F2P Halo Infinite Multiplayer Will Have A Story, Campaign, And CTF/Big Battle Modes; Coming This Year To Xbox/PC

Halo Infinite's long-rumored free-to-play mode was confirmed this weekend during the Bethesda/Xbox showcase at E3.

Designed to be "the most approachable and welcoming entry in the series to date," Halo Infinite Multiplayer will introduce an Academy for players to learn the ins and outs of being a Spartan before sending them off to the Arena. Once there, two teams of four can square off "in a variety of new and returning modes," such as the capture-the-flag mode highlighted in the trailer. There's also a Big Team Battle mode that sees 24 players duke it out on "large vehicle-friendly maps," with all sorts of fast-paced and high-explosive shenanigans.

Though it's not a battle royale, there will be a hint of such mechanics, with "game-changing limited-use abilities that players will scavenge for during a match." The Threat Sensor and Repulsor were two such devices highlighted in the trailer, while the Grappleshot and Drop Wall were also mentioned in the game's deep dive reveal.

Halo Infinite Multiplayer will offer ranked and social matchmaking playlists, as well as limited-time seasonal events. If you really want to go old school, you'll have the option of "Xbox and LAN play via a PC local server."

Full crossplay and cross-progression will be part of the package, and that progression includes "more options than ever before to customize your Spartan and make it uniquely yours," with seasonal cosmetic customization options for weapons, armor, and vehicles. Even the color scheme for UI elements, such as friend/foe outlines, will be customizable. The first season, "Heroes of Reach," will offer Yoroi armor that you can unlock for free by participating in events. Notably, there will be no loot boxes.

343 Industries plans to reveal a lot more about Halo Infinite Multiplayer in the days and months to come until the game's launch this holiday season on Xbox and PC. Head of Creative Joseph Staten dropped a few tidbits about the game's story campaign, complementing the deep dive. Cortana's fate will be at the heart of the story, and there are more reveals planned for this week at E3.

As someone who's never been into the Halo franchise, even I'll have to admit that this all looks pretty good and will probably be worth my time to check out. If you're like me, maybe you agree, and if you're a fan of the series, we'd love to hear your take on what we saw of the F2P Halo Infinite Multiplayer reveal!