Games

Alex Wakeford

Halo Infinite | Winter Update Launch

As we look to the arrival of the Winter Update in Halo Infinite on November 8, which brings with it the highly anticipated Forge Beta, our support for the game with Halo Waypoint’s continues to expand.



Today, we’re excited to share that Halo Waypoint’s latest update brings the Halo Infinite Content Browser to the web—making it incredibly easy to find and share community creations.



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1650" height="1140" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-C.jpg" alt="Recommended content on the Content Browser" class="wp-image-49829" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-C.jpg 1650w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-C-300x207.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-C-1024x707.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-C-768x531.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-C-1536x1061.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-C-1568x1083.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1650px) 100vw, 1650px" /></figure>



Halo Waypoint’s Content Browser is how you can search for and bookmark Forge creations from other players. We’re bringing this powerful in-game tool (which can be accessed from the main menu’s Community tab) to Halo Waypoint, putting it in the hands of our players, wherever they may be.



At the landing page of the Halo Waypoint Content Browser, you’ll find 343 Recommended content, as well as popular maps, modes, and prefabs (these are things like Forge objects and scripting nodegraphs created by other players that you can download and place in your maps).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1650" height="1728" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-B.jpg" alt="Popular maps and modes on the Content Browser" class="wp-image-49815" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-B.jpg 1650w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-B-286x300.jpg 286w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-B-978x1024.jpg 978w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-B-768x804.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-B-1467x1536.jpg 1467w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-B-1568x1642.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1650px) 100vw, 1650px" /></figure>



Explore below to see how the Content Browser looks and the filters and tags it offers to refine your search.



With the Content Browser at the tip of your fingertips, you’re never far from being able to try out the next great map and mode from the community, or from implementing objects and nodegraphs into your own maps under construction.



Whether you’re a cartographer looking to share your content, or a player looking to try out something new, the Content Browser is your one-stop hub for everything you need!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1061" height="2560" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-D-scaled.jpg" alt="Content Browser "Browse All" page" class="wp-image-49843" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-D-scaled.jpg 1061w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-D-124x300.jpg 124w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-D-424x1024.jpg 424w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-D-768x1853.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-D-636x1536.jpg 636w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-D-849x2048.jpg 849w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Content-Browser-D-1568x3784.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1061px) 100vw, 1061px" /></figure>



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We’re excited to continue supporting Halo Infinite and Halo Waypoint experiences across the board, and today’s update is another step on that great journey.



If you have any feedback about this latest update, please be sure to share it with us on our <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://forums.halowaypoint.com/" target="_blank">Forums</a>. If you come across any technical issues, please let us know on the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://aka.ms/HaloSupport" target="_blank">Halo Support site</a>.



Thank you for your continued support and feedback, and we can’t wait to see what you make!

Halo Waypoint | Content Browser

Fiction

343 INDUSTRIES

Everything Has Gone Wrong (...Well, Not Everything)

Halo 4 | VERTICAL UMBRAGE

Community

Community Update

Halo 4 | Tenth Anniversary

The Winter Update for Halo Infinite arrives on November 8 and brings with it a plethora of free new content, including a 30-tier Battle Pass that never expires.



Based around fan-favorite Halo: Reach cosmetics, this Battle Pass celebrates a year of Halo Infinite with a return to the “Heroes of Reach” theme. And, speaking of celebrations, make sure you head over to the Shop when the update drops to pick up your free Birthday Bash Kill Effect gift.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/HI-Bday-Bash.jpg" alt="Free Halo Infinite Birthday Bash Kill Effect" class="wp-image-49785" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/HI-Bday-Bash.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/HI-Bday-Bash-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/HI-Bday-Bash-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/HI-Bday-Bash-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/HI-Bday-Bash-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/HI-Bday-Bash-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



The Winter Update Battle Pass will be the first one that players can progress with the new Match XP system, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/match-xp-beta-progression-winter-update" target="_blank">which you can read more about in our Match XP & Progression blog</a>. Though, if you’ve not completed your Season 1 or Season 2 Battle Passes, you’ll be able to progress them with Match XP as well! This is our first step in overhauling player progression in Halo Infinite and we’re keen to hear your feedback about how this new approach feels, so let us know online and on <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://forums.halowaypoint.com/" target="_blank">our forums</a>.



