Demo For Halo Infinite Reportedly Used Build Running On PC, Microsoft Discloses

The long-awaited Xbox Games Showcase finally took place this past Thursday revealing some of the most anticipated properties that will be arriving uniquely to the Xbox Series X later on in the coming future. Among some enticing announcement, 343 Industries opened the show to present the first gameplay preview for Halo Infinite which will be launching at the end of this year alongside the next-generation console from Microsoft.

And while the game presented itself to be a definite upgrade in scale to previous entries gameplay wise, many viewers criticized the title’s appearance and inquired if the game really pushed the boundaries for next-generation standards. Even more so expanding beyond what is definitive on current-gen systems – fans contemplating Halo Infinite are still left unsure or even pushed away the idea of pursing a copy this holiday season.

In response to what was shown during the presentation earlier this week, Xbox General Manager Aaron Greenberg clarified the reasoning for the game’s appearance. In that, he discloses that the game is a work in progress that is still being worked on leading up to the game’s release later this holiday season.

You can watch the segment of the interview in the video below:

“We’re in the middle of a global pandemic; it’s July; we’re far from holiday: you’re seeing a work-in-progress game,” Greenberg answers to those questioning the visual performance of Halo Infinite during the gameplay preview. “It is a work-in-progress, so what you’re seeing today […] it’s going to get better and better.”

Elsewhere, 343 Industries disclosed during a press Q&A that the presentation for Halo Infinite performed on a PC utilizing the same horsepower equivalent to the Xbox Series X. “The game was captured from a PC that is representative of the experience that players will have on Xbox Series X,” PCGamesN relayed from the developer’s answer.

For fans looking in search for an answer that would hopefully extinguish the disappointment, Digital Foundry uploaded a technical review to expand on the reasoning for the ‘flat’ appearance that Halo Infinite is presenting. The group discloses that the texturing for most of Halo Infinite’s assets is to next-generation standards, but the lighting is the problem. Due to source of light being indirect – to incorporate the day/night cycle – much of the lesser desirable assets is due to poor lighting.

Digital Foundry does supply one answer to this issue can be resolved with raytracing to properly light the composition without static or baked-on lighting which does not interact with dynamic lighting well. 343 Industries has said there will be a raytracing patch following the game’s release, but it is unsure if that will directly help what is trying to be fixed as of reporting.

What was your thoughts on the demo’s visuals for Halo Infinite?

Halo Infinite will be out on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC sometime in holiday 2020.

Source: PCGamesN