Halo Infinite may be one of the first Xbox Series X games to get dynamic HDR
Get ready for spatial audio, Spartans
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Halo Infinitelooks set to supportDolby VisionandDolby Atmoson Xbox and PC, making it the first game in the series to make use of the popular spatial audio tech, as well as the new dynamicHDRformat for games.
As spotted byWccftech, an official game page forHalo Infiniteappeared onDolby’s websitewhich showed that Master Chief’s latest adventure will benefit from both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos when played on PC and Xbox consoles.
The page now results in a 404 error – suggesting the announcement was made preemptively – but its existence all but confirms that Halo Infinite will support both formats, which is great news for Xbox Series X and PC players.
Dolby Atmos support in Halo Infinite isn’t exactly a surprise, as developer 343 spoke about utilizing advanced audio technologies in March 2021 in a detailedblog postthat confirmed that the game will make use of Virtual Surround Sound via Dolby Atmos, Windows Sonic and DTS Headphone:X.
“These spatial audio technologies allow us to make sounds feel like they’re playing from behind or above you, when you’re only wearing stereo headphones,” said Halo Infinite’s lead audio technical designer Chase Thompson. “We’ve created a custom setup for our in-game sounds so that you get a clear separation between spatial and non-spatial content. This way, whether playing over headphones or on asurround sound system, you can very clearly tell exactly where your enemies are when you’re in combat.”
Infinite contrast ratio
The addition of Dolby Vision support, however, is a nice surprise. TheHDRformat, which has been adopted byNetflixandDisney Plus, is currently beingtested by Xbox Insidersand could roll out to all users soon.
Dolby Vision promises to provide up to 40 times brighter highlights and 10 times deeper blacks, and doesn’t require you to make any adjustments to get the best picture. Dolby Vision games automatically map to your Dolby Vision capable display as you play, so you always get the best picture.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos are currently only available on Xbox consoles and PC, but there is no exclusivity deal in place. A blog post from Xbox Wire France suggested thatMicrosoft and Dolby had a two-year deal in place to keep both Dolby technologies exclusivity for its platforms, but that has since been denied by bothMicrosoftand Dolby.
For comparison’s sake, thePS5does not support either Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos. Instead,Sony’s console makes use of the HDR10 standard and the company’s proprietary spatial audio tech, Tempest 3D audio.
Put a ring on it
While we still don’t have a solid release date for Halo Infinite, we’re expecting to see the game in action during this year’sE3andSummer Game Festconferences. We’re expecting developer 343 Industries to lockdown a definite launch date, and maybe announce a multiplayer beta for players to try, as was the case with Halo 5: Guardians.
We’ve reached out to Dolby for comment and will update this article accordingly should we receive more information.
Adam was formerly TRG’s Hardware Editor. A law graduate with an exceptional track record in content creation and online engagement, Adam has penned scintillating copy for various technology sites and also established his very own award-nominated video games website. He’s previously worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor and once played Halo 5: Guardians for over 51 hours for charity. He is now an editor at The Shortcut.
Where to buy the new Xbox Series X and S consoles - including the gorgeous Galaxy Black 2TB machine
Final Fantasy 14 on Xbox Series X|S will require Xbox Game Pass to play when it launches in full
Steps to take when your phone number is publicly listed online
