Bitterness-of-the-Vanquished

Canon Fodder

Fiction

Alex Wakeford

Issue 151

Canon Fodder: Lorelord

Games

Halo Infinite

Since the <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/squad-battle">surprise introduction of Squad Battle</a> to Halo Infinite, it has very quickly become a staple of the Halo Infinite experience. Existing in the space between classic 4v4 Team Slayer games and the 12v12 mayhem of Big Team Battle, Squad Battle is a nostalgia filled, action packed 8v8 mode that is ripe for carnage. The current maps should seem familiar and, thanks to our incredibly talented Forgers, the upcoming batch should also be a walk down memory lane. There’s a good mix from across the titles so let’s take a tour! 



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Squad Battle Refresh Trailer | Halo Infinite" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MsmEmYetq2A?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/27e2a3a4-4ed3-4c39-9e84-d308e5dad041">Perdition</a></h2>



Author: Cousin Tim, I Crush All, Mr Kwatz



First seen in Halo 4’s Castle Map Pack, Perdition’s more urban setting might mean a few less Scorpions but that is about all that’s missing. There’s still heavy weaponry, a variety of angles to take, and paths to travel.  



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Perdition.jpg" alt="A remake of Halo 4's Perdition map in Halo Infinite Forge" class="wp-image-100196" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Perdition.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Perdition-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Perdition-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Perdition-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Perdition-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Perdition-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Modes:



<ul>
<li>Slayer  </li>



<li>King of the Hill </li>



<li>Landgrab </li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/a9fef2f4-0758-43c5-bb62-c91651cbb80c">Refuge</a></h2>



Author: Cousin Tim, InfiniteForges, NightAvenger01, Micheal B 2K8



One of the beautiful things about Refuge is how versatile it is. From 12v12 to 4v4, and now 8v8, this map can handle almost anything. It excels in one-sided objectives and definitely keeps you on your toes as you’re watching for action in the buildings, in the air, and all around. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Refuge.jpg" alt="A remake of Halo 2's "Headlong" map remade in Halo Infinite Forge titled, "Refuge"" class="wp-image-100210" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Refuge.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Refuge-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Refuge-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Refuge-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Refuge-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Refuge-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Modes:



<ul>
<li>Slayer </li>



<li>King of the Hill </li>



<li>One Flag CTF </li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/3f788be8-f692-408d-a91e-33b684335162">Timberland Evolved</a></h2>



Author: D0ctorSmurf,  Virus11010,  Micheal B 2K8,  Mr IncrediJON,  MikRips,  Okom1,  Darth Draius



This marks the third time Timberland has made an appearance in Halo. From Halo: CE for PC to Halo: Reach (Anniversary map pack!) to Halo Infinite – the grass is as green as it ever was. Dueling snipers, entrenched bases, thrilling flag runs in Warthogs – this map still has it all. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Timberland.jpg" alt="Halo C E for P C's "Timberland" map recreated in Halo Infinite's Forge called "Timberland Evolved"" class="wp-image-100224" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Timberland.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Timberland-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Timberland-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Timberland-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Timberland-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Timberland-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Modes:



<ul>
<li>Slayer </li>



<li>CTF </li>



<li>Landgrab </li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/ef006625-5780-4d94-abf5-67ec0236a453">Rendezvous</a></h2>



Author: THE SLAMMERSS, h8yse



It’s not déjà vu but you’ll definitely remember this Rendezvous point when you see it. You’ll rally your thoughts and land on the alpha option. Another map primed for some urban warfare, you’ll be ready to orbit the lanes, drop in on some unsuspecting Spartans, shock some opponents with your slick moves, and continue trooping along valiantly. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Rendezvous.jpg" alt="Halo 3 O D S T's Firefight map "Rally Point" recreated in Halo Infinite's Forge and called "Rendezvous"" class="wp-image-100238" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Rendezvous.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Rendezvous-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Rendezvous-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Rendezvous-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Rendezvous-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Rendezvous-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Modes:



<ul>
<li>Slayer </li>



<li>CTF </li>



<li>Landgrab </li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/ede320ec-bb44-45b8-96f6-067b535465f8">Gyre</a></h2>



