A new survey sent out to members of Microsoft’s Xbox Research program suggests that the company may be reconsidering its plans forHalo Infiniteand 343 Industries as it charts the future of the Xbox brand. The survey was issued to players just days after Xbox head Phil Spencer told an interviewer that343 Industries is “critically important toHalo”following layoffs at the developer.Released in November 2021, over a year past its initial release date, 343 Industries’Halo Infiniteexperienced a troubled development process and an equally rocky launch. The latest in the long-runningHaloseries of first-person shooters initially created by developer Bungie,Halo Infiniteintroduced an open-world setting to the franchise for the first time when it arrived on PC and consoles. Although generally well-received by many players and critics despite some issues with the game’s multiplayer modes, frustrations over the shooter’s troubled development process surfaced earlier this month when several formerHalo Infinitedevelopers called out Microsoft leadershipfor supposed mismanagement of the title over several years.RELATED:343 Industries Denies Halo Development RumorA new Twitter post from gaming news account Mr_Rebs_ shared several screenshots of survey questions that were sent out to some members of Microsoft’s Xbox Research program, which is designed to provide the mega-publisher with direct feedback from players “to help shape the future of gaming.” Wasting no time getting straight to the point, the first question asks gamers “Are you done playingHalo Infinite?” Subsequent questions ask gamers for feedback on what game modes they would like to see added toHalo Infinite, as well as several questions seemingly designed to gauge gamers’ trust in developer 343 Industries’ continued ability to carry the franchise. Some gamers’ faith in the developer had wavered even before the recent layoffs following thedeparture ofHalo Infinite’s multiplayer creative directorlate last year.
Some users responding to the post were taken aback by the tone of the questions posed in the survey, with one comment stating that it was “Actually insane how xbox/MS fail to take any responsibility.” Other responses questioned the timing and usefulness of the survey following Phil Spencer’s recent statements regarding 343’s future with the franchise, which reaffirmed the developer’s involvement withHalotitles for the foreseeable future. Taking a more upbeat view of the player survey, some responses expressed hope that Microsoft would take the user feedback into account and begin working to improveHalo Infinite.
While it seems wildly unlikely that theHalofranchise as a whole will be going away any time soon, this survey hits thatHalo Infinitemay be closer to being put out to pasture than many players expected. For now, at least, fans of Master Chief can still enjoy hopping into a multiplayer match with their friends decked out in their finestOreo-themedHalo Infinitearmor.
Halo Infiniteis available for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
