Games

Halo Infinite

A major new update is dropping feet-first into Halo Infinite this coming Tuesday, March 19, delivering on some of the biggest requests from the community.



Networking overhaul, weapon balance tunings, bug fixes, stability, and anti-cheat improvements, Firefight Custom, and more—we’ve got the official briefing on all these major elements in this blog (with even more detailed information to come in the patch notes).



Let’s take a look!



<a href="#networking">NETWORKING</a> | <a href="#anticheat">ANTI-CHEAT</a> | <a href="#squadbattlerefresh">SQUAD BATTLE REFRESH</a> | <a href="#weapontuning">WEAPON TUNING</a> | <a href="#firefightcustom">FIREFIGHT CUSTOM</a> | <a href="#qol">QOL IMPROVEMENTS</a>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="networking">NETWORKING OVERHAUL</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/S5_AST_Map_Prism_Watermarked_1920x1080.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of Spartans fighting on the Season 5 map Prism" class="wp-image-82933" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/S5_AST_Map_Prism_Watermarked_1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/S5_AST_Map_Prism_Watermarked_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/S5_AST_Map_Prism_Watermarked_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/S5_AST_Map_Prism_Watermarked_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/S5_AST_Map_Prism_Watermarked_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/S5_AST_Map_Prism_Watermarked_1920x1080-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



A completely overhauled networking model will be coming to Halo Infinite in a matter of days.



After launch, we heard the feedback around the game’s online experience loud and clear: desync, being shot around corners, etc. And while we did release numerous updates to the previous model, they were not having the impact that players expected and deserved. When we recognized this, the team decided to shift gears and pursue a fundamental change to the underlying networking model. Since then, we’ve been heads down to make it happen.



Last December, we shared a first look at it when it launched in Firefight: King of the Hill and was featured in the Combat Workshop. It was great to see such a positive response from the community online, in our surveys, and on Halo Support—but we knew that it still needed some extra polish before it could roll out on a wider scale.



Now that we’ve given it that extra time, we are confident that this updated model will result in a better and more consistent multiplayer experience.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="anticheat">EASY ANTI-CHEAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of Season 3 map Oasis" class="wp-image-58042" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Next week, Easy Anti-Cheat will arrive in Halo Infinite!



Easy Anti-Cheat is a tool that monitors players’ game files while they’re playing Halo Infinite to ensure the integrity of each match and combat cheating. With the March Update, our detection and enforcement capabilities will be enhanced, greatly improving the game’s overall security and our ability to respond to cheaters.



If you encounter cheating, be sure to use the in-game reporting feature or head over to Halo Support to submit a ticket at <a href="http://aka.ms/HaloReportAPlayer">aka.ms/HaloReportAPlayer</a>.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="squadbattlerefresh">SQUAD BATTLE REFRESH</h2>



Since its debut in Halo Infinite, Squad Battle quickly became a beloved staple playlist for those who were looking for something between the concentrated action of 4v4 and the larger-scale mayhem of 12v12 Big Team Battle.



With the arrival of the March Update, we’ve got a refresh of the Squad Battle playlist featuring seven new maps made by incredibly talented Forgers.



There are some returning classics, like Halo 4’s Perdition and Halo: CE (on PC)’s Timberland, along with brand new maps for you to fall in love with.



<ul>
<li>Perdition</li>



<li>Refuge</li>



<li>Timberland Evolved</li>



<li>Rendezvous</li>



<li>Gyre</li>



<li>Harvest</li>



<li>Behemoth</li>
</ul>



To get all the details, be sure to check out our Squad Battle Refresh blog when it drops next week!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="weapontuning">WEAPON TUNING UPDATES</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1440" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Infinite_S4_PK2_09-scaled.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of a Spartan sprinting into action" class="wp-image-69692" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Infinite_S4_PK2_09-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Infinite_S4_PK2_09-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Infinite_S4_PK2_09-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Infinite_S4_PK2_09-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Infinite_S4_PK2_09-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Infinite_S4_PK2_09-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Infinite_S4_PK2_09-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></figure>



The March Update is packed with weapon balancing changes that seek to address community feedback across the board.



M392 BANDIT & BANDIT EVO



<ul>
<li>Increased reload speed.</li>
</ul>



Reload speed has been increased by 10% to address common feedback that reloading feels slow and clunky.