Author: Igrizhar, Mr Kwatz, Virus11010, MikRips



Reach had some nice beaches and Gyre aims to relive those days before the Covenant caused a tempest in a teapot. This map offers unique ways of getting from one side to the other. Will you tempt your fate in the lifts? Or will you be bold and brazen enough to venture straight up the middle. Alternatively, can I interest you in a sneaky path through the caves? 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Gyre.jpg" alt="Halo: Reach's map "Tempest" recreated in Halo Infinite's Forge called "Gyre"" class="wp-image-100252" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Gyre.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Gyre-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Gyre-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Gyre-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Gyre-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Gyre-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Modes:



<ul>
<li>Slayer </li>



<li>CTF </li>



<li>Total Control </li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/9791ae19-06d6-41ce-8bef-0551ac7546ee">Harvest</a></h2>



Author: Scrubulba, Tiiiiiiim 7, MikRips, LudoHT, Mr IncrediJON, Handsome Huber, lackhoves



Excelling in CTF, Harvest is a nearly symmetrical map featuring Warthogs, Mongooses, and everyone’s favorite – dueling S7s. As fun as it is to play peek-a-boo with the enemy with the Snipers, what’s even better is loading up a Warthog with your buddies (extra credit for the flag carrier too!) and burning rubber up the ramp to take the sweet jump for all the style points in the game. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Harvest.jpg" alt="Halo 4's map "Harvest" recreated in Halo Infinite's Forge" class="wp-image-100266" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Harvest.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Harvest-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Harvest-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Harvest-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Harvest-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Harvest-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Modes:



<ul>
<li>Slayer </li>



<li>CTF </li>



<li>Landgrab </li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size">Behemoth</h2>



Somehow…Behemoth has returned. We all know the map and it’s back for some squadtacular battles! 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Behemoth.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite map "Behemoth"" class="wp-image-100280" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Behemoth.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Behemoth-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Behemoth-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Behemoth-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Behemoth-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Behemoth-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Modes:



<ul>
<li>Slayer </li>



<li>CTF </li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



That’s seven new maps added to an already stacked playlist so we know you’re going to continue having an absolute blast. Time and again the Forge community has proven they are a priceless font of skill, talent, and creativeness that we are incredibly lucky to have. Their contributions help make playlists like this possible. 



If you’re an aspiring Forger, don’t forget to keep your eye on the `343asks`tags to see what we’re looking for. 



Squad up and hit the ground running in the updated Squad Battle today!

snickerdoodle

Squad Battle Refresh | Halo Infinite

A major new update is dropping feet-first into Halo Infinite this coming Tuesday, March 19, delivering on some of the biggest requests from the community.



Networking overhaul, weapon balance tunings, bug fixes, stability, and anti-cheat improvements, Firefight Custom, and more—we’ve got the official briefing on all these major elements in this blog (with even more detailed information to come in the patch notes).



Let’s take a look!



<a href="#networking">NETWORKING</a> | <a href="#anticheat">ANTI-CHEAT</a> | <a href="#squadbattlerefresh">SQUAD BATTLE REFRESH</a> | <a href="#weapontuning">WEAPON TUNING</a> | <a href="#firefightcustom">FIREFIGHT CUSTOM</a> | <a href="#qol">QOL IMPROVEMENTS</a>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="networking">NETWORKING OVERHAUL</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/S5_AST_Map_Prism_Watermarked_1920x1080.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of Spartans fighting on the Season 5 map Prism" class="wp-image-82933" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/S5_AST_Map_Prism_Watermarked_1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/S5_AST_Map_Prism_Watermarked_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/S5_AST_Map_Prism_Watermarked_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/S5_AST_Map_Prism_Watermarked_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/S5_AST_Map_Prism_Watermarked_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/S5_AST_Map_Prism_Watermarked_1920x1080-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



A completely overhauled networking model will be coming to Halo Infinite in a matter of days.



After launch, we heard the feedback around the game’s online experience loud and clear: desync, being shot around corners, etc. And while we did release numerous updates to the previous model, they were not having the impact that players expected and deserved. When we recognized this, the team decided to shift gears and pursue a fundamental change to the underlying networking model. Since then, we’ve been heads down to make it happen.



Last December, we shared a first look at it when it launched in Firefight: King of the Hill and was featured in the Combat Workshop. It was great to see such a positive response from the community online, in our surveys, and on Halo Support—but we knew that it still needed some extra polish before it could roll out on a wider scale.



Now that we’ve given it that extra time, we are confident that this updated model will result in a better and more consistent multiplayer experience.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="anticheat">EASY ANTI-CHEAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of Season 3 map Oasis" class="wp-image-58042" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Next week, Easy Anti-Cheat will arrive in Halo Infinite!



