Halo Infinite comparison shots show a big glow-up for the assault rifle

Update: Further Halo Infinite comparison shots have surfaced since new campaign footage debuted earlier this week, this time focusing on the Assault Rifle.

Just below, you can check out a post which has become incredibly popular on the Reddit Gaming subreddit over the past day. The post highlights a big visual improvement in the Assault Rifle from Halo Infinite, comparing the weapon's new glow-up compared to when we first saw it last year in June 2020. There's been extensive detailing done on the immediately-recognizable weapon, including scuff marks and a clearer ammo counter.

Original: Some Halo Infinite comparison shots are doing the rounds that highlight just how far the game's visuals have come since its E3 2019 trailer.

Following today's Halo Infinite campaign gameplay trailer, which included a few scenes from the game's E3 2019 trailer, Twitter user Shinobi602 shared a number of screenshots comparing the visuals from two years ago to today. You don't have to look very closely to see substantial improvements in lighting and textures, which is to be expected in any game two years closer to launch, but it's particularly significant here considering past scrutiny over Halo Infinite's visuals.

In the screenshots, you can see 2019 and 2021 versions of Master Chief from two opposing angles, as well as close-ups of the new (and still unnamed) Echo 216 pilot, and some gameplay. In every comparison, the lighting is more dynamic, textures are refined, and everything just looks grittier - from the deeper crow's feet around the pilot's eyes to the wear and tear on Master Chief's armor. Yeah, the actual characters might not appreciate the added clarity, but we sure do!

In addition to noticeably improved graphics, today's Halo Infinite trailer brought six minutes of gameplay narrated by Master Chief's new AI companion The Weapon. Sadly, campaign co-op won't be available at Halo Infinite's December 8 launch, but the new trailer teases some new enemies and story details to keep you enticed until it's added to the game sometime in season 2.

GamesRadar's Alyssa Mercante spent a week with the Halo Infinite Big Team Battle beta and couldn't stop thinking about it.

Correction: This article originally included a typo that suggested the Halo Infinite campaign wouldn't be available at launch. The article has been updated to reflect that Halo Infinite campaign co-op won't be available at launch. We regret the error.