Halo Infinite Dev Responds To Frustrated Fans, Asks For Patience
Halo community director Brian Jarrard acknowledges that the Halo Infinite road "hasn't been easy."
Halo Infinite's road to release hasn't exactly been smooth. Developer 343 Industries has experienced a good deal of high-level staff turnover, the game was delayed from its place as an Xbox Series X launch title, and what we have seen of the game has been underwhelming in the eyes of some in the Halo community.
Halo community director Brian Jarrard responded to these concerns on Twitter recently. He said he understands the frustration fans are feeling, because he has felt it too. He asked for patience and understanding as 343 finishes the game.
"As an avid fan of many properties (games, movies, TV, music) I 100% understand and appreciate the passion the Halo community has. I also understand the frustration when things don’t go the way you want or it feels like you're somehow being wronged or not heard," Jarrard said.
The developer said he feels fortunate to be able to work on a franchise as large and impactful as Halo, and with that comes a dedicated and passionate community of fans. "It's not easy but I'd rather have people care--and even be mad--than not give a damn. Thank you," he said.
For Halo Infinite specifically, Jarrard said the journey has not been without its struggles, with 2020 in particular standing out as a difficult year.
"The Infinite road hasn't been easy. This year in particular has been incredibly challenging," he said. "We have hundreds of developers who truly only want to make the best Halo game they possibly can. It pains all of us when the community is hurting."
343 is planning to share a high-level update on the development status of Halo Infinite before the end of the year, and Jarrard said this message won't be enough for some.
"No update is going to satisfy everyone," he said. "We want to turn the corner as 2020 comes to an end and leave the challenges of this year behind us and look ahead to 2021. We are committed to bringing you along on this journey, we just ask for bit of patience and understanding."
Regarding the staff turnover at 343, Xbox boss Phil Spencer explained to GameSpot recently that it's nothing to worry about.
"I don't have any specific concern about 343. I actually think in the long run, turnover is a healthy thing because we want people who are really motivated by the things that they're working on," he said.
In other news, a rumor recently popped up claiming that Halo Infinite would have a battle royale mode, but 343 quickly shut that down.
Halo Infinite was originally set to release as a launch title for the Xbox Series X|S, but due in part to complications related to COVID-19, Microsoft pushed the game out to 2021.
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