WINTER CONTINGENCY III PRESS KIT

Games

Rockin’ around Zeta Halo At the all-night customs hop, Rockets spawn where you can see, Every teammate tries to stop!



The Winter Contingency III Operation is here! From December 19 through January 30, you can deck your Spartan and arsenal out with 20 tiers of free Holiday-themed customization rewards and bring some festive cheer to the battlefield!



<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="Winter Contingency III Trailer | Season 5: Reckoning | Halo Infinite" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_eq7qBHE3dg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WINTER CONTINGENCY III OPERATION PASS</h2>



Hark! The herald angels sing: The Winter Contingency III Operation Pass features 20 tiers of free customization rewards, including new armor pieces (like the Santa-inspired Winterknight helmet), new coatings, and new nameplates and emblems.



Take a look!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2160" height="2160" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_OperationPassRewards.jpg" alt="Image showing the Winter Contingency III key art along with the free reward track featuring 22 items" class="wp-image-89088" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_OperationPassRewards.jpg 2160w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_OperationPassRewards-300x300.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_OperationPassRewards-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_OperationPassRewards-150x150.jpg 150w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_OperationPassRewards-768x768.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_OperationPassRewards-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_OperationPassRewards-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_OperationPassRewards-1568x1568.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2160px) 100vw, 2160px" /></figure>



Like with our debut Operation, Combined Arms, the Operation Pass for Winter Contingency III comes with premium upgrade options:



<ul><li>500 credits instantly unlocks an exclusive bonus customization item, makes the Operation Pass durable (it will not expire), and—when equipped—offers bonus XP and an extra Challenge slot during the Operation’s live window.</li><li>2,000 credits instantly unlocks all 20 tiers of the Operation Pass at purchase and includes the exclusive bonus customization item.</li></ul>



Purchase either of the options above and you will additionally unlock the exclusive Ice Fissure armor coating.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_SplashScreen.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of the switcher showing the 500 credit premium pass (featuring the exclusive Ice Fissure armor coating and the 2000 credit premium pass" class="wp-image-89551" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_SplashScreen.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_SplashScreen-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_SplashScreen-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_SplashScreen-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_SplashScreen-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_SplashScreen-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption> Winter Contingency Premium Pass Screen</figcaption></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SHOP & ULTIMATE REWARD</h2>



Deck the halls with Spartan Santas! The Santa’s Little Helper bundle is available in Halo Infinite’s Shop, featuring the following items:



<ul><li>Stocking Stuffer MK50 Sidekick, Slay Bells BR75, & Holiday Cheer M41 SPNKr weapon models</li><li>Santa’s Little Helper, Good Morning, Payment Due, & Krampus Coat weapon coatings</li><li>Yule Kick, Blood Jumper, & Hearth Fire armor coatings</li><li>Gifted Step mythic armor effect set</li><li>Winter Step & Winter Lights armor effects</li><li>Chill Out kill effect</li><li>Snowballer weapon charm</li><li>Kaleidobolt, Kaleidoshot, and Kaleidochip nameplate & emblems</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_SantasLittleHelper.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of the Santa's Little Helper bundle" class="wp-image-89046" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_SantasLittleHelper.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_SantasLittleHelper-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_SantasLittleHelper-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_SantasLittleHelper-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_SantasLittleHelper-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_SantasLittleHelper-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



And be sure to complete all of your Challenges this week to unlock the latest Ultimate Reward: the Sui Generis Snowflake weapon charm.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_UltimateReward_SuiGeneris.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of the Sui Generis weapon charm" class="wp-image-89060" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_UltimateReward_SuiGeneris.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_UltimateReward_SuiGeneris-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_UltimateReward_SuiGeneris-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_UltimateReward_SuiGeneris-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_UltimateReward_SuiGeneris-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WCIII_UltimateReward_SuiGeneris-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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



We’ve got some great options for those looking to kick back and have a Halo-day party of their own. Be sure to check both experiences, live now!



FIREFIGHT: KOTH (LEGENDARY)



There won’t be any Holidays if we don’t stop the Banished.



Firefight: Legendary King of the Hill has arrived! You know the drill: you’ll be battling waves of Banished enemies across a variety of maps, including the House of Reckoning from Halo Infinite‘s campaign, but those looking to test their mettle can jump into the action on Legendary for a limited time.



Fight hard. Die well.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FFKOTH_Legendary.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite playlist image for Firefight: King of the Hill on Legendary difficulty depicting Spartans fighting Banished on the House of Reckoning map" class="wp-image-89102" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FFKOTH_Legendary.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FFKOTH_Legendary-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FFKOTH_Legendary-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FFKOTH_Legendary-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FFKOTH_Legendary-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FFKOTH_Legendary-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



MATCH XP, CAREER RANK, & CHALLENGES



We’re improving the experience for folks who are loving Firefight and want to spend their time fighting the Banished. First, Match XP (Battle Pass) payouts for some hill completions in Heroic and Legendary will be incrementally higher to reward the level of challenge. And secondly, both Heroic and Legendary will also have slightly increased Career Rank payouts thanks to an Applied Score modifier to ensure they align more closely with other playlists.



Last, but certainly not least, the Challenges offered each week will be adjusted to better serve the PvE experience. Since we are leveraging existing Challenges, that will means folks may see similar Challenges in their given deck for the foreseeable future.



SQUAD BATTLE IN THE COMBAT WORKSHOP



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/winter_pk_208.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of a Spartan holding a plasma pistol standing in front of a snowman made in Forge" class="wp-image-89116" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/winter_pk_208.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/winter_pk_208-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/winter_pk_208-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/winter_pk_208-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/winter_pk_208-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/winter_pk_208-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Try out our updated networking model in Squad Battle through the Combat Workshop playlist!



The Squad Battle experience you know and love has been updated to run on our new networking model for a limited time. Enjoy a mix of Slayer and objective modes on fan-favorite maps while we gather feedback and data about the online experience.



The Combat Workshop is your one-shop stop to check out work-in-progress maps, modes, and other new experiences. If you’ve already jumped in to play in the Workshop: Squad Battle Networking playlist, <a href="https://aka.ms/SquadBattleNetSurveyWaypoint">we want your feedback!</a>



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That’s a wrap for us today, which means it’s now time for you to unwrap the gifts of Winter Contingency III.