In the meantime, let’s throw it over to John Junyszek and Sean Baron for a closer look at the Winter Update’s free Battle Pass!



<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Winter Update Battle Pass Preview | Halo Infinite" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XZemgoBRSZI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Battle Pass Preview | Winter Update

Halo Infinite | Forge Beta FAQ

In today’s blog covering the improvements landing with the Winter Update, we’re focusing on a few substantial ways in which your matchmaking experience will improve in Halo Infinite.



Here’s a TL;DR of these updates landing next week:



<ul><li>Local Region Matchmaking will make its debut</li><li>Improved logic for CSR progression</li><li>Improved rules for quitting with uneven teams</li><li>And more!</li></ul>



All these updates are great additions to Halo Infinite, so let’s dive into the details!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_055.jpg" alt="A Spartan is running with a Ravager in their hands." class="wp-image-49555" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_055.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_055-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_055-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_055-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_055-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_055-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Local Region Matchmaking</h2>



We know that having good latency to the server is an important part of what makes Halo (or any FPS) fun, and we prioritize latency quite high within our matchmaking. However, we know that some folks want more control over their latency, so (as we discussed in a previous post) we’re working to give you that control. To that end, we’ve added a new feature that allows players to choose to match exclusively into games hosted within their local region.



This option can be found in the settings, under Gameplay->Matchmaking->Search Region. The default is “Expanded”, which is the existing behavior: we try to match you in your region but will allow matches outside. Changing the setting to “local” will limit your matches just to your region.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/SearchRegion_Expanded_FullScreen_1920x1080.jpg" alt="A settings screen showing the local region matchmaking feature." class="wp-image-49626" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/SearchRegion_Expanded_FullScreen_1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/SearchRegion_Expanded_FullScreen_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/SearchRegion_Expanded_FullScreen_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/SearchRegion_Expanded_FullScreen_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/SearchRegion_Expanded_FullScreen_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/SearchRegion_Expanded_FullScreen_1920x1080-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Choosing to search only in your local region will generally improve your latency to the server, because all your games will be played on a datacenter within that region. However, it may also increase your matchmaking time and reduce the fairness of matches you get.



We decide your local region based on the datacenters that you have the best ping to, and the regions we are currently using are:



<ul><li>Asia</li><li>Australia</li><li>Brazil</li><li>Europe</li><li>North America</li></ul>



It’s important to note that each region may have multiple datacenters. So you still may see some change in ping from game to game as a different datacenter is chosen within your region depending on which of those datacenters is better for the players in the game.



A couple notes about how this feature works with fireteams:



<ul><li>The Fireteam leader’s setting is used to determine whether a search region is “local” or “expanded”</li><li>If the players in your fireteam are located in different regions, the matchmaking system will pick a single region that strikes the best balance for all the players in your Fireteam. So, for example, if your four-person fireteam has two players in Europe and two in Australia, it’s likely that your fireteam’s region will be set to Asia to get the best possible experience.</li></ul>



When this launches, please be sure to let us know how it feels. And, as a reminder, if you end up having long queues in your region, please try re-enabling “Expanded” to find matches faster.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_040.jpg" alt="A Spartan with a VK78 Commando jumps into action." class="wp-image-49569" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_040.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_040-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_040-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_040-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_040-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_040-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Updates to CSR</h2>



We’ve received a lot of feedback that the CSR progression doesn’t feel right<s>,</s> and that the CSR gains and losses were too closely based on personal statistical performance, which doesn’t always represent the impact a player can have in the game. (e.g., communication, map positioning, spawning knowledge, etc.)



To address these concerns, we have overhauled the algorithm that determines CSR gains and losses after a match. We’ve made it more configurable and set up the configuration so that a win or loss for the whole team matters more than individual performance when determining the CSR gains and losses for each player.



We’d love to hear your feedback on how the new algorithm feels. We’ll monitor these changes and community feedback to help inform future updates as the new CSR season progresses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Reduced & Clearer penalties in Ranked games with uneven teams</h2>



Currently, when a player fails to connect to a ranked match or quits early in the match, other players are forced to play out the entirety of the match even though it may not be fun (particularly for those on the quitter’s team), because the team that’s short will likely lose. To address this in the near term, we’re making some changes to the penalties that players will see when they quit in these situations.



