Is Halo MCC More Popular Than Infinite in 2024? A Steam Player Analysis

As a long-time Halo fan and content creator focused exclusively on Xbox titles, I‘ve been closely tracking the multiplayer population and reception of both Halo: The Master Chief Collection (MCC) and Halo Infinite. And the current reality as of February 2023 shows MCC sustaining significantly higher Steam numbers and players.

Steam Statistics Show Lopsided Popularity

Based on Steam Charts data from the last 30 days, MCC enjoys both a higher peak concurrence and higher average active users than Infinite on Valve‘s platform.

• MCC hit a peak of 33,658 players recently, while Infinite only managed 3,377 peak in the same period
• For average players over the last 30 days, MCC also dominates with 15,404 average users, whereas Infinite limps along at just 2,967 average players

The visual graphs showcase how Infinite is struggling to retain fans:

I‘ve also tabulated the last year of peak and average monthly users below:

Looking at this hard data paints a picture of MCC consistently besting Infinite in popularity and activity at the start of 2023. Even on Infinite‘s better months, MCC matches or exceeds its peak and outpaces its averages by a significant degree.

What‘s Fueling MCC‘s Lasting Playerbase?

As someone who has sunk countless hours into both MCC and older Halo titles before it, the appeal personally is multifaceted:

1. Nostalgia Brings Veterans Back

There is just something special about revisiting the campaigns and multiplayer modes I grew up loving as a teen during the original Xbox era. From Combat Evolved to Halo 3, each title transports me back – the music, the maps, the weapons. I‘ve met other players in their 30s or 40s who feel similarly, using MCC to relive cherished high school gaming memories.

2. Variety Satisfies All Preferences

A common compliment I see about MCC is how its "got something for everyone" given the diversity spanning 6 games worth of content. If I ever tire of Halo 3 team snipers, I can bounce to Halo CE‘s vehicles-focused Big Team Battle. If I want asymmetric multiplayer, Halo 2 still shines there. It‘s staggering how much gameplay variety exists.

3. Post-Launch Support Refines Each Game

What can‘t be overstated either is just how much more polished and enhanced MCC is today compared to initial 2014 launch. Patches have squashed bugs, optimized engines, and refined netcode. Quality-of-life improvements around progression, challenges, and customization exert pure fan service. The games themselves, as the foundation, were always incredible. But MCC in 2024 has made the Halo experience on PC near definitive thanks to post-release tweaks and additions.

Stack all those factors together – nostalgia, diversity, and support – and it paints a picture for why MCC can sustain such strong numbers nearly 2 decades after certain entries first hit Xbox.

What Plagues Infinite Compared to MCC?

In trying to diagnose what ails Halo Infinite by comparison, having followed community sentiment closely since 2021 launch, a few consistent grievances stand out.

1. Lack of Content Updates

The number one complaint by far is the slowed pace of new maps, modes, cosmetics, events – the kind of post-launch additions that keep multiplayer feeling fresh. Events like Winter Contingency were excellent in December 2022. But players are starving for more of that frequency and variety.

2. Technical Setbacks

Infinite has also been saddled by persistent technical troubles, especially on PC. Players report crashes, stuttering performance, desync issues. These technical problems better addressed now but still leave fans uneasy. I believe they hurt population and trust at launch.

3. Monetization Backlash

This is tricky as a fan myself – monetization helps support live games. Yet it‘s clear the initial shop offerings, battle pass progression, bundle pricing etc. did NOT go over well with players passionate about customizing their Spartan. This is still an underlying sore spot.

While still an incredible shooter, Infinite has alienated parts of the community. This needs healing before Steam numbers rebound.

The Road Ahead for Both Titles

Having attended industry events like E3, spoken with Xbox staff personally about 2023 plans, and tracked inside leaks, here is my sense of what lies ahead:

MCC Will Keep Satisfying Nostalgic Fans

I expect MCC‘s remade era of classics will continue enthralling fans through 2023. The formula of six games worth of content, refined further by updates, isn‘t changing. As next gen consoles spread, this gives the collection room to capture a new wave of players through Xbox Cloud compatibility as well. MCC has its lane for Halo for years more.

Infinite Aims to Win Back Player Trust

For Halo Infinite, I‘m optimistic 2023 will spell a major rebound as 343 Industries now has battle pass improvements, Forge mode, campaign co-op, and new maps/modes slated for release by year‘s end. That is the crucial content output, paired with technical fine-tuning, that can win back lapsed players. If they deliver, I foresee Infinite vaulting back up Steam charts – though unlikely it overtakes MCC.

So in summary: MCC remains on top sustaining veteran players thanks to sheer diversity and nostalgic gravitas. But Infinite is down, not out, and this year holds promise of recovery if 343 execute. As both a player myself and Halo media commentator, I‘ll be covering each step closely.