Maybe you can’t get enough of Firefight: King of the Hill, or the incredible community-made PvE creations in the Customs Browser; perhaps you’re still riding on that Mountain Dew high and it’s time to jump back into the Halo 3 Refueled playlist; or you crave the chaotic carnage of Husky Raid and Squad Battle…



Whatever way you choose to play, you’ll earn Match XP to progress that Operation Pass!



And so, we bid our farewell to 2023. The Holidays await, and we here at 343 Industries hope you all simply have a wonderful time—warm and safe with full bellies, surrounded by good company, and ready to jump into “just one more game…”



Oh the weather outside is frightful, but Season 5 is so delightful—and since we’ve no place to go… Play Halo! Play Halo! Play Halo!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PRESS KIT</h2>



<a href="https://aka.ms/WCIIIPressKit">Download the official Winter Contingency III Press Kit here!</a>

Alex Wakeford

Winter Contingency III Operation Launch

Community

Forge Features

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… time to spend the holidays exploring the wonders of the Custom Game Browser!



If you’re looking for a place to start, I got you—let’s check some out together.



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<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/0b647a3e-a5ac-4f12-8222-566409c18430">WAKA WAKA</a> <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/3b794534-6c89-4226-9760-feb5018bf3e2">Mode Download</a> Author: McElgun



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/0b647a3e-a5ac-4f12-8222-566409c18430"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WakaWaka.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Waka Waka map made in Forge" class="wp-image-88929" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WakaWaka.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WakaWaka-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WakaWaka-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WakaWaka-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WakaWaka-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/WakaWaka-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



This infection map/mode combo is just the right amount of neon RGB for all gamers. There are cubbies with weapons for survivors and lots of twists and turns for zombies to hide. Keep your wits about you as you skulk around in the dark!



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<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/755ad181-e505-4023-b470-5d41f7d49832">DUCK HUNT MINECRAFT</a> <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/20e85e97-1067-410a-a202-81575483a686">Mode Download</a> Author: Kirby Oofss



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/755ad181-e505-4023-b470-5d41f7d49832"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/DuckHunt.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Minecraft-themed Duck Hunt map made in Forge" class="wp-image-88887" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/DuckHunt.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/DuckHunt-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/DuckHunt-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/DuckHunt-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/DuckHunt-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/DuckHunt-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



It’s the classic “get-from-point-A-to-point-B-while-not-being-sniped” mode with a blocky twist. Each level brings a new challenge in this cat-and-mouse game of sliding, running, jumping, and dodging to get to the end for a brief moment of respite before continuing through the maze. Good luck!



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<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/53aa6c36-22c3-47a1-ade0-76ec3232ec46">GOOSE HALO</a> <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/14ce711b-2bb9-4673-a2cb-c16b2bbb64d4">Mode Download</a> Authors: ArturBloodshot, Hitbox Unknown



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/53aa6c36-22c3-47a1-ade0-76ec3232ec46"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/GooseHalo.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of Goose Halo map made in Forge" class="wp-image-88901" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/GooseHalo.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/GooseHalo-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/GooseHalo-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/GooseHalo-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/GooseHalo-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/GooseHalo-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



The classic “Halo on Halo” returns in Halo Infinite. (Does that make it “Halo on Halo on Halo”? Say that three times fast.) You, a Mongoose, and your driving skills vs the eagle-eyed sharpshooter above.



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<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/a12d6d0f-2ff1-4927-b85c-b37b43dbdd07">ARCTIC POINT | FIREFIGHT OPS</a> Mode: <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/ce3ae052-8806-48d4-9f7e-f5d46dc84a4d">Easy</a> | <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/583a02e4-5073-48c9-a83b-b591ff75860a">Medium</a> | <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/ca723f5b-2513-4d05-b170-f2d7ee46a686">Hard</a> Authors: UneeQ TV, Mr Greencastle, Azwilko1997, Artifice7285



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/a12d6d0f-2ff1-4927-b85c-b37b43dbdd07"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/ArcticPoint.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Arctic Point map made in Forge" class="wp-image-88873" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/ArcticPoint.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/ArcticPoint-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/ArcticPoint-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/ArcticPoint-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/ArcticPoint-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/ArcticPoint-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Jump into Arctic Point and take on the enemy as you progress through this community-created campaign mission. How long can you survive the onslaught? If it’s too easy, try ramping up the difficulty!



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<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/3dca1327-2b01-4203-aa64-fa690f7e6b46">CAMPAIGN OP: SNOW SPEAR</a> Mode: <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/c22d0ffe-6130-49c7-a6de-6aabbb7330d5">Heroic</a> | <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/34cb31b0-5fdb-4fae-90fc-12f2fcf36907">Mythic</a> Author: seanonix



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/3dca1327-2b01-4203-aa64-fa690f7e6b46"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/SnowSpear.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Snow Spear map made in Forge" class="wp-image-88915" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/SnowSpear.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/SnowSpear-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/SnowSpear-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/SnowSpear-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/SnowSpear-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/SnowSpear-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Squad up and take on the enemy in this custom campaign level! Battle Bassus, juke with Jega (and more!) as you try to survive and make it to the end.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TUTORIAL TRAINING</h2>



‘Tis the season, and you can just call Ducain23 “Santa Forge” because he’s back with yet another tutorial for us!



If you want to properly winter-ize your maps but aren’t sure how to go about it, he’s got you covered and you’ll be decking the halls in no time.



<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="Christmas Themed Perfection! (Snow Ground)" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ddr4aV3fkSg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



SEND NODES



/u/Bricklemore says “no one asked for this,” but after checking it out <a href="https://old.reddit.com/r/halo/comments/18dghfe/forge_infographics_the_anatomy_of_a_node_my_last/">Node Anatomy 101</a> is something I think a lot of aspiring Forgers will certainly appreciate. Nodes can be confusing and this helpful diagram breaks it down into smaller, more manageable chunks.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://old.reddit.com/r/halo/comments/18dghfe/forge_infographics_the_anatomy_of_a_node_my_last/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1888" height="1345" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/NodeGraph.jpg" alt="Community-made infographic containing details about node graphs" class="wp-image-88943" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/NodeGraph.jpg 1888w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/NodeGraph-300x214.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/NodeGraph-1024x729.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/NodeGraph-768x547.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/NodeGraph-1536x1094.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/NodeGraph-1568x1117.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1888px) 100vw, 1888px" /></a></figure>



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That’s a wrap on Forge Features for the year! We’ll be back with more next year—in the meantime, play hard, win well.



