Esports

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



Following the NA Kickoff Qualifier 12-1 tournament on December 1-2, 2021, a number of players raised allegations that Sentinels had forced the game to select a server resulting in abnormally high ping for players in the game lobby. One of these accusations was directed towards Royal 2 from Sentinels. These allegations were accompanied by reviews of Sentinels players’ Twitch streams which categorized the perceived changes and abnormalities in player pings directly in the game client. There were also significant lobby connection issues during the tournament which led to the 4+ hour delay of the tournament. On December 3, 2021, HCS Administration made the decision to immediately undertake a formal investigation to better understand the causes of lobby connection issues experienced during the 4+ hour delay to the NA Kickoff Qualifier Day 2 and to more closely examine these allegations of server manipulation. 



Competitive integrity and fairness are paramount to the HCS, our partnered teams, players, and community. We take these matters very seriously and with HCS Raleigh approaching, HCS Administration moved quickly to undertake a thorough and accurate review. This included research and analysis done by multiple teams within Microsoft, as well as providing ample time for Sentinels to present any evidence they wished to be reviewed.



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



In Halo Infinite a server is determined automatically by the game with no organic ability for players to control the outcome of this. The game measures the pings of all of the players in the lobby to all of the servers in the world, 7 of which are located in the United States, and then selects the server it determines best for everyone in the match to play on. To investigate, the development team<a> </a>extensively reviewed server logs from all matches, both matchmaking and custom games, that Royal 2 played in Halo Infinite since November 15, 2021. We found that from November 26, 2021, the day before NA Open Series 11-27 on November 27, 2021 through the last match of the NA Kickoff Qualifier 12-1 on December 3, 2021, all US servers but 1 server in the United States (westus2) were missing from the server ping list, thus forcing all of Royal 2’s matches onto that server and creating an abnormally high ping for players in the affected matches. 



Our internal development team reproduced a publicly known and documented tactic to proactively remove servers from the list of eligible servers. Upon doing this, the resulting data signature matched the same data signature found in the matches that Royal 2 played in where only the westus2 server was available. Additionally, the team was able to confirm that there were no server or game outages that may have impacted those servers or any players in the same manner. Finally, upon review of all other top players we did not see any similar data anomalies. 



Sentinels
have been given several opportunities to provide reliable support for an
alternative explanation. The ISP data provided by Sentinels to support an
alternative explanation is inconsistent with the timeline of data irregularities
that occurred between November 26 and December 3. Further, the increase in
latency that the ISP data details does not explain the irregularities in data
observed.



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



We
have determined that the only plausible explanation for Royal 2’s telemetry
data pattern referred to above is that there was a direct modification of files
giving Royal 2 an unfair competitive advantage during play. This violates the
Official Rules, specifically Section VII.C(2) Hacking and Section VII.C(4) Network
Abuse. 



HCS Official
Handbook VII. Code of Conduct – C. Cheating (emphasis added):



“C. Cheating  The Administration understands that it has an obligation to facilitate a level playing field for all competitors. Competing fairly and to the best of your ability is important towards fostering a healthy competitive environment, and the Administration is committed to ensuring the facilitation of fair competition throughout the duration of the Program and beyond. Any form of cheating, whether intentional or not, by any Participant is strictly prohibited. Participants are required and expected to maintain cognizance of these Official Rules and any form of cheating or violation of these rules, or the spirit of these rules, either intentionally or unintentionally, will result in penalties in accordance with the Code of Conduct. All Participants are prohibited from influencing or manipulating a Game or Match so that the outcome is determined by anything other than fair and reasonable play….



…2. Hacking



Using any cheats,
hacks or other third-party “helper” applications, or the modification
of game code or files beyond the intended use of standard game options
while competing in any element of the Program for the purpose of gaining an
unfair competitive advantage…



…4. Network
Abuse



Participants may
not intentionally delay or slow gameplay, including but not limited to
stalling, disconnecting network cables, interruption of network
connectivity, or any other known or unknown manner of tampering with gameplay.”



HCS Official
Handbook IX. Heightened Conduct Expectations:



“Due to the
elevated stature and reach associated with being partnered with the Program,
Partnered Teams owners, staff, affiliates, and rosters are subject to
heightened expectations of conduct and behavior. These heightened expectations
may include but are not limited to the following:



<ul><li>Supplemental
conduct standards within partnered team agreements;</li><li>A responsibility
for Partnered Teams to avoid, actual or perceived, violation of the Official
Rules; and,</li><li>The more
stringent application of penalties in comparison to similar violations
committed by Player(s) from non-partnered teams.”\</li></ul>



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



The Official Rules provide guidelines on penalties for Hacking as follows:



<ul><li>“Typical Minimum Penalty: $2,000 Fine and Suspension</li><li>Typical Maximum Penalty: $2,000 Fine, Indefinite Suspension”</li></ul>



