Many fans were disappointed by the visuals presented in Halo: Infinite during the 2020 Xbox Games Showcase. Some criticized the demo for looking like something made for past consoles, not for the next-gen Xbox Series X. The development team at 343 Industries said they "do have work to do" on the graphics, but according to a recent news post, the Halo: Infinite art style is meant to resemble "classic" aesthetics.

Via: Polygon

"Based on our learnings from Halo 4, Halo 5, and Halo Wars 2 -- along with strong community feedback -- we decided to shift back towards the legacy aesthetics that defined the original trilogy," said Unyshek, a member of the 343 Community Team. "With Halo: Infinite, we're returning to a more 'classic' art style which was a key message going back to the very first reveal that garnered enthusiastic and positive responses."

343 Industries stressed that "classic" does not mean "less detailed." Although they intend to use colorful visuals, "cleaner" models, and reduce noise on objects, they will plan to include a level of detail expected for a next-gen AAA game. As for visual fidelity, 343 Industries claims there is still work to be done.

Related: Halo: Infinite Graphics Criticism Addressed By Xbox's Aaron Greenberg

"The build used to run the campaign demo was work-in-progress from several weeks ago with a variety of graphical elements and game systems still being finished and polished," they said. "We don't have firm answers or outcomes to share yet but the team is working as quickly as possible on plans to address some of the feedback around detail, clarity, and overall fidelity."

Via: XboxEra

Despite these promises, many are skeptical as to how well the new art direction will work in Halo: Infinite. Some on Reddit are concerned that the mixed reactions to the visuals shown in the demo will cause Microsoft to push 343 Industries into working overtime. Video game developers have a history of forcing developers to work unreasonably long hours to meet a deadline, with some working more than 100 hours a week. If Microsoft has to demand that much labor from 343 Industries to achieve better graphics, they would perpetuate an unhealthy work culture.

Meanwhile, some care less about the graphics and more about whether the game will be fun to play. A game is an experience, after all. If it's only impressive in the visual aspect, it may be considered little more than an art project. However, the aesthetic of a game can have a strong impact on the way players experience it. Knowing this, we hope 343 Industries can find the happy medium between "classic" aesthetics and next-gen graphics by the time the Xbox Series X launches.

Next: Halo: Infinite Looks To Reboot The Series Without Rebooting The Series