Happy Halodays!

snickerdoodle

Community Cartography 023

Forge Features: December 15, 2023

With the launch of the <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/december-update-halo-infinite" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">December Mid-Season Update</a>, we included the latest updates to our networking model in the <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/firefight-king-of-the-hill-preview" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Firefight: King of the Hill (opens in a new tab)">Firefight: King of the Hill</a> mode. 



We wanted to roll it out in this PvE experience first to have a safe testbed to see how it behaves at scale before enabling it in a PvP mode. However, after listening to player feedback and getting many requests to try this in multiplayer, we decided to expand the experiment to the Squad Battle playlist. 



That’s right, the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/squad-battle" target="_blank">Squad Battle</a> experience you know and love has been updated to run on our updated networking model for a limited time in the Combat Workshop. The Combat Workshop is your one-shop stop to check out work-in-progress maps, modes, and other new experiences. In this playlist you’ll be able to enjoy a mix of Slayer and objective modes on fan-favorite maps while we gather feedback and data about the online experience.



If you’ve already jumped in to play in the Workshop: Squad Battle Networking playlist, we want your feedback!







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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://aka.ms/SquadBattleNetSurveyWaypoint" target="_blank">-> START THE SURVEY <-</a></h2>



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And, if you experience any technical issues, please be sure to report them to us by using the Halo Support site at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://aka.ms/HaloSupport" target="_blank">aka.ms/HaloSupport</a>.



Thank you for your continued feedback, and we’ll see you online in Squad Battle!

Unyshek

Combat Workshop: Squad Battle Networking

The long-awaited PvE Firefight experience has arrived to Halo Infinite.



<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="Spartan Chatter: Firefight: King of the Hill" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TcFPhwKyhfs?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Michael “Forge Lord” Schorr and Technical Designer Connor Kennelly joined us to talk about the mode and the evolution of Firefight from the survival round-based nature in Halo 3: ODST to the King of the Hill version in Halo Infinite. If you missed it, you can catch up on the chatter below. 



Some key highlights include:  



<ul><li>Design philosophy behind Firefight: KOTH </li><li>Addition of High Value Targets from campaign </li><li>Match XP and Career Rank improvements on the way</li><li>Exploring the addition of FF Challenges </li><li>…and more! </li></ul>



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/firefight-king-of-the-hill-preview" target="_blank">You can read more about Firefight: King of the Hill in our deep dive here.</a> 



— 



Spartan Chatter is an audio series, a podcast if you will, hosted on our <a href="http://discord.gg/Halo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">official Halo Discord</a> which brings members of the studio together to discuss all things Halo with a live audience. 



You can find previous episodes of Spartan Chatter on our <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SWLEPaTx4c&list=PLn5QvCoiY3w7t84T_MFkGl8qvYI_q148-" target="_blank">YouTube channel’s Podcasts page</a> and on our Discord server.



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Episode 1: Forge & Multiplayer with Michael Schorr  <a href="https://youtu.be/7QNHxDg0c9A" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube</a> | <a href="https://discord.com/channels/471722331820130324/471730128335142912/1104135351133552664" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Discord</a> 



Episode 2: Infection, Season 4, & Career Rank with Sean Baron  <a href="https://youtu.be/4SWLEPaTx4c" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube</a> | <a href="https://discord.com/channels/471722331820130324/471730128335142912/1109279140449894501" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Discord</a> 



Episode 3: Ranked Matchmaking with Tashi Hasandjekic  <a href="https://youtu.be/fQn8wuvz6P0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube</a> | <a href="https://discord.com/channels/471722331820130324/471730128335142912/1129534622267613216" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Discord</a> 



Episode 4: Halo: Outcasts with Jeff Easterling and Alex Wakeford  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL2mK1cZhi8&list=PLn5QvCoiY3w7t84T_MFkGl8qvYI_q148-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube</a> | <a href="https://discord.com/channels/471722331820130324/471730128335142912/1139676521884286986" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Discord</a>

Firefight: King of the Hill | Spartan Chatter

PRESS KIT

The December Update for Halo Infinite has arrived!



Firefight: King of the Hill, the new Repair Field Equipment, huge additions to Forge with new bosses and High Value Targets added to the Forge AI Toolkit, Custom Game Browser and Ranked improvements—and more.



Here are the highlights of what await you today in Halo Infinite…



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT’S NEW?</h2>



FIREFIGHT: KING OF THE HILL



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Firefight: King of the Hill Trailer | Season 5: Reckoning | Halo Infinite" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g_x0LVnITTg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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The latest incarnation of Firefight has come to Halo Infinite—Firefight: King of the Hill.



You and three other players face off against waves of Banished baddies as you fight to capture hills in this PvE experience, featuring nine maps—including the House of Reckoning from Halo Infinite’s campaign.



The nine maps featured in the Firefight: King of the Hill playlist are:



<ul><li>House of Reckoning</li><li>Behemoth</li><li>Deadlock</li><li>Launch Site</li><li>Live Fire</li><li>Oasis</li><li>Exiled (by Epetr0, SandoChokUN)</li><li>Kusini Bay (by Mr Kwatz)</li><li>Vallaheim (by HaiseOz)</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FFKOTH_Normal_WM.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite playlist image for Firefight: King of the Hill on Normal difficulty depicting Spartans fighting Banished on the House of Reckoning map" class="wp-image-87754" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FFKOTH_Normal_WM.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FFKOTH_Normal_WM-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FFKOTH_Normal_WM-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FFKOTH_Normal_WM-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FFKOTH_Normal_WM-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FFKOTH_Normal_WM-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



For a deep dive into this new mode, <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/firefight-king-of-the-hill-preview">check out our blog on Firefight: King of the Hill</a>.



Also, coming this week is a new Waypoint Chronicle (our last one for 2023) themed around Halo Infinite‘s Firefight experience, so keep an eye out!



