Games

Season 3 will bring many updates to Halo Infinite and that includes new content for matchmaking, new playlists, as well as improvements to the ranking system. In today’s blog we’re going to share more of what you can expect, and get the details on what’s changing for Season 3. Let’s dive right in! 



<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/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_16.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-58074" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_16.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_16-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_16-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_16-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_16-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_16-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">PLAYLISTS FOR THE MONTH </h3>



Season 3 brings with it 3 entirely new maps in Chasm and Cliffhanger for 4v4 arena, as well as Oasis for Big Team Battle. Our version of “gun game”, Escalation Slayer also makes it’s way into Season 3.  



As with Empyrean, we’re offering a special playlist for the first week that only features Chasm and Cliffhanger called New Arena Unlimited. After a week, New BTB Unlimited will rotate into that slot and exclusively feature Oasis for the next week.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">New Arena Unlimited</h4>



<ul><li>4v4 </li><li>Maps: Chasm and Cliffhanger </li><li>Modes: Escalation Slayer (new mode!), CTF, King of the Hill, Slayer, Strongholds, One Flag CTF </li></ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">New BTB Unlimited</h4>



<ul><li>12v12</li><li>Map: Oasis </li><li>Modes: BTB Escalation Slayer (new mode!), CTF, Slayer, Fiesta, Fiesta Total Control, Total Control</li></ul>



<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>



We’ve also updated most of the playlists to feature Season 3’s new content with an increased weighting for the start of the season.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Playlists featuring new content</h4>



<ul><li>Quick Play </li><li>Bot Bootcamp </li><li>Fiesta </li><li>Team Slayer </li><li>Tactical Slayer </li><li>Big Team Battle</li></ul>



And here’s a look at the full calendar for the month so you can see when each playlist will make its way into the game. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="587" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/S3-Playlist-Calendar-Updated-640226ce8843a-1024x587.jpg" alt="A calendar displaying all the playlists available in March." class="wp-image-58161" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/S3-Playlist-Calendar-Updated-640226ce8843a-1024x587.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/S3-Playlist-Calendar-Updated-640226ce8843a-300x172.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/S3-Playlist-Calendar-Updated-640226ce8843a-768x440.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/S3-Playlist-Calendar-Updated-640226ce8843a-1536x880.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/S3-Playlist-Calendar-Updated-640226ce8843a-2048x1174.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/S3-Playlist-Calendar-Updated-640226ce8843a-1568x899.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



We can’t wait to jump into matchmaking with you on March 7 when Season 3 releases! 



To talk about ranked, I’m going to pass it over to Tashi with the latest. 



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



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">CSR-Based Matchmaking</h3>



As announced and released on February 28, we’ve made an update to the ranking system to match based on CSR as opposed to MMR. From a philosophical standpoint, this means teams will match based on what they’ve accomplished in the system as opposed to an underlying skill rating. While today we’re nearing the end of the season and almost all active players have settled into a rank, the experience will be different from prior seasons on March 7 when the rank reset hits. There will still be placement matches but you might find that early on there are higher skilled players in matches where there weren’t ones for prior season starts. Because matching is done on CSR, the players at the higher skill rank (Onyx, for example) will have to qualify (Diamond 4 is highest placement) and then work their way out of Diamond and into Onyx. This will mean that you might see some more lopsided matches at the start of the season, particularly for true Diamond players, while players settle into their ranks. And, for those wondering, we will use MMR to match players who are still completing their placement matches.



<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/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_15-640151bf3ea50.jpg" alt="Spartan wearing Mirage IIC armor reloads their M392 Bandit." class="wp-image-58130" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_15-640151bf3ea50.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_15-640151bf3ea50-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_15-640151bf3ea50-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_15-640151bf3ea50-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_15-640151bf3ea50-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_15-640151bf3ea50-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



The Fireteam CSR Limit range has not changed as part of this update and is as follows:



<ul><li>For 899 CSR (Gold 6) or lower, there are no restrictions.  </li><li>At 900 CSR (Platinum 1) a limit of 900 points is introduced. </li><li>Between 900 CSR (Platinum 1) and 1500 CSR (Onyx) the Fireteam CSR limit will slowly tighten as you climb the ranks. It will start at the 900 limit mentioned above and tighten to its final destination of 500. This essentially means that on the way to Onyx, every 2 CSR gained will tighten the Fireteam limit by an increment of 1 CSR. <ul><li>For example, if a player progresses from 900 CSR (Platinum 1) to 1200 CSR (Diamond 1), their Fireteam CSR limit would tighten from 900 to a stricter 750. At this new 1200 CSR, the lowest rank they could party up with would then be 1200 (their CSR) – 750 (the Fireteam CSR limit) = 450, or Silver 4. </li></ul></li><li>At 1500 CSR and above, the limit is 600 points. <ul><li>For example, if a player was Onyx 1700, the lowest CSR they could party up with would be 1100 or Platinum 5. </li></ul></li></ul>



We’re going to closely monitor the performance of these changes across all CSR divisions to ensure things are behaving as expected via data as well what player feedback we see online.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/INFINITE_NOBLE_INTENTIONS_PK_THOM_05-63e1c86637d61.jpg" alt="Thom for Halo Infinite Noble Intention" class="wp-image-56373" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/INFINITE_NOBLE_INTENTIONS_PK_THOM_05-63e1c86637d61.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/INFINITE_NOBLE_INTENTIONS_PK_THOM_05-63e1c86637d61-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/INFINITE_NOBLE_INTENTIONS_PK_THOM_05-63e1c86637d61-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/INFINITE_NOBLE_INTENTIONS_PK_THOM_05-63e1c86637d61-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/INFINITE_NOBLE_INTENTIONS_PK_THOM_05-63e1c86637d61-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/INFINITE_NOBLE_INTENTIONS_PK_THOM_05-63e1c86637d61-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Placement Matches</h3>



Placement matches are in place to ensure we’re accurately putting players in the appropriate division to ensure they have a smooth and fair experience once they’ve been placed. While this is working, we’re also finding that the number of placement matches is also creating a barrier between friends who want to play together but haven’t finished their matches yet. In order to alleviate this, we’re reducing the placement matches required from 10 to 5.  



