Community

Community Spotlight

The Community Spotlight series showcases a selection of awesome fan art, videos, crafts, and other creations by the Halo community. Share your work with us on social media using hashtag #HaloSpotlight to be considered for the next Spotlight!



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Halo: Raptor | Origins" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-JjS_cKRjMQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialSparrowFilms">This exciting trailer</a> from Sparrow Films introduces Raptor Team, a fan-made strike team of Spartan-III operatives assigned to ONI’s most dangerous missions. We can’t wait to see more!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SEEN ON SOCIAL</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="680" height="383" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/DrGoosethumb_000.webp" alt="Spartans engage Banished foes in a dusty field of combat." class="wp-image-131628" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/DrGoosethumb_000.webp 680w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/DrGoosethumb_000-300x169.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /></figure>



DrGooseThumb has lately issued a salvo of <a href="https://x.com/DrGoosethumb/status/1899974634621059529">impressive action shots</a>. Rendered in Blender and edited with taste, the good doctor’s recent compositions highlight the resolve of heroic Spartans and their UNSC allies against overwhelming odds.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="720" height="900" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/2204Design_000.webp" alt="Master Chief and Arbiter Thel 'Vadam stand triumphantly atop a mountain of skulls as the Flood closes in." class="wp-image-131418" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/2204Design_000.webp 720w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/2204Design_000-240x300.webp 240w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure>



2204Design treats us to an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DF5nWoFuvqM">iconic duo</a> in honor of a “Legendary All Skulls On” (LASO) campaign run.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2047" height="2048" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/ConcasicoWW_002.webp" alt="A wooden Spartan figurine." class="wp-image-131488" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/ConcasicoWW_002.webp 2047w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/ConcasicoWW_002-300x300.webp 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/ConcasicoWW_002-1024x1024.webp 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/ConcasicoWW_002-150x150.webp 150w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/ConcasicoWW_002-768x768.webp 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/ConcasicoWW_002-1536x1536.webp 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/ConcasicoWW_002-1568x1569.webp 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2047px) 100vw, 2047px" /></figure>



The newest batch of handcrafted figures from Concasico Woodworks includes a <a href="https://x.com/ConcasicoWW/status/1894441128906096653">custom Spartan</a> for Halo superfan <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSSMotion">motiondomain</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="680" height="302" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/EtherealEOD_000.webp" alt="Master Chief idles by a stream on Zeta Halo. A Warthog is parked nearby, with a Forerunner Spire in the distance." class="wp-image-131614" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/EtherealEOD_000.webp 680w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/EtherealEOD_000-300x133.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /></figure>



EtherealEOD always <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/community-corner-etherealeod">graces Waypoint</a> with dramatic lighting and evocative staging. This carefully crafted Blender composite captures Chief <a href="https://x.com/EtherealEOD/status/1884735728527303113">sightseeing on Zeta Halo</a> at a vibe-heavy golden hour. (Shotgun model by <a href="https://x.com/SpannerArt">SpannerArt</a>!)



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="680" height="383" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/OutletChief729_000.webp" alt="A Sangheili blade master bears down on a Spartan, who aims a pistol at the foe while lying on the ground in the rain." class="wp-image-131600" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/OutletChief729_000.webp 680w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/OutletChief729_000-300x169.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /></figure>



Creative outlets are good therapy, and there’s nothing more therapeutic than gazing upon this <a href="https://x.com/OutletChief729/status/1882824866128396454">desperate last stand</a> from OutletChief729.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="680" height="441" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/entransing_001.webp" alt="The Didact holds the Master Chief aloft with telepathic powers. Text reads: "Time was your ally, human, but now it has abandoned you."" class="wp-image-131530" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/entransing_001.webp 680w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/entransing_001-300x195.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /></figure>



