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343i update on Halo Infinite Season 2: Lone Wolves

Banjo64

cumsessed
Halo-Infinite-Lone-Wolves.png



HaloInfinite_S2_Characters_1920x1080.jpg


New armour core:

HaloInfinite_S2_FractureCore_Concept_1920x1080.jpg


During Season 2, we will also be shipping playlist updates, balance changes, new modes, and maps, specifically, one Arena map named “Catalyst” and one BTB map named “Breaker.” The new modes include "Last Spartan Standing", a free-for-all elimination mode, as well as another new mode named "Land Grab," plus the return of an updated, all-time favorite mode, "King of the Hill."

Catalyst:

HaloInfinite_S2_BTBMap_Concept_1920x1080.jpg


Breaker:

HaloInfinite_S2_ArenaMap_Concept_1920x1080.jpg
 

Banjo64

cumsessed
Sounds like 343i have some pretty major issues with their efficiency and productivity;

We also have a “Priority Zero,” that undergirds everything we do, namely: team health, with an emphasis on getting ourselves into a sustainable development rhythm so that we can deliver great experiences to all of you while keeping a healthy work/life balance.

Priority Zero means that we sometimes need to move slower so that we can move faster later. Frankly, these last few months have been slower than we expected, and we sincerely thank you for your patience as we stay true to the priorities, above.

I hope they aren’t indicating that those 2 maps will be the only ones added from Season 2 to Season 3, otherwise I’ll be giving up on this game.
 

Cornbread78

Member
Whelp....

Terrible reminder I only got to around lvl 30 of S1. The MP is fun in small blips but it has no progression sytem for skills/weapons
 

anthony2690

Banned
Only 2 maps, I get the impression that a lot of time, effort and resources is mainly being focused on forge.

And fixing/making co op campaign work.

Regardless I'll happily jump back into the game season 2.
 

Dr Bass

Member
I kinda don’t get how they will do co op with the way the map works. Will players be limited to sticking together in a radius? Will other missions disable if you’re “live” on one?

I like what I see here though I’m not interested in competitive co-op. Cool designs though.
 

ZehDon

Member
Holy smokes, Halo Infinite is a disaster.

Only 2 maps, I get the impression that a lot of time, effort and resources is mainly being focused on forge.

And fixing/making co op campaign work.

Regardless I'll happily jump back into the game season 2.
Forge is being developed by a third party so that 343i can focus on Halo Infinite. And this appears to mean two new maps after six months of development, modes that are already available in the offline mode of the game, balance changes that should've been included in weekly updates they didn't make, and a continuation of a their perverse Armour Core system that literally no one likes. And delaying a foundational feature - co-op - for the second time.
 

Assaulty

Member
343 is fumbling the bag hard on what could've been a return to form. Instead of that, 343 is currently managing to bleed players at the de pace as Halo 5, which, with the amount of positieve hype the game got, is astounding. Its insane how incompetent this studio Is and Intruly dont understand why their leadership isnt completely sacked.

Basically, 343's "season 2" they've delayed for months, is nothing more than a mid season update in other games and their "mid season update" was a weekly patch.

This has to be the most frustrating 343 product ever to me (yes, even worse than MCC) because the game has An insane amount of potential. The hype was there, the player base was there, but 343 decided to, with 700+ employees, to basically sit on their thumbs. What are they doing over there?
 

Panajev2001a

GAF's Pleasant Genius
Holy smokes, Halo Infinite is a disaster.


Forge is being developed by a third party so that 343i can focus on Halo Infinite. And this appears to mean two new maps after six months of development, modes that are already available in the offline mode of the game, balance changes that should've been included in weekly updates they didn't make, and a continuation of a their perverse Armour Core system that literally no one likes. And delaying a foundational feature - co-op - for the second time.
Imagine the state of the real game back when they demoed the infamous Craig video… if this is the pace of development and the features now.
 

Panajev2001a

GAF's Pleasant Genius
343 is fumbling the bag hard on what could've been a return to form. Instead of that, 343 is currently managing to bleed players at the de pace as Halo 5, which, with the amount of positieve hype the game got, is astounding. Its insane how incompetent this studio Is and Intruly dont understand why their leadership isnt completely sacked.

