Halo Infinite has had a tumultuous development, to say the least. Several high-profile employees have left developer 343 Studios, its first gameplay footage rubbed fans the wrong way, and it's been pushed back to a 2021 release. However, Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, doesn't think we have anything to worry about.
In a recent interview with GameSpot, Spencer said, "I don't have any specific concern about 343. I actually think in the long run, turnover is a healthy thing because we want people who are really motivated by the things that they're working on."
He also goes on to praise the current staff working on Infinite, including two from previous Halo games, Joseph Staten and Pierre Hintze. "So I really have a lot of faith in Bonnie and the team there having Joe and Pierre join, which they did late in the summer – I feel good about where we are on that team."
The interview also discussed the poor timing between Halo Infinite's gameplay video and the subsequent delay. Spencer said, "It was a miss on our part, on my part, to open our July showcase with Halo Infinite and then a couple of weeks later have to move the date." Part of the problem was internal communication, as Spencer notes, "Sometimes what hits the press, or when certain things get announced internally, have actually happened months before."
Turnover in the gaming industry is par for the course, and the Head of Xbox doesn't see any reason for people to worry. Fans are most likely concerned and confused by all the departures and delays, but Spencer remains optimistic for the future of Halo Infinite.
Although you won't be able to get your hands on Master Chief's latest adventure until next year, you can check out his past battles with The Master Chief Collection on Xbox Game Pass. It's certainly not the first Halo game we were expecting to play on our new Series X/S, but it'll tide us over until Infinite gets back on track.
Source: GameSpot