be getting a rework, a statement that could also apply to the classic flame-belching tool of destruction.
The full Inside Infinite update is worth a read for anyone waiting patiently for Halo Infinite's fall debut, especially those interested in Master Chief's arsenal. Any given Halo game's weapon selection can define it as much as its setting, enemy roster, or even graphical prowess. That's one of the reasons why Halo 5's multiplayer was so well received; it included weapons from across the franchise and gave players tons of options. Here's hoping that the huge open-world scope of Infinite will give players that same luxury.
Halo Infinite is planned to release on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S in Fall 2021.
Source: Halo Waypoint
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January 30, 2021 at 06:09AM