Since our <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/community-corner-entransing" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/community-corner-entransing">Community Corner interview</a>, entransing has realized a series of exquisite illustrations depicting <a href="https://x.com/entransing/status/1877099507273302304" data-type="link" data-id="https://x.com/entransing/status/1877099507273302304">memorable moments from Halo 4</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="680" height="383" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/skykillerr_001.webp" alt="An armored Sangheili holds an Energy Sword as UNSC marines salute." class="wp-image-131558" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/skykillerr_001.webp 680w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/skykillerr_001-300x169.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /></figure>



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/community-corner-skykillerr" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/community-corner-skykillerr">Sangheili specialist</a> Skykillerr brings us the latest <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGYoXzPMUu0/" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGYoXzPMUu0/">recruitment propaganda</a> from the Swords of Sanghelios.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1440" height="1800" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/zeke405_000.webp" alt="Zippyzeek034 dressed in custom Spartan cosplay." class="wp-image-131825" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/zeke405_000.webp 1440w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/zeke405_000-240x300.webp 240w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/zeke405_000-819x1024.webp 819w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/zeke405_000-768x960.webp 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/zeke405_000-1229x1536.webp 1229w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /></figure>



ZippyZeek034 of the <a href="https://www.405th.com/">405th Infantry Division</a> sports <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DG7b1XxOil1">custom Spartan armor</a> at Emerald City Comic Con. (Photo by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amourir.media/">@amourir.media</a>)



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="680" height="383" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/CurrentlyNotHere_001.webp" alt="A team of Spartans charges forward. Two flanking Spartans fire weapons as the central Spartan advances with a flag." class="wp-image-131516" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/CurrentlyNotHere_001.webp 680w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/CurrentlyNotHere_001-300x169.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /></figure>



This <a href="https://x.com/CurntlyNotHere/status/1899484539019296949">valiant display</a> by CurrentlyNotHere perfectly captures the rush of a successful charge in CTF.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="568" height="680" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/beansandegg_000.webp" alt="A collage of Halo: Combat Evolved scenery and imagery." class="wp-image-131460" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/beansandegg_000.webp 568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/beansandegg_000-251x300.webp 251w" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" /></figure>



Here’s an awesome <a href="https://x.com/BeansAndEgg/status/1899188882509353034" data-type="link" data-id="https://x.com/BeansAndEgg/status/1899188882509353034">retro collage</a> from BeansAndEgg with Cortana’s encoded directive to thaw out the big guy. It looks like the Covenant wanted to catch you napping…



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="683" height="900" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/Crabbosk_000.webp" alt="A comic strip shows a misunderstanding between a UNSC barista and an Elite named Chai 'Latte." class="wp-image-131502" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/Crabbosk_000.webp 683w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/Crabbosk_000-228x300.webp 228w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /></figure>



Crabbosk recounts the trials and tribulations of an <a href="https://x.com/Crabbosk/status/1897803858279055548" data-type="link" data-id="https://x.com/Crabbosk/status/1897803858279055548">Elite named Chai ‘Latte</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1438" height="759" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/elusivevector_000.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-131839" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/elusivevector_000.webp 1438w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/elusivevector_000-300x158.webp 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/elusivevector_000-1024x540.webp 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/elusivevector_000-768x405.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1438px) 100vw, 1438px" /></figure>



A panel from Halo: Fall of Reach is brought to life in <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHB6ScExSrd" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHB6ScExSrd">this killer composite</a> from elusivevector.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="680" height="359" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/b_does_stuff_000.webp" alt="The four original Spartans of Blue Team stand together." class="wp-image-131432" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/b_does_stuff_000.webp 680w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/b_does_stuff_000-300x158.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /></figure>



Blue Team is back in action in <a href="https://x.com/B_does_stuff/status/1899515664676573547">this reunion scene</a> from B.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="720" height="767" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/blamodan_000.webp" alt="Four Spartans stand in a circle as Flood forms close in. One holds a folding chair at the ready." class="wp-image-131474" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/blamodan_000.webp 720w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/blamodan_000-282x300.webp 282w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure>



Doozen01 knows that well-trained Spartans can <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHBTB6fx3F3/">confront the Flood</a> with all manner of weaponry—even a sturdy folding chair, in a pinch.



