Battle royale games have shifted video games forever, transforming niche titles into industry-dominating titans. The genre’s popularity has pushed a number of triple-A developers to add the mode to their games. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 includes a battle royale mode, and Rockstar has discussed adding one to Red Dead Redemption 2. One game that will not be exploring battle royale is the upcoming Halo Infinite.

On a Mixer stream hosted by 343 Industries, Halo Infinite leads Jeff Easterling and James Bachici discussed the game’s progress. As one may expect, the topic of battle royale popped up, and someone asked if the next franchise installment would contain battle royale.

While some developers may have danced around the issue, Easterling took the question head on. He shut down the discussion by stating “I’ll tell you right now, the only BR we’re really interested in is Battle Rifle.” That’s a perfect way to end the discussion.

Of course, Easterling previously tried to quell battle royale hopes on a different Mixer stream. He’d stated that 343 “won’t be chasing trends” when it comes to adding modes to their games. After setting trends for years, the Halo franchise doesn’t need to take its cues from the current scene.

That being said, fans won’t stop clamoring for battle royale in Halo Infinite anytime soon. The game’s wide range of vehicles, weapons, and maps would make it the ideal game for the mode. Players could customize their Spartan armor in a thousand different ways, which would rake in a ton of cash. We know that the game could utilize microtransactions, but 343 has downplayed their importance. If they were to go that route, selling aesthetics for a battle royale mode would justify their implementation.

For now, though, we will take Easterling at his word. 343 should feel absolutely positive about the steps they take and the game they create. If they begin to branch into unfamiliar territory or game modes they don’t agree upon, then the game will suffer regardless of the mode’s potential. I’d rather have another solid Halo title without BR than a half-baked one with it. Thankfully, it seems like Easterling agrees.

We do not have a release date for Halo Infinite yet. We will be sure to keep you updated as soon as one becomes available.

Do you think Halo Infinite should have a battle royale mode? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Stay tuned to DFTG for more gaming news and highlights by following us on Twitter and Facebook!