Halo Infinite has got off to a fantastic start in terms of player numbers and the reception to its gameplay so far, but the same can't be said in regards to the game's progression model which has received a fair bit of criticism.
The negativity has stemmed around everything from slow progression in the Battle Pass to concerns surrounding the amount of paid content that will be made available during Season 1, and 343 Industries head of design Jerry Hook has acknowledged that progression specifically needs work, saying he's "feeling the pain" of it:
"Yes I am still playing Halo and feeling everyone’s pain on progression. We are back at it next week and this will be top of my list with the team."
As you can see, the plan is for Hook to address this with his team during the week, so hopefully they'll be able to find a better solution for Infinite players in the long run. The Fracture: Tenrai event has also come under criticism for lacking cosmetic content and spreading progress across multiple months, so maybe that'll be targeted, too.
We can't stress enough how much we're enjoying Halo Infinite's gameplay regardless, but unfortunately it's being somewhat overshadowed by these concerns. Fingers crossed, the negativity will be a thing of the past soon enough.
How are you finding Halo Infinite's progression model? Let us know down in the comments below.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 20
I hope they add an additional player progress system which is based on military rankings. You'll gain XP in the match and progress through the system like Halo 3. Would absolutely love that.
They said they'd address it after the first complaints. They also said it would be a process. All this continued whining is just cementing the opinion that the gaming community are a bunch of impatient, entitled brats.
Also, the ones complaining about the cost of cosmetics better never go to Disneyworld.
@XxEvilAshxX
Thing is, people have been overwhelmingly against this “only exp from challenges” progression since they revealed that’s how it would be way back. The system we have now was intentional. I love the gameplay, but I’m not about to defend this mess especially when people are already moving on to something else. Instead of releasing a full priced game like they always have (to critical and financial success), they went the free to play route to make more money with significantly less content.
As for your little Disneyworld bit, I really don’t understand what you’re getting at. Even if the comparison made sense (it doesn’t), a family trip to Disneyworld is way more life affirming than a freaking videogame.
I’m mainly a single play campaign chap and have never understood people complaining about the cost of buying costumes etc.
It even happens in campaigns of some games and sometimes paying for easy campaign progression.
To me if you want it you buy it you don’t, don’t buy it.
I have only ever purchased dlc stuff, extra areas etc.
@XxEvilAshxX
Did they? Last I checked the complaints were rolling pre-release, and they did absolutely nothing. It was only after release that they finally admitted it was an issue.
Do you know how many millions of people are playing? And how constantly new streams of people are coming in.
Are you saying that every new person that comes in and starts playing, with the vast majority of people having no prior info on the game, aren't going to complain when they see a glaring design issue?
As for your Disneyworld remark, Disney receives $0 from me because of their terrible business practices, so yea, no issue there.
@Dezzy70 Multiplayer guy here. I've bought stuff from the store but I can see why people complain. Since Halo 3 people have been able to customize their armor within the cost of the base game. Halo Infinite's multiplayer is F2P and that comes with the typical pricing for player customization and bundling of items players do not want. That's not something they want.
I'm all for a F2P system though, I've ignored a lot of store items because they do not appeal to me.
@ParsnipHero
I’m just guessing but I guess this stuff in halo infinite multiplayer is just cosmetic and does not give you special powers or privileges?
Head of design feels the pain, when he designed it to be this way.
I’m loving the gameplay and couldn’t care less about cosmetics so this doesn’t affect me. But good to see they continue to know progression needs to be changed for those who do care.
Heck, Halo Infinite is SOOOO much less “in your face” with selling this crap then other actual paid games like CoD Vanguard, which is disgusting about pimping their store.
As far as I am concerned, CoD: Black Ops 2 had the right balance. You had the traditional Cosmetic in-game awards tied to progression and XP ranking up.
Any additional cosmetics (weapon skins, reticles, player skins, badges etc) were sold at 'pocket money' prices. I myself bought a few packs costing between £2-£4 (depending on whether it was a 'single skin' or a set. No Random chance of getting what you wanted or having to pay ~1/4 of the price the full game costs for a single item) and if you bought a weapon skin, it can be applied on ALL weapons too.
There was no reason to buy, other than they looked cool, also only a few £'s each so didn't mind purchasing, still had all the traditional 'in game' cosmetics related to progression and had no impact on the 'experience'.
Despite having MTX's, there was still all the standard cosmetic challenges and traditional progression. They didn't take away from the 'game-play' loop. The amount of times I played 1 more game (turning into an extra hour or 3) to try and get to the next rank, to try an complete the next 'camo' unlock etc. Without that, there isn't as much incentive to keep playing. Yes the game-play may be the same regardless of XP, but its also about the satisfying progression that keeps you playing 'longer' as you want to reach the next 'level' before turning off (which can lead onto the next level/challenge because you are close...)
Its not always enough to only strive to win the match, its also the 'rewards' you get - even if its just a decent chunk of XP towards the next Rank...
@Dezzy70 correct. However a lot of people get, understandably, pretty attached to certain armor pieces. This is in part thanks to Master Chief Collection which allowed people to re-experience or experience for the first time a lot of Halo's customization.
@ParsnipHero
I see what you mean about attachment.
Can be the same for expensive designer clothes you may want.
You want, you pay.
It’s all about vanity and looking the business
And potential show boating 😊
So similar to real life in that way.
@Dezzy70 You didn't get advantages in prior games. Halo 5 was the only one that did this with their godawful battlepacks. And even then, you could just skip the game modes that let people use them.
Cosmetics have been a key part of Halo since the very beginning. Red VS Blue wouldn't even exist without it.
Now they've taken away things like even base colors just to sell them back.
@InterceptorAlpha
I see they have been a bit naughty.
I’m surprised as, Xbox has given so much this generation and they do something cheap like that.
I've been having fun, so I really don't care about progression but it's still a reasonable complaint if you actually care.
I will say it's a little weird someone from the dev team is saying they feel the players' pain on progression...
The most annoying part is that some players are more concerned with their obscure challenge for progression instead of playing the objective. It has really dampened the experience.
Make a "challenge" for each match win that is worth more than the one for playing each match.
Yeah the Tenrai event was fun until I couldn't get a 7th event challenge to appear. Super lame! Really happy with the samurai outfit though and also got the Willow Tea outfit for the weekly challenge. I have plugged about 50 hours in and I'm at Level 25, so 200 hours to get to level 100 is a bit nuts unless they wanna start PAYING us for that time 😂 but to be fair, I've probably spent 5-8 hours just idling in the menu.
@Somebody I'd like to get points for the accolades per match: Straight Ballin, double kills, from the grave, warrior, steaktacukar, killing sprees etc. That would be a nice way to fit it in from my pov, aside from KDA or matches won or lost. That way you get points for the accolades related to the gane type. But really anything would be appreciated, I think an hour max to grow per level is fair.
@awp69
I’m not defending CoD, because the fact that they have battle passes and a store in-game when the game itself is full-priced is egregious, but Infinite IS kind of in your face about its monetization. Hell, they’re advertising a battle pass and an event with items that you can’t get from either, items you have to buy in the store. That’s pretty bad. I don’t blame the devs for this incessant greed, I blame the big wigs at Microsoft.
@Somebody
^ This, my biggest complaint with the progression. Honestly don’t care a lot about cosmetics, but the challenges themselves are just bad and trying to complete them can make you a detriment to your team. This isn’t Fortnite where you can just go play solo and grind challenges and not worry too much about winning, Halo is a very competitive team-based shooter and these challenges do not belong in it.
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