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



Recent shares from the <a href="https://reddit.com/r/halo">r/Halo subreddit</a> and the <a href="https://discord.gg/halo">official Halo Discord server</a>. Join up and drop your creations for a chance to appear in a Community Spotlight!



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="640" height="634" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/viejoviejito_000.webp" alt="A drawing of Emile rendered in bleach on a T-shirt." class="wp-image-131586" style="width:639px;height:auto" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/viejoviejito_000.webp 640w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/viejoviejito_000-300x297.webp 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/viejoviejito_000-150x150.webp 150w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure>



I’m ready! How about you? u/viejoviejito <a href="https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1j9aq8g" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1j9aq8g">shares a T-shirt</a> emblazoned with the indomitable Emile—drawn entirely with bleach!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="540" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/Titaniite_001.webp" alt="Arbiter Thel 'Vadam holding a Needler as depicted in Spore." class="wp-image-131572" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/Titaniite_001.webp 960w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/Titaniite_001-300x169.webp 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/Titaniite_001-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></figure>



Has u/Titaniite attained the rank of Lifeshaper? Check out all the <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/halo/comments/1j7jubg/some_characters_recreated_in_spore_2008/">Halo-inspired creations</a> they’ve managed to conjure in Spore.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="720" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/badvoodoo68_002.webp" alt="Custom bindings for a selection of Halo novels bear Classified symbols and the UNSC logo." class="wp-image-131642" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/badvoodoo68_002.webp 960w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/badvoodoo68_002-300x225.webp 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/03/badvoodoo68_002-768x576.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></figure>



For your eyes only: these <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/halo/comments/1jdfwvh/my_halo_books_rebound/">covert book bindings</a> by u/badvoodoo68 wrap a selection of Halo novels in a classified UNSC dossier.



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Found your work featured in Community Spotlight? <a href="https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/06cacfd568b74b4490371907f55410dc" data-type="link" data-id="https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/06cacfd568b74b4490371907f55410dc">Fill out this form</a> to claim your exclusive Fire Unicorn emblem and nameplate to use in Halo Infinite. Don’t forget to share your creations with us on <a href="https://reddit.com/r/halo">r/Halo</a>, in our <a href="https://discord.gg/halo">official Discord server</a>, or on social media with hashtag #HaloSpotlight for a chance to appear in the next Spotlight!

Mutinous Core

Spotlight: March 20, 2025

Alex Wakeford

Spotlight: December 9, 2024

Spotlight: November 19, 2024

Community Corner: Halopedia

Spotlight: October 24, 2024

Welcome back to the Community Corner!



Earlier this week, we launched Operation: Haloween which features Survive the Undead—a new playlist experience made by The Forge Falcons. Naturally, it only seemed right that we sit down with the fine folks of that team: EliteFalcon, MaxBloodBath, Prim27, and Outlet.



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Welcome (back!) and thank you for joining us today! Please introduce yourselves and tell us all about who The Forge Falcons are and where we can find you.



Thank you for having us (again!), for those who don’t know, we are a team of Forgers who love Halo and its community. Since our inception, the goal with ‘The Forge Falcons’ was to make it function somewhat like a typical game studio—or what some might simply call, a Forge studio.



Across multiple teams (Forgers, Scripters, and Graphic Designers) we all work together to create the absolute best Forge experiences we possibly can. Each team has a lead to ensure we are always releasing quality content and renders. The best places to find us are <a href="https://discord.com/invite/FhqSHJesy4">Discord</a> and <a href="https://x.com/TheForgeFalcons">Twitter</a>.



How did your great journey with Halo start?



Individually, it has varied from the release of Halo: CE up to Halo: Reach. But our love for the franchise has grown ever since.