Basically, 343's "season 2" they've delayed for months, is nothing more than a mid season update in other games and their "mid season update" was a weekly patch.

This has to be the most frustrating 343 product ever to me (yes, even worse than MCC) because the game has An insane amount of potential. The hype was there, the player base was there, but 343 decided to, with 700+ employees, to basically sit on their thumbs. What are they doing over there?
Imagine how frustrating it must be for “closers” like Staten that managed ODST with a pocket of resources as the team finished Halo 3 and was meant to start Halo: Reach too.
 

Panajev2001a

GAF's Pleasant Genius
Sounds like 343i have some pretty major issues with their efficiency and productivity;

We also have a “Priority Zero,” that undergirds everything we do, namely: team health, with an emphasis on getting ourselves into a sustainable development rhythm so that we can deliver great experiences to all of you while keeping a healthy work/life balance.

Priority Zero means that we sometimes need to move slower so that we can move faster later. Frankly, these last few months have been slower than we expected, and we sincerely thank you for your patience as we stay true to the priorities, above.


I hope they aren’t indicating that those 2 maps will be the only ones added from Season 2 to Season 3, otherwise I’ll be giving up on this game.
I agree team health should be prioritised, but something really really f-ed up happened to the game in its dev cycle. Considering all the studios they drafted to handle parts of the game and the resources they threw at it for years.
Either is is a project that had to be rescued from development hell or they have a team that sees development in the strictest agile by the book way as a form of defense and is unable to move without being micro managed or they lost key people or I dunno. I am unsure what happened to make team health such a concern with the pace of development that does not seem to be that rapid anymore.

What happened from the public reveal to the launch? 16 hours a day 5 days a week crunch every month?
 

II_JumPeR_I

Member
Sounds like 343i have some pretty major issues with their efficiency and productivity;

We also have a “Priority Zero,” that undergirds everything we do, namely: team health, with an emphasis on getting ourselves into a sustainable development rhythm so that we can deliver great experiences to all of you while keeping a healthy work/life balance.

Priority Zero means that we sometimes need to move slower so that we can move faster later. Frankly, these last few months have been slower than we expected, and we sincerely thank you for your patience as we stay true to the priorities, above.

I hope they aren’t indicating that those 2 maps will be the only ones added from Season 2 to Season 3, otherwise I’ll be giving up on this game.
Just working 2 hours a day isnt working out lol
 

Ozriel

M$FT
These seem as big as most seasons for Apex Legends? What's the complaints about?

I agree team health should be prioritised, but something really really f-ed up happened to the game in its dev cycle. Considering all the studios they drafted to handle parts of the game and the resources they threw at it for years.
Either is is a project that had to be rescued from development hell or they have a team that sees development in the strictest agile by the book way as a form of defense and is unable to move without being micro managed or they lost key people or I dunno. I am unsure what happened to make team health such a concern with the pace of development that does not seem to be that rapid anymore.

What happened from the public reveal to the launch? 16 hours a day 5 days a week crunch every month?

No idea why you lot like crying over spilt milk. It's already well established now that the development was Rocky and the team worked flat out for 1.5 years to land the game. Get over it already.

Season 1 lasted this long because they had to slow down the pace.

I think critical bug fixes, a couple of maps and new modes aren't too shabby for the first season. Season 2 is just three months anyway, so they'll get into the right cadence for long term support.
 
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Panajev2001a

GAF's Pleasant Genius
These seem as big as most seasons for Apex Legends? What's the complaints about?



No idea why you lot like crying over spilt milk. It's already well established now that the development was Rocky and the team worked flat out for 1.5 years to land the game. Get over it already.

Season 1 lasted this long because they had to slow down the pace.

I think critical bug fixes, a couple of maps and new modes aren't too shabby for the first season. Season 2 is just three months anyway, so they'll get into the right cadence for long term support.

We will see if this is crying over spilled milk or trying to handwave issues away, the same way that was done for reports before the trailer, after the trailer, at launch, after launch to focus on hyping things out.
 

anthony2690

Banned
Holy smokes, Halo Infinite is a disaster.


