Xbox is expanding its multiplatform strategy, and it should have arrived soon enough to save Halo Infinite

Feb. 29, 2024

Opinion | Before 343 Industries scaled back development of Halo Infinite, the Xbox exclusive should have lined up alongside Grounded and Sea of Thieves for release on PS5

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Pentiment[PS5, PS4, NS] – Feb 22Hi-Fi Rush[PS5] – March 19Grounded[PS5, PS4, NS] – April 16Sea of Thieves[PS5] – April 30

With that all said, there is something about this new strategy that feels different. More deliberate, perhaps, with greater potential for expansion and experimentation from the development teams operating under theXbox Game Studioslabel. When Microsoft Gaming CEOPhil Spencerannounced plans to bring four Xbox games to PS5 and Switchoutside of any existing acquisition cycle, he cited a desire to leverage the install bases of rival platforms “to help grow” certain first-party franchises, and create opportunities to “invest in sequels” and other creative opportunities across the portfolio.

It appears to be a shrewd strategy. Nintendo has shifted 132 million Switch units over the system’s lifetime, making it the largest of the three primary console platforms.Sonysays that the PS5 has surpassed 50 million consoles sold in little over three years, while the Xbox Series X and Series S, comparatively, have secured an estimated 25 million sales over the same period. Is Xbox’s current install base – combined with players strewn across PC,Game Pass, and Cloud Gaming – large enough to ensure the long-term survival of live service experiences like Grounded and Sea of Thieves?

Something has to change

Hidden within Spencer’s statement is an inference that it may not be enough, particularly when we consider the rising costs of development and the complexities inherent with managing large playerbases. Grounded and Sea of Thieves were selected for this initiative, in part, because of Microsoft’s desire to continue expanding these community-driven platforms, even as the company acknowledges that the games have each “reached their full potential on Xbox and PC.” Spencer continues: “Part of having the ability to continue to invest is that the businesses behind those franchises continue.”

If games like Sea of Thieves wading into uncharted territories means that Rare is afforded an opportunity to build on strong foundations – expanding its universe and the activities within it to better support an absolutely wonderful community of players – then I’m all for it, particularly as more resources shift internally towards new projects likeEverwild. We’re in a tumultuous landscape, and honestly, I’m happy to celebrate Xbox exclusives arriving on other platforms if it means that Xbox Game Studios gets to keep on creating and Xbox IP is able to get a new lease on life. I only wish this strategy had arrived in time to saveHalo Infinite.

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“I think there is an interesting story for us of introducing Xbox franchises to players on other platforms to get them more interested in Xbox”

It’s weird to think that it was a little over three years ago that former 343 studio head Chris Lee told me that he expectedHalo Infinite to last a decade. That the campaign would continue the “Master Chief’s saga for years to come” as the open world of Zeta Halo expanded to accommodate new stories; ultimately though, no expansions were ever formally revealed to the public, and none are expected to come now. A disappointing end to what I called a smart “foundation for future expansion” in myHalo Infinite review. Lee continued: “We want Halo Infinite to be a platform that grows over time […] Creating this game is the start for the next ten years, and we’ll be continuing to build that platform out as time goes on.”

I’m not going to lie: I find it highly unlikely that a Halo campaign will ever land on a PlayStation platform; Master Chief is the closest thing Xbox has to a mascot, and SIE has never quite been able to crack the FPS market (it’s been over a decade since Killzone last reared its armored head, and even longer since attempts were made with the likes of Resistance, SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs, MAG, Haze, Warhawk, and a smattering of other experiments). Even as Microsoft looks beyond the potential of first-party exclusives, there’s still a ‘system seller’ quality to a new story starring Chief and Cortana. Then again, for some strange reason, I have less reservations about a Halo multiplayer experience one day making the jump – and it should have been Infinite.

The free-to-play shooter was always primed to introduce different audiences to the raucous energy of Halo, particularly as it was both partitioned off from the campaign and released simultaneously on PC – a first for the long-running series. 343 may have endured a rocky start with its nascent live-service experience, but Halo Infinite multiplayer has blossomed into this pretty awesome thing over the last two years. The quality of the seasonal content and battle pass rewards has improved massively, new game modes and Forge features empowered the community, and a smattering of quality-of-life sets only helped to breathe new life into an exceptionally solid shooter whose biggest mistake was stumbling out of the gate in a highly competitive live service arena.

I can’t help but feel as if Halo Infinite (multiplayer) should have been lining up alongside Grounded and Sea of Thieves on the PS5 store, and that an injection of players eager to finally see what all the fuss is about with this franchise could have ensured its deserved long-term viability. Perhaps some of you will think that Halo on PlayStation in any capacity would be sacrilege, but I keep coming back to this line from Spencer’s statement of intent around this new initiative: “Looking forward, I think there is an interesting story for us of introducing Xbox franchises to players on other platforms to get them more interested in Xbox. We think there’s good brand value for Xbox there.”

It’s not impossible to imagine a world where PS5 owners inhabiting the Halo Infinite servers alongside PC and Xbox owners becomes enough to justify further investment in something that was, by 343’s own admission, designed to carry the franchise forward for a decade. Would Halo’s arrival on PlayStation platforms have been seen by some as a ringing of the death knell for the Xbox brand? Perhaps; in fact, given the furore that was generated as unsubstantiated rumors suggestedStarfieldandIndiana Jones and the Great Circlewere making the jump, it certainly would have been.

Then again, could Halo Infinite landing on PS5 have introduced an entirely new generation to the joys of a truly inimitable FPS? Not only ensuring the long-term health of Infinite, justifying investment in multiplayer advancements and even DLC on the campaign side, but pushing those players towards Xbox Series X or Series S hardware to sample the rest of the franchise through Xbox Game Pass? I guess that now we’ll never know.

Check out the list ofupcoming Xbox Series X gamesfor the release dates of keyXbox exclusiveslikeHellblade 2andStalker 2.

Josh West is the Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar+. He has over 15 years experience in online and print journalism, and holds a BA (Hons) in Journalism and Feature Writing. Prior to starting his current position, Josh has served as GR+’s Features Editor and Deputy Editor of games™ magazine, and has freelanced for numerous publications including 3D Artist, Edge magazine, iCreate, Metal Hammer, Play, Retro Gamer, and SFX. Additionally, he has appeared on the BBC and ITV to provide expert comment, written for Scholastic books, edited a book for Hachette, and worked as the Assistant Producer of the Future Games Show. In his spare time, Josh likes to play bass guitar and video games. Years ago, he was in a few movies and TV shows that you’ve definitely seen but will never be able to spot him in.

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