343 details Halo Infinite's first bot-focused technical preview

Halo Infinite’s first bot-focused technical preview could happen as soon as next weekend, 343 has announced.

This first “technical preview”, which will host hundreds of thousands of Halo Insiders, focuses on arena gameplay versus bots as well as the Academy’s weapon drills.

As already announced, Halo Infinite is the franchise’s first foray into the world of multiplayer bots. 343 will use the technical previews to gather feedback on bot behaviour and online performance, and to that end will debut the Bot Arena playlist, which puts four players against four bots on arena maps. For the technical preview, the bot arena experience features Slayer across three maps: Bazaar, Recharge, and Live Fire.

Expect the experience to start slow, 343 said, to help players get used to what’s going on. But the developer will “crank things up” to provide greater challenge and variety.

“Bot Arena is a great place to familiarise yourself with Halo Infinite’s gameplay and maps in a stress-free environment,” 343 said in a post on Halo Waypoint. “The bots still have their quirks, which is why we’re flighting them, but they certainly aren’t pushovers. Be prepared.”