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Infection: Alpha Zombies & Refresh

Community Spotlight

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>!

Alex Wakeford

Community Corner: The Forge Falcons

Community Update

Prior to the climactic conclusion of the 2024 Halo World Championship, we offered a glimpse of the future of Halo as the franchise and studio turns the page to begin a new chapter.



We are Halo Studios, and a new dawn is breaking as the future of Halo is being built with Unreal Engine 5. Join members of the Halo Studios team to learn more in this behind-the-scenes video:



<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDgR1FRJnF8">HALO | A NEW DAWN</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDgR1FRJnF8"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Video.jpg" alt="Click here to view A New Dawn video" class="wp-image-120322" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Video.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Video-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Video-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Video-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Video-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Video-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



“If you really break Halo down, there have been two very distinct chapters. Chapter 1 – Bungie. Chapter 2 – 343 Industries. Now, I think we have an audience which is hungry for more. So we’re not just going to try improve the efficiency of development, but change the recipe of how we make Halo games. So, we start a new chapter today.” ~ Pierre Hintze, Studio Head



To hear more from Pierre Hintze, Elizabeth Van Wyck, and Chris Matthews, visit Xbox Wire: <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/10/06/halo-studios-unreal-engine-interview/">Halo Studios: New Name, New Engine, New Games, New Philosophy</a>



A key step in our path for the future is Project Foundry. Neither a game nor a tech demo, Foundry represents our multi-discipline research and reflection on what is required to build Halo in Unreal, while also serving as a training tool for our development process going forwards.



This is the foundation for how we are changing the recipe for how we make Halo games.



In the video linked above, you will see old and new elements of Halo brought to life, exploring just how far we can push these environments. The classic Pacific Northwest landscape that has served as a familiar hallmark and stunning backdrop to many adventures over the years.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://aka.ms/HaloFoundry4K"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_PNW.jpg" alt="Project Foundry image of a Pacific Northwest-themed environment surrounding a Forerunner beam emitter" class="wp-image-120308" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_PNW.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_PNW-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_PNW-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_PNW-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_PNW-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_PNW-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



The deep freeze of the Coldlands, where a Forerunner beam emitter stands amidst snow-covered plateaus and the environment is reflected in great fields of ice.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://aka.ms/HaloFoundry4K"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Coldlands.jpg" alt="Project Foundry image of a Forerunner beam emitter in an environment of snow and ice with the band of the Halo ring silhouetted against a gas giant and moon" class="wp-image-120266" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Coldlands.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Coldlands-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Coldlands-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Coldlands-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Coldlands-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Coldlands-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



And the Blightlands, where we bear witness to a place that has been consumed by the Flood—the virulent parasite that is the reason why the Halo Array was built.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://aka.ms/HaloFoundry4K"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Blightlands.jpg" alt="Project Foundry image of a Forerunner beam emitter and environment that has been completely consumed by the Flood" class="wp-image-120224" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Blightlands.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Blightlands-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Blightlands-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Blightlands-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Blightlands-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Blightlands-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



And at the center of the action, we see the Master Chief clad in his iconic MJOLNIR Mark V armor facing off against an Energy Sword-wielding Elite, ready to finish the fight.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://aka.ms/HaloFoundry4K"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_ChiefVsElite.jpg" alt="Project Foundry image of the Master Chief holding an M6D Magnum facing off against a Sangheili wielding an Energy Sword" class="wp-image-120252" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_ChiefVsElite.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_ChiefVsElite-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_ChiefVsElite-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_ChiefVsElite-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_ChiefVsElite-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_ChiefVsElite-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



This gives us a glimpse at the sheer level of fidelity we are able to realize when bringing both new and legacy assets to life, such as the M6D Magnum.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://aka.ms/HaloFoundry4K"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Magnum.jpg" alt="Project Foundry image of a close-up on the M6D Magnum" class="wp-image-120280" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Magnum.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Magnum-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Magnum-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Magnum-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Magnum-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_Magnum-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



This is just the first step in our transformation as a studio as we have worked to change our structure, our processes in how we build our games, the technology powering those games, and our culture of how we work together.



We are working on multiple projects and looking to grow our team as we build the next generation of Halo with Unreal Engine and deliver stories of hope and heroism, alien worlds of wonder and mystery, and unforgettable experiences with your fireteam of friends and family.



Stay up to date by following us on LinkedIn, and visit Microsoft Careers to learn more about how you can help us forge the future of Halo and apply to open roles.



<a href="http://aka.ms/halojobs">JOIN HALO STUDIOS</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/halo-foundryue5-bb6690d90c204266b76244eff4f9890a.zip"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_ChiefSword.jpg" alt="Project Foundry image of the Master Chief wielding an Energy Sword" class="wp-image-120238" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_ChiefSword.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_ChiefSword-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_ChiefSword-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_ChiefSword-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_ChiefSword-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/Foundry_ChiefSword-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>

343 INDUSTRIES

A New Dawn

Feet First into Fall

Forge Features

Fall is (almost) here and so is another installment of Forge Features! This is where we look at all the incredible works that players across the Halo community are creating in Halo Infinite’s Forge tool.