REPAIR FIELD



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of the new Repair Field equipment attached to a Warthog on the map Breaker" class="wp-image-87274" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Need to conduct some repairs while out in the field? We’ve got the perfect Equipment item for you…



Introducing our latest sandbox addition to Halo Infinite, the Repair Field—a neutral piece of Equipment that heals allies, enemies, and even vehicles. It can even revive Spartans in select modes like Firefight: King of the Hill.



FORGE UPDATES



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1363" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/HVTForge1-scaled.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of High Value Targets (Bipbap, Tremonius, and Writh Kul) being placed on the map Oasis in Forge" class="wp-image-87571" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/HVTForge1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/HVTForge1-300x160.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/HVTForge1-1024x545.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/HVTForge1-768x409.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/HVTForge1-1536x818.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/HVTForge1-2048x1090.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/HVTForge1-1568x835.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></figure>



Forge continues to be enhanced and improved with exciting new additions, including:



<ul><li>High Value Targets and bosses from Halo Infinite’s campaign added to Forge AI Toolkit.</li><li>Skull modifiers added to node graph.</li><li>Quality of life updates (global material allow list, scalable blockers, auto turret allegiance options, and more).</li></ul>



RANKED



Based on player feedback, audio and UI elements for Ranked Extraction have been improved. The Ranked experience will also be getting some quality-of-life updates around CSR.



<ul><li>Audio from the Extraction device is no longer global, it is emitted from the device itself which means you’ll need to be in its vicinity to hear whether it’s being converted.</li><li>UI will no longer show the Extraction device actively being converted.</li><li>Once you rank up a tier, you will get three games, win or lose, before a loss will rank you down to the previous tier. Additionally, if a player in the match (who is not on your fireteam) quits, you will not lose CSR if you decide to quit as well.</li></ul>



CUSTOM GAME BROWSER



With this update, the Custom Game Browser received some improvements and fixes:



<ul><li>As long as enough slots are open, the Fireteam leader can bring their entire party into a CGB session.</li><li>Issues blocking players from joining CGB sessions and unclear messaging have been resolved.</li></ul>



STABILITY & NETWORKING



The online experience for Halo Infinite continues to be improved upon and we have been looking to address that even further with this update.



<ul><li>A new networking system has been implemented into Halo Infinite that will be tested in the Firefight: King of the Hill playlist (as PvE is a safer environment for us to test this overhauled system at scale) and will later be tested further in the Combat Workshop.</li></ul>



For a full breakdown of all the new additions and improvements in the December Update, you can <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/december-update-halo-infinite">check out our December Update preview blog</a> or head over to <a href="http://aka.ms/HaloSupport">read the Patch Notes on Halo Support</a>.



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That closes us out for this latest update. Jump into some Firefight, try out the Repair Field, enhance your Forge maps even further with newly added bosses, test your communication in Ranked Extraction, and enjoy a smoother ride with your friends in the Custom Game Browser…



The December Update for Halo Infinite is live now!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PRESS KIT</h2>



<a href="http://aka.ms/FFKOTHPressKit">Download the full 4K Press Kit for the December Mid-Season Update.</a>

December Mid-Season Update Launch | Halo Infinite

A Brief History of Firefight

Firefight: King of the Hill Preview | Halo Infinite

The December Mid-Season Update for Halo Infinite arrives on December 5, just a few short days from now, and we’ve got the details of everything you need to know right here.



Firefight: King of the Hill, the new Repair Field equipment, Forge updates, Ranked and Custom Game Browser improvements, and much more are prepared to drop—let’s get you briefed!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FIREFIGHT: KING OF THE HILL</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-10.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of a Brute Chieftain and Brute Warrior in a hill on the House of Reckoning" class="wp-image-87218" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-10.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-10-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-10-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-10-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-10-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-10-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Bip. Bap. Bam! Firefight is coming to Halo Infinite next week.



Over the years, Firefight has taken many forms across various Halo games. From its traditional survival mode in Halo 3: ODST to its more arcade-inspired incarnation in Halo: Reach, to Warzone Firefight in Halo 5, along with Blitz Firefight and Terminus Firefight in Halo Wars 2—it’s a mode that has evolved across games, and the time has come for it to arrive in Halo Infinite.



Firefight: King of the Hill will see you and three other players facing off against waves of Banished baddies as you fight to capture hills on nine maps when the playlist goes live—including the House of Reckoning from Halo Infinite’s campaign and three community-made maps.



We’ll have a full, detailed blog on Firefight: King of the Hill going live on December 4, ahead of its in-game debut the following day.



We can’t wait for you to get your hands on it!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">REPAIR FIELD</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of the new Repair Field equipment attached to a Warthog on the map Breaker" class="wp-image-87274" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Need to conduct some repairs while out in the field? We’ve got the perfect Equipment item for you…



Introducing our latest sandbox addition to Halo Infinite, the Repair Field!



Similar to the Regenerator from Halo 3, the Repair Field is a neutral piece of Equipment that heals allies and enemies within its radius. It’s also capable of repairing vehicles, and it can be attached to them (as well as most environmental surfaces). Additionally, the Repair Field can also revive downed Spartans in select modes such as Firefight: King of the Hill, Attrition, etc.



Are you the kind of player that prefers to provide support for the team? The Repair Field is a great complement to that particular playstyle and, used strategically, just might help give your team an edge in a firefight or vehicular showdown.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">RANKED IMPROVEMENTS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/HI_S5_Extraction_01_Watermarked_1920x1080.jpg" alt="A multiplayer Spartan plays Extraction in Halo Infinite." class="wp-image-83075" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/HI_S5_Extraction_01_Watermarked_1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/HI_S5_Extraction_01_Watermarked_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/HI_S5_Extraction_01_Watermarked_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/HI_S5_Extraction_01_Watermarked_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/HI_S5_Extraction_01_Watermarked_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/HI_S5_Extraction_01_Watermarked_1920x1080-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



The Ranked experience is getting some improvements in this December Update, starting off with updates to Ranked Extraction and CSR.



