Halo Infinite includes a Ranked mode that players can be banned from after committing certain actions that can negatively impact the game.

Halo Infinite players can be banned from Ranked mode for a variety of different reasons, leading to an extended period of time where the mode can't be accessed. Halo fans were ecstatic when Infinite's multiplayer got a surprise release during the Xbox 20th Anniversary event, allowing players to jump into the action almost a full month before its full release. 343 Industries making the Halo Infinite multiplayer experience free for all players may have even broadened the title's reach, allowing PC and Xbox owners the chance to participate in the game without having to pay for it.

The Halo Infinite multiplayer beta is loaded with a variety of content to keep players engaged for hours on end. Quick Play allows players to engage in battle across a variety of Halo Infinite’s modes and maps in a causal manner, while Big Team Battles provide large-scale warfare with teams of 12 apiece and access to vehicles like the Warthog and power weapons that encourage maximum Halo chaos. There’s even a Custom Games mode that players can utilize to create their own unique multiplayer experience and battle against any number of friends to make the competition more personal.

The Halo Infinite crossplay multiplayer also provides a Ranked mode to compete in, pitting individuals against others of their own skill level in a push to obtain the highest rank possible. In the past week of Ranked play, some players have received a “User banned” message in Halo Infinite that doesn't allow them to access the mode for a certain amount of time. The ban only appears to be in place for the Ranked mode specifically, as players haven't reported any sort of similar experience with any of the other included game modes.

Halo Infinite Bans Players For Leaving Matches And Other Reasons

Being banned from Ranked mode usually stems from a player leaving a match early, leaving one of the two teams in a match of Halo Infinite short of a player and at a significant disadvantage compared to the enemy team over the course of a given match. This isn't the only way that players can become banned from the game mode though, as there is a myriad of different actions that can result in someone losing the ability to queue into a Ranked match. These different ban-worthy offenses include:

• Unsportsmanlike behavior, such as excessive idling, betrayal, or suicide
• Progression system manipulation
• Attempted playlist ranking manipulation
• Network manipulation
• Violating the Halo Code of Conduct, Terms of Use, Licensing Agreement, and Xbox Community Standards

It is also possible for Halo Infinite players to be banned after an accidental disconnect from a match or total game crash, even though that necessarily isn't the individual's own fault. Thankfully, 343 Industries has implemented some pretty reasonable ban penalty timers for those that are accidental victims of a crash/disconnect while also remaining strict on long ban times for those who are actively seeking to break the rules. The different ban lengths for the first through sixth offense in Halo Infinite are:

• 1st offense: 5 minutes
• 2nd offense: 15 minutes
• 3rd offense: 30 minutes
• 4th offense: 1 hour
• 5th offense: 3 hours
• 6th offense: 16 hours

Halo Infinite isn't the first multiplayer shooter to incorporate such a system for certain offenses, as games like Apex Legends and Rainbow Six Siege also utilize ban systems to make sure players aren't ruining the game for others. Granted, bans off of a disconnect/crash can be frustrating for those who didn't intentionally quit, but it seems to be a necessary annoyance to ensure that frequent leavers are punished for their actions. Players that deal with frequent disconnects can send in a Halo Support ticket to 343 Industries to try and help mitigate the issue, but hopefully the studio will have resolved any crashes when Halo Infinite fully releases in December.

Next: Halo Infinite Weapon Spawns Are Proof New Guns Are Coming

Source: Halo Support