Microsoft Touts Halo Infinite Delay Is Not A Crucial Disadvantage For The Xbox Series X Launch

In anticipation for the coming Xbox Series X, Microsoft earlier this summer showcased the frontrunner property that will ship the next-generation console – Halo Infinite. However, less than a month following the gameplay preview in July, 343 Industries shared that the title will be pushed into 2021 with further polishing to the game to meet the expectations of its fans on the newest line of hardware.

In the time since then, many online resorted to presuming Microsoft pulled the carpet from under itself just months ahead of the release for the new Xbox consoles. But it looks to be the complete opposite according to a new statement from Microsoft spokesperson Cindy Walker. When speaking to The New York Times, Walker elaborated that there is still plenty of software primed for Xbox Series X & Xbox Series S at launch that is not Halo.

Having Halo at our launch would have been tremendous. We are not reliant on massive exclusive titles to drive console adoption. Our players will have thousands of games from four generations of Xbox available to play on launch day.

In regards to the unique properties that will be arriving to Xbox Series X at launch, entries such as Gears Tactics is what Microsoft has in mind for its coming November release. Even more, Microsoft also has a catalogue of third-party projects arriving day one for Xbox Series X/Series S like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion, and Yakuza: Like a Dragon which the firm disclosed earlier in September.

As for the four generations of games that will be available, Microsoft has already been very transparent on its continued support for backwards compatibility with the next-generation units. Most recently, Microsoft offered insight on how the feature will be provided on the smaller Xbox Series S unit despite the system on pushing a third of the CPU power if its sibling console.

While Sony is armed to the teeth with first-party projects for the release of the PlayStation 5, the same cannot be said for its backwards compatibility roster. It was verified by Sony Interactive Entertainment President & CEO Jim Ryan this past week that the next-generation PlayStation could not achieve support to play older games of preceding hardware. You can read the full report by heading here.

What games do you think will overshadow the vacancy for Halo Infinite this holiday?

Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S is set to release on November 10, 2020.

Source: The New York Times