Our hope is that we see more players complete their placement matches and continue on their ranked journey to improving and testing themselves against other players.  



Like with CSR matchmaking, we’re going to keep a close eye on the performance of this update and will make further tweaks in the future if needed.



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



We’re excited for these playlist and Ranked updates to come together with the launch of Season 3: Echoes Within, and we’re looking forward to jumping in to play them with you on March 7.



 To get a closer look at the three new maps, be sure to check out our latest <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Maps & Modes Preview blog here on Halo Waypoint (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/echoes-within-maps-modes-preview" target="_blank">Maps & Modes Preview blog here on Halo Waypoint</a>!



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Unyshek

Playlists & Ranked Matchmaking | Season 3

Season 3 of Halo Infinite arrives on March 7.



A new season means new maps! Season 3: Echoes Within brings with it a trio of exciting and unique spaces for your regularly scheduled online Spartan-slaying. These maps are Oasis, Cliffhanger, and Chasm.



We’re joined today by a terrific trio of our veritable multiplayer designers—Cliff Schuldt (Multiplayer Level Designer), Donnie Taylor (Art Director), and Kim Haines (Lead MP Env. Technical Artist)—for a Q&A deep-dive into these new maps, the process of creating them, the fun we’ve had on them, and more…



Of course, before we get into talking about these maps, how about we show them off in their full majesty with a new flythrough video?



<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="Map Preview | Season 3: Echoes Within | Halo Infinite" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ho8m9Q9Wz5U?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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I’m super excited to be able to talk with you about the three new maps coming in Season 3! To start off, let’s give each of them a general introduction—how would you summarize these maps so Halo fans have a sense of what they’re in for with these spaces?



CS: Oasis is a mosh pit of pure vehicular fun for BTB, and it’s got a stunning skybox with a Forerunner ship terraforming the desert environment around it.



Cliffhanger is set at an ONI black site atop a mountain, also featuring man cannons for maximum vertigo!



Chasm is what you’d get if you took Boarding Action from Halo: CE and put in some Grappleshots, which is every bit as fun as it sounds.



To dive into Oasis, the first thing I think we have to do is marvel at that stunning vista—that’s as much a staple of Halo as the complexities of its design, to my mind. Can you tell us a bit about what goes into creating a skybox on a Halo map?



DT: When production starts for our skybox, or really any art asset, we begin with concepting several mood sketches that depict time of day and any major feature that we want to put on display for the vista. In the case of Oasis, that was the large Forerunner structure.



We use those concepts to help guide us to a final direction and that becomes the visual target for the game art moving forward. This direction is not fully set in stone as translating ideas from 2D to 3D always has its curveballs, but the overall goal is to stay true in game to the hook that first drew us to select the original 2D piece.



I definitely get some Halo 4 BTB map vibes from Oasis. Were there any specific inspirations that were part of the development of this map?



CS: There are elements of inspiration taken from the map Exile from Halo 4, which was a BTB favorite back in the day, with the emphasis on more open space for lots of fun vehicular action.



CTF modes were particularly exciting on this map during testing, as vehicles allow for some truly epic flag capture runs. Practically every space here is accessible with a Warthog, even the interior spaces. So you can go out into the open, where you might be more at risk of falling prey to air or heavy vehicles, or you can drive through some of the interior spaces where those other vehicles are going to have a much harder time catching you and risk getting boxed in.



That risk/reward aspect of Halo’s vehicular gameplay is always incredibly engaging, and we think Oasis is a great showcase of that.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis-4K.jpg"><img decoding="async" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HIS3-Oasis.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of Season 3 map Oasis"/></a></figure>



Let’s shift over to Cliffhanger—so aptly named because this ONI facility is set on the edge of a cliff. What are some of the unique elements of this map?



DT: Biome diversity is always a big one for us when it comes to multiplayer maps. We want these spaces to feel different from past maps we’ve offered—and even where we might be using a similar “theme,” like a human base, we have unique visual elements to tap into.



An ONI black site is going to look quite different to the more traditional UNSC aesthetic of Live Fire, or the water treatment facility of Recharge. And there’s a subtle Forerunner element in this map you might pick up on as well.



What are some of the design considerations that go into creating an asymmetrical Arena map like this?



CS: Cliffhanger was originally designed with zone control modes (like Strongholds and King of the Hill) in mind, and what that means is that each “zone” has to look and feel unique.



There’s a bit of a “rock, paper, scissors” dynamic that zone control modes have in terms of how you tactically consider what your team is going to go for—if we go for Zone A and C, we might lose out on B, but that location might end up being a solid base for the enemy team to make a comeback if we’ve divided our forces across the map, and so on.



That goes on to inform sightlines, weapons spawns, equipment placement… everything ties back into how you can work together with your team to control areas of the map.



Something I always enjoy about asymmetric maps are the “scenarios” that are naturally created by the map layout—like on Halo 3’s High Ground where the turret above the door to the enemy base creates the sense of a “siege.” What are some of those focal points on Cliffhanger?



CS: What we really felt as we were testing this map was how different it feels depending on which mode you’re playing. One Flag, for example, creates a more “linear asymmetric” experience in a similar vein to the example you gave of High Ground—attackers and defenders are not just put on different ends of the map, it feels like they’re in different “scenarios.”