Our journey as a team started on November 1, 2022. How did this come to be? Well, we all really love making things and we of course love Halo and there was a clear opportunity for us to create a Forge based studio, and build a community around that and the content we make. But more importantly, we wanted to provide great experiences for the players and contribute to the franchise we love.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons3.jpg" alt="Forge Falcons art depicting four Spartans" class="wp-image-119768" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons3.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons3-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons3-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons3-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons3-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Let’s talk Forge. Tell us about your experience with Forge over the years. Did you begin with Halo 3 when the tool was more of a level editor, or did you jump into the mode in more recent years?



As a team, we obviously started with Halo Infinite‘s Forge, but individually, the majority of us started with Halo 3, while some of us started with Halo: Reach.



Forge has come a long way since the early days, especially in regards to what is actually possible with the experiences you can make—mainly because of the Node Graph in Halo Infinite and the ability to add Campaign AI. So, for players that might only be starting out with Halo Infinite, you genuinely have an almost infinite playground.



Do you remember what your first ever Forge creation was? Personally, I can vividly recall messing around on Last Resort in Halo 3 and finding out that throwing deployable cover into a gravity lift would make the large crate fly into the air while I was inside it.



The first experience we made as a team was Survive the Undead, which of course is why we’re here today! But going all the way back to the days of Reach, many of us remember messing around with fusion coils—making it rain with fusion coils, making a battleship-type map with cannons that people can use… Back then, that was considered impressive. It was fourteen years ago to be fair, but we will always remember stuff like that.



How has it felt to have the Halo community playing your maps and experiences in matchmaking?



Having the community play our experiences we have spent thousands of hours on feels good, that’s why you make things, right? For people to play them, and getting your maps into matchmaking is the best way to do that in Halo Infinite.



As it’s an entirely new experience we’re making, we never expected it to go into matchmaking. But for it to actually go in, get its own playlist, and do extremely well with the community… it’s an extremely good feeling.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons4.jpg" alt="Forge Falcons art depicting a Sangheili Ultra with the Banished symbol" class="wp-image-119782" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons4.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons4-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons4-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons4-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons4-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons4-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



What’s the origin story for the Forge Falcons? How did this group come together and develop to not just encompass people passionate about Forge, but graphic designers as well?



When I originally created The Forge Falcons, I wanted to create exceptional experiences that required a well-coordinated, skilled, and passionate team.



If you look at anything we have made since our inception, it can’t be made by any one person, at least in a reasonable amount of time. And I guess I wasn’t aware of just how many people had that same mindset, about wanting to create amazing things with a team that follows a studio-like structure.



Unsurprisingly, we found folks with graphic design skills  that are just as passionate and skilled as the Fforgers, so now we have an incredible team that all work well with each other and understand the vision of the studio.



Where do you begin when looking to design a map—whether that’s a functional multiplayer arena or more of a specific experience?



We have had many meetings and discussions about what experiences we should make, so the process really starts at the concept phase. What do players want, what would do well with players, and most importantly what are we most passionate about?



From there, the team leads take that concept, talk with their teams, and get a plan together for what direction they want to take it. Then the blockout gets made before anything to make sure we’re happy with it and that it is budget friendly. After that, we get the scripts done, tested, and then it’s onto art. Sometimes in odd cases, like with Helljumpers, there will be crossover with blockout, scripts and art all at once if it’s best for the direction we’re taking it and the deadlines we’re aiming to hit.



Do you have a favorite map or experience that you’ve created as a team?



This has to go to Survive the Undead. This experience has come a really long way since it was originally released, from its origin leveraging bots to now with fully realized campaign AI and bosses. We’ve always had fun working on Survive the Undead and that probably shows in the amount of maps we have created for it. If players love it in matchmaking and it has its own playlist like it currently does, then we will be more than willing to make new maps and even mode variants down the line to really beef the playlist up.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="1350" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons5.jpg" alt="Forge Falcons art depicting four Spartans surrounded by Jega 'Rdomnai, two Sangheili, and Escharum looming over them in the background" class="wp-image-119796" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons5.jpg 1080w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons5-240x300.jpg 240w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons5-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons5-768x960.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /></figure>



On the graphic design front, where do you begin when putting together the amazing imagery for these maps and experiences?



