343 Industries has announced that a third-person mode is officially coming to Halo Infinite next month, marking a significant shift for the game and its long-standing association with first-person shooters. In a tweet from the official Halo account, the studio teased the new mode, saying, “Experience a new way to play! 3rd Person Mode is coming to Halo Infinite this November.” The announcement was accompanied by a minute-long gameplay video showcasing third-person mode in action, offering fans a glimpse of how the game will look and feel from this new perspective.
The gameplay footage is a striking departure from what fans have come to expect from Halo. For over two decades, the franchise has been synonymous with the first-person shooter genre, so watching the Spartan protagonist maneuver in third-person mode feels surreal. While adding this mode won’t appeal to every player, it is something many in the Halo community have been asking for over the years. Demand has been high enough that some fans even resorted to using mods to implement a third-person perspective.
343 Industries has kept the announcement light on specific details, leaving many questions unanswered. From the language used in the tweet and the footage shown, the third-person mode will likely be available in at least one separate game mode, allowing players to switch between first-person and third-person perspectives. The gameplay video shows what appears to be a toggle that will enable players to switch between views, but it remains to be seen which specific game modes will feature this functionality. Whether it will be available in multiplayer, campaign, or both is still up for speculation.
The announcement’s timing has raised some eyebrows, as it comes somewhat unexpectedly. Halo Infinite has had a challenging post-launch period, with players expressing concerns over the pace of content updates and the allocation of resources. While exciting for some, the addition of a third-person mode has sparked debate within the community. Some players are thrilled to have more ways to experience the game, praising 343 Industries for listening to fan requests. However, others are more skeptical, questioning whether adding this new feature was the best use of the studio’s resources, especially given the various updates and fixes the game still needs.
This marks the first time in the Halo franchise’s 23-year history that an official third-person mode will be available. In previous games, players have only experienced third-person views while operating turrets, driving vehicles, or using specific equipment in the campaign. Introducing this new gameplay perspective could open Halo Infinite to a broader audience or offer a fresh experience to long-time fans. Still, it remains to be seen how the wider community will react once the mode is live next month. For now, anticipation is high, and the release of third-person mode in November will undoubtedly be a significant moment in the ongoing evolution of Halo Infinite.