Xbox says Series X’s launch ‘won’t change much’ without Halo Infinite

Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has said the platform’s Series X launch plans will not change significantly now that key title Halo Infinite has been delayed to 2021.

Speaking during Gary Whitta’s Animal Talking Twitch show (transcribed by Stevivor), the exec suggested that Game Pass could play a key role in Series X’s launch, and teased “strong” announcements regarding future games coming to the service.

“What you’ll see from us around the launch of the console, frankly, isn’t going to change too much because you were going to hear a lot about the console and a lot about Game Pass and how we think those two things together are a real great value proposition for gamers going into the next generation,” he said regarding Halo’s delay.

“I’d say the positive for us, both through the May showcase and the Summer [showcase] and the July showcase has been the rise of importance for us in Game Pass,” he added.

“As we go out and we talk to our customers, it’s becoming a real decision-maker for people that are on our platform and people evaluation Xbox Series X as a console for them.

“Our investment in Game Pass and that portfolio continues to be strong,” the exec continued. “We’ve got some more… really great, strong, announcements to come about things… coming to Game Pass.”

Earlier this week Microsoft confirmed that Xbox Series X will launch in November.

In a new blog post, Microsoft was bullish about Xbox Series X’s launch line-up without Halo, claiming that the console would launch globally with over 100 optimized for Xbox Series X titles (which include backwards compatible games).

This includes more than 50 new games planned for this year across generations and optimized for Xbox Series X, it said.

further reading

Phil Spencer reveals Xbox considered splitting Halo Infinite into sections

“It just didn’t feel… like the Halo release that we would want”

“We have plenty to keep you busy until Chief arrives,” it said. “There will be thousands of games to play, spanning four generations, when Xbox Series X launches globally this November and over 100 optimized for Xbox Series X titles, built to take full advantage of our most powerful console, are planned for this year.”

Spencer has previously suggested that Xbox will publish its latest next-gen console news this month.

Microsoft’s second, cheaper next-gen games console, Xbox Series S, was seemingly confirmed this month by leaked controller packaging.