Microsoft confirms that Halo Infinite multiplayer will be free-to-play

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The free-to-play online action was leaked earlier today, but now it's official.

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

Update: Microsoft has now confirmed that the leak was accurate, and that Halo Infinite's multiplayer will in fact be free to play. Details will follow later.

On its Xbox Series X page, retailer Smyths Toys briefly posted some new details about Halo Infinite. Of particular interest is the claim that it will apparently feature a "free-to-play multiplayer experience." The section has since been removed from the page, but not before it was captured for posterity. 

After the cat was out of the bag, Xbox leaker Klobrille made the same claim, adding that it would feature a battle pass system and customisation options new to the Halo series.

During the recent Xbox Games Showcase, 343 Industries showed off a bunch of campaign footage, but multiplayer largely remains a mystery. It's such a core component of the series that the absence of details is noteworthy and perhaps suggests that 343 is doing something a bit different for Infinite. 

For the Master Chief Collection, prospective players have been able to participate in various big testing phases, but working from home has made it a challenge for 343 to put together something similar for Infinite. In a new community update, however, community manager John Junyszek said the studio hoped to host a public hands-on before Infinite launches this winter. 

Fraser Brown
Fraser Brown
Online Editor

Fraser is the UK online editor and has actually met The Internet in person. With over a decade of experience, he's been around the block a few times, serving as a freelancer, news editor and prolific reviewer. Strategy games have been a 30-year-long obsession, from tiny RTSs to sprawling political sims, and he never turns down the chance to rave about Total War or Crusader Kings. He's also been known to set up shop in the latest MMO and likes to wind down with an endlessly deep, systemic RPG. These days, when he's not editing, he can usually be found writing features that are 1,000 words too long or talking about his dog.