<ul><li>RANKED EXTRACTION</li></ul>



At the moment, you can hear that your Extraction point is being converted by the enemy team from anywhere on the map. This meant players were able to leave the area around the Extraction device and use the global audio queue to tell them when to peek back out. With this upcoming audio change, the device itself will emit the audio, meaning you’ll have to be in close vicinity to hear it’s being converted. As a result, teams will need to pay closer attention to the Extraction device.



Right now, you can see in your UI when the Extraction point is being converted. Similar to above, this allowed players to leave the area near the Extraction device and only peek out when the UI showed it was being converted. With our upcoming change, this will go away almost entirely. The UI will no longer indicate to you when the Extraction point is actively being converted, and it will also no longer indicate to you how much time is remaining. It’s going to play a bit old school and hardcore, as players and coaches will need to time the Extractions like timing weapons and powerups in previous Halo titles.



<ul><li>CSR IMPROVEMENTS</li></ul>



There are some further improvements also coming to rank loss protection and teammate quitting. Once you rank up a tier, you will get three games, win or lose, before a loss will rank you down to the previous tier. Additionally, if a player in the match (who is not on your fireteam) quits, you will not lose CSR if you decide to quit as well. You can read more about these updates <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/december-ranked-updates">in our most recent Ranked Update blog!</a>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FORGE UPDATES</h2>



When Season 5 launched back in October, the Forge AI Toolkit quite literally changed the game for community creators, allowing players for the first time ever to place campaign enemies into multiplayer maps to build PvE experiences.



In the December Update, we have some more improvements to share with you that will enhance this feature even further…



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-9.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Unggoy High Value Target known as Bipbap running in a hill capture zone on the House of Reckoning map" class="wp-image-87232" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-9.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-9-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-9-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-9-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-9-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-9-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<ul><li>HIGH VALUE TARGETS & BOSSES</li></ul>



In Halo Infinite’s campaign, there are various boss enemies that can be encountered on Zeta Halo, such as the High Value Targets that can be hunted down, each one rewarding the Master Chief with a powerful special weapon variant.



All fifteen of these HVTs will be added to Forge with the December Update—from the almighty Bipbap the Vanquisher to the very hungry Ik’novus the Devourer, and beyond.



Major bosses are also included in this line-up as well, such as Jega ‘Rdomnai, Escharum, and the Harbinger. The potential for what the creative cartographers in the community are going to make truly is endless (heh!)



<ul><li>SKULLS IN NODE GRAPH</li></ul>



With Firefight: KOTH on the way, enabling Skulls to modify difficulty is a notable part of the experience. With this update, Forgers will be able to use Node Graph to enable or disable any of the twelve Skulls, from Bandana to Black Eye.



Notably, Skulls are not just limited to the Firefight game variants. These difficulty modifiers will work in any game mode, allowing creators to use them to spice up ordinary multiplayer matches or extend their Season 5 PVE experiences.



<ul><li>QUALITY-OF-LIFE UPDATES</li></ul>



The Global Material Allow list gives the player the ability to access all swatches contained in swatch groups added to the global allow list in all regions. This functionally gives the player access to a much larger pool of swatches for each region, and allows regions previously disallowed from using tiling swatches to access them.



Because hugs make everything better, we have also added the Trigger Grunt Hug node to Forge’s Node Graph. This will allow creators to make any Grunts in a squad pull out two plasma grenades and run toward the nearest enemy until the grenades explode. We sincerely hope this addition will make your Custom Browser experiences with Grunts more loving and friendly.



Scalable Blockers allow the player to place a single blocker object and scale it to the size they’d like it to be. This will help you save on object count and help clean up maps.



Auto Turret Allegiance has been updated, meaning the Auto Turret will now respect the Team setting it receives in Forge. When placed on a team, the Auto Turret will treat units (players & AI) as allies and will not target them. If placed on Neutral team, the turret will remain hostile to all units.



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CUSTOM GAME BROWSER</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-55.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of three Spartans in a Warthog" class="wp-image-87246" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-55.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-55-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-55-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-55-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-55-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-55-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



When Season 5 launched, we introduced Custom Game XP and the addition of the Forge AI Toolkit opened up the floodgates for countless hours to be spent jumping from custom game to custom game—whether you’re looking for some of that classic Infection fun you’ve been enjoying since Halo 3, or the vast range of exciting new experiences that folks have been creating.



The team has been working on a variety of improvements to the Custom Game Browser which should make for a smoother ride for you and your fireteam.



<ul><li>JOIN SESSION AS FIRETEAM</li></ul>



As long as there are enough slots available, the Fireteam Leader can bring their entire party into a CGB session. Upon joining the session, all members of your Fireteam will join together and merge into the Custom Game leader’s Fireteam.



While working on this, the team also made sure that it was enabled for lobbies. If you are playing with a friend and want to join another friend’s lobby, you can choose “Join with Fireteam” to bring your entire Fireteam into their matchmaking/custom game lobby.



<ul><li>IMPROVEMENTS</li></ul>



Several improvements have been implemented to the Custom Game Browser, resolving issues that block players from joining CGB sessions that were open when a backend change occurred; issues around unclear messaging when attempting to join a full session; and instances where attempting to join a session that was no longer active would not deliver any failure messages.



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">STABILITY & NETWORKING</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-39.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of three Spartans in a Firefight: KOTH match on Exiled" class="wp-image-87260" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-39.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-39-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-39-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-39-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-39-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-39-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Along with all the additions and quality-of-life updates above, this update is also focused on increasing the game’s stability by addressing crashes and improving our online experience via updates to our networking.



Season 5 added more reporting information in the game, which helps us better detect when and why crashes happen. Using this data, the team has knocked out multiple crashes across PC and consoles, including the top crash on Xbox Series X|S devices.



As for improvements to networking, we’ve been working on a more comprehensive overhaul of the system. The first glimpse of this updated networking model will land on December 5 with the December Update. You’ll be able to jump into the Firefight: King of the Hill playlist and try out the new networking model in a safe environment. Enabling it in a PvE experience gives us a safe testbed to see how it behaves at scale before enabling it in a PvP mode, where the stakes would feel much higher for each player. Please be sure to dive in, blast the Banished, and let us know how it feels in Firefight: King of the Hill. If the results are promising, we’ll look to host a PvP experience in the Combat Workshop in the future.



