First Halo Infinite esports event locked in for 2021

It sounds like progress on Halo Infinite is running smoothly, with the game’s first esports event scheduled for later this year.

After being forced to delay Halo Infinite last year, Microsoft and 343 Industries have been keeping relatively quiet about the game, with no new gameplay footage being shown since the initial reveal, but we do know that it’s still aiming for an autumn release this year.

And while news may have been quiet, it sounds as if fans won’t need to worry about any additional delays. That’s because the first Halo Infinite esports event will be taking place before the end of 2021.

This isn’t some Reddit speculation, either. 343’s esports lead Tahir ‘Tashi’ Hasandjekic confirmed this himself on Twitter, stating that both a date and venue are ‘locked in.’ He does add that this is on the assumption that it will be safe to attend by then.

Exact details are unknown, obviously, but Tashi promises more info will be shared in the summer. Assuming nothing goes horribly wrong and Halo Infinite releases on time, we can probably expect the esports event to take place either late autumn or in December and maybe run into 2022, since players will need time to practice before attempting to play at a competitive level.

In a response to a fan, Tashi added that the team plans to release a full year roadmap ahead of launch. 343 and Microsoft have only been further embracing and cultivating the Halo esports scene as of late, with the esports team working very closely with Halo Infinite’s development staff.

‘While the [Halo Championship Series] team does not make the game, we do work closely with the development team and consult on ways to increase viewership, including features and tools for content creators,’ wrote Tashi in a recent blog post on Halo Waypoint.

‘In the long term, we want to continue to invest in the growth of viewership via the game. We believe that enhancing the viewer experience will provide more opportunities for all content creators within the ecosystem.’

As for the accompanying photo in the announcement, Tashi later clarified that it has no relation to where the event will take place; he just took it during his run and felt like sharing it.

Halo Infinite’s sudden delay was quite the blow to Microsoft’s plans, as it was supposed to be a launch title for the Xbox Series X/S. Fortunately for Microsoft, the console has still managed extremely well, having the most successful launch in the company’s history despite it’s limited stock.

Halo Infinite is scheduled to release for Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One this autumn.

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