"Halo Infinite" will not be ready in time for the Xbox Series X holiday launch; Microsoft has pushed the game back to 2021 after its grand announcement at the Xbox Showcase in July was criticized primarily for its graphics. This is a dramatic move for the game, which is meant to usher in Microsoft's new console launch, and here's a message from Chris Lee, head of the Halo Infinite studio.

"The decision to delay the release is the result of multiple factors that have caused development challenges, including the ongoing COVID-related fallout that has affected us all this year... The team at 343 Industries is committed to making a great game and finding solutions to our development challenges. I want to acknowledge that the team at 343 Industries has done its best to make a great game and to find solutions to our development challenges. However, shipping over the holidays is not sustainable for the well-being of our team or the overall success of the game.

Lee also wrote, "The extra time will allow us to complete the critical work needed to deliver our most ambitious Halo game yet, with the quality we know our fans expect," which is aimed at criticism of Infinite's underwhelming public One gets the sense that this was intended as a response to Infinite's overwhelming publicity.

343 did not give a specific release date beyond the broad frame of 2021.