There are two types of penalty for quitting early in Ranked matches: bans and CSR penalties. Both of those will be improved with an upcoming change, which is currently set to land on Nov 10, shortly after the Winter Update’s launch.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1440" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Halo-Infinite-11_3_2022-3_21_29-AM.png" alt="A Spartan with a gold armor coating takes aim with their S7 Sniper." class="wp-image-49583" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Halo-Infinite-11_3_2022-3_21_29-AM.png 2560w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Halo-Infinite-11_3_2022-3_21_29-AM-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Halo-Infinite-11_3_2022-3_21_29-AM-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Halo-Infinite-11_3_2022-3_21_29-AM-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Halo-Infinite-11_3_2022-3_21_29-AM-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Halo-Infinite-11_3_2022-3_21_29-AM-2048x1152.png 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Halo-Infinite-11_3_2022-3_21_29-AM-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Improved ban logic in uneven Ranked matches</h3>



Currently anyone who quits will receive a “flag” and getting too many flags in a short period of time will result in a ban. We’re updating the rules so that only the first person to quit will receive a flag. Everyone else in the game may quit without fear of getting banned.



A couple notes on this:



<ul><li>Network disconnects count as quits. Unfortunately, if they didn’t, bad actors could just pull their network cables when they wanted to quit.</li><li>Other offenses like cheating, team killing, or going idle will still always result in a flag regardless of whether others have quit.</li></ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Improved CSR logic during uneven Ranked matches</h3>



 Currently anyone who quits a ranked game will lose 15 CSR points, regardless of when they quit or whether others quit first. We’re changing the rules so that the first person to quit will always lose 15 CSR points, but if that first person quits early in the game, the CSR losses and gains for everyone else will be capped at +/- 5 CSR points. That means anyone who leaves the match after an “early quitter” will only lose 5 CSR points.



A few more notes about specifics here:



<ul><li>“Early in the game” means the first couple minutes</li><li>As covered above, network disconnects count as quits</li></ul>



We’re limiting the first person quit timer for this CSR logic to prevent potential abuse of this new rule. If the timer goes too late into a match, one player could quit after noticing the game wasn’t going their way just to reduce the CSR impact on their teammates.



We believe we’ve landed on a good time window, but we’ll monitor these updated rules around ban flags and quitting to make sure they land well out in the wild.



Additionally, come the Winter Update, we will reset CSR ranks so that we can give everyone a fresh start in Ranked with all these updates.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_101.jpg" alt="A red Spartan with a red BR75 moves around on Live Fire." class="wp-image-49597" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_101.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_101-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_101-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_101-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_101-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_101-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Future Matchmaking Improvements</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Clearer display of CSR changes</h3>



In addition to making the size of CSR changes more sensible, we are making changes to the in-game UI so that it’s easier to see how many points you actually gained or lost after a game. Instead of just showing a visual progress bar for your rank, we’ll also show your current CSR, the CSR value for the next rank, and your CSR progress in your most recent game, all as numbers.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">CSR-based matchmaking</h3>



Last, but certainly not least, we are also working on an update to Ranked matchmaking that will primarily match players based on their current CSR. Our existing system matches purely based on skill rating (MMR), which is closely tied to CSR, but led to some confusion when viewing the ranks in the Post-Game Carnage Report.



Even though our system will still know your MMR and it’s still the underlying basis of CSR, we expect that this new approach, combined with the CSR improvements landing in the Winter Update, will make matchmaking feel fairer and more focused on winning rather than in-game performance.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_100.jpg" alt="A blue Spartan is throwing a frag grenade towards an opponent." class="wp-image-49611" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_100.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_100-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_100-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_100-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_100-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_100-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Our team is constantly energized by your passion and input on the matchmaking experience in Halo Infinite, and we’re excited to bring you these improvements in the Winter Update on November 8th and November 10th.



Stay tuned here on Halo Waypoint for more updates on matchmaking in the future as well.



We’ll see you online!

