Microsoft finally showed the first realHalo: Infinitegameplay during itsXbox Series X Games Showcaseon July 23, and the memes soon followed. Gamers eager to dish out the salt were quick to jump on the title for its shift in art direction and lack of obvious visual wow-factor.

There are good reasons for the shift, however, and the decision not to prioritize visuals over gameplay will prove to be inHalo: Infinite’sfavor. This looks like true old-school Halo delivered on modern hardware.

Performance wins over realism

The memes digging onHalo: Infiniteimmediately targeted game’s undeniable shift in art. Until now, Halo has pursued a hyper-realistic look filled with gritty soldiers, shiny aliens, and detailed scenery.Infiniteis a bit different. The intentionally blocky, flat look of some distant terrain led to sarcastic comparisons toMinecraft.

Halo Infinite campaign be likepic.twitter.com/lcVgqHeOlm

— ayy lmao (@ayylmaotv)August 14, 2025

Like most jokes, this one has a hint of truth.Halo: Infinitecertainly looks leagues better thanMinecraft, but its new art style reminds you that you’re playing a game. The latest Halo, unlike its predecessors, doesn’t try to look realistic. It won’t even launch with raytracing support, though 343 Industries says that will be added in a later patch.

This might seem an odd decision for a new console’s headline title, but it places emphasis one another aspect of next-generation consoles; performance. 343 Industries promises 4K/60 fps gameplay inHalo: Infinite, and if that is delivered, it will be a stunning new benchmark.

TakeCall of Duty: Modern Warfarefor comparison. It attempts to hit 4K/60 fps on the Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro but is often forced to reduce resolution in the name of performance. Despite that,the game’s framerate can dip into the mid-40s. Other current-generation stunners, likeAssassin’s Creed OdysseyandRed Dead Redemption 2, make no attempt to target 60 fps gameplay on console.

Halo: Infiniteis making a next-gen promise. It’s just not the one we’re used to. Instead of dialing up the detail to unbelievable levels, the game more smoothly delivers the very best of what’s possible on current-gen hardware. As I’ve said in the past,next-gen games won’t often blow you away with their visuals. But that doesn’t mean the next-gen experience isn’t better.

Delivering the Halo you remember

While Microsoft is strategically usingHalo: Infiniteto showcase the importance of smooth, high-resolution gameplay, there’s another reason for the game’s shift. 343 Industries wants to go back to Halo’s roots and deliver the old-school experience fans remember.

That’s not easy, because nostalgia is a hell of a thing. The original Halo trilogy is great. Play it today, however — which you can easily do, thanks toHalo: The Master Chief Collection— and you’ll realize the games are smaller, shorter, and more linear than they felt at the time.

343 Industries has a predictable but effective solution. Turn the scale up to 11.Halo: Infinitewants to give players the epic alien vistas they’re used to and, unlike earlierHalo games, actually let players explore them.

Huge levels combined with classic Halo gameplay is precisely on point.

This isn’t revolutionary, and I’m guessing some critics will sigh heavily as they note how Halo is merely following a template for open-world game design that’s beginning to feel tired. For fans, however, huge levels combined with classic Halo gameplay is precisely on point. This is how Halo felt back in 2001.

It may even feel unique today. Shooter fans crave a big, open-world game with the variety and epic scope they love.Far Cry’s template has grown stale.Destinynever delivered the epic scale it promised. And other recent stabs at the idea, likeRage 2, have fallen short on gameplay.Halo: Infinitecould serve up an experience that shooter fans have desired for well over a decade.

The Halo we need?

Despite mixed reactions to its graphics, fan opinion aboutHalo: Infiniteseems cautiously optimistic. There’s a reason for that.Infinite’ssingle-player gameplay appears to capture the ideas that made old-school Halo great in a more modern format. It also lacks the superhero-film distractions that madeHalo 5:Guardianssuch a groaner.

It’s strange for a headline next-gen title to root itself so firmly in the past. Still, ifInfinitecan deliver the experience fans remember — and deliver it at 4K and 60 frames per second — it will be the launch day success Microsoft’sXbox Series Xneeds.