Easy Anti-Cheat is a tool that monitors players’ game files while they’re playing Halo Infinite to ensure the integrity of each match and combat cheating. With the March Update, our detection and enforcement capabilities will be enhanced, greatly improving the game’s overall security and our ability to respond to cheaters.



If you encounter cheating, be sure to use the in-game reporting feature or head over to Halo Support to submit a ticket at <a href="http://aka.ms/HaloReportAPlayer">aka.ms/HaloReportAPlayer</a>.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="squadbattlerefresh">SQUAD BATTLE REFRESH</h2>



Since its debut in Halo Infinite, Squad Battle quickly became a beloved staple playlist for those who were looking for something between the concentrated action of 4v4 and the larger-scale mayhem of 12v12 Big Team Battle.



With the arrival of the March Update, we’ve got a refresh of the Squad Battle playlist featuring seven new maps made by incredibly talented Forgers.



There are some returning classics, like Halo 4’s Perdition and Halo: CE (on PC)’s Timberland, along with brand new maps for you to fall in love with.



<ul>
<li>Perdition</li>



<li>Refuge</li>



<li>Timberland Evolved</li>



<li>Rendezvous</li>



<li>Gyre</li>



<li>Harvest</li>



<li>Behemoth</li>
</ul>



To get all the details, be sure to check out our Squad Battle Refresh blog when it drops next week!



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="weapontuning">WEAPON TUNING UPDATES</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1440" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Infinite_S4_PK2_09-scaled.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of a Spartan sprinting into action" class="wp-image-69692" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Infinite_S4_PK2_09-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Infinite_S4_PK2_09-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Infinite_S4_PK2_09-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Infinite_S4_PK2_09-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Infinite_S4_PK2_09-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Infinite_S4_PK2_09-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Infinite_S4_PK2_09-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></figure>



The March Update is packed with weapon balancing changes that seek to address community feedback across the board.



M392 BANDIT & BANDIT EVO



<ul>
<li>Increased reload speed.</li>
</ul>



Reload speed has been increased by 10% to address common feedback that reloading feels slow and clunky.



HEATWAVE



<ul>
<li>Decreased aim assist falloff range</li>



<li>Decreased aim assist range</li>



<li>Decreased aim assist angle</li>
</ul>



We’ve seen players share that they were getting frustrated when getting hit by a longer-ranged Heatwave shots. The weapon’s unique ability to hit those shots, particularly with its alt-fire setting, is still core to its identity. That said, we do feel like it was a bit too easy to be effective outside its intended range.



Starting next week, it will require more precision when going for those long-range shots, while keeping its close-range capabilities largely untouched.



PLASMA PISTOL



<ul>
<li>Faster charge-up time</li>



<li>Slightly decreased rate of fire for single shots</li>



<li>Faster overheat</li>
</ul>



Over time, we have observed that using the Plasma Pistol’s single-shot functionality has become the primary way that players operate the weapon, effectively utilizing all the benefits of the weapon but with minimal risk element.



These changes are intended to give the charged shot greater effectiveness while still allowing players the ability to find success with its single shot.



STALKER RIFLE



<ul>
<li>Decrease the number of shots to overheat</li>



<li>Slower venting rate per second</li>
</ul>



We noticed an increase in community feedback expressing that the Stalker Rifle was over-performing. When watching players use it online, we could see they were able to use the weapon to chain together multiple kills without much room for counter-play.



As a result, we have decreased the Stalker Rifle’s overheat threshold and increased the venting duration. This adjustment should reduce how often players can find success while rapid-firing shots and require them to be more intentional with each pull of the trigger.



VK78 COMMANDO



<ul>
<li>Increased close range friction</li>



<li>Less aggressive bloom</li>
</ul>



With the change from the Battle Rifle to the Bandit EVO as the primary weapon in Ranked Arena, the viability of the Commando was inherently lowered.



