Summary
Despite getting off to a strong start in 2021,Halo Infinitehasn’t exactly managed to set the world on fire as developer 343 Industries might have hoped. Thanks to lackluster content updates, large gaps between seasons, and controversial monetization methods, the latest installment in the flagship Xbox franchise has had a hard time maintaining its once-thriving playerbase. To 343’s credit,Halo Infinitehas improved considerably in recent months, with major features like Forge Mode, Firefight: King of the Hill, and Big Team Battle all being added to the game. Unfortunately, though, the multiplayer FPS has failed to come close to the concurrent player counts it once had at launch, which brings into question just how long the game will be able to sustain itself as a live service.
Although343 has committed to supportingHalo Infinitefor the foreseeable future, manyHalofans aren’t interested in returning to the game. Instead, they’re waiting for the next mainline entry in the series to release in order to come back to the franchise. Sadly, it seems like a successor toHalo Infiniteis still years away from release; in fact, one might not even come out during the current Xbox console generation. At the very least, though, fans do have some otherHalo-esque titles to look forward to as they wait for the launch of the next big installment in the seminal franchise. One such alternative isSplitgate 2, an upcoming multiplayer FPS from the independent developer 1047 Games.
Splitgate 2 Could Be Exactly What Some Halo Fans Are Looking For
Splitgate 2 is a Direct Sequel to the 2019 ‘Halo with Portals’ Game Splitgate
Splitgate 2, as the name suggests, is a sequel to theonce-popular free-to-play shooterSplitgate. First released in Steam Early Access in May 2019,Splitgatewas a live service FPS that put an interesting spin on the classic multiplayer arena-shooting formula, as it combined the futuristic combat ofHalowith the portals of, well,Portal. Instead of just running around maps from one side to the next, players could create wormholes to help transport themselves from point A to point B. This single feature drastically changed the dynamic of what would otherwise be a typical team-based shooter, and it allowed players to make use of a number of inventive gameplay strategies.
Despite its unique concept, whenSplitgateinitially launched, it didn’t get a lot of eyes on it, and it struggled to make a dent in the mainstream live service sphere. Fortunately, though, following the release of the game’s official beta in July 2021 and its subsequent launch on modern consoles,Splitgatesuddenly blew up in popularity, as the multiplayer shooter’s player count began to soar on Steam. This sudden surge came as a big surprise to 1047 Games, and it occurred at just the right time sinceSplitgatestarted to receive major seasonal updates in August 2021.
Even thoughSplitgategained a lot of traction, 1047 Games only released two seasons for the multiplayer FPS. This was because, in September 2022, the developer announced thatit would be ending all development onSplitgatein favor of shifting resources to its next project, one that the studio stated would bring “revolutionary, not evolutionary” changes to the’Halowith portals' experience.
Splitgate 2 Will Shape Up The Formula Established By Its Predecessor in Major Ways
Fast-forward to July 2024, and1047 Games finally unveiled its next project; unsurprisingly, it’sSplitgate 2. Since this direct sequel to the 2019 FPS was only announced with a brief CGI trailer, not too much is known about the game so far. That being said, 1047 Games has revealed thatSplitgate 2will make some major adjustments to the formula of its predecessor, most notably by making the shift to becoming a 4v4 competitive FPS with a faction system. Despite this change, though, the game won’t be a full-on hero shooter.
Splitgate 2is scheduled to release for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S sometime in 2025. Though 1047 Games hasn’t revealed much information about it yet, it looks like this upcoming free-to-play shooter could be just the game someHaloInfinitefans are looking for, as they wait for the release of the next big entry in the flagship Xbox franchise.
Halo Infinite
WHERE TO PLAY
When all hope is lost and humanity’s fate hangs in the balance, the Master Chief is ready to confront the most ruthless foe he’s ever faced. Step inside the armor of humanity’s greatest hero to experience an epic open-world adventure and explore the massive scale of the Halo ring.With Network Campaign Co-Op and Mission Replay, you may relive your favorite moments, rediscover collectibles and explore the wonders of Zeta Halo on your own or with up to three other fireteam members.Experience Halo’s celebrated multiplayer reimagined and free-to-play! With over 70 maps in matchmaking, billions of customization configurations, and countless community Forge creations to experience, Halo Infinite is the franchise’s most expansive multiplayer offering to date.Enjoy an unprecedented variety of gameplay experiences, ranging from fast-paced intense ranked modes to whimsical mayhem in Custom Games, or even co-operative coordination in the wave-based survival mode Firefight: King of the Hill. Assemble your Fireteam and conquer every mode – Halo offers endless opportunities for teamwork, strategy, and unforgettable victories.
