Halo Infinite dev teases solution for one of its biggest problems on PC
Red reticles have been disabled on PC since launch, but it looks like that’s about to change.
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What you need to know
Ever since the first Halo game released in 2001, the franchise has had a beneficial feature called Red Reticle Range (RRR). As its name suggests, it represents the range at which your crosshair changes from blue to red when aiming at an enemy. Aside from letting players know that they’ll hit their opponent when they fire and that they’ll be able to effectively fight them with their currently-equipped weapon, a visible red reticle also indicates that aim assist and bullet magnetism are active. These systems help controller users aim by making small automatic crosshair adjustments or slightly bending fired projectiles towards enemies, respectively.
Every mainline first-person shooter Halo game, including Halo Infinite, has RRR. However, shortly before Halo Infinite launched late in 2021, developer 343 Industries made the controversial decision to turn off RRR on the PC version of the game (with some weapon-specific exceptions) regardless of whether you were using a controller or a keyboard and mouse.The studio’s reasoning for the changewas that it was an anti-cheat measure, as (in its words) it would be “easy to write a cheat that says, ‘fire when this pixel turns red’” if RRR was enabled.
Since launch, the developer has stuck to its guns on the matter, even as players have frequently pointed out thatHalo Infinite’s cheating problem got out of handdespite the removal of RRR. Now, though, it seems that 343 Industries' stance is changing, as its Community Director Brian “Ske7ch” Jarrard recently teased on Twitter that his “PC reticle…was red” while playtesting post-Winter Update builds of the game.
Today I had a chance to jump into an in-person playtest for the first time in a while. Played some post Winter Update builds and let me just say my PC reticule… was red. 👀 We’ve got good stuff cooking. (3/3)October 19, 2022
Halo Infiniteplayers on PC will undoubtedly be incredibly happy to see that the developers are going back on their previous decision, as the absence of RRR arguably disadvantaged them. Since a red reticle guarantees you’re aiming at and will hit your opponent when you shoot, having one is immensely helpful whenever you’re trying to target someone through particle effects or are choosing when to fire while your enemy is strafing. It also instantly tells you whether a player is actually an enemy or not, which will dictate whether or not you pull the trigger (sometimes it can be hard to tell at a glance since armor coatings have replaced team colors). And in a fierce competitive shooter like Halo, split-second hesitations caused by the lack of RRR can be massive difference-makers.
For now, it’s unclear when exactly RRR is coming back to the PC version of Halo Infinite, though we do know that it will be after the game’snew Winter Update that’s adding co-op, Forge, and moreon November 8. Hopefully it makes its triumphant return sooner rather than later, though, as PC players have been stuck without RRR for long enough.
Halo Infinite is available now on Xbox and PC. Despite its issues, it’s one of thebest Xbox shooterson the market right now for fans of arena-style FPS combat, and since the multiplayer is free-to-play, there’s zero barrier to entry. The campaign is fantastic, too, as it features exhilarating gameplay and an excellent story.
Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite promises fans the most ambitious Halo experience to date, featuring a fantastic campaign with a dynamic open world and an excellent story as well as an exciting free-to-play multiplayer with strong core gameplay and plenty of cosmetic unlocks.
See at:Amazon|Microsoft
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Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he’s been an avid fan since childhood. He’s been writing for Team WC since the summer of 2017, and you’ll find him doing news, editorials, reviews, and general coverage on everything gaming, Xbox, and Windows PC. His favorite game of all time is probably NieR: Automata, though Elden Ring, Fallout: New Vegas, and Team Fortress 2 are in the running, too. When he’s not writing or gaming, there’s a good chance he’s either watching an interesting new movie or TV show or actually going outside for once.Follow him on X(Twitter).