The NA Open Series & Kickoff
Qualifier Event Rules provide the following on penalties (emphasis added): 



“13.2. The
Administration reserves the right to enforce any of the following penalties
against Participants found to be in violation of any rules or stipulations set
forth in these Official Rules, the Handbook, or the official code of conduct:



<ul><li>13.2.1. Forfeiture of Game</li><li>13.2.2. Forfeiture of Match</li><li>13.2.3. Removal of Participant from Tournament (Disqualification)</li><li>13.2.4. Forfeiture of prizing</li><li>13.2.5. Forfeiture of HCS Points</li><li>13.2.6. Partial or full removal of HCS Points</li><li>13.2.7. Partial or full removal of travel coverage</li><li>13.2.8. Enforcement of a fine</li><li>13.2.9. A ban from participation in the HCS program</li><li>13.2.10. Temporary or permanent suspension from: Xbox Live, Halo game platforms and services, and/or participation in a HCS, Halo, and/or Microsoft online or live tournament or event</li><li>13.2.11. Pursue prosecution with the law or authoritative bodies for any illegal activities.”</li></ul>



The following penalties have been applied accordingly:



<ol><li>Nullification of Sentinels’ placement for the NA Open Series 11-27 and NA Kickoff Qualifier 12-1 event. This includes:<ul><li>Removal of HCS 4v4 Points (3,660 total) for all members of the Sentinels team.</li><li>Forfeiture of the 1st place Pool Play position for the HCS Kickoff Major Raleigh 2021 awarded in the NA Kickoff Qualifier 12-1. </li></ul></li><li>Effective immediately, suspension of Royal 2 from HCS Competition until January 28, 2022. </li><li>As a result of Royal 2’s suspension, Sentinels will be unable to field the same, full roster for the HCS Kickoff Major Raleigh 2021 as was used in the NA Kickoff Qualifier event, and therefore will be ineligible for a Pool Play position at the Raleigh event</li><li>The rest of the roster is eligible to compete in the Open Bracket. Sentinels will have until Roster Lock on Monday, December 13, 2021 to complete their roster. </li></ol>



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

Official HCS

NA Competitive Ruling

Games

Halo Infinite

Welcome to Halo Infinite

HCS 2021-2022 Season Reveal

343 INDUSTRIES

Welcome to the Halo Infinite MP Beta

Community

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Celebrating 20 Years of Halo

Unyshek

Tech Preview 2 Outcomes

<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Esports_2021_HCS_542.305-1024x576.png" alt="Banner graphic for the Halo Championship Series and Halo Infinite"/></figure>



Hey everyone! I want to start by saying THANK YOU to everyone who grabbed their tickets for the now sold out HCS Kickoff Major Raleigh 2021. Wow. We knew that the community was going to be excited to be under one roof again and especially this time with a new Halo game, but we were all blown away by the response. I want you to know that record-breaking support like that from our community has an even longer term impact on the scene overall and at a high level that’s actually the topic of today’s blog. Before that though, some housekeeping.



Welcome back to another installment in our blog series, Designing the Halo Esports Ecosystem. The goal of this blog series is to detail how we are working to develop a healthy and sustainable ecosystem for Halo esports. If you’re interested in our philosophical approach to esports as a fan, player, team, tournament organizer, or sponsor, then this blog series is for you! If you’re hoping to learn specifics about format and roadmap, stay tuned, more info will be released as we get closer to the launch of Halo Infinite. We know there are lots of questions right now for Raleigh including PC and monitor specs, and much more. Those will all be answered in the coming weeks as we march on towards launch and the big event. 



If you’re new to the series, thanks for joining us! You can catch up with the first seven installments here:



<ul><li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/designing-the-halo-esports-ecosystem-january">January Installment – Overarching goals and approach</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/designing-the-halo-esports-ecosystem-february">February Installment – Tournament Operators</a></li><li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/designing-the-halo-esports-ecosystem-march">March Installment – Viewership</a></li><li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/designing-the-halo-esports-ecosystem-april">April Installment – Sponsors</a></li><li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/designing-the-halo-esports-ecosystem-june">June Installment – Teams</a></li><li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/designing-the-halo-esports-ecosystem-july">July Installment – Competition Platforms and Input</a></li><li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/designing-the-halo-esports-ecosystem-august">August Installment – Team Partnership Program</a></li></ul>



Alright Tashi, what are we talking about today? 



As alluded to above, today my friends we are talking about the role that players and fans have in the ecosystem and what you can do to help grow the scene. 