Unyshek

Matchmaking & Ranked Improvements | Winter Update

Season 2 of Halo Infinite has come to a close. With the arrival of the Winter Update, the Halo Infinite page on Halo Waypoint will be updated with material matching the additions coming to the game—including a new set of Intel drops.



What this means is that, naturally, the Intel released during Season 2 will not be available on that page any longer, and so it shall be archived for reference here.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">INTEL 1</h2>



HISTORIAN’S NOTE: The following is an exchange between two Lux Voluspa representatives regarding concerning developments about a network intrusion.



<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Halo Infinite | Lux Voluspa" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gu8YZo0FidU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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///COMMS TAP///CIV.CORP.LUXVOLUSPA///MSG:



LV106: According to the breach logs, the intrusion package was cycling an internally sourced encryption, but the retrieval signature was Jiralhanae.



LV038: I’m not surprised. Expanding our neural matrix donor pool beyond humanity was always going to draw some attention eventually. Knowing what they took, it makes complete sense.



LV106: That project was a walled garden. No one on the outside should have even known about it.



LV038: Looks like we overestimated the strength of those walls.



LV106: What would the Banished be able to do with our tech? How would they even kno–



LV038: I don’t know. Nobody does. And that’s what scares me the most.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">INTEL 2</h2>



HISTORIAN’S NOTE: The following is a communique to Spartan Commander Agryna regarding isolation and instance replication of the Iratus AI for further study and training purposes.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/06/CU-Intel.jpg" alt="The Iratus AI" class="wp-image-40586" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/06/CU-Intel.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/06/CU-Intel-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/06/CU-Intel-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/06/CU-Intel-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/06/CU-Intel-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/06/CU-Intel-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



//SND:S.MELVOIN//REC:L.AGRYNA//SUB:BAN SUITAI



Commander Agryna, we’ve finished the requested process and are ready for selective deployment. It wasn’t easy with the limited resources we have on site, but we managed to isolate a viable instance of the Iratus construct thanks to the recent exploits of your new cohort. This instance is undergoing quarantine and will be prepared for replication and distribution to qualified S-IV operatives to test within the simulation environment. Hopefully by observing these personality shards on the battlefield we’ll be able to learn more about what it’s ultimately capable of. All preliminary readings show that the contained instances should be inert and safe for integration, but we’ll be monitoring each user closely nonetheless.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">INTEL 3</h2>



HISTORIAN’S NOTE: The following is a communique between Jun-A266 (Chief of Staff of Spartan Operations) and Rear Admiral Musa Ghanem regarding Spartan Sigrid Eklund’s early exploits.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-SpartanOperations.jpg" alt="Spartan Operations intel" class="wp-image-48351" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-SpartanOperations.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-SpartanOperations-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-SpartanOperations-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-SpartanOperations-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-SpartanOperations-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-SpartanOperations-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



TRANSFER REQUEST



OFFICE BLOCK: 2797.LL COMMREF: 38H9T44DJ-R-88 DATE: DEC 11, 2554 SND: CINCSPAR | REC: COSSPAR RE: TRANSFER REQUEST >> [S-IV//82271-20098-SE]



Jun, I’ve taken a look at your recent recommendations and feel that Spartan Eklund would be an ideal candidate for this next undertaking we spoke of. Her performance while attached to Fireteam Crimson was nothing short of extraordinary, and while the results of BELLINGHAM and LATE TAXI were certainly group achievements, I’m confident her skill set can produce similar gains in more “isolated” endeavors. We’ll sort out the details this week and get them sent over.



– Musa



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">INTEL 4</h2>



HISTORIAN’S NOTE: The following is a reconnaissance report from Spartan Sigrid Eklund concerning Banished activity on the colony world Camber.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Lone-Wolves-Intel-DinhEklund.jpg" alt="Spartans Hieu Dinh and Sigrid Eklund" class="wp-image-48323" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Lone-Wolves-Intel-DinhEklund.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Lone-Wolves-Intel-DinhEklund-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Lone-Wolves-Intel-DinhEklund-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Lone-Wolves-Intel-DinhEklund-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Lone-Wolves-Intel-DinhEklund-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Lone-Wolves-Intel-DinhEklund-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