A recurring theme from players was to give the Commando some love, and so the goal of these changes is to give this weapon better handling – to address the feedback around it feeling “slippery” – and a more consistent damage output so players can hold their ground against the Battle Rifle and Bandit EVO.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_GravityHammer.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of the Gravity Hammer" class="wp-image-100162" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_GravityHammer.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_GravityHammer-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_GravityHammer-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_GravityHammer-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_GravityHammer-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_GravityHammer-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



GRAVITY HAMMER



<ul>
<li>Fixed issue that was doubling the power of the Gravity Hammer and its variants.</li>



<li>Increased its original tuning by 1.5x to allow for better damage and knockback</li>
</ul>



The Gravity Hammer’s reign of terror is… well, not over, you’re still going to be soiling your armored breeches when you turn around only to find a player speeding towards you with a Grappleshot and Gravity Hammer already mid-swing, but it’s not quite the boogeyman it has been recently.



We have increased the damage and knockback of the Gravity Hammer (and its variants) to be 1.5x its pre-Season 5 strength. This places those values at a halfway point between what it was pre-Season 5 and what it has been in recent months.



We’re excited for these updates to make their way to the battlefield next week. Once you go hands-on with them, be sure to share your feedback and let us know how they feel! And, rest assured, we’ll be continuing to fine-tune the sandbox in future updates.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="firefightcustom">FIREFIGHT CUSTOM</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FF_KOH_PK-11.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of a Brute Chieftain wielding a gravity hammer in Firefight" class="wp-image-100064" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FF_KOH_PK-11.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FF_KOH_PK-11-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FF_KOH_PK-11-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FF_KOH_PK-11-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FF_KOH_PK-11-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FF_KOH_PK-11-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Since Firefight: King of the Hill arrived in Halo Infinite back in December 2023, players have been having a blast fighting the Banished within the House of Reckoning and across other maps—and on custom-made Forge maps.



With the March Update, we are introducing Firefight Custom. This is a “blank” Firefight mode that keeps the high-level structure of Firefight: King of the Hill intact (Sets, lives, skulls, scoring, Custom Game options), but removes all the logic related to hills. In other words, this is Firefight: King of the Hill without the King of the Hill.



Mode scripters will have full control over what constitutes a win or a loss of a point, whether teams earn skulls, which spawners are triggered and when, and if players can earn more lives. We wanted Forgers to spend less time and budget scripting basic features of the mode and instead spend their time on the logic that supports their ideal experience. This new variant also pairs well with Forge’s previously released Mode Creator, allowing mode creators to create their experience once and share it with many map creators.



New Forge Node Graph functions have been added to empower Forgers on this front. These nodes will work in both Firefight Custom and the original King of the Hill variants:



<ul>
<li>On Firefight Set Start</li>



<li>On Firefight Set End</li>



<li>End Firefight Custom Set</li>



<li>Fail Firefight Custom Set</li>



<li>Adjust Firefight Custom Lifepool</li>



<li>Get Firefight Custom Set State</li>



<li>Get Firefight Custom Wave Spawners</li>



<li>Get Firefight Custom Boss Spawners</li>



<li>Override AI Spawner Definition</li>
</ul>



With the granularity of these options, Forgers have more power than ever before to create their own unique PvE modes, and we’re excited to see how that continues to level up the experience for players!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="qol">QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_Thunderhead.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the map Thunderhead" class="wp-image-100177" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_Thunderhead.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_Thunderhead-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_Thunderhead-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_Thunderhead-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_Thunderhead-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_Thunderhead-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



FORGE



In addition to Firefight Custom, Forge will also be receiving numerous bug fixes next week. One of the most noticeable updates will be improvements to Copy Protection for Maps and Modes. Now, Forgers’ creations will be more secure, thus reducing copy-cats, and clearing the way for the creator to get more credit for the things they build and share with the community.



STABILITY



Last, but certainly not least, this update also has lots of improvements to stability thanks to a plethora of crash fixes. We use data via in-game telemetry, community feedback, and reports shared with the Halo Support team to identify crash fixes that would provide the most impact to our players. If you do ever run into a stability issue with Halo Infinite, please report them on the <a href="http://aka.ms/HaloSupport">Halo Support site.</a>



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That wraps up this preview of the upcoming March Update. Thank you to the Halo community for your continued support as we continue to go after player feedback that continues to improve Halo Infinite!



When the update drops on March 19, be sure to head over to <a href="http://aka.ms/HaloInfiniteUpdate">aka.ms/HaloInfiniteUpdate</a> for the full patch notes.

March Update Preview | Halo Infinite

Esports

Next week, the March Update for Halo Infinite will drop with a suite of weapon balance adjustments. These tuning updates should address community feedback about the core gameplay experience while also bringing noticeable improvements to the competitive settings used in Ranked.



