Halo Infinite's Playerbase Plummets by 98% on Steam - What Went Wrong?

Since its multiplayer component launched in November 2021, Halo Infinite has seen a significant decline in its player base on Steam, losing approximately 98% of its initial players. While the multiplayer launch of Halo Infinite was deemed successful, longtime fans of the series are now questioning its long-term future on both PC and Xbox.

Originally planned as a launch title for the Xbox Series X|S in 2020, Halo Infinite required more development time to meet the expectations of Xbox and 343 Industries. The multiplayer component was eventually released as an open beta on November 15, 2021, followed by the full release of the game on December 8, 2021. During the initial launch window, Halo Infinite's multiplayer and campaign modes received positive feedback from both critics and fans. However, concerns began to arise regarding the future of the multiplayer mode. The first season of Halo Infinite ended in May 2022, and despite subsequent updates and new seasons, some fans felt that their criticisms of the game were not addressed.

According to SteamDB's player charts, it was revealed by a Halo fan named Full-Plastic7324 that approximately 98% of the Halo Infinite player base on Steam no longer plays the game. Despite the game reaching a peak of 272,586 users on Steam, recent data shows that only 5,732 users were actively playing. Although the 24-hour peak has slightly increased to 6,151 players, the current number of players has declined further to just 3,880. This significant decrease implies that only about 2% of the original player base remains, causing concern among some Halo Infinite players about the game's future.

Critics within the Halo Infinite community attribute the game's decline to 343 Industries' approach to live service gaming. They suggest that certain monetization practices may have deterred new players from joining the game. Additionally, loyal Halo fans believe that the lack of substantial new features and maps has pushed dedicated players away from Halo Infinite, which has ultimately led to the highlighted 98% drop off mentioned by Full-Plastic7324.

While the decline in player numbers on Xbox platforms does not directly reflect the overall player base of Halo Infinite, it does suggest a possible decrease in players. The drop in Steam players is a worrisome indication for the future of Halo Infinite and its updates, despite Microsoft and 343's initial plan for 10 years of content. Many players feel disappointed as the game's issues overshadow its enjoyable gameplay mechanics.

Halo Infinite's multiplayer remains free for those who want to try it out, and Season 4: Infection continues to offer free multiplayer content. Additionally, the campaign of Halo Infinite is currently discounted for a limited time, allowing interested players to experience it at a significant discount.

Halo Infinite is available now for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.