From the beginning, it was always about supporting the talent that the Forgers pour into their creations. At the same time, since we are based in Halo Infinite, we want to adhere to designs that 343 established so everything feels cohesive.



To do that consistently, I draw up a creative brief that gives direction for our other artists and allows for some consistency, regardless of who is making what. Aside from that, artists have creative freedom to do what they think best amplifies the work done by the Forgers. Most often, that involves finding noteworthy spots in their maps that we would want to showcase front and center.



Do you have a favorite piece you’ve made for a Forge Falcons experience? Why that particular piece?



It’s really tough to pick just one. The thumbnails for Survive the Undead were some of the first things I made for The Forge Falcons before we onboarded other artists, so those were fun in the sense that we didn’t have an overall tone set in place, and we were exploring what that would eventually be. But my favorite might just be the content for Helljumpers that was recently shown off at the 2024 Halo World Championship event!



What advice would you give to folks who are interested in trying out Forge but might feel unsure of where to start? What are some of the fundamental things you think those people should know?



For anyone wanting to learn Forge, always start out small and don’t commit to something you know you can’t do yet. Build up slowly, build confidence in your work and your workflow, and take it from there.



One thing every Forger should keep in mind is performance. Forge can get very unoptimized at times and it’s down to the Forger to manage that; cut back in places that aren’t as noticeable and really make sure players have a good experience before anything else.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons2.jpg" alt="Forge Falcons art depicting a Spartan and Sangheili with a red energy sword" class="wp-image-119754" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons2.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons2-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



If you could issue a challenge to the community, what’s something you’d like to see people make in Forge?



If we could challenge the community to make something, it would be more experiences like Warzone, Invasion, Rush (Battlefield), and any crazy stuff like that. We do know that Okom and co are working on a Warzone experience and the HaloFunTime folks are cooking up Forge World. So that’s always awesome to see.



Who are some of the Forgers out there that have inspired you?



Forgers that inspired us would be people like: Nightavenger01, InfiniteForges, Paimon and RedNomster. Incredible artists and creatives, if anyone reading this hasn’t checked them out, please do.



Forge has come a long way—both over the years as a whole and also as it has continued to be supported in Halo Infinite. As Forgers, are there any further wishlist items you have for what you’d like to see implemented into this mode in the future?



Forge has certainly come a long way, but there are for sure some features we’d love to see added that would take the tool to the next level. Most notably is a Saving Device or something of the sort (allow the players to save their progress across multiple games via the cloud), and of course, a real landscape tool that allows us to make fully custom terrain.



Those two features would effectively take Forge from an advanced player tool to a full-on dev tool at that point.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1906" height="1068" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons1.jpg" alt="Forge Falcons image for the Halo World Championship 2024 Forge panel showing a Spartan and Monitor" class="wp-image-119740" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons1.jpg 1906w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons1-300x168.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons1-1024x574.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons1-768x430.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons1-1536x861.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons1-1568x879.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1906px) 100vw, 1906px" /></figure>



Do you have any hints about cool maps and experiences you might be looking to build in the future?



Aside from maps we’d be willing to make for Survive the Undead in matchmaking, the biggest one we’re working on—and one people would have got a good look at during our Forge Panel at HaloWC earlier this month—is none other than Helljumpers. It is by far our biggest and most ambitious experience and we cannot wait for people to finally play it on October 25.



Outside of Forge, do you have any other areas of the franchise that you really gravitate towards—whether that’s the campaign and fiction, multiplayer, and so on?



We all love Halo, from the games to the books, and beyond. Campaign is of course a favorite, for the majority of us it’s a big draw to Halo. Whenever any of us pick up a new Halo game at launch, the first thing we are doing is playing through the campaign before anything else.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons6.jpg" alt="Forge Falcons art for the Helljumper experience depicting ODSTs and Banished" class="wp-image-119811" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons6.jpg 1080w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons6-300x300.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons6-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons6-150x150.jpg 150w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/ForgeFalcons6-768x768.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /></figure>



Thank you very much for joining us for this issue of the Community Corner! Do you have any parting words to share?