While there should only be improvements in these areas, please be sure to report any crashes or networking related issues to us <a href="http://aka.ms/HaloSupport" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">by using the Halo Support site</a>.



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That closes us out for this preview of 2023’s December Update for Halo Infinite. Stay tuned for a deep dive on Firefight on December 4 ahead of the update dropping out of slipspace on December 5!

December Mid-Season Update Preview | Halo Infinite

The next update for Halo Infinite will release including two new features for Ranked play that have been highly requested by players; Rank Demotion Protection and Ranked Quit Penalty Adjustments. Let’s dive into the details and talk about how it’ll work!



Ranked Demotion Protection: You just leveled up from
Gold into Platinum – nice work, that wasn’t easy. Unfortunately, in your next
game you didn’t play too hot, or maybe you got a phone call and were
distracted, or maybe one of your teammates quit – welp, back to Gold you go.
Well, not anymore with the introduction of Rank Demotion Protection. Whenever
you rank up into a new division (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, or Onyx) you
will get a grace period of three games, win or lose, as a bit of safety net and
you won’t get demoted into the prior division.



Example scenario: You level up into Onyx and your CSR
is 1503. If you lose a game, disconnect, or quit – your new CSR will be 1500
which will keep you in Onyx. If the same thing happens two more times, you will
stay 1500. 



Winning a game will count as one of the three protection
games – it’s not 3 losses, it’s 3 games no matter what happens. 



Ranked Quit Penalty Adjustments: So, you’re in the
middle of a game and someone on your team just quit – great, now you’ve got no
real shot of winning and you’re just going to lose points anyway for quitting.
Well, that’s going to change as well. If someone in your game but not on your
fireteam quits, they will still receive the max penalty, but you will not lose any
CSR.



Ok very cool but we’ve got some questions, Tashi:



<ul><li>If someone on the other team quits, can I quit
with no penalty? Yes!</li></ul>



<ul><li>If someone on my fireteam quits, and then I quit, what’s the penalty? You will lose up to 5 CSR, just like it is today. </li></ul>



<ul><li>If someone not on my fireteam quits, but we stay
and lose the game, how much CSR would I lose? 0 CSR. Ranked games are not
meant to be played out with uneven teams – players should be able to leave with
no penalty and just start searching again for another match.</li></ul>



<ul><li>What happens if a teammate quits/crashes while loading in? The first quit after the match starts will still receive a full penalty, but after that all players will be able to leave without any penalty.</li></ul>



<ul><li>If someone in my game quits, and then I decide
to quit for no penalty, will I still get hit with the banhammer? No.
Quitting in these instances is safe from the banhammer.</li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">RANKED EXTRACTION UPDATES</h2>



Based on feedback we’ve heard from players we’ve also made a couple key updates to Ranked Extraction (you will NOT see these updates in the Extraction featured in social playlists). 



Audio changes: At the moment, you can hear that your Extraction point is being converted by the enemy team from anywhere on the map. This meant players were able to leave the area around the Extraction device and use the global audio queue to tell them when to peek back out. With this upcoming audio change, the device itself will emit the audio – meaning you’ll have to be in a close vicinity to hear it’s being converted. As a result, teams will need to play closer attention the Extraction device much more than they need to today. 



UI changes: Right now, you can see in your UI when the Extraction point is being converted. Similar to above, this allowed players to leave the area near the Extraction device and only peek out when the UI showed it was being converted. With our upcoming change, this will go away almost entirely. The UI will no longer indicate to you when the Extraction point is actively being converted, and it will also no longer indicate to you how much time is remaining. It’s going to play a bit old school and hardcore, as players/coaches will be needing to time the Extractions like timing weapons/powerups in the older Halo titles.



We hope these quality-of-life updates make your ranked
experience more enjoyable and best of luck on your grind to the top.



See you online! 



-Tashi

Tashi

December Ranked Updates

Would you believe we’re over a month into Season 5 already? We were floored by what folks were creating with the Forge AI Toolkit within the first week, and that momentum is still building with incredible new creations that we can’t wait to share with you.



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<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/1bbe31bc-c8a6-4541-aadf-a02de3756bec" target="_blank">THE SILENT CARTOGRAPHER CAMPAIGN</a> Credits: Nikos4476 Mode: <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/5ad007d1-705f-43cb-a01f-13f5c8d1fdc3">Easy</a> | <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/21becbf7-0b04-43fb-8ccb-fdabfeaf7657">Normal</a> | <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/bff3d99c-4717-4113-aa42-7b18cd2732ae">Heroic</a> | <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/2645dca7-043e-4465-91dc-0ebb9964472e">Legendary</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/1bbe31bc-c8a6-4541-aadf-a02de3756bec"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/SilentCartographer.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Silent Cartographer beach assault recreated in Forge" class="wp-image-87126" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/SilentCartographer.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/SilentCartographer-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/SilentCartographer-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/SilentCartographer-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/SilentCartographer-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/SilentCartographer-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Forgers have no chill. This much has become clear with our first spotlighted map. We anticipated that folks would recreate various moments and scenarios from previous Halo campaigns, but I don’t think we ever expected that we would see the entirety of The Silent Cartographer from Halo: CE remade—the island, enemy placements, substructures, objectives…



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<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/93bd943a-5125-4c7d-aca5-d48fa36cf376" target="_blank">HALO WARS 2 TERMINUS FIREFIGHT</a> Credits: Lemonsquare7609, Trooper509, vacant10086, Arxchangel, Donut Droper, Xitespdrman Mode: <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/ba099c5f-a2d1-4cb9-8acf-040f8b61f3b9">Halo Wars 2 Terminus Firefight</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/93bd943a-5125-4c7d-aca5-d48fa36cf376"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HW2Terminus.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of Halo Wars 2 Terminus Firefight created in Forge" class="wp-image-87112" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HW2Terminus.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HW2Terminus-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HW2Terminus-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HW2Terminus-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HW2Terminus-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HW2Terminus-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Twenty-one waves of Banished enemies are ready to throw themselves at you, your allies, and the cores you must protect. Get upgrades to strengthen your team, use vehicles to bring superior firepower to bear, and prepare to experience Halo Wars from a first-person perspective. (8-12 players recommended.)



