Halo Infinite's recently revealed content roadmap has received a mixed reception from fans, but it seems even developer 343 Industries isn't entirely happy with the update schedule.
Speaking during a recent Halo Infinite livestream, 343's head of creative content Joseph Staten addressed concerns that the multiplayer shooter's delayed second season of content will run for six months, leaving many players expecting more than they bargained for. for Season 3. Of that, several other highly anticipated features, including the co-op campaign and Forge mode, have yet to appear or receive firm release dates.
Staten candidly suggested that the Halo Infinite development team is just as disappointed with the slow release of new content as players are, but needs to address more pressing issues with the game before it can release more regular seasons (thanks, PureXbox).
"One thing to clarify, none of us within 343 look at that roadmap and are happy with it," Staten said.
"We all want to do things faster to deliver more content. We always have a need to get into a healthy rhythm where we can release a season every three months, so it was painful for us internally, frankly, to communicate this roadmap. with a season that would last another six months.
"But the reason we're doing this is exactly what we've talked about before: we need to prioritize quality of life issues that are impacting the game right now, like today when you launch the game. This is our number one priority.
Staten said the team is working on additional seasonal content, but must first address existing Halo Infinite glitches with specific improvements.
"That's really how we organized to do this job and why we're extending the season now," he said.
"But again, to emphasize this: None of us look at this and say, 'Great, six-month seasons are awesome.' They're not; they really aren't. And we have to put ourselves in a position where we can we can deliver more frequently, and we are working on that as well.
a lot of pressure
Halo Infinite has faced a dearth of new content since its release last November. With its second multiplayer season repeatedly delayed, fans had to play through the same limited number of maps and modes for months, causing many to abandon the game entirely. Forge's co-op campaign and level editor, features that were announced even before the release of Infinite. - will also appear, which will further exhaust the patience of the community.
In a blog post published in April, 343 Industries acknowledged the disappointing delays, but explained that it slowed down the release of new content to prioritize the health of its team. He said he wanted to establish a "sustainable pace of development so that we can deliver great experiences for all of you while maintaining a healthy work-life balance."
"We know we need to deliver more content and more features faster," the blog post read. “Staying true to zero priority means sometimes we have to slow down to stay healthy and move faster later. But we're also actively looking for ways to speed up.
This lines up with Staten's earlier comments. While the team wants to stream multiplayer seasons more often, the demands of game development and unforeseen health issues mean even the best laid plans don't always work out.
However, fans will soon have something new to play with. Halo Infinite Season 2 launches on May 3 and introduces a ton of new maps and game modes, but the pressure is on. The update will be something of a litmus test for the multiplayer shooter, proving whether players are still interested in the game they'll be returning to en masse, or have lost interest altogether.