Thank you for having us (again!), we really enjoyed answering all of these questions and giving people even more insight into what we do and who we are.



We want to thank the Halo community for supporting us through all of our projects, it means the world to us, truly. And we want to thank 343 for their close collaboration with our team to put on an awesome panel and to get Survive the Undead into a really solid state.



Working with 343 has been a pleasure and we hope we can do it again in the future to bring more of our experiences to matchmaking!



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Don’t forget you can <a href="https://discord.com/invite/FhqSHJesy4">join the Discord group for The Forge Falcons</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/TheForgeFalcons">follow them on Twitter</a>!

Community Corner: The Forge Falcons

Spotlight: September 16, 2024

Spotlight: August 12, 2024

Welcome back to the Community Corner!



Last month, <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/community-corner-skykillerr">we spoke with Skykillerr about his stunning Sangheili fan art</a>.



This month, we’re joined by Jenn (“ImJ3N3R1C”) to talk about her journey with the franchise, competitive Halo, the Women of Halo group and community, and more.



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Welcome, Jenn! Thank you for joining us for this issue of the Community Corner. Introduce yourself—tell us a bit about who you are, what you do in the Halo community, and where we can find you online.



Hello! My name is Jennifer, but the Halo community knows me as J3N3R1C. Halo has been a big part of my life for about twenty years and I am currently VP of Operations and Creative Director for the Women of Halo fan group.



Prior to assisting with WoH, I would occasionally compete in online tournaments and various women’s tournaments. I spent many years as a casual Halo player enjoying social playlists with friends, but always watched MLG, AGL, HCS, etc. Outside of Halo, I work full time for the State of California and am looking forward to graduating with my Master’s degree in forensic psychology in the spring of ’25.



You can find me on Twitter as <a href="https://x.com/ImJ3N3R1C">ImJ3N3R1C</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://x.com/ImJ3N3R1C"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="500" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo8.jpg" alt="Jenn's personal Women of Halo banner" class="wp-image-114634" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo8.jpg 1500w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo8-300x100.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo8-1024x341.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo8-768x256.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></a></figure>



How did your great journey with Halo begin?



Gaming has always held a special place in my heart. I was raised by my dad who loved gaming. Our Friday night ritual would consist of a trip to Blockbuster to find a new N64 game to enjoy for the weekend—those weekends are still some of my favorite memories.



I started playing Halo when I was 12. My dad was dating my now-stepmom at the time and she had three children. Her oldest son would play Halo 2 custom games with his friends, and they would include me at times. I was essentially a body to fill the lobby and an easy target to practice on. I was determined to improve and not be used as target practice. I am still playing to this day.



What are some of the areas of Halo that you particularly enjoy and why? Campaign and story, multiplayer, Forge, etc.



The areas of Halo that I enjoy most are ranked arena and HCS events. I am a competitive person and need to continually improve and rank up. I struggle to play anything these days that does not offer an incentive like ranking up or placing well in a tournament, and I have found myself enjoying watching HCS above all.



Some people enjoy sports like football or baseball, I enjoy competitive Halo. Watching my favorite game played at an astonishingly high skill level and the energy from the competitors and fellow fans is an unmatched experience. I have yet to find another hobby that entertains and stimulates my brain as much as comp Halo does.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1366" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo1.jpg" alt="Women of Halo group picture at HCS Salt Lake City 2024" class="wp-image-114536" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo1.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo1-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo1-1568x1046.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></figure>



Who are some of your favorite Halo characters and why?



It is so hard to choose a single favorite Halo character. My top favorite characters include the Master Chief, Cortana, Johnson, and the Arbiter. If I had to only choose one, I would choose the Arbiter.



