How many players can play Halo Infinite campaign?
As a passionate Halo fan, I was thrilled when 343 Industries finally added 4 player co-op support to Halo Infinite‘s epic campaign last November. Being able to tackle the huge open world of Zeta Halo with a full squad of friends breathes exciting new life into the adventure.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about Halo Infinite‘s long-awaited co-op mode including gameplay mechanics, crossplay details, playtime estimates, and tips for getting the most out of your co-op run. Time to join forces Spartans!
Core Co-Op Campaign Details
Here‘s a quick overview of key details on Halo Infinite‘s 4 player co-op offering:
- Supports up to 4 total players in campaign co-op
- Offers 4 player splitscreen on Xbox Series X/S
- 2 player splitscreen only on Xbox One
- Added post-launch via free update in November 2022
- Allows crossplay between Xbox & PC platforms
- Features drop in/out online co-op
So in summary – you and up to 3 buddies can now experience the storymode together on Xbox/PC thanks to the long-promised 4 player upgrade. Hallelujah right!?
But how exactly does co-op change the Halo Infinite campaign experience compared to solo, and is there anything special you need to do to get playing with friends? Let‘s dig deeper…
Enabling Co-Op Campaign Play
Getting a co-op session up and running is thankfully pretty straightforward:
- Launch Halo Infinite and access the menu
- Select "Campaign" then choose "Network Co-Op"
- Set your session to public to enable friends to join
- Have friends search for your session and join (crossplay enabled)
And that‘s it! Once your party is assembled, the host can select a save slot and starting mission – then it‘s time to jump feet first into the fray as a squad.
Halo veterans will also be happy to know that Infinite supports the classic drop in/out mechanics of past games. So if your party gets split up, friends can rejoin you anytime (provided they weren‘t stranded over 1000ft away when you switched missions!).
Gameplay Changes vs Solo Campaign
In terms of gameplay itself, the co-op experience sticks closely to Halo‘s core solo formula with no major reinventions. Movement, combat, and vehicles all handle identically to the single player campaign.
However, being able to strategize with 3 other uniquely equipped Spartans opens up new strategic possibilities for tackling encounters and exploring Zeta Halo.
Want to try a stealth infiltration with silenced weapons? Go loud with beefed up rifles and a warthog mounted machine gun? Or just banish your teammates off the map for laughs? The choice is yours in co-op.
Overall though, most story progression and gameplay unfolds similarly whether solo or in a squad. So if you already enjoyed the base Halo Infinite campaign, co-op serves more to amplify the experience than drastically change it.
Playing With Friends – The Best Part of Co-Op
In my opinion though, the very best part of Halo Infinite‘s co-op comes simply from partnering up with real friends rather than random matchmaking.
Being able to directly coordinate by voice comms or in-person just hits different than playing with silent strangers online. The shared journey, inside jokes, and combined chaos that emerges from a true friend squad can‘t be replicated otherwise.
So while the core gameplay itself remains largely similar to single player, the camaraderie and personal interactions of playing with real-life friends takes the co-op experience to the next level for me.
Comparing to Past Halo Games
Longtime fans of the franchise will remember that 4 player drop-in/out campaign co-op has been a staple Halo feature all the way back to the original Combat Evolved on Xbox.
However, the options have expanded over the years:
| Halo Game | Max Co-op Players | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Combat Evolved | 4 players | 2 local splitscreen max |
| Halo 2 | 4 players | Up to 4 player splitscreen |
| Halo 3 | 4 players | Introduced unique co-op characters |
| Halo Infinite | 4 players | Returns to Master Chief centric |
As we can see, Infinite continues the 4 player legacy but ditches the alternative playable Elites from Halo 3. However it stands out by being the first mainline game tailored around expansive open world exploration from the start.
This feeds perfectly into strategic co-op play given the 360 degree approach to encounters and number of vehicles drivable across the ring.