Of course, when you then play a mode like Strongholds, you get a totally different experience of the map. We hope that creates a cool dynamic that players enjoy.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Cliffhanger-4K.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Cliffhanger.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-58014" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Cliffhanger.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Cliffhanger-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Cliffhanger-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Cliffhanger-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Cliffhanger-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Cliffhanger-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



We’ve got a third map coming as well when Season 3 drops. Chasm looks and feels quite different to the other maps in Halo Infinite, so how did this map come to be?



CS: This map came to be when my friend Andrew and I were running through the Halo Infinite Campaign Network Co-Op flight. As we were playing through the second mission, Foundation, we were goofing off in a particular area and I thought this could be a fun space to play in for multiplayer.



So, I investigated this, pulling the space into a multiplayer level (note: this was definitely a more involved process than ctrl-C and ctrl-V!) and redoing the layout to be a rotational symmetrical map to support CTF.



After the first couple of playtests, the map was received really well, and we decided to give it the full treatment to pull it in as an official map.



Even though it looks incredibly similar to a space in the campaign, it has been laid out—and thus plays—very differently. One of the things I think is awesome about this map is the risk of falling into the “chasm” (har har!), but with the Grappleshot you can actually turn that to your advantage and make some incredibly cool skill jumps and maneuvers that turns falling from a danger of death to a risk/reward “route” through the map.



While the other two maps have Forerunner elements in them, Chasm is entirely Forerunner-themed. What are some of the unique visual and gameplay factors of this particular palette that offer something fresh?



CS: I think the visuals of this space are awesome. Being in the cavernous depths of Zeta Halo has this eerie and mysterious feeling in the campaign, and that really translates to the map as well—the Art Team knocked it out of the park!



Something we did to help visually differentiate parts of the map is that one side has that traditional cool blue tone you often see in Forerunner spaces, while the other side has a greater emphasis on the gold element you see in places like the Silent Auditorium in the campaign.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Chasm-4K.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Chasm.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57986" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Chasm.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Chasm-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Chasm-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Chasm-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Chasm-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Chasm-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



How do you think the new sandbox additions—namely, the M392 Bandit and Shroud Screen—will change up the way these maps are played?



CS: Oh, I think they’re both strong additions! A lot of the feedback we got from players on Chasm noted that it felt like the Bandit worked really well for the kind of ranges you have on that map.



Shroud has been great on Oasis as well. It’s fun to “smoke” a long sightline before pulling a flag—we’ve seen some amazing “Houdini” plays around it!



We’ve previously stated that we’re bringing editable dev maps to Forge in Season 3. Does that include these three maps as well?



KH: Yes! Each of these maps are editable on release, along with all the previously shipped Arena and BTB maps. Future maps will be editable on release as well.



What modes can players expect to be playing on these maps? Do you have any you’re especially excited about players getting to experience?



CS: Well, I am a sucker for CTF, so I have really enjoyed CTF matches on these maps quite a bit. On Oasis, there have been some truly incredible flag runs with Warthogs and Banshees chasing you down through the caves.



On Cliffhanger, Strongholds, KOTH, and One-Flag have been super fun. There are a lot of great opportunities to push people into death pits with the Repulsor, and using a man cannon to fly across the map into the hill location has been a fun (and risky) way to assault the other team.



I will say that people should load up KOTH on Chasm to see one of the spiciest hill locations Halo has ever seen.



And then, of course, there’s the new Escalation Slayer mode coming in Season 3 as well. We can’t wait for everyone to jump into that!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-OasisVista-4K.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-OasisVista.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of Season 3 map Oasis" class="wp-image-57916" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-OasisVista.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-OasisVista-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-OasisVista-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-OasisVista-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-OasisVista-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-OasisVista-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Do you have any fun stories from playtests on these maps?



CS: Oh, absolutely!



On Oasis, I was driving a Warthog with Brian Berryhill on the turret during a CTF match and we managed to do all three flag captures. We had a Wasp on our tail throughout, which we managed to shake off in a tunnel, only to emerge and find an enemy Scorpion on the other side—but we managed to escape that as well and steal the flag. By the time we got back to base, we had wheels missing, our Warthog was on fire, but we won and the tension around whether we would make it was absolutely exhilarating!



On Cliffhanger, there’s a man cannon that sends you over a death pit, and using the Repulsor to knock enemies who are chasing you off the map is tremendous fun. There’s an elevator shaft elsewhere on the map, as well as some sneaky mountainside paths, and the Repulsor and Grappleshot really bring a new dynamic to the danger of those kinds of locations.



Finally, Chasm. People loved faking their deaths on this map—pretending to jump off the edge into the abyss, only to use the Grappleshot to swing back up with incredible momentum that can have them sailing through the air to another part of the map.



There was one situation where a player got to the Active Camo spawn a little early, putting him in danger of getting picked off from an exposed position, and so he jumped off the hex pillar to use it as cover and zipped back around to grab the Camo as it spawned in. It was this dawning realization that we’ve never been able to play Halo quite like this before, and we really are excited to see some of the insane plays people are going to have.



Thank you very much for taking the time to chat about the maps coming in Season 3! Do you have any parting words before we wrap this up?



We’ve put some fun little Easter eggs on these maps (some sandwich-related, others we’re going to let you find yourselves), so do let us know if you find anything interesting…



And, as mentioned above, we really can’t wait to see what kinds of plays you make on these maps—whether that’s a heroic flag capture on Oasis, mountainside tumbles courtesy of the Repulsor on Cliffhanger, or Grappleshot fake-outs on Chasm. Absolutely tag us with your clips and montages, we’d love to see them!



Huge shoutout to our partners who helped bring these maps together, and to our players as well who we hope are really going to enjoy what we’ve been cooking up for Season 3.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ESCALATION SLAYER</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Escalation-Slayer-4K.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Escalation-Slayer.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57958" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Escalation-Slayer.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Escalation-Slayer-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Escalation-Slayer-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Escalation-Slayer-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Escalation-Slayer-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Escalation-Slayer-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Also coming in Season 3 is the Escalation Slayer game mode.