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



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/7617ce5f-4a90-4756-9b70-ea3ccd8613dd" target="_blank">CORROSION CAMPAIGN</a> Credits: Private1179529 Mode: <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/bb30da74-5366-43dc-8640-5690598472ce">Corrosion Campaign</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/7617ce5f-4a90-4756-9b70-ea3ccd8613dd"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Corrosion.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of Corrosion mission created in Forge" class="wp-image-87070" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Corrosion.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Corrosion-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Corrosion-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Corrosion-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Corrosion-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Corrosion-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



The Banished have discovered a rare, highly toxic fluid that they are mining to enhance their fuel rod-based weaponry, and it’s up to you to stop them. Are you taking this on alone, as a Headhunter team of two, or will you deploy a full fireteam of four to bring an end to this dire threat?



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<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/8b05e1bd-25f9-48ac-b199-b8eae79632c0" target="_blank">FIREFIGHT HELM’S DEEP</a> Credits: AngeloGrotti



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/8b05e1bd-25f9-48ac-b199-b8eae79632c0"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HelmsDeep.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of top-down view of Helm's Deep created in Forge" class="wp-image-87098" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HelmsDeep.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HelmsDeep-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HelmsDeep-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HelmsDeep-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HelmsDeep-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HelmsDeep-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



“The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time. Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath, now for ruin, and the red dawn. Forth Èorlingas!”



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<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/bd443aee-f7c4-4727-8c28-8e5a00a8a83c" target="_blank">FIREFIGHT BIKINI BOTTOM</a> Credits: Im Adopted69527



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/bd443aee-f7c4-4727-8c28-8e5a00a8a83c"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/BikiniBottom.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of Bikini Bottom map created in Forge" class="wp-image-87056" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/BikiniBottom.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/BikiniBottom-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/BikiniBottom-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/BikiniBottom-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/BikiniBottom-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/BikiniBottom-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Plankton has enlisted the aid of the Banished to steal the Krabby Patty formula! Fight to defend Bikini Bottom from this evil, diabolical, lemon-scented scheme!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TUTORIAL TRAINING</h2>



Zechariot has been turning out some fantastic tutorials for Forgers to use in a variety of creative ways. To kick things off, how about a “vending machine” where you can buy AI units for your team?



<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="AI Vending Machine (AI Shop) | Halo Infinite Forge Tutorial" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dVUP41NElig?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



And on the aesthetic side of things, Ducain23 has a guide to help you create murky algae water and custom trees.



<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="Create Murky Algae Water and Custom Trees | Halo Infinite Tutorial" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mGRDJN9E5C0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



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That’ll round us out for this issue of Forge Features! If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a very important appointment with the Custom Game Browser—Bikini Bottom needs rescuing at three, and first light on the fifth day is rapidly approaching so we’ve gotta make sure we’re in the right spot when the forces there look to the east…



Happy Forging!

Community Cartography 022

Forge Features: November 22, 2023

Canon Fodder

Fiction

Welcome back to this year’s penultimate issue of Canon Fodder—what a year it’s been, and we’re not quite done yet on the fiction front!



New multiplayer map lore for Season 5’s latest additions, new Waypoint Chronicles and Intel, a new Armory Infinitum entry, and even more await within…



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">MAPTACULORE: RECKONING</h2>



Season 5 brought with it two new maps which both hint at some fascinating backstory elements from the broader Halo universe. Let’s get you acquainted with ‘em!



FORBIDDEN



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Forbidden.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the multiplayer map Forbidden" class="wp-image-86997" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Forbidden.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Forbidden-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Forbidden-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Forbidden-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Forbidden-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Forbidden-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



While ancient stone ruins have been observed on multiple Halo installations, Zeta Halo invites additional curiosity as it continues to bear features from its original configuration as Gyre 11. Lifeworker stations take many forms and house even more secrets, hidden both by and from Forerunners and the various inhabitants who once lived within these old spaces.



Since the initiation of the Zeta Halo project in 2555, several groups of human researchers and follow-up rescue teams have been listed as missing after reporting their discovery of these facilities, or unknowingly wandering into them, which are speculated to be concealed by advanced baffler and dazzler technologies. None have been recorded as having returned.



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PRISM



“A lone colo is prey. A drove of colos is an unstoppable force.”



“Until a pack of teroks push them over a cliff. Then they are dinner. The Banished are the teroks, Arbiter, and you will know when we are hungry. That, I promise.”



Halo: Outcasts, Chapter 24



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Prism.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Ghost of Barolon in the skies of Suban on the multiplayer map Prism" class="wp-image-87011" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Prism.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Prism-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Prism-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Prism-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Prism-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Prism-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Not known to make idle threats, Atriox began moving a contingent of Banished forces towards Suban, the blood-moon of Sanghelios, following his confrontation with the Arbiter on Netherop. Seeking to claim ownership of the Subanese crystal mines used for needle-based weaponry, the Jiralhanae alchemist corps aboard the dreadnought Ghost of Barolon seek to find inventive new applications for this strange, little-understood technology.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SATURN DEVOURING HIS SON</h2>



Our latest Waypoint Chronicle, Saturn Devouring His Son, went live on Halloween and brought a spooky new short story about the Flood.



Halo: Saturn Devouring His Son is available <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-saturn-devouring-his-son" target="_blank">here on Halo Waypoint</a>, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://aka.ms/SaturnPDF" target="_blank">as a free PDF</a>, and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://aka.ms/SaturnAudio" target="_blank">in audiobook format on YouTube</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Halo: Saturn Devouring His Son | Audiobook" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9H9Pj2YhpyQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



The question has been asked: what exactly is the big deal about a Spartan becoming infected?



It’s certainly true that the Flood in all its varied forms—from the lowliest spore to the most terrifying of abominations—is deadly to anyone. But to infect a Spartan brings a whole other kind of danger.



Spartans are, as we well know, the master of any weapon, pilot of any vehicle, and fear no enemy. Their lethality comes in no small part from their understanding of how to effectively utilize any piece of technology on the battlefield, whether it’s a UNSC rifle or an alien vehicle. That is a significant element which differentiates Spartans from any other grunt, and that knowledge getting absorbed by the Flood, especially in the early stages of an outbreak (as told in this story), spells doom for all.



