The multiplayer beta of Halo Infinite launched on Monday, Nov. 15, and quickly became the most-played title in Xbox Game Studios history on Steam, reaching 272,586 concurrent players at 11 p.m. Brasília time the same day.
Microsoft released the multiplayer mode for PC and Xbox Series X|S and One, and the beta surpassed the studio’s previous peak in just two and a half hours after going live. The temporary release coincides with the franchise’s 20th anniversary and followed weekend rumors prior to the surprise announcement.
Progress carries over to full release
Players who start the campaign or participate in the multiplayer beta will have their progress transferred to the final game, which is scheduled to launch on Dec. 8. Battle Pass progress, experience points and items earned during the beta will carry over to the full release.
Availability and franchise context
The official launch on Dec. 8 will make Halo Infinite available for PC and current Xbox consoles. The multiplayer component will be free-to-play, so accessing it will not require purchasing the full game or subscribing to Xbox Game Pass.
Developed by 343 Industries, Halo Infinite is the sixth main installment in the Halo series. It continues the story of Master Chief and follows Halo 5: Guardians. The original title in the franchise, Halo: Combat Evolved, debuted in November 2000 on the first Xbox and was later ported to PC, Mac OS X and Xbox 360.
Sources: Games Radar / Game Informer