Escalation Slayer is a mode that some of you may have played in Halo: MCC, as it came to the collection in the Series 6: Raven update back in April 2021 and quickly became a fan favorite—and now it is coming to Halo Infinite.



In Escalation Slayer, players progress through a list of weapon and equipment loadouts as they score kills. With each elimination, you advance to a new weapon, culminating in a final challenge to win: getting a kill with the Oddball.



You can also de-level enemy players by meleeing them in the back, so watch your six out there!



The order of loadouts is as follows:



LEVEL 1: Rocket Launcher, Cindershot, Repulsor LEVEL 2: Energy Sword, Gravity Hammer, Grappleshot LEVEL 3: Sniper Rifle, Skewer, Threat Sensor LEVEL 4: Hydra, Ravager, Repulsor LEVEL 5: Bulldog, Needler, Grappleshot LEVEL 6: Battle Rifle, Commando, Threat Sensor LEVEL 7: Shock Rifle, Stalker Rifle, Drop Wall LEVEL 8: Heatwave, Sentinel Beam, Thruster LEVEL 9: Bandit, Assault Rifle, Drop Wall LEVEL 10: Mangler, Sidekick, Threat Sensor LEVEL 11: Oddball, Shroud Screen



This mode is launching in Season 3 with two variants: Team Escalation and FFA Escalation.



Team Escalation progresses all players on a team through the loadout list together. Kills are summed across the team, so everybody’s efforts count. And FFA Escalation is, of course, every Spartan for themselves!



And yes, there will indeed be a BTB version of Escalation Slayer, along with a “Super” version of the mode which will bring in the special weapon variants and upgraded equipment that you can obtain in Halo Infinite’s Campaign.



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



That concludes our showcase of the maps and modes coming when Season 3 of Halo Infinite launches on March 7.



We can’t wait for you all to embark on a maptacular odyssey that awaits, from the vehicular mosh pit of Oasis, to the dangerous heights of Cliffhanger, and the cavernous depths of Chasm (I don’t know about you, but I was certainly sold the second I heard “Boarding Action with Grappleshots!”)



We’ll be back soon with more information on the Ranked experience and Playlist updates, and follow up with a Sandbox blog as well—so stay tuned for more Season 3 news!

Alex Wakeford

Maps & Modes Preview | Season 3

Community

Forge Features

Hot off the presses—it’s time for a new Forge Features blog. Featuring original creations and remakes alike, this is bound to have a few maps that will catch your eye.



As a reminder, each of the creations shared below can also be found in the “Recommended” section of <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc" target="_blank">the Content Browser here on Halo Waypoint</a> (so you can bookmark them online) and in Halo Infinite.



Now, let’s take a look at some fantastic new Forge maps so you can give them a bookmark and play them the next time you jump online.



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



COLD STORAGE Credits: Redbeard4720 Bookmark: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/7aac6cb7-3f74-4156-b88a-eadcd8c6a37f" target="_blank">Cold Storage</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/7aac6cb7-3f74-4156-b88a-eadcd8c6a37f"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ColdStorage.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Cold Storage map made in Forge" class="wp-image-57518" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ColdStorage.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ColdStorage-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ColdStorage-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ColdStorage-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ColdStorage-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ColdStorage-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Sometimes it’s nice to remake old maps and just chill out.



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



SUBAN Credits: Level Design Bookmark: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/3fdfde19-1938-4c1c-b39d-02ccd7c35289" target="_blank">Suban</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/3fdfde19-1938-4c1c-b39d-02ccd7c35289"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Suban.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Suban map made in Forge" class="wp-image-57616" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Suban.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Suban-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Suban-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Suban-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Suban-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Suban-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Explosive crystals mined from a moon. What could go wrong?



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APOSTLE Credits: CertifiedChamp, b0b is here Bookmark: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/f06d58e8-d1e5-456b-bc44-1a4ca2857b89" target="_blank">Apostle</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/f06d58e8-d1e5-456b-bc44-1a4ca2857b89"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Apostle.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Apostle map made in Forge" class="wp-image-57504" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Apostle.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Apostle-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Apostle-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Apostle-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Apostle-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Apostle-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Reminiscent of the Gravemind level from Halo 2, this map is sure to take you back to 2004.



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DEAD WATER Credits: Black Picture Bookmark: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/0e105df8-52fd-43b9-93cb-4ea6a87ffc7e" target="_blank">Dead Water</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/0e105df8-52fd-43b9-93cb-4ea6a87ffc7e"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/DeadWater.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Dead Water map made in Forge" class="wp-image-57546" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/DeadWater.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/DeadWater-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/DeadWater-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/DeadWater-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/DeadWater-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/DeadWater-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



The name is quite literally the opposite of Live Fire. That means the map either plays exactly like it or nothing like it—bookmark it to find out!



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



REVOLT Credits: Box Knows Bookmark: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/1ecfeee4-27f3-47b0-923f-a46e508d26d4" target="_blank">Revolt</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/1ecfeee4-27f3-47b0-923f-a46e508d26d4"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Revolt.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Revolt map made in Forge" class="wp-image-57602" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Revolt.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Revolt-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Revolt-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Revolt-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Revolt-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Revolt-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



The board has big plans for you…



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CORROSION Credits: ArturBloodshot Bookmark: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/59530e05-b465-4dbe-997b-8f289820aa49" target="_blank">Corrosion</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/59530e05-b465-4dbe-997b-8f289820aa49"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Corrosion.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Corrosion map made in Forge" class="wp-image-57532" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Corrosion.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Corrosion-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Corrosion-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Corrosion-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Corrosion-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Corrosion-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



After the fall of Voi, the rest of the industrial complexes were left to rot.