Let’s dig in!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"> THE POWER IS YOURS </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/image-6185bce7caea0-1024x477.png" alt="Epic black and white photo of a fan standing up and cheering at the Halo World Championship"/></figure>



For this entire series we’ve talked about how the Halo esports ecosystem is comprised of so many different groups and how they all fit together. Fans and Players are the most critical part of this ecosystem. Here’s what we said way back in January when we kicked off this series: 



<ul><li>Players (Pro, Amateur, and general competitive players): This one is obvious. The players are central to the entire ecosystem and without a healthy player base for the entire game, the ecosystem is not sustainable. This is mission critical.</li><li>Fans (Viewers, Event Spectators, fans who engage in-game): Fans and viewers are also critical – we want as many people watching Halo Infinite tournaments and content as possible, and it’s important for us to take strides to increase viewership.</li></ul>



The first and main message we want to get across is that each and every one of you can make a difference and have an impact. No, seriously. Every show that you decide to watch on Twitch, every tournament you decide to compete in, every retweet on Twitter and like on YouTube – they all matter. If every individual feels empowered to make a difference, then collectively as a community we will make a huge impact. 



I sometimes get asked, “Tashi, I love Halo esports and want to help it grow. What can I do?” Today we’re going to list out exactly what you can do!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"> PLAYER AND PRO PLAYER CHECKLIST </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/image-6185ba8046bca-1024x439.png" alt="Photo of Pro Player Lucid at DreamHack Anaheim 2020"/></figure>



Let’s start with the Pro Players – folks like Frosty, Tripppey, Respectful, Tapping Buttons, BZllRK, and of course so many more across the world. Outside of grinding to win every tournament you enter, here are the ways we think you can be contributing to the health of the ecosystem and thus the health of your careers. (Please bear with me, this might get preachy)



<ul><li>Stream when you play: For those that already stream all the time, kudos to you and we’re excited to see you grow when Halo Infinite releases! For those that don’t stream, we know it’s been hard while waiting for a new game but it’s go-time when Infinite drops. Streaming is one of the most powerful and impactful things you could be doing as a professional Halo player<a>. </a>Here’s why:<ul><li>You get to have a community of your own that supports you, including financially through subscriptions and donations. </li><li>You have a wealth of VOD content that lets you spread your reach and grow your community even more when you get to post awesome stream clips on social media. </li><li>You are far more attractive to teams and sponsors, which again means more financial support for you. Even if you have a small audience, if you’re putting in the work then that makes a big difference.</li><li>Fans have a place to watch you before and after a tournament. If you pop off on the mainstage, people are going to want to watch you the next time you turn on your stream. If you don’t stream, they’re either not going to watch anyone or they’re just going to watch someone else. </li><li>You can help bring in more viewers into the stream and as noted above and in prior blogs – viewers are critical. You don’t get to compete and be a pro player without viewers.</li><li>There are going to be many online tournaments and also opportunities to stream your scrims – this is really great content that will attract even more viewers than your normal streams in the ranked p<a>laylist.</a> Progress might be slow, but if you focus on consistency as the goal then you will be rewarded in the long run. </li></ul></li><li>Be a positive influence: <a>Not every pro player is going to be a role model that everyone looks up to – and that’s ok. However, using your social media platforms or streams as places to dump toxic waste about the game, the ecosystem or really anything for that matter into the community is a bad idea.</a> Players who are positive and professional will have more opportunities, will be more attractive to fans and sponsors, and will have a bigger influence on the future of the game, community, and ecosystem. Anger, toxicity, and sarcasm work against you. We all love Halo and want it to have a positive and thriving scene. Be wise in how you use your influence as a pro. Additionally, players will be held to the official code of conduct which details behavior that is not acceptable in our scene, and we as a community need to hold each other to high standards on top of that.</li><li>Be active on social media: The conversation for Halo esports is on social media, and it’s mostly on Twitter. Between events, it’s a great way to not only connect with fans, but also connect and chat with other pro players. There lots of great conversations that many fans would be interested in seeing, and overall it helps drive interest into you and your brand as professional Halo player. </li><li>Promote your Team’s cosmetics: If you’re on a partnered Team, you should be wearing your Team’s cosmetic items as much as you can on stream and even off stream as well. The Team’s will be earning revenue from each of the sales and their success in Halo means they can continue to invest in the scene to pay player salaries, managers, team houses, and much more. A little goes a long way here. You can add a command to your Twitch channel, pin a tweet on Twitter, and post links in your YouTube videos. Speaking of YouTube…</li><li>EXTRA CREDIT – Start a YouTube channel and upload regularly: YouTube is a great way to bring fans closer to you and provide them entertainment. Not everyone is going to be the next Nadeshot, and that’s ok. You don’t need 100,000 subscribers for the channel to be worthwhile investing some time into, and these days it’s easier than ever to upload gameplays from your Twitch streams directly to your YouTube. There are more Halo fans on YouTube than ever and that will continue to grow.</li></ul>



As a pro player, you can have a tremendous impact on the scene overall which ultimately helps you out directly. Don’t take this opportunity for granted. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"> FAN CHECKLIST </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/image-6185bbdc0aac7-1024x389.png" alt="Photo of fan at an HCS event holding a blue cosplay flag from CTF in Halo 5."/></figure>



For the fans out there who love playing and watching Halo – we appreciate you. We know many of you want to see Halo grow because it’s the game and community that you love, and that resonates deeply with us. We want to provide some insights that enable you to have the biggest impact if you’re not sure how you can help. 