HEATWAVE



<ul>
<li>Decreased aim assist falloff range</li>



<li>Decreased aim assist range</li>



<li>Decreased aim assist angle</li>
</ul>



We’ve seen players share that they were getting frustrated when getting hit by a longer-ranged Heatwave shots. The weapon’s unique ability to hit those shots, particularly with its alt-fire setting, is still core to its identity. That said, we do feel like it was a bit too easy to be effective outside its intended range.



Starting next week, it will require more precision when going for those long-range shots, while keeping its close-range capabilities largely untouched.



PLASMA PISTOL



<ul>
<li>Faster charge-up time</li>



<li>Slightly decreased rate of fire for single shots</li>



<li>Faster overheat</li>
</ul>



Over time, we have observed that using the Plasma Pistol’s single-shot functionality has become the primary way that players operate the weapon, effectively utilizing all the benefits of the weapon but with minimal risk element.



These changes are intended to give the charged shot greater effectiveness while still allowing players the ability to find success with its single shot.



STALKER RIFLE



<ul>
<li>Decrease the number of shots to overheat</li>



<li>Slower venting rate per second</li>
</ul>



We noticed an increase in community feedback expressing that the Stalker Rifle was over-performing. When watching players use it online, we could see they were able to use the weapon to chain together multiple kills without much room for counter-play.



As a result, we have decreased the Stalker Rifle’s overheat threshold and increased the venting duration. This adjustment should reduce how often players can find success while rapid-firing shots and require them to be more intentional with each pull of the trigger.



VK78 COMMANDO



<ul>
<li>Increased close range friction</li>



<li>Less aggressive bloom</li>
</ul>



With the change from the Battle Rifle to the Bandit EVO as the primary weapon in Ranked Arena, the viability of the Commando was inherently lowered.



A recurring theme from players was to give the Commando some love, and so the goal of these changes is to give this weapon better handling – to address the feedback around it feeling “slippery” – and a more consistent damage output so players can hold their ground against the Battle Rifle and Bandit EVO.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_GravityHammer.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of the Gravity Hammer" class="wp-image-100162" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_GravityHammer.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_GravityHammer-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_GravityHammer-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_GravityHammer-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_GravityHammer-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_GravityHammer-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



GRAVITY HAMMER



<ul>
<li>Fixed issue that was doubling the power of the Gravity Hammer and its variants.</li>



<li>Increased its original tuning by 1.5x to allow for better damage and knockback</li>
</ul>



The Gravity Hammer’s reign of terror is… well, not over, you’re still going to be soiling your armored breeches when you turn around only to find a player speeding towards you with a Grappleshot and Gravity Hammer already mid-swing, but it’s not quite the boogeyman it has been recently.



We have increased the damage and knockback of the Gravity Hammer (and its variants) to be 1.5x its pre-Season 5 strength. This places those values at a halfway point between what it was pre-Season 5 and what it has been in recent months.



We’re excited for these updates to make their way to the battlefield next week. Once you go hands-on with them, be sure to share your feedback and let us know how they feel! And, rest assured, we’ll be continuing to fine-tune the sandbox in future updates.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="firefightcustom">FIREFIGHT CUSTOM</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FF_KOH_PK-11.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of a Brute Chieftain wielding a gravity hammer in Firefight" class="wp-image-100064" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FF_KOH_PK-11.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FF_KOH_PK-11-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FF_KOH_PK-11-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FF_KOH_PK-11-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FF_KOH_PK-11-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FF_KOH_PK-11-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Since Firefight: King of the Hill arrived in Halo Infinite back in December 2023, players have been having a blast fighting the Banished within the House of Reckoning and across other maps—and on custom-made Forge maps.



With the March Update, we are introducing Firefight Custom. This is a “blank” Firefight mode that keeps the high-level structure of Firefight: King of the Hill intact (Sets, lives, skulls, scoring, Custom Game options), but removes all the logic related to hills. In other words, this is Firefight: King of the Hill without the King of the Hill.



Mode scripters will have full control over what constitutes a win or a loss of a point, whether teams earn skulls, which spawners are triggered and when, and if players can earn more lives. We wanted Forgers to spend less time and budget scripting basic features of the mode and instead spend their time on the logic that supports their ideal experience. This new variant also pairs well with Forge’s previously released Mode Creator, allowing mode creators to create their experience once and share it with many map creators.