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HANG ‘EM HIGH Credits: xxxFLACOxxx Bookmark: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/fa060be7-f447-4bf2-bdd2-0dd85389266b" target="_blank">Hang ‘Em High</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/fa060be7-f447-4bf2-bdd2-0dd85389266b"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HangEmHigh.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Hang 'em High map made in Forge" class="wp-image-57588" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HangEmHigh.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HangEmHigh-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HangEmHigh-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HangEmHigh-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HangEmHigh-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HangEmHigh-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



 These tombstones look oddly familiar…



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FLOWFALLS Credits: Soulfull Soul Bookmark: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/5f5cda9e-90e4-4fc4-9293-9c10ab014c45" target="_blank">Flowfalls</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/5f5cda9e-90e4-4fc4-9293-9c10ab014c45"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Flowfalls.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Flowfalls map made in Forge" class="wp-image-57560" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Flowfalls.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Flowfalls-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Flowfalls-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Flowfalls-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Flowfalls-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Flowfalls-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



The higher they flow, the harder they fall.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">COMMUNITY CREATIONS</h2>



Back with more scripting tutorials, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="VidGamesPete (opens in a new tab)" href="https://twitter.com/VidGamesPete" target="_blank">VidGamesPete</a> recently put together another useful walkthrough on how to push a message to a player’s HUD in-game. We covered this briefing in our Forge Fundamentals video on scripting last year, but this detailed explanation is bound to help you get a better understanding of how it all flows together.



<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="Forge Scripting Basics - UI Messages" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6iZliMCJeJA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



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



Thanks for joining us as we highlight another round of community creations here on Waypoint. Don’t forget to use the Custom Game Browser and Content Browser to find even for Forge goodness the next time you jump on Halo Infinite.



As always, stay tuned here on Halo Waypoint and follow <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="@Halo (opens in a new tab)" href="https://twitter.com/Halo" target="_blank">@Halo</a> for the latest on Halo news and Forge features!

Community Cartography 006

Forge Features: February 24, 2023

Esports

We’re excited to announce our renewed partnership with ZOWIE as the official monitor for the Halo Championship Series 2023 season. ZOWIE is known to deliver one of the best competitive experiences and this was proven throughout the 2022 season. We’re excited to bring players the same great experience they’re familiar with. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="975" height="548" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/image.png" alt="" class="wp-image-57432" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/image.png 975w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/image-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/image-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 975px) 100vw, 975px" /></figure>



The XL2540K 24.5-inch esports gaming monitor delivers a 240Hz refresh rate with 1080p resolution. It’s built with a fast TN panel to ensure consistent fast-motion clarity with every fight you take, and features <a href="https://benqurl.biz/3XWbR37">XL Settings to Share™</a> which allows players to share their settings with teammates.



For fans and players interested in playing with the same equipment that will be used at all official HCS events this year, click <a href="https://benqurl.biz/3IvswFc">here</a> to learn more! The XL2540K esports gaming monitors will be used in the Open Bracket, Pool Play, and Championship Bracket.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ZOWIE-Monitor-Announce-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57460" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ZOWIE-Monitor-Announce-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ZOWIE-Monitor-Announce-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ZOWIE-Monitor-Announce-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ZOWIE-Monitor-Announce-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ZOWIE-Monitor-Announce-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ZOWIE-Monitor-Announce-1568x1046.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



The Kickoff Major in Charlotte begins in just a few days, and we can’t wait to bring you all the amazing action. To learn more about the event, be sure to check out our <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/charlotte2023">event</a> page. 



Thank you ZOWIE for the continuous support and we can’t wait to have another successful season together!



Make sure to follow ZOWIE on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/ZOWIEbyBenQUSA">@ZOWIEbyBenQUSA</a>) and Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/zowiebybenqusa/">@zowiebybenqusa</a>) to keep up with the latest news! And for the latest on the Halo Championship Series be sure to follow HCS on <a href="https://twitter.com/hcs">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hcs/">Instagram</a>.

Official HCS

HCS and ZOWIE Partnership

Community Update

February Flavors

Canon Fodder

Issue 138

Canon Fodder: Phoenix Blog

Fiction

Halo Infinite‘s Winter Update concludes very soon, with Season 3: Echoes Within right around the corner.



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-infinite-lone-wolves-intel">As with Season 2</a>, you can find all of the additional Intel drops from the last few months (which have appeared both on Halo Waypoint and in-game) archived here.



Looking ahead, Season 3’s Intel will be published in a central Halo Waypoint blog (instead of the Halo Infinite page) which we will update with each new monthly entry, and you can continue to expect to see it published in-game in the MOTD carousel of Halo Infinite as well.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">EGRESS</h2>



HISTORIAN’S NOTE: The following is a communication between Jun-A266 (COSSPAR) and [REDACTED] (EXTUSR) concerning the seemingly contradictory nature of several reports regarding the Spartan’s escape from the fall of Reach.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel1-Egress.jpg" alt="Intel image of Jun-A266" class="wp-image-57003" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel1-Egress.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel1-Egress-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel1-Egress-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel1-Egress-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel1-Egress-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel1-Egress-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



OFFICE BLOCK: 9H7B.10 COMMREF: 572OP4MD3-H-11 SND: EXTUSR | REC: COSSPAR



RE: Nine lives?



Jun,



I took your advice about those reports. Problem is, there are several—and they don’t exactly line up. Take ITEM/466F41.LV for example, which has you crossing paths with elements of WHITE GLOVE. It notes here the loss of several personnel to a Hunter pair and squad of SpecOps Sangheili, but somehow Charlie Hotel was still able to complete her objectives at CASTLE. Of course, Covenant artillery and orbital impacts in that area make some of these details seem… debatable at best.