We’ve also got an exciting new feature we’re testing out for the highest level of players in Ranked – don’t miss that at the bottom of the article.



To see everything releasing in this update be sure to check out the full breakdown <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/march-update-preview">here</a> – for now, let’s jump right into the juicy details.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size">Bandit EVO and M392 Bandit</h2>



We have been very pleased with the response and performance of the Bandit EVO since launch with Season 5 but there were a few initial changes we wanted to make based on early feedback and things that we observed internally. We have been gathering more feedback and will continue to monitor feedback and performance after this weekend’s kickoff event on LAN to see where else the Bandit EVO needs some fine tuning. Note that we’ve made the same changes across the Bandit EVO and M392 Bandit as we believed these changes were core to the Bandit itself and not one particular variant, as well as wanting to maintain some level of consistency between the variants.



Increased reload speed.



<ul>
<li>This change was to address feedback that the reload speed was feeling slow and clunky.
<ul>
<li>Reload speed increased 10%.</li>



<li>Reload speed while empty increased 10%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



Spawn influencer weapon cone change.



<ul>
<li>Since the Bandit EVO launched there has been feedback that the spawn logic has changed in Ranked Arena. Players are reporting that at times they would more frequently spawn into advantageous or disadvantageous locations. The intent of this change is to align the spawn behavior more closely with that of when the Battle Rifle was the starting weapon for Ranked Arena, which follows more consistent logic in connection with how players influence spawn locations.
<ul>
<li>Adjusted weapon spawn influencer for Bandit EVO to match Battle Rifle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



Lowered Bandit Player Fire Volume.



<ul>
<li>There has been feedback that the Bandit EVO’s First Person firing audio is over tuned and players are unable to hear surrounding environmental and player audio when firing the Bandit EVO. We’ve adjusted the fire volume to give players more opportunity to hear other game sounds.
<ul>
<li>Lowered Bandit player fire volume -3dB.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size">Heatwave</h2>



As players have increased their proficiency with Halo Infinite since launch, the Heatwave was one of the weapons that we’ve seen players continue to maximize impact particularly in mid-long range scenarios where precise timing and aim is achievable in the highest level of play. We’ve heard feedback that it’s still a little too performant, so we’ve made a minor tweak that we believe will only impact play at the highest level while retaining same experience that every player loves about the weapon.



Decreased Auto Aim angle.



<ul>
<li>Aim assist angle decreased from 5 >> 4.</li>
</ul>



Decreased Auto Aim range & falloff range.



<ul>
<li>Aim assist range decreased from 12 >> 11.</li>



<li>Aim assist falloff range decreased from 7.5 >> 6.5.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size">Plasma Pistol</h2>



The Plasma Pistol plays a critical role in not only the Ranked but also the social experience. Our most recent change was designed to increase intentionality and even planning required to use the Plasma Pistol. That was indeed what we saw initially but as time went on players began using the gun mostly for its single shot use. With the upcoming changes, our intention is to bring more balance between the two functions and increase utility of the charged shot while still maintaining usage of the single shot.



Decreased Rate of Fire for single shot plasma pistol.



<ul>
<li>Rate of fire for single shot trigger decreased from 10 >> 6.75 rounds per second.</li>
</ul>



Faster overheat.



<ul>
<li>Overheated threshold decreased from 1 >> 0.8.</li>
</ul>



Faster charge up time.



<ul>
<li>The amount of time for trigger to fully charge decreased from 1.6 >> 1.2 seconds.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size">Stalker Rifle</h2>



In the hands of the highest skilled players, the Stalker Rifle is a close range and long range powerhouse with no real counters on the map. Much like the Heatwave, feedback was consistent it was just a little too easy to find maximum effectiveness with the gun at the highest levels – and at the same time we wanted to have little to no impact to the rest of the players in the game.



Decrease the number of shots to overheat.



<ul>
<li>7 >> 6</li>
</ul>



Slower venting rate per second.



<ul>
<li>This change will still allow players to achieve multiple kills in succession, but there will be less room for error and a bit more time spent venting.
<ul>
<li>Overheated threshold decreased from 1 >> 0.9.</li>



<li>Venting duration increased from 0.2 >> 0.5 seconds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size">VK78 Commando</h2>



With the Bandit EVO now as the starting weapon, we’ve seen and heard that the Commando has been struggling to find its place and reliable role on the map. To address this and make the Commando a more viable pick up on the map, we’ve made some small tweaks to reset the weapon’s bloom faster to simplify the weapon handling.