New Forge Node Graph functions have been added to empower Forgers on this front. These nodes will work in both Firefight Custom and the original King of the Hill variants:



<ul>
<li>On Firefight Set Start</li>



<li>On Firefight Set End</li>



<li>End Firefight Custom Set</li>



<li>Fail Firefight Custom Set</li>



<li>Adjust Firefight Custom Lifepool</li>



<li>Get Firefight Custom Set State</li>



<li>Get Firefight Custom Wave Spawners</li>



<li>Get Firefight Custom Boss Spawners</li>



<li>Override AI Spawner Definition</li>
</ul>



With the granularity of these options, Forgers have more power than ever before to create their own unique PvE modes, and we’re excited to see how that continues to level up the experience for players!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="qol">QUALITY OF LIFE 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/2024/03/HI_Thunderhead.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the map Thunderhead" class="wp-image-100177" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_Thunderhead.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_Thunderhead-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_Thunderhead-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_Thunderhead-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_Thunderhead-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/HI_Thunderhead-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



FORGE



In addition to Firefight Custom, Forge will also be receiving numerous bug fixes next week. One of the most noticeable updates will be improvements to Copy Protection for Maps and Modes. Now, Forgers’ creations will be more secure, thus reducing copy-cats, and clearing the way for the creator to get more credit for the things they build and share with the community.



STABILITY



Last, but certainly not least, this update also has lots of improvements to stability thanks to a plethora of crash fixes. We use data via in-game telemetry, community feedback, and reports shared with the Halo Support team to identify crash fixes that would provide the most impact to our players. If you do ever run into a stability issue with Halo Infinite, please report them on the <a href="http://aka.ms/HaloSupport">Halo Support site.</a>



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That wraps up this preview of the upcoming March Update. Thank you to the Halo community for your continued support as we continue to go after player feedback that continues to improve Halo Infinite!



When the update drops on March 19, be sure to head over to <a href="http://aka.ms/HaloInfiniteUpdate">aka.ms/HaloInfiniteUpdate</a> for the full patch notes.

Alex Wakeford

March Update Preview | Halo Infinite

Esports

Next week, the March Update for Halo Infinite will drop with a suite of weapon balance adjustments. These tuning updates should address community feedback about the core gameplay experience while also bringing noticeable improvements to the competitive settings used in Ranked.



We’ve also got an exciting new feature we’re testing out for the highest level of players in Ranked – don’t miss that at the bottom of the article.



To see everything releasing in this update be sure to check out the full breakdown <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/march-update-preview">here</a> – for now, let’s jump right into the juicy details.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size">Bandit EVO and M392 Bandit</h2>



We have been very pleased with the response and performance of the Bandit EVO since launch with Season 5 but there were a few initial changes we wanted to make based on early feedback and things that we observed internally. We have been gathering more feedback and will continue to monitor feedback and performance after this weekend’s kickoff event on LAN to see where else the Bandit EVO needs some fine tuning. Note that we’ve made the same changes across the Bandit EVO and M392 Bandit as we believed these changes were core to the Bandit itself and not one particular variant, as well as wanting to maintain some level of consistency between the variants.



Increased reload speed.



<ul>
<li>This change was to address feedback that the reload speed was feeling slow and clunky.
<ul>
<li>Reload speed increased 10%.</li>



<li>Reload speed while empty increased 10%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



Spawn influencer weapon cone change.



<ul>
<li>Since the Bandit EVO launched there has been feedback that the spawn logic has changed in Ranked Arena. Players are reporting that at times they would more frequently spawn into advantageous or disadvantageous locations. The intent of this change is to align the spawn behavior more closely with that of when the Battle Rifle was the starting weapon for Ranked Arena, which follows more consistent logic in connection with how players influence spawn locations.
<ul>
<li>Adjusted weapon spawn influencer for Bandit EVO to match Battle Rifle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



Lowered Bandit Player Fire Volume.



<ul>
<li>There has been feedback that the Bandit EVO’s First Person firing audio is over tuned and players are unable to hear surrounding environmental and player audio when firing the Bandit EVO. We’ve adjusted the fire volume to give players more opportunity to hear other game sounds.
<ul>
<li>Lowered Bandit player fire volume -3dB.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size">Heatwave</h2>



As players have increased their proficiency with Halo Infinite since launch, the Heatwave was one of the weapons that we’ve seen players continue to maximize impact particularly in mid-long range scenarios where precise timing and aim is achievable in the highest level of play. We’ve heard feedback that it’s still a little too performant, so we’ve made a minor tweak that we believe will only impact play at the highest level while retaining same experience that every player loves about the weapon.



Decreased Auto Aim angle.



