Halo Infinite won’t make its 2020 release date.

This year has faced a lot of delays. Games like The Last of Us Part II and Cyberpunk were pushed in the wake of the of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, they weren’t the only ones, but in terms of high-profile titles, they were the big games. But 2021 hasn’t finished claiming titles. Now, there’s one major Xbox Series X title that is facing the delay hammer from its developer, and hardcore fans won’t be happy.

343 Industries studio head Chris Lee recently took to Twitter to share the news with the fans that Halo Infinite wouldn’t be seeing release in 2020. Sadly, unlike other games, based on the post, it doesn’t even sound like they have any idea when the game will be released. All that is mentioned in a nebulous 2021 release date.

“The decision to shift our release is the result of multiple factors that have contributed to development changes, including the ongoing COVID-related impacts affecting us this year,” Lee wrote. He then went on to thank the team at 343. “However, It is not sustainable for the well-being of our team or the overall success of the game to ship it this holiday.”

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I have to say, on two fronts, I think this is a good move. The video game industry is infamous for how it pushes its workers to the breaking point. Crunch time is a real thing, and lives are broken in the name of the final product. That 343 Industries realizes this is a fantastic thing. Now, do I know it will ultimately help them give their workers sane hours? Not completely, but it has to be better than if they planned on releasing the game this holiday, right? I also think it’s a good move because, as the great Shigeru Miyato said, “A delayed game is eventually good. A bad game is bad forever.”

And, from the looks of things on Twitter, a lot of fans seem to be in support of this move. However, there is one negative comment I can’t overlook. 

Jason Schreier, author of Blood, Sweat, and Pixels, and video game reporter at Bloomberg had some choice words about the delay.

“How bad must things be for Halo Infinite, planned to launch alongside the new Xbox, to get delayed? (Bad).”

How bad must things be for Halo Infinite, planned to launch alongside the new Xbox, to get delayed? (Bad) https://t.co/Q8Y7uOBxqn

— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) August 11, 2020

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And yeah, I can’t ignore that statement. For starters, he knows a hell of a lot more about the gaming industry than I ever will. Secondly, the fact that Halo Infinite was such an important launch game for the Xbox Series X does not bode well for its launch. Based on their strategy of not really shooting for exclusives (and instead shooting for permeation of the games market through more accessible consoles), it’s clear they aren’t going for the short game. They want to invest long-term. And a part of the long-term goal is making sure their big tentpoles aren’t dumpster fires upon release.

In many ways, this prediction wasn’t difficult to make. Last August, the game’s creative director left, and just two months later, the lead producer left. When your top dogs leave a project, there is bound to be some trouble. At the very least, we can praise 343 Industries for having the guts to push the game, in hopes of making sure it’s actually good.

Will it pay off for them? Your guess is as good as mine. Are you sad to see Halo Infinite delayed? Sound off down below!

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SOURCE: 343 Industries, Jason Schreier