The hiring of a “Director of Player Voice” for Halo Infinite seems to suggest the business model of the game. Is a Halo coming as a Games-as-a-Service title?
What is it about? The developer studio 343 Industries announced that they have hired Justin Robey as the “Director of Player Voice” for Halo Infinite. Robey is expected to work with the active Halo community and convey the players’ voices to the developers.
The creation of such a position could be a confirmation of the shift towards a Games-as-a-Service title.
What could this mean? Justin Robey stated on Twitter what his newly created position means for the development of Halo Infinite and the players.
This new role is about working with you, the players, to give you an active voice throughout the development, launch, and lifespan of Halo Infinite.
So this could mean that Robey is actively engaging with the Halo community, filtering players’ feedback on social media, and passing it on to the developers. Especially during the so-called “Flights” where players are invited to test features of Halo Infinite, this could become an important task.
What suggests GaaS? Robey’s wording about wanting to give players a voice “during the lifespan of Halo Infinite” appears to be a hint towards a Games-as-a-Service model.
Furthermore, a job posting in September 2018 hinted at different live services for Halo Infinite. An Online Experience Design Director was sought who would “design and deliver a social AAA experience that fosters community,” while also delivering a “AAA player investment experience” that encourages players to “express their passion for Halo.” Microtransactions were mentioned as an example.
You can watch the announcement trailer for Halo Infinite here.
The Online Experience Design Director should also have an understanding of player psychology, especially what keeps gamers coming back. The job listing also described Halo Infinite as a “Live Service” game.
What do the players say? The new position of Robey is being critically discussed in the Halo subreddit. Players are concerned that the new “Director of Player Voice” could filter too much of the feedback.
For instance, the user Chudston_Plang believes that the position is just a new way for 343 to decide which feedback they want to hear.
In contrast, the 343 employee ske7ch343 replied that they have never had an employee dedicated solely to ensuring that player input is heard and contributes to the development process. He believes this is a very exciting addition. The community team is excited to work with someone to ensure that important issues and feedback topics are evaluated and incorporated into the development plan.
On the other hand, galactix100 mentions that he does not envy Justin Robey for his new job as he would first have to separate real player criticism from other nonsense.
Can you imagine a Games-as-a-Service game in the Halo universe? Or would you prefer a completely different Halo Infinite?