And yes. I’m blinded by the majesty each and every time. Let’s check out some new stuff together!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-huge-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/93c10991-6e5c-4cf9-91f2-03bc40329a05">BENEATH</a></h2>



Credits: Zaddy Hammer, The Xzamplez <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/93c10991-6e5c-4cf9-91f2-03bc40329a05">Bookmark</a>



<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/Beneath_Waypoint.jpg" alt="Beneath - an ethereal map created in Halo Infinite's Forge tool." class="wp-image-119119" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Beneath_Waypoint.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Beneath_Waypoint-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Beneath_Waypoint-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Beneath_Waypoint-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Beneath_Waypoint-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Beneath_Waypoint-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



“Stunning” is the only word that comes to mind checking out this asymmetrical map. Everything about this map is pleasing to the eye and serves as a brilliant reminder of how powerful Forge is.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/c61aa8f0-d6d3-4ee7-b6ed-704d922fafa7">CONJURER</a></h2>



Credits: bullet2thehead9, MikRips, DISTORTED JAKAL, Mr Greencastle <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/c61aa8f0-d6d3-4ee7-b6ed-704d922fafa7">Bookmark</a>



<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/Conjurer_Waypoint.jpg" alt="Conjurer - a reimagining of Wizard from Halo C E, created in Halo Infinite's Forge." class="wp-image-119133" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Conjurer_Waypoint.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Conjurer_Waypoint-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Conjurer_Waypoint-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Conjurer_Waypoint-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Conjurer_Waypoint-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Conjurer_Waypoint-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Wizard…Warlock…Warlord…This map has known many iterations. But this might be the most beautiful one yet. Looks like it was conjured straight out of a fantasy novel!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/4d7632b7-6511-4a52-aafd-825c7fa77d8a">BOREALIS</a></h2>



Credits: SilvervioletX98 <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/4d7632b7-6511-4a52-aafd-825c7fa77d8a">Bookmark</a> | <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/9ffdeb92-4b35-4023-840e-c5c79517ae9d">Firefight Bookmark</a>



<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/Borealis_Waypoint.jpg" alt="Borealis - A B T B map inspired by Halo C E with a borealis in the sky created in Halo Infinite's Forge." class="wp-image-119147" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Borealis_Waypoint.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Borealis_Waypoint-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Borealis_Waypoint-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Borealis_Waypoint-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Borealis_Waypoint-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/Borealis_Waypoint-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Fit for a Big Team Battle or a fierce Firefight, Borealis will give you big Halo: Combat Evolved vibes.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/54cb69c3-9f60-4061-85c4-0ab3da4d234a">HACKSAW CANYON</a></h2>



Credits: nkdape <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/54cb69c3-9f60-4061-85c4-0ab3da4d234a">Bookmark</a>



<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/HacksawCanyon_Waypoint.jpg" alt="Hacksaw Canyon - a map created in Halo Infinite Forge." class="wp-image-119161" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/HacksawCanyon_Waypoint.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/HacksawCanyon_Waypoint-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/HacksawCanyon_Waypoint-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/HacksawCanyon_Waypoint-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/HacksawCanyon_Waypoint-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/HacksawCanyon_Waypoint-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Mashing up the unlikely pairing of Halo 4 and the battle of Hacksaw Ridge, this map works great for 8v8 squad battles as well as Firefight: King of the Hill, and a bunch of other modes.  



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/2abba1f1-c1b6-4f69-8136-70ebea74fcf1">SILENT CARTOGRAPHER</a></h2>



Credits: Nilphz, AxiosVH, Starkey213036, ArturBloodshot and RedDeath3401 <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/2abba1f1-c1b6-4f69-8136-70ebea74fcf1">Map</a> | <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/2f321d6e-7c78-41ec-aaf2-517cafc60188">Mode</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1079" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/SilentCartographer_Waypoint.jpg" alt="The Halo C E campaign mission Silent Cartographer recreated in Halo Infinite's Forge." class="wp-image-119175" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/SilentCartographer_Waypoint.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/SilentCartographer_Waypoint-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/SilentCartographer_Waypoint-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/SilentCartographer_Waypoint-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/SilentCartographer_Waypoint-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/09/SilentCartographer_Waypoint-1568x881.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



The quintessential Master Chief experience—storming the beach of the Silent Cartographer. Now playable in Halo Infinite, courtesy of Forge.



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We’re always on the lookout for your creations, whether we’re surfing the in-game Customs Game Browser, browsing <s>Twitter</s> X, or by checking out the Forge show and tell area on the <a href="http://discord.gg/Halo">Halo Discord</a>.



Keep sharing your work and we’ll see you next time!