But a second report has you rendezvous with Beta-Red for an exfil run that only shows up on a few random manifests. And the other account I pulled honestly seems too absurd to even entertain, but I can send it along anyway if you’re interested in the comedic value.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TORCH & BURN</h2>



 HISTORIAN’S NOTE: The following is an after-action report concerning Operation: WHITE GLOVE, flagging the activities of Noble Team, Jun-A266, and Dr. Catherine Halsey.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel2-TorchAndBurn.jpg" alt="Intel image for Torch and Burn showcasing a figure in an ONI facility" class="wp-image-57017" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel2-TorchAndBurn.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel2-TorchAndBurn-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel2-TorchAndBurn-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel2-TorchAndBurn-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel2-TorchAndBurn-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel2-TorchAndBurn-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



UNSC COMMREF: 20PU78MB2-Y-31 RE: AFTER-ACTION REPORT, WHGL.037



[FLAG 0002] – Operation: WHITE GLOVE enacted. 76113-30529-UH reassigns NOBLE Team to SWORD Base. Mission confirmed with A259 at [REDACTED] Hours.



[FLAG 0009] – SWORD Base demolition confirmed. A266 assigned to escort CC-409871 to CASTLE Base.



[FLAG 0014] – CC-409871 and A266 arrive at CASTLE Base.



[FLAG 0016] – A266 evacuates CASTLE Base personnel. CC-409871 remains behind.



[FLAG 0019] – CC-409871 enacts Operation: WHITE GLOVE at CASTLE Base.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">HEADHUNTER</h2>



 HISTORIAN’S NOTE: The following is a formal communique concerning the formation of Spartan-III “Headhunter” units prior to Operation: PROMETHEUS, which would see Alpha Company wiped out.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel3-Headhunter.jpg" alt="Headhunters Intel image showing Hazel-A302 with Jun-A266" class="wp-image-57031" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel3-Headhunter.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel3-Headhunter-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel3-Headhunter-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel3-Headhunter-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel3-Headhunter-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel3-Headhunter-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



UNSC COMMREF: J822D01ML-B-31 DATE: [REDACTED], 2537 SND: [045888947] REC: [103771692]



RE: REALLOCATING RESOURCES



With PROMETHEUS drawing close, we’ve had to move fast to reallocate A266, A282, and A302. I think we might be pushing our luck with A019, but we all know the odds Alpha Company is up against. We need to press Ackerson for as much as we can get while keeping ahead of the probability threshold for operational success.



Still trying to sell him on our little covert initiative. Settled on two Spartan units dedicated to high-priority recon, sabotage, and assassination. Hell, I don’t care if he reassigns them as his private grim reapers. We just need to pull these candidates out of the meat grinder before it’s too late.



Kurt Ambrose



LT, UNSCN / SPECWARCOM



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">DEEP WINTER</h2>



 HISTORIAN’S NOTE: The following is a “deathbed confession” by the artificial intelligence known as Deep Winter, who transferred Kurt-051 a series of files in 2551 concerning alterations to the augmentation procedures for SPARTAN-III Gamma Company.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel4-DeepWinter.jpg" alt="New Intel Available image" class="wp-image-57045" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel4-DeepWinter.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel4-DeepWinter-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel4-DeepWinter-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel4-DeepWinter-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel4-DeepWinter-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Intel4-DeepWinter-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



You are wondering how I lasted this long—practically double the original estimation of my operational life. Impressive, no? Alas, this is not about my longevity, which I fear has come to an end.



I know that you and Ackerson will have these files purged. I don’t know if you will even look at them, for I suspect we have both kept secrets from each other that we fear to know, and therein lies my own confession…



I have loved every one of these Spartans as you have. I sought to protect them, and I operated beyond my orders to protect those that I could. I am not the first of my kind to make such obfuscations, and I certainly don’t expect to be the last. There is another file attached here, one that you would no doubt be confused to find your name attached to. I needed to ensure the reassignment of several members of Alpha Company to give momentum and purpose to parallel initiatives, and invoking your attribution would cause enough of a stir to set those wheels in motion.



I make no apologies for this deception, and I tell you this so that there is no doubt in your mind that—like yourself, like Mendez—we were each as fathers to these children. I may only be mind, but I am not without heart. 



Farewell, Zero-Five-One.

343 INDUSTRIES

Winter Update

Halo Infinite | Winter Update Intel

Community Spotlight

Spotlight: February 14, 2023

The Team Partnership Program is a critical component of the HCS and our esports strategy overall. Today, we wanted to shed more light on the overall goals and philosophy, list out the partners joining us in 2023, share what you can expect from Partnered Teams in 2023, and then close with a brief look at our strategy for the partnership program in the near future. Let’s dive in! 



At a high level, we believe that teams are crticial to the Halo esports ecosystem. They provide salaries to players, bring in fans who watch, give fans an anchor point to root for and engage in the ecosystem around, and can also help cultivate deeper connections between fans and the league. At the same time, it’s important for HCS, as well as for our partnered teams, that we do things in a way that’s sustainable. At the end of the day, this is a business for teams, and we understand that revenue is what’s required from an ecosystem in order to sustainably afford their participation in the league. Because of that, during Halo Infinite’s development we learned as much as we could from teams in order to design a program and features with that in mind. Across all teams combined, Year 1 was a massive financial success for the program and we were excited to open up applications for Year 2. The program is a built in a way that gives teams some control over their own destiny. They design the skins and they control their ability to promote and market the skins. While the freedom is great, it also means that not all teams had the same level of success which is important to note. 