<ul>
<li>Aim assist angle decreased from 5 >> 4.</li>
</ul>



Decreased Auto Aim range & falloff range.



<ul>
<li>Aim assist range decreased from 12 >> 11.</li>



<li>Aim assist falloff range decreased from 7.5 >> 6.5.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size">Plasma Pistol</h2>



The Plasma Pistol plays a critical role in not only the Ranked but also the social experience. Our most recent change was designed to increase intentionality and even planning required to use the Plasma Pistol. That was indeed what we saw initially but as time went on players began using the gun mostly for its single shot use. With the upcoming changes, our intention is to bring more balance between the two functions and increase utility of the charged shot while still maintaining usage of the single shot.



Decreased Rate of Fire for single shot plasma pistol.



<ul>
<li>Rate of fire for single shot trigger decreased from 10 >> 6.75 rounds per second.</li>
</ul>



Faster overheat.



<ul>
<li>Overheated threshold decreased from 1 >> 0.8.</li>
</ul>



Faster charge up time.



<ul>
<li>The amount of time for trigger to fully charge decreased from 1.6 >> 1.2 seconds.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size">Stalker Rifle</h2>



In the hands of the highest skilled players, the Stalker Rifle is a close range and long range powerhouse with no real counters on the map. Much like the Heatwave, feedback was consistent it was just a little too easy to find maximum effectiveness with the gun at the highest levels – and at the same time we wanted to have little to no impact to the rest of the players in the game.



Decrease the number of shots to overheat.



<ul>
<li>7 >> 6</li>
</ul>



Slower venting rate per second.



<ul>
<li>This change will still allow players to achieve multiple kills in succession, but there will be less room for error and a bit more time spent venting.
<ul>
<li>Overheated threshold decreased from 1 >> 0.9.</li>



<li>Venting duration increased from 0.2 >> 0.5 seconds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size">VK78 Commando</h2>



With the Bandit EVO now as the starting weapon, we’ve seen and heard that the Commando has been struggling to find its place and reliable role on the map. To address this and make the Commando a more viable pick up on the map, we’ve made some small tweaks to reset the weapon’s bloom faster to simplify the weapon handling.



Faster bloom reset.



<ul>
<li>The goal of this change was to give the Commando Rifle better handling and more consistent damage output to hold its ground against the Bandit EVO and Battle Rifle.
<ul>
<li>Lower bound deceleration time decreased 0.22 >> 0.21 seconds.</li>



<li>Upper bound deceleration time decreased 0.22 >> 0.21 seconds.</li>



<li>Magnetism near falloff range increased 0 >> 1 wu.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



As always we will continue to monitor feedback and performance for Ranked with a close eye on the first HCS event this weekend to determine what future balance updates are needed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">EXPERIMENT: DETERMINISTIC CSR PAYOUTS</h2>



For players at the very highest level of Ranked Arena (1800+), we’ve heard feedback and observed ourselves that the experience is becoming one where the grind has felt unrewarding. Players are reporting winning the majority of their games in a day but still going down in CSR overall – that’s making Ranked for them feel more like a chore than anything else. To address this feedback we’re experimenting with a feature called Deterministic CSR Payouts.



Today, for all players, how many CSR points you win or lose is based on a number of factors including of course whether you won or lost, how you performed, and where you stack up against the rest of the ranked population including your opponents in that match.



With Deterministic CSR Payouts, the only thing that matters will be whether your team won or lost. Starting on March 19 in any Ranked playlist, as an experiment, for all 1800 CSR and above, you will receive 7 CSR for a match win, and will lose 7 CSR for a match loss.



Why is this an experiment?  This is an experiment because we feel there might be some unintended consequences as part of this and we not only want to monitor CSR distribution at this level but also what player feedback will be.



What are the risks? The biggest risk is CSR inflation and what that does the overall perception of matchmaking at this level. What we anticipate seeing is players reaching new CSR level that haven’t been achieved in the game before – potentially well into the 3,000s. Now, if you’re those players achieving that – it’s going to be a pretty cool feeling. But what does that mean for matchmaking and how players perceive it? Today we effectively “clamp” players CSR down lower at the highest level so they can still find matches and sometimes particularly during off hours you might see 1700s matching at 2200s because of this. With this addition, you might see 1700s matching against those same 2200 but because of Deterministic CSR Payouts that 2200 player could be at 3000 CSR. We believe players will report much of the same feedback when we were matching on MMR instead of CSR before we made the change in Winter of 2023. Players might think that matchmaking is broken when in actuality a match like that is just the result of intertwining systems and certain circumstances like population at the time, where we’re at in the season, etc.