<ul><li>Watch events and content: Viewership is critical for the Halo esports scene, and when you watch tournament streams, pro player streams, and even content on YouTube or Twitter – that has a really big impact. Obviously, we need to do our part to entertain you and we take our responsibility there seriously.</li><li>Purchasing in-game content: We are sharing revenue for ALL of the items in the Esports Store within Halo Infinite when the game launches on Day 1. Whether it’s a partnered Team’s bundle or a bundle that represents each of the four major regions and the tournament operators investing there, this is the best way to support these partners directly. The more that the ecosystem can support these partners, the more that they will be able to support the players and fans as time goes on. This is an absolutely critical component of this entire ecosystem. </li><li>Be active on social media: As mentioned earlier, having conversations online about the league, the Teams, the players, and everything going on is a great way to generate more and more excitement for the events and ultimately draw more fans to this awesome community of ours. If your favorite Team is tweeting about Halo, give it a Like/RT and even a reply. Let’s make Halo fans the most active and talkative game in esports!</li></ul>



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



For players and fans alike, there are lots of really critical ways that you can support the community and scene that you love. We all want Halo esports to grow, and if we work together and push in the same direction, we can really have a huge impact and bring on more Spartans to our cause. We have to act as a unified community. 



I’d love to hear what other ideas and suggestions you might have! <a href="https://twitter.com/tashi343i">Start a conversation with me on Twitter</a> and let’s keep the ideas flowing!



Until next time,



Tashi

Tashi

Designing The Halo Esports Ecosystem – November

Halo’s 20th birthday is around the corner and one of the ways we’re celebrating is with a brand-new Halo Waypoint. More than just a fresh coat of paint, the site and forums you have known and loved for years are getting a total overhaul – 20 has never looked so good. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pointing The Way</h2>



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/inside-infinite-june-2021">Way back in June</a>, we sat down with the Waypoint crew and talked about all the work they were doing to prepare for what we’ve been affectionately calling “vNext”.  If you missed that, you can catch up on it at your leisure but the long and short of it is… Our baby’s all grown up! 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Homepage_vNext-1024x612.png" alt="Homepage screenshot" class="wp-image-20524" width="1024" height="612" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Homepage_vNext-1024x612.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Homepage_vNext-300x179.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Homepage_vNext-768x459.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Homepage_vNext-1536x918.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Homepage_vNext-1568x938.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Homepage_vNext.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Right away, you’ll notice a massive difference in aesthetics. Along with the updated visuals, the Waypoint team has worked very hard to make the site functional, informative, and, perhaps most importantly, accessible. We want Halo Waypoint to be your go-to source for all Halo news. For some of you that will be via normal website navigation while others like to check things on the go and thankfully, both of those experiences have been accounted for and carefully considered while the new website and app were under construction. Yes, I said app! Grab the official Halo Waypoint app for both <a href="https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/halo-channel/id1005464348">iOS</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.halochannel">Android</a> and <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/waypoint-vnext-faq">get the 411 on what it can do</a> so you can get to Waypointing on the go. Updates to both the website and app will be rolling out over time so be sure to check for them periodically. 



The site may be new but most of the content should be familiar, and you’ll be able to find the news, esports info, the forums, our Halo Insider program, and links to external sites like Halo Support and the Gear shop. A lot of our recent Inside Infinite, Community Update, Canon Fodder, Community Spotlight, and HCS articles have been brought over for you to view in the new setting. If you’re looking for something specific that didn’t make the move, you can always check out <a href="https://twitter.com/Halopedia/status/1448370882150379524">@Halopedia</a>’s great archive of all available articles and content. So how do you find it? 



Checking out the NEWS header in the navigation bar you’ll see this excellent gallery of recent works:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="813" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/News-1024x813.png" alt="News screenshot" class="wp-image-20496" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/News-1024x813.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/News-300x238.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/News-768x610.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/News-1536x1219.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/News-1568x1245.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/News.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



From here, you can narrow down if you’re looking for something specific related to the community, esports, or a game. If you find yourself needing to report in-game issues or looking to grab some official swag, you can click the “Support” or “Gear” links in the nav bar to be directed to the <a href="https://aka.ms/HaloSupport">Halo Support Site</a> and the <a href="https://gear.xbox.com/Halo">Halo Gear shop</a> respectively. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fashion and Function</h2>