I tend to align with rebel forces in sci-fi sagas and root for the underdogs. When the Arbiter rebelled against the Prophets and the Elites left the Covenant, I knew he would be my favorite. Also, he is voiced by Keith David who is one of my favorite voice actors—so bonus points to the Arbiter.



Do you have a favorite piece of Halo merch on your shelf?



My favorite Halo merch item is actually one that I made myself. It is the Women of Halo mosaic. I gathered over 200 photos of ladies in the community and composed a Lady Spartan Mosaic.



I plan on making it an annual event so I will continue to gather photos of more ladies as they join our community. It was the first piece of Women of Halo merch I created, and it has significant meaning to me. It highlights the incredible community that we have cultivated.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="2048" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo4.jpg" alt="Women of Halo mosaic made up of many profile pictures of women in the Halo community" class="wp-image-114578" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo4.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo4-300x300.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo4-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo4-150x150.jpg 150w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo4-768x768.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo4-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo4-1568x1568.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></figure>



Let’s talk about <a href="https://x.com/WomenofHalo">Women of Halo</a>—tell us about this awesome group and how it began.



The Women of Halo group was started at the release of Halo Infinite by Hayley (<a href="https://x.com/Veronickuh_">@Veronickuh_</a>) and Jenn (<a href="https://x.com/Lady_Echidna">@Lady_Echidna</a>), where they created a Discord server for ladies in the Halo community. The main purpose of the Discord was to build a space where ladies could meet friends, find groups to play with, advertise women’s tournaments, and grow the community. Hayley spent many years working on women’s tournaments, hosting women’s 8s, and building our community—so the Discord was vital in facilitating that growth. It was where I was able to meet many friends and find my place in contributing to our community.



Not long after Infinite’s release, I reached out to Hayley and Jenn to reinvigorate the group and was welcomed with open arms. We saw that there was an opportunity to build the community more and turn the Women of Halo name into something bigger than we originally anticipated. The three of us knew we needed additional woman power to meet our ambitious goals and knew Celeste (<a href="https://x.com/itsBiiTTERSWEET">@itsBiiTTERSWEET</a>) and Kristine/Domino (<a href="https://x.com/KrisEsfandiary">@KrisEsfandiary</a>) would be invaluable assets to the team. The five of us are actively working behind the scenes to provide opportunities to the Women of Halo community.



Did you have any specific goals in mind with the creation of this group?



The Women of Halo does have specific goals in mind. We want to continue to provide a welcoming, fruitful environment for women to meet friends and play their favorite game, Halo. Being a woman in male-dominated spaces can be challenging at times so constructing a space where we can feel safe and accepted with no judgement is liberating.



We plan on hosting frequent community game nights, pop up tournaments, and 8s lobbies. Currently, we are building the brand and networking. We have hosted multiple tournaments to date and want to continue to host more in the future. The women’s tournaments are an excellent avenue for ladies to improve competitively and make a name for themselves if they intend on competing in HCS events. For those that do not want to compete in HCS, the tournaments are a fun way to get games in with friends.



Future forward, we would like to inaugurate a women’s Halo league with large prize pools and participation.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1536" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo2.jpg" alt="Women of Halo group picture at HCS London 2024" class="wp-image-114550" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo2.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo2-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo2-1568x1176.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></figure>



What does it mean to you personally to be a voice for women in the Halo community?



I am honored to be considered a voice for women in the Halo community. I have always been a quiet, introverted person, so I never expected to be in a position where I represented an entire community. I feel it is a privilege and a considerable responsibility.



At the end of the day, I want the ladies in our community to get the recognition they deserve and normalize the existence of women within gaming spaces. If I can have a lasting impact and use my voice to uplift all women, I will consider myself successful.



I am confident that we, as a community, will exert a positive influence on gaming spaces. The future is bright, and I am excited to experience it with everyone.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1536" height="2048" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo6.jpg" alt="Photo of Jenn with @K1DDQ, @MonieIRL, and @SavageGiggles" class="wp-image-114606" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo6.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo6-225x300.jpg 225w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo6-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo6-1152x1536.jpg 1152w" sizes="(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px" /></figure>



What are some of the things you love most about the Women of Halo community?