Forge is being developed by a third party so that 343i can focus on Halo Infinite. And this appears to mean two new maps after six months of development, modes that are already available in the offline mode of the game, balance changes that should've been included in weekly updates they didn't make, and a continuation of a their perverse Armour Core system that literally no one likes. And delaying a foundational feature - co-op - for the second time.
That's very disappointing, but thankfully other games exist to tide me over during Halo dry spells.

Hopefully they work things out and find their stride.
 
It would have to be double the maps to stay fresh. I hoped they worked ahead, they did not.

I would take actually bad maps at this point...which is why forge is so needed.

Feel bad they have to be this appologetic when they are the ones suffering. Maybe the TV show gives them a boost. Otherwise, they signed up for 10 years of no momentum arena shooter.
 

ZehDon

Member
These seem as big as most seasons for Apex Legends? What's the complaints about?



No idea why you lot like crying over spilt milk. It's already well established now that the development was Rocky and the team worked flat out for 1.5 years to land the game. Get over it already.

Season 1 lasted this long because they had to slow down the pace.

I think critical bug fixes, a couple of maps and new modes aren't too shabby for the first season. Season 2 is just three months anyway, so they'll get into the right cadence for long term support.
Do Apex seasons last six months, with a 500 person development team solely focused on getting it content complete?
Keep in mind, Respawn not only manage Apex, but also made a terrific Star Wars game at the same time.
343i has one job: make Halo Infinite. They’ve had six years. Their output is laughably bad by any and all metrics.
 

Louay

Member
Lmao 2 Maps ? "content ready" My Ass. another barebone season also no changing to store and progression system.

3 games and they had to fk something every time.

I think it's time for New Studio to Handle Halo IP
 

kingfey

Banned
That 10 year is seriously fucking them over now.
They should not hold these contents for future. They should release it now.
Fuck the person who come up with this 10 year plan.
 

Panajev2001a

GAF's Pleasant Genius
That 10 year is seriously fucking them over now.
They should not hold these contents for future. They should release it now.
Fuck the person who come up with this 10 year plan.
I think, like for most GaaS plans, the plan is “we will support if for 10 years if it is successful”.

People imagine GaaS as the old content full ganes they loved plus tons of constant new content every season. The reality seems to be developing a decent vertical slice, 30-40% of the game you used to make with added grinding and cheap padding to make it seem bigger and only develop the rest of the game in 15-20% chunks if people bite and stick around so you can cut your losses early.
 
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MadPanda

Banned
343i is really struggling and they're such a disappointment. I know. some. die hard fanboys will find an excuse for them but after so much money and so much time I'll hardly change my mind on them. Luckily, Microsoft doesn't rely on them as much as they did but nevertheless they should do much better. The basis is right but after 6 to 7 years having only basic things right is not enough. I don't know whose fault it is but after 4 months they announce that in 2 months they'll release 2 maps is ridiculous. something has to change there.
 
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Cryio

Member
No word yet about the promised ray tracing update.

No word yet about how Xbox Series uses Variable Rate Shading for boosting performance or image quality yet the option is not present on PC.

No word yet about how realtime cutscene animations are still limited to 30 fps even though the game has a 120 fps mode even on consoles this time around.

No word about further optimizations on PC. Game's visuals do not justify the incredibly steep system requirements and current performance.
 
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Graciaus

Member
I would hardly call King of the Hill an all time favorite. People who care about their K/D love it for the easy kills.
 

FireFly

Member
I think, like for most GaaS plans, the plan is “we will support if for 10 years if it is successful”.

People imagine GaaS as the old content full ganes they loved plus tons of constant new content every season. The reality seems to be developing a decent vertical slice, 30-40% of the game you used to make with added grinding and cheap padding to make it seem bigger and only develop the rest of the game in 15-20% chunks if people bite and stick around so you can cut your losses early.
I don't think Microsoft's premier franchise is one they were planning on cutting and running from. And calling Infinite GaaS doesn't make a whole lot of sense at this point when Halo 5 had far more meaningful updates post launch.
 