On the personal level, you’ll be able to tweak your displayed Service Awards and let your fellow Spartans know where else they can find you by providing social links to popular channels:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="964" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloWaypointProfilev2-1024x964.png" alt="snickerdoodle's service award through Halo Waypoint" class="wp-image-19528" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloWaypointProfilev2-1024x964.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloWaypointProfilev2-300x282.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloWaypointProfilev2-768x723.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloWaypointProfilev2-1536x1446.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloWaypointProfilev2-1568x1476.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloWaypointProfilev2.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption> Halo Waypoint’s social media links and featured awards on your profile page </figcaption></figure>



Once Halo Infinite launches, you’ll be able to <a href="http://halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/progression">hop in and customize</a> your Halo Infinite Spartan appearance with the plans to further expand this feature to weapon and vehicle coatings in the future. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="890" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloInfiniteCustomization-1024x890.png" alt="Halo Waypoint's Spartan customization page" class="wp-image-19439" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloInfiniteCustomization-1024x890.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloInfiniteCustomization-300x261.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloInfiniteCustomization-768x667.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloInfiniteCustomization-1536x1334.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloInfiniteCustomization-1568x1362.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloInfiniteCustomization.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Halo Waypoint’s Spartan customization page</figcaption></figure>



 You can also check on your Battle Pass progression, your challenges, and check out what’s in-store without needing to hop in game. If you can’t get to your console or PC, you’ll be able to shop at your leisure from the palm of your hand. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="802" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloInfiniteBattlePass-1024x802.png" alt="Battle Pass progression on Halo Waypoint's Halo Infinite profile" class="wp-image-19453" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloInfiniteBattlePass-1024x802.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloInfiniteBattlePass-300x235.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloInfiniteBattlePass-768x602.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloInfiniteBattlePass-1536x1203.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloInfiniteBattlePass-1568x1228.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloInfiniteBattlePass.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Battle Pass progression on Halo Waypoint’s Halo Infinite profile</figcaption></figure>



If you have any codes from things like Rockstar, Jazwares, etc<ins>.</ins>, you can still <a href="http://halowaypoint.com/redeem">redeem those on Waypoint</a> from your profile page too. As an added bonus, you can even update your Halo Insider profile directly. So be sure your DxDiag is up to date, that you are opted in for the platforms you prefer, and you’re all set.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fancy Forums</h2>



And, finally, my personal favorite, the long-awaited <a href="https://forums.halowaypoint.com/">Halo Waypoint forum</a> refresh is here! 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="830" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Progession-1024x830.png" alt="Forums" class="wp-image-20510" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Progession-1024x830.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Progession-300x243.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Progession-768x623.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Progession-1536x1246.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Progession-1568x1272.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Progession.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



You can find a link to the forums in the top nav bar and jump back in. For those on mobile, the forums are well optimized for web view or you may opt to browse via the Discourse app (available on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/discourse-hub/id1173672076">iOS</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.discourse&hl=en_US&gl=US">Android</a>) instead. The choice is yours and from having checked them both out, the experience is fairly similar. The forums have been streamlined, updated, and given a total face lift. While they’re not here yet, we’re working to bring over the existing forum posts so don’t worry, all is not lost forever! (As someone with more posts than I care to admit, this made me exceptionally happy.) Regulars will notice that the Community Support forums have been removed and this is an intentional change to ensure that all support related requests go directly to <a href="https://aka.com/HaloSupport">Halo Support</a> so they can best serve you, the community. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloWaypointShowcase-1024x576.png" alt="Showcase of the Halo Waypoint website on mobile, desktop, and laptop" class="wp-image-19495" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloWaypointShowcase-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloWaypointShowcase-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloWaypointShowcase-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloWaypointShowcase-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloWaypointShowcase-1568x882.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/HaloWaypointShowcase.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



That’s just what’s on deck for today. As the saying goes, we’re just getting started, and when Halo Infinite launches later this year, there will be additional updates coming. Plus, as time goes on, you can expect improvements and updates to all facets, from app to website. 



In the meantime, revel in the glow-up and let us know what you think!

snickerdoodle

Welcome to vNext!

Canon Fodder

And we’re back! Canon Fodder returns to your beloved browsers today for a brief—but fun—look at some exciting new additions coming to Halo: The Master Chief Collection. And in case you missed it, <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/zeta-testing">last issue we recapped</a> the exciting new campaign gameplay from Halo Infinite and made the short story “Sacrifice” <a href="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/CANON_FODDER_Franchise/halo_sacrifice-352e807233c6432e8d0e2102c733732b.pdf">available for all to download</a> in celebration of the release of the novel Halo: Divine Wind. Make sure you check it out if you haven’t already!



And now, onto the topic at hand.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THROWBACK UNIFORMS</h2>



Just today, our friends on the 343 Publishing Team <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/celebrating-20-years-of-halo-in-the-master-chief-collection">released a fancy new blog</a> detailing all of the sweet new additions heading to the MCC over the next several weeks as part of Halo and Xbox’s 20th anniversary celebrations! Make sure you check it out for all the juicy details on what you can get and when, where, and how you can get it.