Once this feature releases we will be keeping a close eye on the CSR distribution and player experiences/feedback to determine if future tweaks are needed or if we need to remove the feature entirely.



We look forward to trying this out in Ranked next week. As you put the reps in during this experiment, please be sure to share your feedback with us!



Best of luck to all teams competing at the HCS Major Arlington hosted by OpTic Gaming. If you’re at the event, you’ll have the change to be the first to play with the upcoming balance updates and for those watching at home we’ll be showing you all what it looks like so you know what to expect – don’t miss out on that later tonight on <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/halo" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.twitch.tv/halo">Twitch.tv/Halo</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@hcs">YouTube.com/@HCS</a>.



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Official HCS

Ranked – March Update Preview

HUSKY RAID REFRESH MAPS

CYBER SHOWDOWN III PRESS KIT

Embrace the viral machine. Cyber Showdown III has arrived!



A new 20-tier Operation Pass with free multi-use customization rewards, a brand-new map, a refresh to the Husky Raid playlist, and more awaits within…



<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="Cyber Showdown III Trailer | Halo Infinite" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eEQOo76I5iw?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">CYBER SHOWDOWN III OPERATION PASS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/CS3_Rewards.jpg" alt="Reward track image for Cyber Showdown III showing new multi-use CHIMERA armor on the wall" class="wp-image-97908" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/CS3_Rewards.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/CS3_Rewards-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/CS3_Rewards-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/CS3_Rewards-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/CS3_Rewards-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/CS3_Rewards-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



The Cyber Showdown III Operation Pass features 20 tiers of free customization rewards themed around the concept of the “viral machine,” which visually translates to a dark cyberpunk take on the aesthetics of the CHIMERA armor—a twisted fusion of organic elements in digital form.



You know the drill: play Halo Infinite, progress your Operation Pass with Match XP and Challenge completions, and you’ll unlock new armor, coatings, weapon charms, and emblems and nameplates to enhance your customization.



While Cyber Showdown III is themed around the CHIMERA armor core, the majority of the customization content is multi-use, meaning that you can equip helmets, visors, shoulders, and coatings across any armor core.



Additional premium options for the Operation Pass include:



<ul>
<li>500 credits will make the Operation Pass durable (it will not expire), offers bonus XP during the Operation’s live window, an extra Challenge slot while your pass is equipped, and comes with an exclusive customization item.</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>



The bonus item in the Premium Operation Pass for Cyber Showdown III is the Emberbreak armor coating.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">NEW MAP: ELEVATION</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Elevation_WM.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of the multiplayer map Elevation" class="wp-image-97922" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Elevation_WM.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Elevation_WM-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Elevation_WM-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Elevation_WM-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Elevation_WM-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Elevation_WM-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Take combat to new heights with the latest map that has been added to Halo Infinite, named Elevation.



Taking place aboard a space elevator, a familiar sight from fans going all the way back to Halo 2, Elevation is a map created entirely in Halo Infinite‘s Forge.



On Elevation, indoor combat will keep your boots on the ground, but heading outside for a spacewalk in the middle of a firefight just might send you on a one-way journey to the planet below.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">HUSKY RAID REFRESH</h2>





Husky Raid has gotten even huskier with the addition of six new maps.



For those of you who might need an introduction or refresher: Husky Raid is a game mode that originally debuted in Halo 4 as a chaotic twist on Capture The Flag, featuring Fiesta-style random weapon loadouts and equipment.



Husky Raid has been in Halo Infinite for a while now and the time has come to update this beloved mode with some new maps created in Forge by our amazing community cartographers. Alongside Cyber Showdown III are six new maps, including:



<ul>
<li>Formation</li>



<li>Merchant’s Square</li>



<li>Outlook</li>



<li>Pharaoh</li>



<li>Ruujaya</li>



<li>Urban Raid</li>
</ul>



For a more detailed look at each of these new maps, <a href="http://aka.ms/HuskyRaidRefresh">check out our Husky Raid blog</a>.