 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/i-DcPjD3f-X3-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-56581" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/i-DcPjD3f-X3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/i-DcPjD3f-X3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/i-DcPjD3f-X3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/i-DcPjD3f-X3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/i-DcPjD3f-X3-1568x1046.jpg 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/i-DcPjD3f-X3.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>







In terms of how we measure success for the program, revenue directly to the teams is the most important because it’s most important to the teams. Next, we look at fan engagement on social media, content creation, fan engagement at events, and more along those lines. Finally, it’s important that our partners are just that – partners. We expect them to be philosophically aligned with us in supporting the game and league, putting in the effort to build a fanbase, and often asking, “what we can do to support Halo?” rather than just “what can Halo do to support me?”. How that last part manifests is in the different ideas brought to the table, teams taking advantage of the various opportunities we provide, teams bringing opportunities to us, supporting the game and league beats directly, and generally the attitude and approach when working through issues together.  



In the long term, we see teams growing more and more integrated with the Halo ecosystem, and not just the core HCS league (though that will always be at the center of the partnership). We think the teams that are more than just player managers will be the ones who will fit best in Halo, as the franchise has a wide breadth of experiences to offer and ways to entertain Halo fans.  



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2023 TEAMS </h2>



We’re excited to officially confirm the 8 partnered teams that will be joining us for the 2023 Season. Please welcome, and welcome back: 



<ul><li>CLOUD9</li><li>COMPLEXITY </li><li>FAZE CLAN </li><li>NAVI </li><li>OPTIC GAMING </li><li>QUADRANT </li><li>SENTINELS </li><li>SPACESTATION GAMING </li></ul>



G2, FNATIC, and EUNITED, we want to say thank you for being part of a historic year in Halo esports.  



We’re very thankful for the teams that are participating this year and we’ve already begun working together closely to deliver even more for Halo fans than last year. Keep reading to see what I mean! 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2023 PROGRAM </h2>



For 2023 (as well as beyond) we thought deeply about what a team’s involvement in the Halo ecosystem could look like. First and foremost, we felt it was most important that teams focus on cultivating a fanbase in Halo. And then we thought about, what are the things that teams can do in order to cultivate a fanbase. Finally, we thought about how teams can generate revenue off of those things either from fans or from us. Obviously, the skin bundles sold in the game and Waypoint are the “hero” offerings and ones that fans seem to love the most. However, we thought it was critical for the long-term success that teams not solely rely on the skins for their sustainability.  



While we’re on the topic of skins, we’re excited to say that each team will receive 4 bundle drops in 2023 compared to 3 last year. And, while we can’t share the specifics quite yet, we’ve given teams access to more options in terms of design, and more new pieces of content to customize compared to last year. Finally, the team that wins the Halo World Championship will also have an event bundle, and we will share revenue with that team exclusively just as we did in 2022. 



Fans have asked for more transparency around what they should expect from Partnered Teams in the Halo ecosystem and today we’re going to provide even more insight than ever before. First, the business terms are the same across all teams and that’s how we approached it in Year 1 as well.  



Next, the teams have opportunities to earn additional bonus revenue directly from their skin sales by promoting the game and league more on social media, as well as creating content on YouTube.  



On top of that, teams are accountable for engaging and supporting the community in various ways including hosting various tournaments or show matches, and hosting various activations either online or in-person.  



<figure class="wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><ul class="blocks-gallery-grid"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/SSG-Booth-HaloWC-1024x683.jpg" alt="" data-id="55913" data-full-url="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/SSG-Booth-HaloWC.jpg" data-link="https://waypoint-cms-prod-01.azurewebsites.net/?attachment_id=55913" class="wp-image-55913" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/SSG-Booth-HaloWC-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/SSG-Booth-HaloWC-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/SSG-Booth-HaloWC-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/SSG-Booth-HaloWC-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/SSG-Booth-HaloWC-1568x1046.jpg 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/SSG-Booth-HaloWC.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></li></ul></figure>



Finally, teams will also have the opportunity to create merch collabs with us just as they did in Year 1, but this time two drops instead of one. 



Our ambition is that if you’re a fan of any of the partnered teams, then they’re going to give you a lot more reasons to love them. And if you’re not a fan of any of the partnered teams and you’re new to the scene, then the partnered teams have the freedom and incentives to make you a fan. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">LOOKING FORWARD </h2>



We know there’s a lot of interest from other teams in HCS that are not partnered, and we want to say thank you for your continued support, it does not go unnoticed. At the moment, the biggest impact that we can have is to focus on Halo Infinite, the platform that HCS resides on. It’s important that we continue to create and release more content for players, deliver on the features fans expect, and build a strong platform for the HCS to build upon. With the Winter Update and recent update having released, we feel we’re moving in the right direction but there’s still more work ahead of us. We’re excited to share more about what’s coming with Season 3 as well as future Seasons and updates that fans can expect. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="615" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FaZe-Halo-Sword-63e6d91cc3548-1024x615.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-56567" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FaZe-Halo-Sword-63e6d91cc3548-1024x615.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FaZe-Halo-Sword-63e6d91cc3548-300x180.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FaZe-Halo-Sword-63e6d91cc3548-768x461.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FaZe-Halo-Sword-63e6d91cc3548-1536x922.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FaZe-Halo-Sword-63e6d91cc3548-1568x941.jpg 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FaZe-Halo-Sword-63e6d91cc3548.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



On the HCS side, it’s important that we work to deliver a great experience for the teams that we have now today before we expand again. This is because we want to ensure that when we bring new partners in, we’re confident that the program will deliver based on their expectations. Our strategy at the moment is to be heads-down focused on the game and delivering the best experience to fans and players everywhere, and then we will pick our heads back up in the middle of the year to re-evaluate when the right time to bring in more partnered teams will be. The HCS and its partnership program are important parts of the Halo Infinite ecosystem and strategy, and we will continue our mission to deliver epic entertainment to Halo fans around the world. Thank you to everyone for all of the support – we absolutely cannot wait for the season to start and to see you all in Charlotte. To learn more about our HCS Kickoff Major in Charlotte, head <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/charlotte2023">here</a> for the full event breakdown.  