The Women of Halo are incredibly special to me and there are innumerable things I love about our community. I have had the honor of meeting and befriending some of the most wonderful ladies imaginable.



Our community comes from a wide range of backgrounds, regions, personalities, ambitions, and perspectives. There is something to learn from every person. We’ve become a close-knit group who are all willing to reach out and offer support wherever needed. I feel like it is rare to find such an expansive group that is as close and caring for one another as we are. I’m grateful for each and every lady.



What’s coming up for the Women of Halo community? Any events, streams (etc.) we should keep an eye out for?



We have big plans on the horizon! To give a small sneak peek, we are in talks with a few organizations for upcoming tournaments. We have officially set up a Twitch channel (<a href="https://www.twitch.tv/womenofhalo">twitch.tv/womenofhalo</a>) and plan on streaming community nights.



Keep an eye out for community game nights, lady 8s, pop up tournaments, larger scale tournaments, and more <a href="https://x.com/nYDaYQuiL">@nYDaYQuiL</a> Mini 8s tournaments.



Some of our executive team also plan on attending events and will have stickers to pass out. We post event information on our Twitter and in our Discord, so be sure to follow us for updates!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://x.com/WomenofHalo"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="500" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo9.jpg" alt="Women of Halo social banner" class="wp-image-114648" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo9.jpg 1500w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo9-300x100.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo9-1024x341.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo9-768x256.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></a></figure>



What are some of your biggest inspirations in life?



One of my biggest inspirations in life is knowing that one small gesture of kindness can affect those around us for the better.



Like many people, I have had my share of traumas and difficult years. I struggled with depression and had moments where the world felt like it was closing in on me. Fortunately, I was able to find healing and coping mechanisms that worked for me, and I am in a much better place mentally than I was previously. I do not want anyone else to experience those lows, so I try to approach my days and situations from a place of empathy and understanding.



I think the world would benefit from more compassion and knowing every small act of humanity can have a lasting positive impact is inspirational to me.



Do you have any folks out there who inspire you that you’d like to give a shoutout to?



The folks that inspire me are my family—specifically, my dad and sister. I would not be the person I am today if it were not for them and the influence they continually have on my life. My dad did his best to raise two girls on his own and I am proud of him for all he has accomplished and the support he gives. My sister is my best friend and I would be lost without her.



I am also inspired by the phenomenal ladies that work on the Women of Halo with me. Hayley, Jenn, Celeste, and Kristine/Domino are remarkable and I am fortunate to call them my friends. I would also like to shout out the entire Women of Halo community. There are too many ladies to list, but I cannot reiterate enough the love I have for all of them.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1920" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo5-scaled.jpg" alt="Photo of Jenn with @K1DDQ and @MonieIRL" class="wp-image-114592" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo5-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo5-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo5-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo5-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo5-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo5-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/WomenOfHalo5-1568x1176.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></figure>



Tell us an interesting fact about yourself!



An interesting fact about myself? I am a decent artist. I created the Women of Halo logo and our merchandise designs. I won multiple art shows competitions while in high school and continue to draw for fun in my free time.



Thank you again for joining us in this issue, Jenn! Do you have any parting words to share?



Thank you for having me! I want to say thank you to all the people who support the Women of Halo group and our initiatives. The greater Halo community, 343, HCS, and various organizations have all shown fervent support and I cannot thank everyone enough. I appreciate the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Women of Halo and look forward to our future!



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Be sure to <a href="https://x.com/ImJ3N3R1C">follow Jenn on Twitter</a>, keep up with all the awesome community work and events that the <a href="https://x.com/Womenofhalo">Women of Halo</a> group are up to, and <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/womenofhalo">head over to their Twitch channel</a> to check out their streams!

Issue 019

Community Corner: ImJ3N3R1C (Women of Halo)

BeansAndEgg

Spotlight: July 18, 2024