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/NetRiot.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of the Net Riot bundle" class="wp-image-97936" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/NetRiot.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/NetRiot-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/NetRiot-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/NetRiot-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/NetRiot-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/NetRiot-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Head to the Shop in Halo Infinite this week and you’ll find the Net Riot bundle which contains:



<ul>
<li>Thresher helmet</li>



<li>Plasm Augmentor shoulders</li>



<li>Deviant Protocol chest attachment</li>



<li>Coil Growth Sample G kneepads</li>



<li>Myomer Canker hip gear</li>



<li>VDO Plugin wrist gear</li>



<li>Warbling Well visor</li>



<li>System Alert and Netwar Alert armor coatings</li>



<li>Access Denied death effect</li>



<li>Daemon Flare armor effect</li>



<li>Firecrash Protocol Mythic effect</li>



<li>Net Riot weapon coating</li>
</ul>



And complete all of your Challenges this week to unlock your Ultimate Reward: the Signal Source Emblem suite.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/SignalSource.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of the Signal Source emblem" class="wp-image-97950" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/SignalSource.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/SignalSource-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/SignalSource-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/SignalSource-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/SignalSource-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/SignalSource-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Press Kit</h2>



<a href="https://aka.ms/CSIIIPressKit" data-type="link" data-id="https://aka.ms/CSIIIPressKit">Download the Cyber Showdown III Press Kit here! </a>



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That wraps us up for this Operation launch, which means it’s time to jump into the game and start working through that new Operation Pass!



With a brand-new map to check out and a refresh of the Husky Raid playlist, it’s the perfect time to dive into the action.



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Cyber Showdown III Operation Launch

Ain’t no raid like a Huskier Raid! Yes, that’s right… <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/husky-raid-halo-infinite">Husky Raid</a> is getting even huskier with the addition of six new maps! 



The explosive, fan-favorite mode first introduced into matchmaking in Halo 4, is a chaotic twist on Capture the Flag. The game is played linearly with Fiesta style weapon loadouts, which means random weapons and random abilities. It’s running and gunning at its finest as everyone tries to push for the opposing flag. 



Community Forgers have, once again, pulled out all the stops and put together some absolutely beautiful, and some treacherous, maps for the playlist. What better way to kick off Cyber Showdown III than jumping in for some chaos?



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/b80c79c5-2746-4434-8b72-18f77baf861d">Formation</a></h2>



Author: H0LLYW00D II



That cave was not a natural formation, and neither is this Formation. You’ll feel like you’ve been dropped into the middle of a fierce campaign mission. There’s beautiful Forerunner caverns, a light bridge, and a busted Warthog in the way. Not to mention the battle amongst the AI themselves (requiring 1 script brain and 125 nodes, no biggie) happening in parallel. Just remember to watch your step! 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Formation_Waypoint.jpg" alt="Husky Raid map "Formation" created in Halo Infinite Forge." class="wp-image-96831" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Formation_Waypoint.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Formation_Waypoint-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Formation_Waypoint-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Formation_Waypoint-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Formation_Waypoint-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Formation_Waypoint-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/9496fbbd-3c70-4b29-b510-8885a119d20f">Merchant’s Square</a></h2>



Author: bullet2thehead9, MikRips



Walking through the merchant’s square, this map is definitely giving off medieval vibes. From the giant knights in the distance, to the pirate ship in the bay, and the fruit stand in the center,  you’ll feel like you’re taking a stroll through a quaint town. The map also features a two-level lane in the center so make sure you check both high and low along the way! 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Merchants_Square_Waypoint.jpg" alt="Husky Raid map "Merchant's Square" created in Halo Infinite Forge." class="wp-image-96845" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Merchants_Square_Waypoint.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Merchants_Square_Waypoint-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Merchants_Square_Waypoint-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Merchants_Square_Waypoint-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Merchants_Square_Waypoint-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Merchants_Square_Waypoint-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/b061b5b1-1dd4-4507-909f-6bb92f3af74f">Outlook</a></h2>



Author: PrivateKinetic 



Take in the general splendor. The view is absolutely stunning and you have quite the outlook over the vastness below you. The surroundings are dotted with many observatories while you also face down the enemy team across the bridge. Watch out for sneaky repulsor plays and don’t fall off! 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Outlook_Waypoint.jpg" alt="Husky Raid map "Outlook" created in Halo Infinite Forge." class="wp-image-96859" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Outlook_Waypoint.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Outlook_Waypoint-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Outlook_Waypoint-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Outlook_Waypoint-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Outlook_Waypoint-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Outlook_Waypoint-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/e405e19d-9ad4-4aeb-a15f-6fc8ddb8e47d">Pharaoh</a></h2>