Community Cartography 030

Forge Features: September 20, 2024

Spotlight: September 16, 2024

While it’s been a bit, it’s been by no means dull. Since the last Forge Features edition, we’ve since had a <a href="https://aka.ms/FleetcomOperationLaunch">major content update,</a> three new modes (<a href="https://aka.ms/SentryDefenseBTB">BTB Sentry Defense</a>, <a href="https://aka.ms/FleetcomVIP">VIP</a>, and <a href="https://aka.ms/Headhunter">Headhunter</a>), and had a couple new Operations. But it’s finally back! Let’s check out some more fantastic Forge Features together.



Let’s jump in!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/dde40c05-2441-4e17-a4ed-3888a4a79c1e">ASCENSION</a></h2>



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/dde40c05-2441-4e17-a4ed-3888a4a79c1e">Bookmark</a> Credits: bullet2thehead9, UneeQ TV, Mr Greencastle, MikRips, DISTORTED JAKAL



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1152" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Ascension_01.jpg" alt="A Forge remake of Halo 2's map Ascension" class="wp-image-116569" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Ascension_01.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Ascension_01-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Ascension_01-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Ascension_01-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Ascension_01-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Ascension_01-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></figure>



Strong 2004 flashbacks here. Just in time for the twentieth anniversary of Halo 2. (Seriously? 20? How did that happen. Feels like just yesterday I was playing SWAT Carbines on the Halo 2 version of this…)



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/e78e9cdc-736d-4ba6-a17d-85fb5936324b">HIGHGEAR</a></h2>



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/e78e9cdc-736d-4ba6-a17d-85fb5936324b">Bookmark</a> Credits: WAR FH, W0lfR3ign, Okom1, I am a Luxury



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/HighGear_02.jpg" alt="A reimagining of Halo 3's High Ground in Halo Infinite's Forge called "High Gear"" class="wp-image-116583" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/HighGear_02.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/HighGear_02-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/HighGear_02-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/HighGear_02-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/HighGear_02-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/HighGear_02-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



High Ground: Evolved. This crew brought 2007 into 2024 with this evolution of the map that’s perfect for objective gameplay.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/abf3f00e-4e1f-4e30-863d-a02a1cbc6711">HOT POTATO TAG</a></h2>



Bookmark: <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/abf3f00e-4e1f-4e30-863d-a02a1cbc6711">Map</a> | <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/a8119872-7a33-4b58-93a8-d84abaec74f9">Mode</a> Credits: Synth7564



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/HotPotatoTag.jpg" alt="An obstacle course looking Forge map designed to play hot potato on." class="wp-image-116597" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/HotPotatoTag.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/HotPotatoTag-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/HotPotatoTag-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/HotPotatoTag-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/HotPotatoTag-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/HotPotatoTag-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



It’s tag meets hot potato as the player that is “It” has the skull and needs to melee someone else to pass it off. Use your mobility skills (sometimes you have a thruster, sometimes a grappleshot) to evade and avoid being caught with the potato when the timer reaches zero.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/bd19afb0-35d7-4b2b-9b6e-2e047088add6">CASTLE TOWN</a></h2>



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/bd19afb0-35d7-4b2b-9b6e-2e047088add6">Bookmark</a> Credits: Happy Majora



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/CastleTown.jpg" alt="A castle fortress built in Halo Infinite's Forge." class="wp-image-116611" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/CastleTown.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/CastleTown-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/CastleTown-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/CastleTown-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/CastleTown-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/CastleTown-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Stand as twilight descends and defend the castle. Become the legend you were born to be. 



PS – Have fun storming the castle! 



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/dee1171a-67ae-46b3-81cf-182e735f71ca">GATEKEEPER</a></h2>



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/dee1171a-67ae-46b3-81cf-182e735f71ca">Bookmark</a> Credits: SilvervioletX98



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Gatekeeper.jpg" alt="A mashup of Halo 3's Blackout and Guardian created in Halo Infinite's Forge." class="wp-image-116625" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Gatekeeper.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Gatekeeper-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Gatekeeper-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Gatekeeper-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Gatekeeper-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Gatekeeper-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Blackout but make it Guardian. The perfect mashup of the two fan-favorite maps.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/e3a47c9b-2363-4f8f-a1e5-139289421dfe">CASCADE</a></h2>



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/e3a47c9b-2363-4f8f-a1e5-139289421dfe">Bookmark</a> Credits: Classy Moth, beesonmars, DireDaybreak, Haijakk, sjmpson, Uber Panzerhund



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Cascade.jpg" alt="A doubles map built into some cliffs in Halo Infinite's Forge." class="wp-image-116639" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Cascade.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Cascade-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Cascade-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Cascade-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Cascade-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/08/Cascade-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Designed for 2v2 so grab a Spartan that’s got your back and take on another dynamic duo.



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There’s a good mix of old and new to be had in this issue so bookmark now and check them out later. If you’re looking to dip your toes into the Forge experience, show off some of your work, or get some pro-tips on scripting, don’t forget to swing by the <a href="https://discord.gg/Halo">Halo Discord and check out the Forge</a> section where you can find Forgers ready to assist.



Until next time!

Community Cartography 029

Forge Features: August 23, 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)

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