Since its release toward the end of last year,Halo Infinitehas been on a pretty chaotic rollercoaster. Starting its journey with unprecedented success,Halo Infinitewas initially met with critical and commercial acclaim, with both fans and critics agreeing that 343 Industries had managed to do the impossible and bring outa modern dayHaloexperiencethat actually matched the lofty heights of its predecessors. But since then, fans have started to push back against the game, highlighting some key features and mechanics that don’t quite work as well as they could.
Rather than simply ignore the backlash, 343 Industries has chosen to listen, and it has begun to introduce a number of changes toHalo Infinitethat make it an experience more in-line with what fans have been asking for. The most recent change to the game relates to one such piece of fan-feedback revolving around the game’s limited Armor Core system, which hampers customization.
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What Is/Was Halo Infinite’s Armor Core System
For those who haven’t playedHalo Infinite, or those who haven’t engaged with the game’s cosmetic systems, the Armor Core system essentially meant that players couldn’t mix and match their armor pieces, only being able to choose from a few select options tied to a specific armor system. Naturally, many fans were disappointed with this, aspreviousHalogamesallowed players to equip a wide variety of armors, regardless of their type or even if they matched at all visually.
Thankfully, 343 Industries has recently announced that it’s looking to scrap the armor core system entirely, starting inthe freshly releasedHalo InfiniteSeason 2. However, as is the case with all big game changes, there are two sides to this decision.
The Pros of Halo Infinite Dropping the Armor Core System
For most, 343 Industries removingHalo Infinite’s Armor Core systemwill mean far more pros than cons, and it’s fairly easy to see why. Starting in Season 2, players will finally be able to combine different sets of armor. In choosing a chest piece from one set, a shoulder pad from another, and a helmet from an entirely different set, players will be able to create an avatar that’s vastly more unique than before.
On top of the functionality of this decision, removing the Armor Core system also injects even more nostalgia into the game, giving players an experience that more closely resembles previousHalotitles likeHalo ReachandHalo 3. This change in the armor system may also feed into the game’s future cosmetics, with 343 Industries shifting focus to armor sets that have more individual and unique pieces.
Perhaps the most important pro, however, is that this decision shows 343 Industries is willing to listen to its community and that the studio understands it may need to make some changes along the way. For a game that’s trying toemulate live-service titles likeFortniteandApex Legends, this is absolutely a necessary quality for the development team to have.
The Cons of Halo Infinite Dropping the Armor Core System
On the other side of the fence, some fans may still have some reservations about this pivotal change toHalo Infinite’s Armor Core system. Possibly the biggest con coming from this decision is that this change is not coming in one, swift move. Instead, 343 is removing the Armor Core system in waves, starting with helmets, vizors, and colors before eventually getting round to chest pieces, shoulder pads, and the rest at a later date.
Additionally, some fans may a little skeptical that 343 Industries is going to be removing the Armor Core system entirely, as the last few special event armors, such as theYoroi samurai-themed armor, have been directly tied to the system and allow for minimal customization. It seems likely that 343 may keep the restrictive system in place for special event armors, which will be disappointing for some fans.
Halo Infiniteis available now on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