Author: bullet2thehead9, MikRips 



As I walk through the valley of the kings I realize I’ve spawned with a Plasma Pistol and a Ravager and…oh, sorry. If you don’t like sand, this map is not for you since it’s sandy and carved directly into the cliffside ruins. Feels like you’re exploring and moving about an old tomb.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Pharaoh_Waypoint.jpg" alt="Husky Raid map "Pharaoh" created in Halo Infinite Forge." class="wp-image-96873" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Pharaoh_Waypoint.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Pharaoh_Waypoint-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Pharaoh_Waypoint-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Pharaoh_Waypoint-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Pharaoh_Waypoint-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Pharaoh_Waypoint-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/f0a73d4b-4c54-4cbf-b3b6-e92d210049a9">Urban Raid</a></h2>



Author: PrivateKinetic, Handsome Huber 



You’ll spawn in the back alley and have to cut through an urban neighborhood street to grab the opposing flag here. There’s propaganda plastered in the back and some fun traversal options to keep you on your toes. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Urban_Raid_Waypoint.jpg" alt="Husky Raid map "Urban Raid" created in Halo Infinite Forge." class="wp-image-96887" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Urban_Raid_Waypoint.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Urban_Raid_Waypoint-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Urban_Raid_Waypoint-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Urban_Raid_Waypoint-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Urban_Raid_Waypoint-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Urban_Raid_Waypoint-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/a77888ce-6633-481c-b360-ee0742460722">Ruujaya</a>*</h2>



Author: Shreddermcgenty 



Legend has it, players are still fiercely battling it out here in this beautiful battleground. Offering a variety of traversal options, you’ll be tempted to check out the hieroglyphs on the wall but don’t let your guard down – they are coming for your flag!  



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Ruujaya_Waypoint.jpg" alt="Husky Raid map "Ruujaya" created in Halo Infinite Forge." class="wp-image-96901" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Ruujaya_Waypoint.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Ruujaya_Waypoint-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Ruujaya_Waypoint-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Ruujaya_Waypoint-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Ruujaya_Waypoint-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Ruujaya_Waypoint-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



*Ruujaya will be added to the Husky Raid playlist at a later date



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A huge thank you to the Forgers for working their magic and creating some incredible new maps for us.  



We’re always on the hunt for more extraordinary Forge content and sometimes, we’re looking for specific things. You can see what is being looked for by checking out the 343 specific tags. In this particular case, we’d love to see your content that fits these bills:



<ul>
<li>343asks-firefight</li>



<li>343asks-tenrai</li>



<li>343asks-pve</li>
</ul>



You can become the viral machine by progressing your free Cyber Showdown III Operation Pass as you jump into matchmaking to have a blast!

snickerdoodle

Husky Raid Refresh | Halo Infinite

The <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/firefight-king-of-the-hill-preview" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Firefight: King of the Hill</a> experience is expanding today to include five new maps! Ranging in size, the new maps will spice up the encounters, bring variety to the playlist, and ultimately keep your foot firmly on that Warthog accelerator pedal.



Let’s see where you’ll be battling the Banished next!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/81274d6f-6a94-425a-a16e-3bdb1e2eea9d">Cliffhanger</a></h2>



Cliffhanger is a bit on the smaller side, but don’t let yourself get complacent—you’ll still have to stay on your toes and guard your hill.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Cliffhanger-1.jpg" alt="Cliffhanger for Firefight: King of the Hill in Halo Infinite" class="wp-image-96134" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Cliffhanger-1.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Cliffhanger-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Cliffhanger-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Cliffhanger-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Cliffhanger-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Cliffhanger-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/e6cbfe01-665b-4a8c-bf3a-d63a65a7c890">Breaker</a></h2>



Watch out for the giant laser beam as you maneuver from side to side in your Warthogs, patrolling for Banished.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Breaker-1.jpg" alt="Breaker for Firefight: King of the Hill in Halo Infinite" class="wp-image-96120" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Breaker-1.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Breaker-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Breaker-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Breaker-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Breaker-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Breaker-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/4f196016-0101-4844-8358-2504f7c44656">Fragmentation</a></h2>



For any BTB aficionados, this map will be familiar and you’ll know the routes like the back of your hand.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Fragmentation-1.jpg" alt="Fragmentation for Firefight: King of the Hill in Halo Infinite" class="wp-image-96106" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Fragmentation-1.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Fragmentation-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Fragmentation-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Fragmentation-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Fragmentation-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Fragmentation-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/c494ef7c-d203-42a9-9c0f-b3f576334501">Highpower</a></h2>



