Phil Spencer provided an explanation for the absence of the game Halo at the Xbox Showcase

Indeed, the absence of Halo Infinite at the Xbox Showcase was noticeable, and Xbox head Phil Spencer had to explain the reason behind it. In an interview with The Guardian, he mentioned that the lack of updates on the game was primarily due to Xbox having a plethora of other games that could be showcased at the event.

He emphasized that it didn't mean Halo was less important, but with over 20 studios under Xbox, they aimed to present a diverse range of games. Comparing it to previous years when there were primarily four key games — Fable, Forza, Halo, and Gears— Phil Spencer noted that the company now has a much larger portfolio of games.

Overall, it's not surprising since this year's Xbox presentation showcased a wide spectrum of games developed by different studios within the company. Additionally, it was particularly important to showcase positive outcomes after a relatively quiet previous year and the misstep with the launch of Redfall.

Perhaps 343 Industries didn't have ready material to show at the time, but nonetheless, the trailer for the fourth season of Halo Infinite appeared just a few days after the event.

On one hand, it's quite strange that the company chose not to showcase one of its most significant games for Xbox. This might raise questions about the future of the Halo franchise and the possibility of its slowed development.