Playtime – Solo vs Co-op Campaign
In terms of raw playtime, Halo Infinite‘s open world design lends itself to heavy variability depending how thorough you are:
- Main Story: ~12 hours solo, 15 hours co-op
- Complete All Content: ~25 hours solo, 30+ hours co-op
Based on gamer reports, a full completionist run often exceeds 30+ hours with a squad vs 25 hours solo. This makes sense given the propensity to get distracted chasing side content like marine rescue missions, destroying Banished Propaganda Towers, nabbing audio logs, or honking at wildlife in the Razorback.
The window for shenanigans and optional exploration simply increases with 4 players – hence the extended playtime.
That said, even focusing mainly on core story beats will likely run an extra few hours in co-op as your crew finds creative ways to sabotage mission progress or repeatedly catapults each other into guard towers with the Repulsor equipment (er, or so I‘ve heard 😅).
Verdict: Worth Playing Campaign as Co-Op?
In the end, while I‘d stop short of calling Halo Infinite‘s campaign an entirely different game with 4 players, the co-op experience brings meaningful new dimensions no doubt.
Being able to take on The Banished as a squad opens up new strategic choices during key story moments and offers FOUR times the firepower against overwhelming odds.
Factor in the ability to explore a gorgeously rendered Zeta Halo with real friends, and co-op multiplayer gives an already epic adventure even more replayability in my book.
If you‘re somehow still on the fence, I‘d absolutely recommend rounding up your crew and diving into campaign co-op ASAP!
Playing Co-Op Locally vs Online
While Xbox/PC crossplay has allowed the Halo community to enjoy networked co-op regardless of their platform, playing locally in the same room is still a classic bonding experience for many groups.
Let‘s break down what‘s possible for both local and online co-op play in Infinite:
Local Splitscreen Co-Op
- Xbox Series X/S: Full 4 player splitscreen supported
- Xbox One: Limited to 2 player splitscreen due to hardware constraints
So Xbox Series X/S owners can fill their couch with 4 total buddies to conquer Campaign together on the same console via splitscreen.
Unfortunately last-gen Xbox One models can only handle 2 players locally before performance suffers too much. But 2 squad members is still better than riding solo!
Online Network Co-Op
For networked online play via Xbox Live, Halo Infinite offers:
- Crossplay between Xbox & PC platforms
- 4 player online co-op for Xbox Series X/S & PC
- 2 player online co-op max for Xbox One
This means Xbox Series/PC players can still field a full 4 Spartan fireteam by linking up online even if they can‘t connect locally in-person. Xbox One friends can also party up beyond 2 players via network play.
With unified Xbox/Windows crossplay support, it‘s never been easier to squad up with your whole crew regardless of their setup. Halo brings us together!
Co-Op Gameplay Tips
If this is your first foray into Halo Infinite co-op, here are some top tips to give you a leg up from veteran players:
- Use area pings to call out weapon drops, vehicles, etc.
- Revive downed teammates ASAP so they respawn with ammo/gear
- Assign roles like snipers, CQB, support, or heavy weapons
- Use Overshield equipment to tank boss damage
- Equip Thruster packs to avoid Jackal snipers
- Designate dedicated Warthog driver & gunner
I‘d also recommend ensuring everyone has a Plasma Pistol handy since overcharged shots can take down even the tankiest Elites when their shields pop!
Oh, and don‘t forget to grab Razorbacks and skewer weapons for satisfying environmental kills on suicide Grunts 😉. Happy hunting Spartans.
The Verdict: 4 Players = 4X the Mayhem
At the end of the day – Halo Infinite delivers on the long-awaited promise of 4 player campaign co-op…and then some.
While the non-linear mission structure means progression remains largely similar to solo, being able to strategize with 3 dynamic friends makes the experience exponentially more satisfying.
Pulling off a tightly coordinated breach into a Banished stronghold simply hits different than creeping in alone.
Not to mention having your own personal support team to revive you after doing something stupid like hijacking a Banshee mid-flight!
Jokes aside – I‘d argue Infinite‘s sprawling open world was practically built for chaotic co-op shenanigans. And now that the 4 player option is finally here, there‘s never been a better time to join your Spartan Fireteam.
Ready your Razorbacks gamers…it‘s time to split some alien skulls!