CAMBER SITE RECON



UNSC COMMDROP: SY4822J93-U-71 ENCRYPTION TAG: [KARLSKRONA] SND: [SPARTAN EKLUND, SIGRID | 82271-20098-SE] REC: [OPEN-BAND/CLEARANCE-RESTRICTED]



Dinh and I knew there had been a recent spike in activity on Camber but didn’t realize how far it went until we arrived. The Banished have set up shipbreaking operations in fortified positions around the Chiltift Basin—turning our own dead ships against us. There’s something more here as well, but it’s hard to get a read on exactly what just yet. Whatever it is, we don’t think they’re just camping out for scrap metal and spare parts. We’re almost finished with initial recon sweeps of the perimeter and plan to press further when the next dust storm rolls through in a few hours, assuming Dinh doesn’t find trouble on his own first, of course.



– Eklund



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">INTEL 5</h2>



HISTORIAN’S NOTE: The following is an action report from UNSC Army Sergeant Sigrid Eklund in 2551 regarding a strategic victory against Covenant forces on the colony world Concord.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-Concord.jpg" alt="Concord colony intel" class="wp-image-48337" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-Concord.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-Concord-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-Concord-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-Concord-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-Concord-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-Concord-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



CONCORD ACTION REPORT



UNSC COMMREF: B7D002F78-L-44 ENCRYPTION TAG: [CALCITE] DATE: 06 DEC 2551 SND: [SGT EKLUND] | REC: [CMD RENNA] RE: GYPSUM



At 0720Z [MST], we cleared out the last Covenant emplacement from the Caravelle province. Lost two Wolverines to Banshee fire, but we made sure that was all they took from us. We’re making final preparations to depart from our current location and redeploy to one of the mass driver stations. Local Concordian militia groups there are holding firm but growing thin… hopefully support from the Rangers will be a welcome sight when we arrive. Still awaiting reports on yesterday’s activity at the combat fields outside Lethbridge—let us know if you receive any updates on your end, or if we need to reprioritize our focus in order to secure that location.



– Eklund



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">INTEL 6</h2>



HISTORIAN’S NOTE: The following is a communique between Jun-A266 and another individual regarding the current status of the Avery J. Johnson Academy.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-SpartanOperations.jpg" alt="Spartan Operations intel" class="wp-image-48351" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-SpartanOperations.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-SpartanOperations-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-SpartanOperations-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-SpartanOperations-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-SpartanOperations-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Intel-SpartanOperations-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



SURVIVAL



OFFICE BLOCK: 7421.UO COMMREF: 88FG0H83W-B-91



EXTUSR: So the academy remains active?



COSSPAR: All reports coming out of AJAMS confirm so.



EXTUSR: That’s good news, Jun. And impressive, if I’m being honest.



COSSPAR: Spartans have a way of surviving, no matter the odds.



EXTUSR: Well, you would know as good as anyone. Which reminds me, you never did tell me how you made it off Reach back in ’52.



COSSPAR: You’ll just have to read the reports yourself.



EXTUSR: Unfortunately, I see your sense of humor has also survived.

Season 2

Halo Infinite | Lone Wolves Intel

Sandbox Balance Updates | Winter Update

When the Winter Update arrives on November 8, Halo Infinite’s Battle Pass progression system will be overhauled thanks to the launch of the Match XP Beta.



The Winter Update brings a free 30-tier Battle Pass, and with the introduction of the Match XP Beta, Challenges and Ultimate Rewards will also receive a significant rework to improve your progression and customization journey—for this Battle Pass, for players who haven’t yet completed Season 1 and 2, and for all future Battle Passes as well.



Let’s dive into the specifics of what’s coming…



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">MATCH XP BETA</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-1.jpg" alt="In-game screenshot of a Spartan wielding a shock rifle standing on a Spartan-piloted Wasp" class="wp-image-48425" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-1.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



We are excited to be taking the first major step towards evolving Halo Infinite’s player progression experience by directly acting on player feedback to evolve XP and progression in Halo Infinite.



With Match XP, players will be rewarded for playing whatever mode they want, and your performance in those matches will tie into those rewards. As such, when the Winter Update launches, the majority of XP that you will earn will come from Match XP.