For today’s purposes however, we’re going to focus, as you might expect, on the lore side of things—specifically surrounding the two new sets of armor up for grabs. Of course, I say “new,” but as long-time Halo fans will likely already realize, the best thing about these armors is that they actually date back to some of the franchise’s earliest years. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">LEGACY OF A GHOST</h2>



One of the mainstay asks among Halo fans—in particular any who have some passing affinity for the extended universe—has been “SPI EQUIPPABLE IN-GAME WHEN?” Well, we’re excited to finally be able to answer that with “now.” Well, “soon,” technically (again, <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/celebrating-20-years-of-halo-in-the-master-chief-collection">see today’s blog</a> from our Pub Team friends for release details).



Semi-Powered Infiltration armor, or “SPI” (typically pronounced S-P-I) as it’s more widely known, was introduced to us in the outstanding Eric Nylund-penned novel Halo: Ghosts of Onyx (one of my personal faves) as the primary armor loadout for the Spartan-IIIs. Some background context: the original SPARTAN-II program was designed to churn out walking-starship-level destruction via the totally-not-terrible method of turning six-year-olds into eventual augmented powerhouses; from an effectiveness standpoint, S-IIs were ultimately incredible and successful but were also few in number and ridiculously expensive, so certain folks in the Office of Naval Intelligence, such as Colonel James Ackerson, decided on a slightly different approach with SPARTAN-III. Instead of stealing kids away from their families, they took children who had already been orphaned by the Covenant’s relentless onslaught and let them “volunteer” to get back at the enemy by becoming next-generation super-soldiers. Thing was, this generation was meant to be a bit more… expendable. Lots more candidates, cheaper to produce, but easier to throw a bunch of them at a big purple problem in scorched-Earth fashion, sacrificing hundreds of lives for precious time in hopes of ensuring humanity’s survival.



Part of what made this generation cheaper to produce was the fact that they typically weren’t equipped with the full suite of Mjolnir power-armor. ONI needed something less expensive, but still up to the task, and SPI was the answer. It provided the wearer with (as the name suggests) enhanced mobility and strength, as well as photo-reactive camouflage panels to aid in stealth and infiltration operations. They lacked energy shield generators and the compact fusion reactors of MJOLNIR, but dozens—or hundreds—of SPI could be produced for the cost of a single Mark IV suit. What you see here is the evolution of that idea, upgrading SPI to MJOLNIR standards to be worn by any generation of Spartan; this particular variant is designated as MIRAGE, and is coming to the Halo 3 customization suite for the MCC.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">MIRAGE</h4>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/CANON_FODDER_Franchise/cf_mirage-ec573113fca440dfba2d86e3da690798.jpg" alt="Spartan armor variant called Mirage coming to Halo 3 Customization"/></figure>



HELMET



A direct evolution of the Semi-Powered Infiltration armor suite.



CHEST



MIRAGE armor incorporates the latest in software-definable deception jammers.



SHOULDERS



Lightweight, but resilient.



ARMS



A further refinement of the RIFT-class force-amplification gauntlets.



LEGS



Though not as robust as mainline Mjolnir suits, the MIRAGE exoskeleton meets basic performance metrics at a fraction of the price.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BLAST FROM THE PAST</h2>



And if you thought that SPI was throwing it back, our next example predates Halo’s own release—or its existence on Xbox in general. Going back to Halo’s earliest public appearances, this armor evokes both feelings of familiarity as well as an older legacy, donned by the augmented hero we would eventually come to know as the Master Chief. When bringing it forward into the universe as a “proper” set of armor, it made perfect sense to do so in parallel with the earliest origins of the SPARTAN program itself: ORION.



The ORION program was the predecessor to the SPARTAN-II program—in fact, that’s the whole reason there is a “II” after Spartan, paying direct homage to its earlier attempted incarnation, essentially being “ORION-II.” Interestingly enough, the elements that set ORION apart from the SPARTAN-II and SPARTAN-III programs were ultimately largely realized in the SPARTAN-IV generation—augmenting fully-grown adults into heroic super-soldiers. Something the original ORION program attempted but just couldn’t land for several reasons. In fact, Sgt. Major Avery Johnson himself was one of the original ORION candidates, which helps make sense of why he always seemed so tough to take down and keep down.



The ORION program was not just looking at human augmentation, they conducted studies and research into soldier enhancement that include armor, weapons, software interfaces, and even training techniques. Most of their ideas never made it past initial exploration and prototypes, but there are lingering vestiges of what the CMA and ONI might have managed had they been able to fully realize the near-impossible and fielded a suit of powered assault armor that achieved in reality what they hoped for in computer models.



The ORION armor you see here is coming to the Halo 2: Anniversary customization suite in the MCC.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">ORION</h4>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/CANON_FODDER_Franchise/cf_orion-a55a09786e7e4d1f8b7e7c8770a2a8b9.jpg" alt="Orion armor set coming to the Halo 2: Anniversary customization suite in MCC"/></figure>



HELMET



Project ORION had ambitious plans for complete super-soldier weapon systems, but only Dr. Halsey had the vision and genius to bring both hardware and wetware to fruition.



