Halo Infinite Battle Royale Mode Could Launch in 2022

In the wake of a downfall surrounding Halo Infinite, news may have emerged regarding a potential battle royale mode coming later in 2022. This reported leak came out of the production of The Xbox Two podcast, with WindowsCentral journalist Jez Corden making some fairly sizeable claims. As a key part of the discussion, it was suggested that a Halo Infinite battle royale mode could launch in November of 2022.

There was a brief debate on the topic, with Corden stating that ‘credible’ sources had leaked information regarding a potential battle royale mode. If it were to be true, it would be a landmark moment for the franchise, and hopefully, something of a revival point for Halo Infinite. In recent months, the relatively young title has faltered somewhat, but could the introduction of a Halo Infinite battle royale really resurrect it?

Will a Battle Royale Save Halo Infinite?

Following the potential leak, many gamers took to the airwaves to voice their opinions. For some, 343i, the developer behind Halo Infinite, would be seen as simply ‘jumping on the bandwagon’, should it move to implement a battle royale mode into Halo Infinite. However, for many others, a BR mode in Halo Infinite is a sorely required concept, and the fact that the game didn’t launch with such a mode is a direct cause of its ever-dwindling player base.

For years, one of the best streamers in the world, Dr Disrespect, has made his opinion clear:

The streamer, who boasts almost four million subscribers on YouTube, has been a long-time advocate for the battle royale genre. He may be one voice in a sea of millions, but he’s a powerful and prolific voice, and many Halo players mirror his opinion. It’s certainly true that a Halo Infinite battle royale could revitalise the game, but is it a case of ‘too little, too late’?

According to SteamCharts.com (as a representative example), the Halo Infinite player base has experienced a dramatic drop off that started shortly after the game was released. While numbers are still relatively high on Xbox platforms, they too are experiencing a considerable decline.

Can Halo Come Back from the Edge?

Halo 5’s Forge was limited, but at least it existed

In recent weeks, 343i has pushed back certain roadmap items in and around the Halo Infinite ecosystem. This includes the likes of the Halo Forge, something that fans of the franchise have been patiently waiting for for several months. Furthermore, the Halo Championship Series has experienced something of a shortfall, with there being little interest in general in the progression of the season.

In fact, the highlight of the renewed esports ecosystem came just weeks ago, when Matthew ‘FormaL’ Piper made his Halo Infinite debut. During his live stream, FormaL pulled in thousands of viewers, something unprecedented for the reborn Halo Championship Series thus far.

If Halo Infinite is going to claw back a much-needed player base, drastic action may need to be taken. In his claims, Jez Corden suggested that the Halo Infinite battle royale could feature a PvPvE mechanic, featuring ‘single player’ style quests, and a large, brand-new map.

We’ll have to wait and see if 343 Industries confirms these leaks as credible at some point in the future.