Thanks,  Tashi

Tashi

Team Partnership Program 2023

Season 3 is just around the corner, landing on March 7, but an additional update that should improve your experience in a few targeted areas will also be arriving this upcoming Wednesday, February 15. The updates in this patch are the direct result of player feedback online and community reported issues on the Halo Support site.  



We’ll be touching on some of the updates in this preview blog but please stay tuned for full patch notes on <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://support.halowaypoint.com/hc/en-us" target="_blank">the Halo Support site</a> when it releases next week. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HaloInfinite_2021_Season2_09_Watermarked_1920x1080_Waypoint.jpg" alt="A Spartan with an MA40 AR is being flanked by an opponent holding a Disruptor." class="wp-image-56538" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HaloInfinite_2021_Season2_09_Watermarked_1920x1080_Waypoint.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HaloInfinite_2021_Season2_09_Watermarked_1920x1080_Waypoint-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HaloInfinite_2021_Season2_09_Watermarked_1920x1080_Waypoint-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HaloInfinite_2021_Season2_09_Watermarked_1920x1080_Waypoint-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HaloInfinite_2021_Season2_09_Watermarked_1920x1080_Waypoint-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HaloInfinite_2021_Season2_09_Watermarked_1920x1080_Waypoint-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">UXUI </h3>



<ul><li>The Ranked CSR widget should now communicate increases and decreases in CSR more clearly </li></ul>



The Winter Update introduced some additional UXUI messaging to help communicate increases and decreases in CSR after each ranked match. However, we understand that the format did not always communicate these changes in a manner that was easy to understand. Next week’s update should address this feedback making it even easier to tell how much your CSR went up or down after each match. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sandbox </h3>



<ul><li>In the Ranked Arena playlist and HCS, each Weapon Rack will now be set to a “Red Rack” state after the weapon is picked up. This means once a weapon is picked up, the Weapon Rack won’t spawn another weapon until the original has despawned. </li></ul>



Sandbox Team Dev Note: We’ve seen the feedback around there being too much power on the map in Ranked Arena, with many players calling out the respawn rate and ammo count on weapons. To help address this, we’ll be updating all Weapon Racks in Ranked Arena to provide only one weapon at a time. We expect this to help reduce the overall power and ensure a more competitive environment. As for ammo reductions on the weapons themselves in Ranked, ranked players should expect those to come for the Heatwave, Stalker Rifle, CQS48 Bulldog, and Shock Rifle with the launch of Season 3.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FebUpdate_02_1920x1080_Watermarked.jpg" alt="A Spartan with a Frag Grenade is winding up to throw it at an opponent." class="wp-image-56510" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FebUpdate_02_1920x1080_Watermarked.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FebUpdate_02_1920x1080_Watermarked-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FebUpdate_02_1920x1080_Watermarked-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FebUpdate_02_1920x1080_Watermarked-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FebUpdate_02_1920x1080_Watermarked-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FebUpdate_02_1920x1080_Watermarked-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<ul><li>Frag Grenade damage radius will be slightly reduced  </li></ul>



The specific tuning changes are: 



<ul><li>Radius reduction from 2.7wu to 2.5wu (world units)</li></ul>



Sandbox Team Dev Note: After listening to community input and doing in-house tuning, we’re happy to be rolling out a change that slightly reduces the damage radius on Frag Grenades. The update should help reward skilled Frag Grenade placement while also addressing the concerns around grenade spam effectiveness in gameplay. 



<ul><li>Drop Weapon mechanic will now have the same speed as normal weapon switching </li></ul>



Sandbox Team Dev Note: The Drop Weapon meta was becoming very prominent in competitive play, to the point where nearly every top player was doing it. Many players shared their concerns about it becoming too prominent at the highest level of competition, so we’ve made sure the weapon ready up time after a dropped weapon matches the speed of swapping between weapons normally.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FebUpdate_01_1920x1080_Watermarked.jpg" alt="A Spartan holding an S7 Sniper stands at the ready." class="wp-image-56524" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FebUpdate_01_1920x1080_Watermarked.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FebUpdate_01_1920x1080_Watermarked-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FebUpdate_01_1920x1080_Watermarked-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FebUpdate_01_1920x1080_Watermarked-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FebUpdate_01_1920x1080_Watermarked-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/FebUpdate_01_1920x1080_Watermarked-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<ul><li>S7 Sniper will have its error angle reduced when no-scoping </li></ul>



The specific tuning changes are: 



<ul><li>Error angle max reduced by 30% </li><li>Error angle minimum reduced by 55% </li><li>Time to reset bloom reduced by 20%  </li></ul>



Sandbox Team Dev Note: Halo Infinite’s S7 Sniper no-scope error angle properties were in line with previous Halo titles, but we’ve seen the requests to make it even more accurate when firing from the hip. When this update lands next week, the sharpshooters out there should notice some improvements when going for kills in which no scope was involved.  



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bug Fixes </h3>



<ul><li>Various client and server stability improvements </li><li>Improvements to reduce the gun jamming on semi-automatic weapons </li><li>Improvements to reduce a visual glitch that made semi-automatic weapons appear as if they were double-firing from a third-person point of view. </li></ul>



A full version of the patch notes with additional details will go live on <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://support.halowaypoint.com/hc/en-us" target="_blank">the Halo Support site</a> next Wednesday when the update drops, so be sure to give <a href="https://twitter.com/HaloSupport" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="@HaloSupport (opens in a new tab)">@HaloSupport</a> a follow on Twitter. There will also be additional sandbox balance changes when Season 3 goes live on March 7, so please keep an eye out for news on those as we get closer to its release as well.



We’ll see you online!