Match XP consists of:



<ul><li>XP for completing matches</li><li>Additional XP for your performance in the match (this accounts for things like being on the winning team, your end-of-match placement, and more)</li></ul>



Take a look at how it appears in-game…



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Halo-Infinite-Progression-Blog-Header.jpg" alt="A screenshot of the post-game Match XP menu" class="wp-image-48411" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Halo-Infinite-Progression-Blog-Header.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Halo-Infinite-Progression-Blog-Header-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Halo-Infinite-Progression-Blog-Header-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Halo-Infinite-Progression-Blog-Header-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Halo-Infinite-Progression-Blog-Header-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Halo-Infinite-Progression-Blog-Header-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



The reason we are calling this the Match XP “Beta” is because we are going to be monitoring the values for each reward category, adjusting them as we move forwards with this new model. This means that the values when the Winter Update launches will not be final, and you can expect to see them tuned up or down to provide an enhanced earn rate.



We look forward to getting your feedback on the rate of progression in the free Winter Update Battle Pass!



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CHALLENGES & ULTIMATE REWARDS</h2>



Up to this point, completing Challenges has been the main progression driver through the Battle Pass—Challenges grant XP which levels you up each reward tier. With the Winter Update, we are looking to evolve this system as we pursue the goal of helping players progress their Battle Pass at a faster rate in response to community feedback. This means that the system will transition to be Match XP-focused with Challenges providing a bonus boost.



We still believe that Challenges can help spark players’ interest in the game and provides some good direction for short-term goals, which has previously been part of the multiplayer experience in Halo: Reach and Halo 4, but the purpose of Challenges will be “redirected.”



Completion of Challenges will still provide some XP, but they will now primarily serve as the path towards earning customization items each week through the Ultimate Reward.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-4.jpg" alt="In-game screenshot of a Spartan wielding an assault rifle" class="wp-image-48919" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-4.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-4-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-4-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-4-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-4-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-4-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



This system is getting an overhaul of its own based on player feedback, which can be summarized in three main points:



<ul><li>We are reducing the number of Challenges required to hit the Ultimate Challenge from 20 to 10</li><li>All Challenges in regular weekly decks can be completed in any playlist</li><li>Challenges are more “general” overall</li></ul>



Since launch, a common point of feedback we’ve received from the community was that players didn’t enjoy queuing for playlists they wouldn’t otherwise play, simply to complete a Challenge and move their Battle Pass progression forward. Mode-specific Challenges were found to be prohibitive to playing with friends, and players shouldn’t have to choose between progress or playing together.



The Winter Update will mark the beginning of shifting all challenges to be playlist agnostic. For the time being, Event Challenges will remain in their current form, tied to their respective Event Playlists, but players can expect to see this change in the future as well.



These overhauls to progression also mean that a Fireteam of friends can stick together and move through their Weekly Challenges and Battle Passes without needing to worry about each player’s individual challenges.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-2.jpg" alt="In-game screenshot of a Spartan wielding a sniper rifle" class="wp-image-48453" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-2.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-2-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



As we’re looking to address a lot of the community feedback we’ve received around Challenges and we’re shifting the philosophy, the Winter Update’s Ultimate Rewards will feature the most popular Ultimate Rewards from Seasons 1 and 2 to help players get another chance to earn them in case they missed them last time.



We hope you all enjoy the opportunity to earn these on the new and improved system during the Winter Update.



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CAREER PROGRESSION</h2>



In addition to these improvements for Match XP, Challenges, Ultimate Rewards, and your Battle Pass progression, the team is also continuing to work on an overarching Career Progression system.



We’ll have more to share on that in the future, but it is important to plant a stake in the ground at this point and make clear that what’s coming in the Winter Update is just the beginning of broader changes to come.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-3.jpg" alt="In-game screenshot of a Spartan on Breaker" class="wp-image-48467" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-3.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-3-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-3-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/Progression-Blog-3-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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To our players, thank you for your feedback around Challenges and progression since launch. We’re excited for you all to get hands-on with these changes and continue to evolve the experience to be more rewarding.



Please continue to share your feedback with us online and <a href="https://forums.halowaypoint.com/">here on our forums</a>!