'Halo Infinite' is the 'spiritual reboot' for Xbox's signature franchise

The last time video game players witnessed an Xbox launched with a Halo game was nearly 19 years ago. So, it's only fitting the latest chapter in one of Microsoft's most important video game properties draws inspiration from the original. On Thursday, Xbox unveiled the first footage of the campaign for Halo Infinite, slated to launch this holiday along with the Xbox Series X console. It not only marks the comeback of Halo, but of its signature star, Master Chief. In an interview with USA TODAY, Halo Infinite director Chris Lee describes the game as a "spiritual reboot," centered on continuing Chief's story while paying tribute to where it all began: 2001's Halo: Combat Evolved. Lee says the team at 343 Industries developing Infinite wanted to "go to the roots of Halo, bring those elements forward, and then modernize them for gamers today. That's really been a key creative inspiration for us."