It's no secret that Halo Infinite hasn't had the smoothest development cycle. It appears that the highly anticipated Xbox Series X exclusive is in hot water yet again after the game's lead director, Chris Lee, stepped away from the project earlier this week. This is the second director to leave the project since starting development in 2018.
A troubled development is a telltale sign of a lackluster product, and Halo Infinite's rocky development has some fans worried about the game's overall quality. While there are some exceptions, video games with turbulent development cycles are notorious for disappointing their fans. Gamers are starting to wonder if Halo Infinite is will up to the hype.
Chris Lee's departure isn't the only issue Halo Infinite has had to overcome. The game received heavy criticism after its tech demo failed to impress fans during the Xbox Games Showcase. Many gamers chastised the demo for its sub-par graphics, causing 343 Industries to delay the game indefinitely. This was a huge blow to Microsoft since the company originally planned to launch Halo Infinite alongside the Xbox Series X. More recently, the game has been at the center of yet another controversy after monetizing certain customizable features within Halo Infinite's multiplayer.
As development issues and questionable monetization tactics continue to arise, the enthusiasm surrounding the game starts to erode. Fans have been burned far too many times from highly anticipated titles that end up being average at best. It doesn't help that Halo is one of the most cherished video game franchises in modern history. If Halo Infinite fails to live up to expectations, the backlash will be fierce and relentless.
Video game fans have a reputation for voicing their opinion. It's not uncommon for disgruntled gamers to review bomb a game they are dissatisfied with. Madden NFL 21 currently has a 0.2 user score on Metacritic after many irate fans expressed their frustration with the game's lackluster nature by review bombing it shortly after launch. Even great games have fallen victim to review bombing over the years. Microsoft and 343 Industries will need to handle Halo Infinite carefully If they don't want it to suffer the same fate.
Halo Infinite hasn't made the best first impression. The slew of development issues on top of the controversial monetization tactics has video game fans questioning the game's polish. However, there is still a chance the game can overcome the numerous obstacles standing in its path. A troubled development doesn't always mean a title is destined for failure. Hopefully, 343 Industries will be able to tackle all the problems plaguing Halo Infinite before its launch sometime next year.