The medieval English author Geoffrey Chaucer once wrote that “all good things must come to an end.” Seven centuries later, we’re still quoting that seminal phrase for everything from everyday conversations to the titles of television series finales.
It speaks to the inevitability that, in time, everything has an unavoidable conclusion. Which is all well and good, but I’m a bit mystified thatHalo Infiniteis facing the music so soon.
This Will Be Halo Infinite’s Final Year Representing The Official Halo World Championship
In arecent blog updateat Halo Waypoint, Halo Studios' Director of Competitive Engagement, Tashi Hasandjekic, dropped the bombshell news that this year’s Halo World Championship will Halo Infinite’s last:
“Over the next few months, the HCS will host the 2 planned Majors as well as the almost sold out and highly anticipated Halo World Championship on October 24-26. Once a world champion is crowned in October, the HCS will be retiring Halo Infinite from Official HCS Competition.” -Tashi Hasandjekic
The most recent chapter in Master Chief’s ever-expanding saga has represented the franchise since its 2021 launch onXboxand PC. It has beentheHalo game for the esports scene, by virtue of being, you know,theHalo game. No successor has been announced. While there’s sure to be more Halo in the future, there’s been no official communication as yet regarding a seventh “mainline” Master Chief game nor any prospective competitively-focused replacement.
Hasandjekic does note that this, Halo Infinite’s fourth year in the full spotlight, will be “the longest a single Halo esports title has held major competition.” In that sense, it’s something of an achievement that it’s gone on this long in the first place. But - and I’m no esports expert here - I’ve got to reckon the bulk of that fact pertains to a lack of follow-up project. I’m not sure that many of us anticipated a winding-down of top-level tournament domination prior to hearing anything about Halo 7, or Halo Infinite-Times-Infinity, or wherever they’re going with the next one.
Two important bits to bear in mind. First, the blog post expressly mentions that “we will still support Halo Infinite and the tournament scene in 2026”. This doesn’t contradict the above; what it means is that you will still be seeing Infinite elsewhere, just not at the uppermost echelon: HCS itself. Second, we might well learn about Halo Studios' sequel before Halo World Championship 2026. If that’s the case, then fans won’t be in the dark for long.In fact, there’s a real chance we’ll learn about itatHalo World Championship 2025.
I don’t think it’s likely, then, that the Halo community will be left in a bewildered state for any substantial length of time. The key question remains:will there be something freshfor HCS-bound Spartans to clash in by late 2026? If so, that’ll be a heck of a quick marketing phase relative to Halo Infinite’s infamously troubled road to release.Besides, it’s not like things appear to be all rosy-like over there right now, anyway.Here’s hoping for the best.
