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Halo Infinite release time, download size and how to download and install the campaign

Halo. Is it Chief you're looking for?

After a year delay, Halo Infinite is releasing in its entirety for PC and Xbox players.

Following the release of multiplayer after a surprise beta launch last month, the campaign sees the return of Master Chief some seven years following the release of Halo 5: Guardians.

This page will cover the Halo Infinite release times in your region, as well as as pre-load times and download size so you know what to expect beforehand.

On this page:

Cover image for YouTube videoHalo Infinite Campaign - The Digital Foundry Tech Review
Halo Infinite Campaign - The Digital Foundry Tech Review.

How to download and install the Halo Infinite campaign

UPDATE (December 8th, 6:30pm): The Halo Infinite campaign is now live! To start downloading, make sure you have the free multiplayer client downloaded. If it was already installed, grab the latest update - for us it was around 4GB - then select the 'campaign' option on the main menu, then download. (If this doesn't appear, try restarting your system.)

This brings you to the 'manage game' screen. Here you can download the campaign. Select it from the list, hit apply.

Now keep the client open while the campaign downloads.

Want to increase the download speed? Then developer 343 recommends existing the game and suspending the console to increase your download speeds.

Finally - don't forget to pick up skull locations as you go!

When does Halo Infinite release? Halo Infinite release time in UK / GMT, CEST, EST and PST explained

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Halo Infinite release date is on Wednesday, December 8th, with the same release time across all regions, and both PC and Xbox platforms.

The Halo Infinite release times are as follows for your region:

  • UK: 6pm (GMT)
  • Europe: 7pm (CEST)
  • East Coast US: 1pm (EST)
  • West Coast US: 10am (PST)

This means for those in Europe, you have to wait until the end of the working day before you can start downloading and playing. Great if you haven't got the day off work, but frustrating if hoped to start playing as soon as you wake up.


Halo Infinite Winter Update is here, ushing in the Halo Infinite co-op release date. Starting the story? Learn how to download and install the Halo Infinite campaign and lists of skull locations, Mjolnir Armor Lockers and Spartan Cores. including those for the commando rifle, fusion coil and a killing spree. If you're looking to step up the challenge, then Halo Infinite's ranking system is waiting.


Halo Infinite pre-load and download size explained

Not only are you having to wait until the end of the day in Europe to start playing, but pre-loading Halo Infinite also has its complications.

The primary one is that there is no full campaign pre-load - even if you have a physical copy of the game, which requires a download regardless.

Digitally, despite what is listed in the Xbox app on PC, and in the Xbox Game Pass app on mobiles, both will just attempt to update the multiplayer client then promptly stop.

Despite what the PC's Xbox listing suggests, there is no campaign download.

This means you will have to download the campaign once it launches at the above times. To help prepare, developer 343 recommends downloading the existing multiplayer client of Halo Infinite, which will give you a headstart.

This means you'll then have less to download when the campaign launches - 25.86 GB vs a full 48.42 GB.

The approximate Halo Infinite download sizes are as follows:

It's unfortunate the campaign cannot be pre-loaded - but if you can get the multiplayer downloaded in the hours ahead, you will save a bit of time.