Faster bloom reset.



<ul>
<li>The goal of this change was to give the Commando Rifle better handling and more consistent damage output to hold its ground against the Bandit EVO and Battle Rifle.
<ul>
<li>Lower bound deceleration time decreased 0.22 >> 0.21 seconds.</li>



<li>Upper bound deceleration time decreased 0.22 >> 0.21 seconds.</li>



<li>Magnetism near falloff range increased 0 >> 1 wu.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



As always we will continue to monitor feedback and performance for Ranked with a close eye on the first HCS event this weekend to determine what future balance updates are needed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">EXPERIMENT: DETERMINISTIC CSR PAYOUTS</h2>



For players at the very highest level of Ranked Arena (1800+), we’ve heard feedback and observed ourselves that the experience is becoming one where the grind has felt unrewarding. Players are reporting winning the majority of their games in a day but still going down in CSR overall – that’s making Ranked for them feel more like a chore than anything else. To address this feedback we’re experimenting with a feature called Deterministic CSR Payouts.



Today, for all players, how many CSR points you win or lose is based on a number of factors including of course whether you won or lost, how you performed, and where you stack up against the rest of the ranked population including your opponents in that match.



With Deterministic CSR Payouts, the only thing that matters will be whether your team won or lost. Starting on March 19 in any Ranked playlist, as an experiment, for all 1800 CSR and above, you will receive 7 CSR for a match win, and will lose 7 CSR for a match loss.



Why is this an experiment?  This is an experiment because we feel there might be some unintended consequences as part of this and we not only want to monitor CSR distribution at this level but also what player feedback will be.



What are the risks? The biggest risk is CSR inflation and what that does the overall perception of matchmaking at this level. What we anticipate seeing is players reaching new CSR level that haven’t been achieved in the game before – potentially well into the 3,000s. Now, if you’re those players achieving that – it’s going to be a pretty cool feeling. But what does that mean for matchmaking and how players perceive it? Today we effectively “clamp” players CSR down lower at the highest level so they can still find matches and sometimes particularly during off hours you might see 1700s matching at 2200s because of this. With this addition, you might see 1700s matching against those same 2200 but because of Deterministic CSR Payouts that 2200 player could be at 3000 CSR. We believe players will report much of the same feedback when we were matching on MMR instead of CSR before we made the change in Winter of 2023. Players might think that matchmaking is broken when in actuality a match like that is just the result of intertwining systems and certain circumstances like population at the time, where we’re at in the season, etc.



Once this feature releases we will be keeping a close eye on the CSR distribution and player experiences/feedback to determine if future tweaks are needed or if we need to remove the feature entirely.



We look forward to trying this out in Ranked next week. As you put the reps in during this experiment, please be sure to share your feedback with us!



Best of luck to all teams competing at the HCS Major Arlington hosted by OpTic Gaming. If you’re at the event, you’ll have the change to be the first to play with the upcoming balance updates and for those watching at home we’ll be showing you all what it looks like so you know what to expect – don’t miss out on that later tonight on <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/halo" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.twitch.tv/halo">Twitch.tv/Halo</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@hcs">YouTube.com/@HCS</a>.



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Official HCS

Ranked – March Update Preview

Debrief 021

Silver Debrief: Thermopylae

Jloughlenart

ZoinksLord

RiteshKMondal art

Urihell343 art

Community

Community Spotlight

Spotlight: March 13, 2024

Issue 014

Community Corner: Katarn343

Debrief 020

Silver Debrief: Onyx

Community Update

Sundered Showdown

HUSKY RAID REFRESH MAPS

CYBER SHOWDOWN III PRESS KIT

Embrace the viral machine. Cyber Showdown III has arrived!



A new 20-tier Operation Pass with free multi-use customization rewards, a brand-new map, a refresh to the Husky Raid playlist, and more awaits within…



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Cyber Showdown III Trailer | Halo Infinite" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eEQOo76I5iw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CYBER SHOWDOWN III OPERATION PASS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/CS3_Rewards.jpg" alt="Reward track image for Cyber Showdown III showing new multi-use CHIMERA armor on the wall" class="wp-image-97908" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/CS3_Rewards.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/CS3_Rewards-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/CS3_Rewards-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/CS3_Rewards-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/CS3_Rewards-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/CS3_Rewards-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



The Cyber Showdown III Operation Pass features 20 tiers of free customization rewards themed around the concept of the “viral machine,” which visually translates to a dark cyberpunk take on the aesthetics of the CHIMERA armor—a twisted fusion of organic elements in digital form.