Add to that their protective and power-amplifying Mjolnir armor, as well as their knowledge of classified information, and the sheer morale-breaking spectacle of witnessing a champion of humanity transformed into a weapon to be used against them… what sweet misery this scenario brings on every level.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BATTLE FOR THE BLOOD-MOON</h2>



Speaking of Waypoint Chronicles, we are just days away from the release of our next one! Halo: Battle for the Blood-Moon releases on November 27, and it will be available in all the standard Waypoint Chronicle formats.



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2560. The Banished have come to Suban, the blood-moon of Sanghelios, seeking to claim the unique natural resource within its vast mines: the beautiful but volatile Subanese crystals.



The Swords of Sanghelios and their Spartan allies face an overwhelming force on the ground, while a Sangheili shipmistress in the skies above seeks to find a weakness in the enemy’s armor that might turn the tide against these invaders.



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Tying in with this upcoming Waypoint Chronicle, our latest Intel drop has provided some details about the Banished dreadnought Ghost of Barolon. Scannermaster Dibdib’s report features some run-on speculative commentary alongside her analysis that it seems her shipmistress deemed to be an unnecessary addition.



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/reckoning-intel#S5Intel2" target="_blank">INTEL 2: GHOST OF BAROLON</a>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ARMORY INFINITUM</h2>



One of the newest weapons introduced in Halo Infinite was the Sicatt Workshop Volt Piercer, or “shock rifle,” which has become a favorite for landing some incredibly satisfying headshots, along with its more powerful variant: the Purging Shock Rifle. 



It just so happens that—as revealed in our latest Intel drop—the Banished dreadnought hanging in the skies of Suban, as you can see on the map Prism, is the Ghost of Barolon. What a fortuitous coincidence, given what we learned in the Halo Encyclopedia last year…



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The shock rifle is the latest in a long line of experimental voltaic application devices that represent some of the only remaining vestiges of the Jiralhanae’s rich technological age, just before the dark days of the Great Immolation. Technicians from the Sicatt Workshop on board the Banished dreadnought Ghost of Barolon were able to break ground on the latest volt piercer, achieving a robust production run of the long-range Banished electrolaser that could also be charged and maintained at local armory outposts. This brutal precision-energy weapon is an extremely powerful asset, neutralizing approaching enemies even at great distances. 



Halo Encyclopedia (2022), p. 477



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CFShockRifle.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of a Banished hologram of the Shock Rifle" class="wp-image-86983" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CFShockRifle.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CFShockRifle-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CFShockRifle-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CFShockRifle-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CFShockRifle-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CFShockRifle-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



And so, given the current circumstances, it seemed only natural that this latest Armory Infinitum entry should provide some further insight into what the bright minds aboard the Ghost of Barolon have been working on.



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SICATT WORSHOP // ALCHEMY CORPS GHOST OF BAROLON >>PERSONAL LOG // VULCUS



As the Banished looks to extend its reach beyond the shadowed corners of the galaxy we have remained hidden in, Atriox has expressed his desire to bring new kinds of weaponry to bear—the kind that was spoken of in the old stories across the three moons. It was for this purpose that Sicatt Workshop was born, and thus far rudimentary efforts to harness directed-energy electrolasers recovered from old vaults on Doisac have delivered… satisfactory results.



But I see this as just a template. A foundation.



The manufacturers deliver me a weapon that fires three bursts—I say, why not five? Voltaic application devices are still experimental in nature, let us see how much power they can truly offer as we explore the truth of their limits. The Gray Guards are already eager to test this new firepower on the field as Escharum seeks to convene the Legionmasters for a new operation. I want these weapons to match precision and power to take down the shields of a human strike fighter.



In time, perhaps we can even mount such a weapon onto our ships… overload enemy systems to aid in ramming and boarding maneuvers…



Let it never be said that a Jiralhanae lacks the ambition to explore what can be achieved through our minds as well as our might.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">COMMUNITY LORE CORNER</h2>



Let’s round up some of the latest Halo lore-centric endeavors from folks in the community.



Starting us off is <a href="https://youtu.be/NtaNFY2EsC0?si=j1VBmn9R7Eo48yAb">MegMage</a>, who recently completed her first ever playthrough of Halo: Combat Evolved—welcome to the madness, Meg!



Meg has put together a reaction video to the tragic and esoteric story of 343 Guilty Spark as told in those marvelous Combat Evolved Anniversary Terminals. It’s always a joy to see series newcomers become invested in the rich history of this universe.



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Terminals Reaction" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NtaNFY2EsC0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Next up, the iconic <a href="https://youtu.be/Gb6Ni3dMwLw?si=oJS5abLlf9lPRdu4">HiddenXperia</a> has put together his own awesome recap and retelling of Saturn Devouring His Son, which you should definitely check out!



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="THE FIRST SPARTAN EVER INFECTED BY THE FLOOD & The Horrors of Site 22… (NEW)" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gb6Ni3dMwLw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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And speaking of Saturn, <a href="https://youtu.be/iZ38fcfPaSE?si=DiNFJ8V8lnO0M29-">Halo Infinite Store Customization</a> has created a fantastic short machinima video from the perspective of the cameras across Site 22, showcasing the Flood outbreak.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="The Flood is released when miners delved too greedily - Saturn Devouring his Son" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iZ38fcfPaSE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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To keep the running theme here, <a href="https://youtu.be/qdDbHh1Yi7A?si=HVYtDGzBC3DfoOnw">Installation00</a> has also created a fantastic new video about the CORRUPTER cryptonym featured in Saturn concerning a Spartan being infected by the Flood.



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Corrupter Protocol | Lore and Theory" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qdDbHh1Yi7A?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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That’ll close us out for this month’s issue, leaving just one week before our next Waypoint Chronicle drops—our penultimate one for the year (yes, going by what we teased at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://youtu.be/6NLZw-BL8hg?feature=shared&t=26149s" target="_blank">Canon Fodder LIVE</a>, there is indeed one more still to come in 2023!)



Until then, off with you! There’s a twenty-tier Combined Arms Operation Pass in Halo Infinite that demands completion and a new Halo 3-themed playlist to jump into, the perfect way to pass the time until Battle for the Blood-Moon arrives.



See you on Suban.