We know many of you have been anxiously awaiting updates on map and gametype settings for the Summer 2017 Season of the HCS, and today we’re happy to get into some details. Immediately following the Halo World Championship 2017 Finals, our team has been on a mission to collect and document as much player feedback from top players around the world. I want to take a moment to thank all of the players for their detailed input they have provided so far. Since the culmination of the Halo World Championship, the esports team has been meeting with various teams here at 343 (Multiplayer, Sandbox, Data Analysis, and more) to determine next steps for implementing updates.
Beginning next week, we’ll be rolling out a new set of test settings with updated maps and gametypes based on the feedback we’ve received during and after the Halo World Championship.
Here’s a quick overview from the Multiplayer Team:
ASSAULT RIFLE
Players have been providing feedback that the current gameplay around the Assault Rifle has become unfit for competition. After extensive review, we have determined that the data supports this feedback. The Assault Rifle’s effectiveness is similar across a wide range of skill levels, which is not intended. As a result, the weapon will not be featured in competitive play during the Summer 2017 season. We’re actively evaluating best ways to update the weapon and reintroduce into competitive play once the weapon has been retuned and tested.
ENERGY SWORD
With the Energy Sword, we’ve heard your feedback and have seen that the movement speed increase has negatively impacted CTF on Truth, making flag captures a bit too easy and exploitative. This is not ideal for players or viewers, so it will not be featured during the Summer 2017 season. We’re evaluating changes to this weapon and looking to reintroduce it into competitive play in the future.
SPLINTER GRENADE
We’ve both heard and observed that the Splinter Grenade is exceling outside of its intended role, which is area denial. Currently, it is used to kill instantly without warning, so we are evaluating ways to improve and bring back into competitive play. In the interim, Splinter Grenades will not be featured during the Summer 2017 season.
BRUTE PLASMA RIFLE
The Brute Plasma Rifle is stripping shields quickly, but feedback and data show that it is too effective at this, hurting the balance of this weapon. We like what the weapon adds to gameplay and are investigating balance updates, but the Brute Plasma Rifle will not be a part of the Summer 2017 season.
WEAPON RESPAWN TIMERS
We’ve heard feedback that certain weapons on the map (such as Battle Rifle, Storm Rifle, Carbine, Scattershot, Shotgun, and others) respawn too frequently, so we’re looking into increasing the respawn time of these weapons. As a note, these changes will not impact weapons on Weapon Pads.
MOTION TRACKER (RADAR)
The changes above will heavily influence gameplay on all maps, and early next week, we’ll be collecting feedback as well as working with top players on motion tracker options that play best with the updated settings.
Next week we’ll be updating the Official HCS File Share, the Proving Grounds playlist (so all players can play on these new settings and give us feedback alongside the pros), and collecting feedback from competitive players as well as regularly discussing updated settings with HCS Pro League players.
Let us know what you think!
Beginning next week, we’ll be rolling out a new set of test settings with updated maps and gametypes based on the feedback we’ve received during and after the Halo World Championship.
Here’s a quick overview from the Multiplayer Team:
ASSAULT RIFLE
Players have been providing feedback that the current gameplay around the Assault Rifle has become unfit for competition. After extensive review, we have determined that the data supports this feedback. The Assault Rifle’s effectiveness is similar across a wide range of skill levels, which is not intended. As a result, the weapon will not be featured in competitive play during the Summer 2017 season. We’re actively evaluating best ways to update the weapon and reintroduce into competitive play once the weapon has been retuned and tested.
ENERGY SWORD
With the Energy Sword, we’ve heard your feedback and have seen that the movement speed increase has negatively impacted CTF on Truth, making flag captures a bit too easy and exploitative. This is not ideal for players or viewers, so it will not be featured during the Summer 2017 season. We’re evaluating changes to this weapon and looking to reintroduce it into competitive play in the future.
SPLINTER GRENADE
We’ve both heard and observed that the Splinter Grenade is exceling outside of its intended role, which is area denial. Currently, it is used to kill instantly without warning, so we are evaluating ways to improve and bring back into competitive play. In the interim, Splinter Grenades will not be featured during the Summer 2017 season.
BRUTE PLASMA RIFLE
The Brute Plasma Rifle is stripping shields quickly, but feedback and data show that it is too effective at this, hurting the balance of this weapon. We like what the weapon adds to gameplay and are investigating balance updates, but the Brute Plasma Rifle will not be a part of the Summer 2017 season.
WEAPON RESPAWN TIMERS
We’ve heard feedback that certain weapons on the map (such as Battle Rifle, Storm Rifle, Carbine, Scattershot, Shotgun, and others) respawn too frequently, so we’re looking into increasing the respawn time of these weapons. As a note, these changes will not impact weapons on Weapon Pads.
MOTION TRACKER (RADAR)
The changes above will heavily influence gameplay on all maps, and early next week, we’ll be collecting feedback as well as working with top players on motion tracker options that play best with the updated settings.
Next week we’ll be updating the Official HCS File Share, the Proving Grounds playlist (so all players can play on these new settings and give us feedback alongside the pros), and collecting feedback from competitive players as well as regularly discussing updated settings with HCS Pro League players.
Let us know what you think!