You know the drill: play Halo Infinite, progress your Operation Pass with Match XP and Challenge completions, and you’ll unlock new armor, coatings, weapon charms, and emblems and nameplates to enhance your customization.



While Cyber Showdown III is themed around the CHIMERA armor core, the majority of the customization content is multi-use, meaning that you can equip helmets, visors, shoulders, and coatings across any armor core.



Additional premium options for the Operation Pass include:



<ul>
<li>500 credits will make the Operation Pass durable (it will not expire), offers bonus XP during the Operation’s live window, an extra Challenge slot while your pass is equipped, and comes with an exclusive customization item.</li>



<li>2,000 credits instantly unlocks all 20 tiers of the Operation Pass at purchase and includes the exclusive bonus customization item.</li>
</ul>



The bonus item in the Premium Operation Pass for Cyber Showdown III is the Emberbreak armor coating.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">NEW MAP: ELEVATION</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Elevation_WM.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of the multiplayer map Elevation" class="wp-image-97922" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Elevation_WM.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Elevation_WM-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Elevation_WM-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Elevation_WM-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Elevation_WM-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Elevation_WM-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Take combat to new heights with the latest map that has been added to Halo Infinite, named Elevation.



Taking place aboard a space elevator, a familiar sight from fans going all the way back to Halo 2, Elevation is a map created entirely in Halo Infinite‘s Forge.



On Elevation, indoor combat will keep your boots on the ground, but heading outside for a spacewalk in the middle of a firefight just might send you on a one-way journey to the planet below.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">HUSKY RAID REFRESH</h2>





Husky Raid has gotten even huskier with the addition of six new maps.



For those of you who might need an introduction or refresher: Husky Raid is a game mode that originally debuted in Halo 4 as a chaotic twist on Capture The Flag, featuring Fiesta-style random weapon loadouts and equipment.



Husky Raid has been in Halo Infinite for a while now and the time has come to update this beloved mode with some new maps created in Forge by our amazing community cartographers. Alongside Cyber Showdown III are six new maps, including:



<ul>
<li>Formation</li>



<li>Merchant’s Square</li>



<li>Outlook</li>



<li>Pharaoh</li>



<li>Ruujaya</li>



<li>Urban Raid</li>
</ul>



For a more detailed look at each of these new maps, <a href="http://aka.ms/HuskyRaidRefresh">check out our Husky Raid blog</a>.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SHOP & ULTIMATE REWARD</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/NetRiot.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of the Net Riot bundle" class="wp-image-97936" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/NetRiot.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/NetRiot-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/NetRiot-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/NetRiot-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/NetRiot-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/NetRiot-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Head to the Shop in Halo Infinite this week and you’ll find the Net Riot bundle which contains:



<ul>
<li>Thresher helmet</li>



<li>Plasm Augmentor shoulders</li>



<li>Deviant Protocol chest attachment</li>



<li>Coil Growth Sample G kneepads</li>



<li>Myomer Canker hip gear</li>



<li>VDO Plugin wrist gear</li>



<li>Warbling Well visor</li>



<li>System Alert and Netwar Alert armor coatings</li>



<li>Access Denied death effect</li>



<li>Daemon Flare armor effect</li>



<li>Firecrash Protocol Mythic effect</li>



<li>Net Riot weapon coating</li>
</ul>



And complete all of your Challenges this week to unlock your Ultimate Reward: the Signal Source Emblem suite.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/SignalSource.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of the Signal Source emblem" class="wp-image-97950" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/SignalSource.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/SignalSource-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/SignalSource-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/SignalSource-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/SignalSource-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/SignalSource-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Press Kit</h2>



<a href="https://aka.ms/CSIIIPressKit" data-type="link" data-id="https://aka.ms/CSIIIPressKit">Download the Cyber Showdown III Press Kit here! </a>



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That wraps us up for this Operation launch, which means it’s time to jump into the game and start working through that new Operation Pass!



With a brand-new map to check out and a refresh of the Husky Raid playlist, it’s the perfect time to dive into the action.



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Cyber Showdown III Operation Launch