CHEST



High-grade torso shell with prototype fitting for integrated “Shoulder Angel” micro-missile/decoy launcher.



SHOULDERS



ORION hardware development studies provided useful data for ensuring both range of motion and high levels of protection on later MJOLNIR designs.



ARMS



Field-tested during Operation: KALEIDOSCOPE.



LEGS



Rigorous testing of the greaves was undertaken by candidate 029 on the red plains of Mars.



And there you have it! If you’re as excited as we are about these new-old additions to MCC’s already overflowing sandbox, then get out there, play some games, and spend some Season Points in the in-game Exchange for all the sweet new celebratory loot we’ve got dropping!



Oh, but before we go, just in case you haven’t seen it yet…



<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Halo Infinite | UNSC Archives - Unspoken" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jPPVDXU5fy4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



 Oh, and I’m not gonna lie, I also loved this one:



<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="Mega Construx: Adventures on Zeta Halo" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NZ8hC3VtHJA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



That will do it for us today—like I said, short and sweet. Of course, I wouldn’t go wandering off too far if I were you. 



Until next time… Live well, play Halo, and GO BRAVES!



<a href="https://twitter.com/grimbrotherone"><3 Grim</a>

GrimBrother One

Issue 121

Anniversary Armory

Nearly 20 years ago, we met the Master Chief for the very first time in Halo: Combat Evolved. With Cortana at his back, the Master Chief stepped foot onto the mysterious Installation 04 and ignited a fandom that would span generations. Since then, Halo: The Master Chief Collection has become our living legacy; celebrating the original Halo titles that have led us to this moment as we prepare to welcome the next generation of the franchise with Halo Infinite.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/BlogPost/MCC20YearsContentBlog/gruntplush_back-286c989082964e3384d11b056d25a514.jpg" alt="Spartan wearing a Grunt Plush as a back accessory in Halo 3"/></figure>



If you were watching our latest MCC Dev & Flighting Update, you might recognize the Grunt Plush!  [To download this image at full res, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/BlogPost/MCC20YearsContentBlog/gruntplush_back-286c989082964e3384d11b056d25a514.jpg" target="_blank">please click here</a>.]



As such, today we’re thrilled to announce some brand-new content coming to MCC to help celebrate 20 years of Halo! With today’s update there’s a fresh bevy of Halo-themed content for you to adorn your Spartans with, including:



<ul><li>The “Orion” Armor Set for Halo 2: Anniversary, first seen in the original 1999 Halo reveal</li><li>Weapon skins featuring an OG Xbox color scheme</li><li>Back Accessories suited for any Spartan’s loadout</li><li>A batch of brand-new Nameplates! Here’s just a few examples:</li></ul>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/BlogPost/MCC20YearsContentBlog/nameplate_halo20thanniversary-692cce2d895e490c9764a8e1bb5dd413.png" alt="Brand new Halo Master Chief Collection Nameplate for the 20th Anniversary"/></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/BlogPost/MCC20YearsContentBlog/nameplate_dreamcat-bcce258b3b40455db34d66cb844814db.png" alt="Brand new Halo Master Chief Collection Nameplate"/></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/BlogPost/MCC20YearsContentBlog/nameplate_clippytriumphant-33ca0b49c9884abf9304aa07a694618d.png" alt="Brand new Halo Master Chief Collection Nameplate"/></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/BlogPost/MCC20YearsContentBlog/nameplate_believe-9558104642324db8b31f928698c0f17e.png" alt="Brand new Halo Master Chief Collection Nameplate"/></figure></div>



<ul><li>And more!</li></ul>



So, whether you want to duke it out with the Duke, or you want to bring your very own Grunt Plush into battle, there’s plenty waiting for you.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Halo 20th Anniversary content in MCC</h2>



With the release of the latest <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/unleash-your-inner-warrior-mcc-season-8-mythic" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MCC Season</a>, we took a chance to <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/mcc-september-development-update-september-2021" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">give you a rundown on how our content would be arriving</a> from that point on – and, today is a first step in that very direction. Today, we’re excited to get content directly into your hands that would have usually had to be bundled up into a much bigger release.



Across MCC there will be a litany of new content to check out, including a brand-new armor set for Halo 2: Anniversary, another set along with some cool new pieces for Halo 3 featuring some of your favorite Xbox gear of yesteryear, a new Utility Item for Halo: Reach, along with nameplates and a few other pieces of flair that will help any Halo fan round out their kit. There will even be some nameplates you can earn by completing new weekly challenges.