Panajev2001a

GAF's Pleasant Genius
I don't think Microsoft's premier franchise is one they were planning on cutting and running from.
Is it really their premier franchise anymore? MCC, Infinite launch, etc… I do not think they plan to cut and run, they would love it to be yet another reason for people to stay subscribed to GamePass, but beyond that they seem to be ready to cut their losses if they had to with Infinite.

And calling Infinite GaaS doesn't make a whole lot of sense at this point when Halo 5 had far more meaningful updates post launch.

It is not the amount of updates you get post launch, it is how the launch game is designed and the content that is available at launch (compare Infinite with Elden Ring and see the difference). GaaS games are thought and designed to establish a foothold and distribute development costs over time as well as give you the ability to develop only the content you need to and the more data you get the more you can develop content that you think will be successful thus lowering your risk.
 

RAIDEN1

Member
Having finished the campaign a few days ago, what I want to know is, where next for Master Chief and Cortana Mk2, on top of the fact that Atriox is the banished equivalent of the Master Chief...
 
Woof, that's not a lot of content and coop pushed back again.....I hope people wait around long enough for them to finish coop at least.
 
2 new maps in 6 months is an absolute joke. The game already shipped with not enough maps. I was waiting to come back to this game in May expecting 5 to 6 new maps. I won't be coming back. You fucked yourself 343.
 

FireFly

Member
Is it really their premier franchise anymore? MCC, Infinite launch, etc… I do not think they plan to cut and run, they would love it to be yet another reason for people to stay subscribed to GamePass, but beyond that they seem to be ready to cut their losses if they had to with Infinite.

Halo MCC illustrates my point perfectly. They completely bungled the technology underlying the game in a way that would require them to go back and rearchitect technology built across 12 different engines spanning over a decade. That's the classic situation where you cut your losses and move on. Yet 343 spent years behind the scenes fixing up the technology to the point where it could deliver on the original vision, and then they ported all the games to the PC *and* added ODST and Reach. And they were still updating it until Halo Infinite launch. So that's basically 6 years of support for a title that should have been dead in the water.

And the result is that they got an additional 10 million players on PC, and are still in the top 50 most played games on Xbox in the US, where for example there isn't a single Battlefield title. You need to "lower your risk" when you have a new IP or experimental game design. But Halo already comes with a huge audience, even if you're going to quibble as to whether it is really bigger than GoW or Forza. And Infinite has the most standard multiplayer modes ever, and even planned (or rumoured) additions like Forge and Warzone/ Warzone Firefight have already proved themselves. And when you have such a large audience on day 1, it makes sense to ship the most content possible, so your multiplayer base can keep growing. Not ship a small selection of content, and then update at a slower rate than any standard boxed release.

The fact that Infinite's strategy makes zero sense, makes me think the issues are really development related and nothing to do with some GaaS edict from above. When literally the head of the direction of the studio is saying publicly that development is too slow, you know there is a problem.

It is not the amount of updates you get post launch, it is how the launch game is designed and the content that is available at launch (compare Infinite with Elden Ring and see the difference). GaaS games are thought and designed to establish a foothold and distribute development costs over time as well as give you the ability to develop only the content you need to and the more data you get the more you can develop content that you think will be successful thus lowering your risk.
Games routinely ship unfinished, so if releasing a barebones product is necessary condition to be a GaaS title (and that's pretty debateable!), I don't think we can say it is a sufficient one. The idea behind GaaS is that with constant updates the player base can continue to grow over time, rather than shifting from one title to the next. If you just ship a barebones title and then do nothing for months, people will simply jump ship, which is what is happening to Infinite. So again, the launch strategy simply doesn't make sense. Unless – the real issues are development related.
 
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Even with these new maps I can't understand how everybody at 343 doesn't see the amount of maps as a MASSIVE problem. I love the gameplay and want to play tons of Infinite, but it's a lot harder when there's like 4-5 maps that get cycled through. Which is especially frustrating when Halo has one of the best backlog of maps of any series. The amount of amazing maps the Halo series already has, and would likely be relatively trivial to add to the game, is staggering. And yet they refuse to use any of those old maps (even 343 created ones in 4/5) in a game that desperately needs like 5-10 new maps like yesterday
 
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