Community

Community Update

Alex Wakeford

February Fix

Canon Fodder

Games

Halo Infinite

Issue 124

Canon Fodder: Shippin’ Out

Issue 123

Canon Fodder: Foundations

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Modding tools for Halo: CE, Halo 2, and Halo 3 can be downloaded via Steam. When the tools are updated, be sure to re-extract the latest tags.zip file. When the tools are updated, mods should remain compatible though any tags modified in a previous version of the tools will require merging. 



These tools are being provided as-is. 



Licensing for the Halo: CE mod tools remains open to anyone who is interested in creating content for Halo: CE. For Halo 2 and Halo 3, you will need to own a license to the base game in Steam to gain access to the tools. The Halo: CE mod tools are available to anyone, regardless of which titles they own in Halo: MCC. To acquire the current mod tools, you can click the following links to install them if you own the DLC that matches the Toolset (ex. Halo 3 DLC for MCC would be entitled to Halo 3 Mod Tools): 



<ul><li><a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1532190">Halo: Combat Evolved</a></li><li><a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1613450">Halo 2</a></li><li><a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1695791">Halo 3</a></li></ul>



Or, alternatively, within the Steam app, in your Library, you can locate “Halo: CE Mod Tools – MCC” “Halo 2 Mod Tools – MCC” or “Halo 3 Mod Tools – MCC” and select to install with your Library filter set to include “Tools” as shown below. 



With this download, there are several programs that everyone will have access to. If you’ve modded in the Halo community before, some may be easily recognized. We also created an entirely new one to make modding Halo even easier. The screenshots below are specific to Halo: CE modding tools, though these tools function similarly in Halo 2 and Halo 3 as well.



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="826" height="1229" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/12/MOD2.png" alt=""Guerilla" - viewing the scenario tag for "The Silent Cartographer"" class="wp-image-25170" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/12/MOD2.png 826w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/12/MOD2-202x300.png 202w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/12/MOD2-688x1024.png 688w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/12/MOD2-768x1143.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 826px) 100vw, 826px" /></figure>



“Guerilla” – Viewing the scenario tag for “The Silent Cartographer” This program is used to edit the values of game content, which are files collectively called “tags.” There are tags for AI, bipeds, textures (aka, bitmaps), etc. You can use this program to update and alter these. 



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



“Sapien” – Viewing the level for “The Silent Cartographer” This one is the world or level editor for the game. Internally, levels are referred to as “scenarios.” This program allows you to populate data related to the level itself including things such as weapon placement, AI squads, and more.



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



Though basic in its name, this one is a command-line-only Swiss Army knife for very specific changes. This is used to perform all the tasks related to importing source content into tag files or even to building map files. These map files are internally referred to as ‘cache files.’ But this tool will help perform all these adjustments. 



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



This entirely new program is basically a development build of the game itself. It runs directly off tag files instead of cache files. This is largely meant to help improve iteration times for people who are building and modding content. This program is meant for advanced modification only. It is also targeted for non-multiplayer development only. You can’t use it to test multiplayer levels with others and it won’t even load multiplayer levels at this moment. You could load multiplayer levels as campaign levels, but it may or may not help you in your endeavors for it. For this tool, do not expect all the bells and whistles. This is very much a what you see is what you get sort of tool. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Additional Tools</h2>



In addition to these programs, we are also including zip files of level scripts and all the tag files which go into building the campaign and multiplayer levels. To access these, you will need to extract these files to begin editing these files or building existing levels. Part of the reason for using zips is so the final tools package is smaller to download, but also so tool updates don’t inadvertently replace files you edit. These tools are being provided as-is. While we plan to make updates over time to address issues we see the community talking about, the level of support these tools get should not be expected to match MCC itself. These are the tools which developers used or are using. They were originally developed with the expectation that a programmer was never too far away to fix or help someone work around an issue. They can be used in many ways, but not all workflows may work as expected on your machine. Future updates made to MCC may require you to rebuild your maps to play properly. However, we do not intend to break compatibility of tag files with tool updates, at least not without fair warning where possible. Halo: Combat Evolved, specifically, does not have a flexible tag system that can handle format changes gracefully. Later games improved this aspect. So, if such times come, all you should need to do is have the latest tools and rebuild your map. In order to take advantage of changes we make to the games; you may also need to update tags you use. Especially if you are using stock tag files (ones which are used to make the stock campaign and multiplayer levels), as these may have been changed to address bugs or other support items. We hope you enjoy these new ways to interact with Halo and we look forward to hearing from the community on your modding endeavors. Happy Modding all!

343 INDUSTRIES

Halo: MCC Creator Hub

Happy Halodays 2021

GrimBrother One

Issue 122

Canon Fodder: Legendary Endings

Celebrating 20 Years of Halo

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!

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>

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