Over the course of November, December, and into January we’ll be releasing Halo 20th Anniversary-themed content right in MCC’s Exchange for you to purchase with Season Points. Granted, we know the holiday season brings with it lots of travel, so we’re doing what we can to keep you covered:



<ul><li>First things first, please check out our full schedule below of exactly what’s releasing, and when.</li><li>And, if you miss any of these dates, we’ve got you covered. Everything below will return to the Exchange at a future date! You can rest easy knowing these aren’t one and done.</li></ul>



So, without further ado, here’s a rundown of what’s to come: 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/BlogPost/MCC20YearsContentBlog/tmcc20yearshalo_timeline_1_1120-99a93b01ab354572b4e40d7e4a2f14d2.png" alt="A rundown of Halo 20th Anniversary-themed content in MCC's Exchange"/></figure>



 [To download this image at full res, <a href="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/BlogPost/MCC20YearsContentBlog/tmcc20yearshalo_timeline_1_3840x2160-5d686afdfe054555a1a4218e25de346a.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">please click here</a>.] 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/BlogPost/MCC20YearsContentBlog/tmcc20yearshalo_timeline_2_1120-0ef3961bd4744ae397520ebdb6951857.png" alt="A rundown of Halo 20th Anniversary-themed content in MCC's Exchange"/></figure>



 [To download this image at full res, <a href="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/BlogPost/MCC20YearsContentBlog/tmcc20yearshalo_timeline_2_3840x2160-f493478c4bb14602b79101ed644a69da.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">please click here</a>.]



And, for those of you that would prefer to copy and paste, here’s a written rundown of what’ll be available in the Exchange (and when), just for you:



<ul><li>November 3, 2021: “Orion” Armor Set (Helmet, Chest, Shoulders, Arms, Legs) for Halo 2: Anniversary</li><li>November 10, 2021: The Beast Back Accessory and Duke Shoulders for Halo 3</li><li>November 17, 2021: OG Xbox Assault Rifle Skin for Halo 3</li><li>November 24, 2021: Semi-Powered Infiltration “Mirage” Armor (Helmet, Chest, Shoulders, Arms, Legs) for Halo 3</li><li>December 1, 2021: OG Xbox Battle Rifle Skin and Rucksack Back Accessory for Halo 3</li><li>December 8, 2021: Hydration Container Utility Item for Halo: Reach</li><li>December 15, 2021: Fronkbox Back Accessory, Duke Shoulders, and OG Xbox Sniper Rifle skin for Halo 3</li><li>December 22, 2021: Grunt Plush and X-Pack Back Accessories and the OG Xbox Magnum Skin for Halo 3</li><li>December 29, 2021: OG Xbox Shotgun and SPNKr Skin for Halo 3</li><li>January 5, 2022: The first return of the “Orion” armor set for Halo 2: Anniversary</li></ul>



So go forth, mark your calendars and pack your Series S for your next travel date, because your chance to dial up your Spartan’s look is going to level up even that much more. With huge thanks to throwbacks all the way back to the original 1999 reveal, to the Duke, to your very own Grunt Plush Back Accessory – there’s going to be a lot more opportunities to show just how versatile your style is.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/BlogPost/MCC20YearsContentBlog/orion_ingame1120-b7e84b9e931743258fd02e8f3cce9602.png" alt="Party like it's 1999 in Halo 2: Anniversary with the "Orion" set! "/></figure>



Party like it’s 1999 in Halo 2: Anniversary with the “Orion” set!  [To download this image at full res, <a href="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/BlogPost/MCC20YearsContentBlog/orion_ingame-83806683516841e79286c80f3030482c.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">please click here</a>.]



For a full rundown of everything that’s included in this update, be sure to check out our <a href="https://support.halowaypoint.com/hc/en-us/articles/4409476153236" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">full Patch Notes right over here</a>. And as always, if you need any help or find any issues within MCC, be sure to contact the Halo Support team over at <a href="http://aka.ms/HaloSupport" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aka.ms/HaloSupport</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you for 20 years</h2>



It’s hard to believe that we’ve been together though this great journey together for 20 years now. Console generations, along with human generations have risen up right in front of us during that time. And whether you preferred to spend your time in BTB with friends, replaying campaigns to try your hand against legendary Jackal Snipers, or anything in between, it’s impossible to ignore just how much your feedback and friendship have meant to us. 



Thank you, and we hope you enjoy! Putting together this content for MCC to celebrate 20 years of Halo has inspired us greatly, and we couldn’t be happier to get it into your hands. So whether you’re just diving into Halo for the very first time or you’re a veteran that’s been by Sierra-117’s side since the very beginning, we’re eternally thankful to have you here.



And, when you’re done exploring the new looks, be sure to let us know how your new Spartan looks! Send a <a href="https://twitter.com/Halo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tweet</a> our way when you get a chance.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">–<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://twitter.com/asalisbury" target="_blank">Andy</a></h3>

Andy Salisbury

Celebrating 20 Years of Halo in The Master Chief Collection