Another map ripe for vehicular carnage. Load up with your squad and go on the offensive against Banished forces.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Highpower-1.jpg" alt="Highpower for Firefight: King of the Hill in Halo Infinite" class="wp-image-96092" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Highpower-1.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Highpower-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Highpower-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Highpower-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Highpower-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Highpower-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-large-font-size"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/247637f8-1ed2-47de-8ff0-fd4b68f50888">Scarr</a></h2>



The Banished will feel right at home here since this map is set on their mining facility, so let’s do something about that. Watch for pitfalls and keep the enemy at bay!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Scarr.jpg" alt="Scarr for Firefight: King of the Hill in Halo Infinite" class="wp-image-96005" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Scarr.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Scarr-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Scarr-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Scarr-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Scarr-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Scarr-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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You know the music… time to drop feet first into some Firefight: KOTH and check out the new maps in-game right now!

Firefight: King of the Hill Refresh | Halo Infinite

Spirit of Fire Launch | Halo Infinite CU29

Mjolnir Mark IV Through The Years

Multi-Use Shoulders

Customization Overview | Halo Infinite CU29

Halo Infinite Covenant Palette

Mode Brain

Halo Infinite Material Swaps

Forge continues to evolve in Content Update 29 (“CU29”), which arrives on January 30.



Ever since Halo Infinite’s Forge arrived, we have been continually blown away by the creativity of the community-made maps, modes, and experiences that have been crafted. Our goal is to continue supporting Halo’s community cartographers as much as possible, and CU29 aims to deliver some of the most highly requested features—new toys and enhanced tools that will help to further unlock and unleash Forgers’ creative potential.



CU29 brings with it the addition of the Covenant object palette, the new Mode Creator feature, AI Toolkit enhancements, along with additional quality of life updates, and more!



Read on below to learn more about the latest update to Forge, and check out some of it in action from our stream last week.



<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="January Update & HCS 2024 Roadmap | Halo Infinite" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9aV4pIIz2p8?start=1163&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">COVENANT DANCE</h2>



“When we joined the Covenant, we took an oath…”



Since Forge’s arrival in Halo Infinite, we’ve continued to build on making the object palettes and aesthetics of the Halo universe available to the player—from the UNSC, to the Forerunners, to the Banished… and now, CU29 will update that list once more with some fashionable purple pieces.



The Covenant palette is coming to Halo Infinite!



Over 70 new structures pieces, primitives, accents, and decals will be available for Forgers to create exciting experiences that harken back to Halo’s roots. Let’s take a look at some pretty pictures of those objects…





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



The Forge Mode Creator is a new functionality that lets players script modes in the Node Graph, then save, share, and play those experiences—just like you’d share a mode created in the Custom Game menu.



Our goal with the Forge Mode Creator was threefold:



<ul>
<li>Make it easier for modes to be shared and played.</li>



<li>Make it easier for modes to hook up to community maps (and vice-versa).</li>



<li>Free up map budget, as mode logic will no longer come with a map budget cost.</li>
</ul>



We have created new assets in Forge to enable this: the Mode Brain and Mode Prefab.



MODE BRAIN: Similar to a Script Brain, but this is specifically used for Forge Modes. This can be accessed in the Scripting section of the Object Browser.



MODE PREFAB: A Prefab dedicated to holding Mode Brains.





Here’s how the Forge Mode Creator works:



CREATE A MODE PREFAB OUT OF MODE BRAINS



To create a Forge Mode, the first thing players should do is place two or more Mode Brains and then create their mode in Node Graph with them—players will need to create a Mode Prefab out of the Mode Brains that contain the scripting for your mode. With multiple Mode Brains selected, bring up the Action Menu and select “CREATE MODE PREFAB.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1339" height="1495" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Create-Mode-Prefab-Action-Menu.png" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Action Menu showing the option to Create Mode Prefab" class="wp-image-91240" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Create-Mode-Prefab-Action-Menu.png 1339w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Create-Mode-Prefab-Action-Menu-269x300.png 269w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Create-Mode-Prefab-Action-Menu-917x1024.png 917w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Create-Mode-Prefab-Action-Menu-768x857.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1339px) 100vw, 1339px" /></figure>



Mode Prefabs function similarly to object prefabs, but these can only consist of Mode Brains. Conversely, regular object prefabs cannot use Mode Brains.



MODE PREFAB SETTINGS



You can cycle the parent Mode Brain in the Object Properties menu after selecting a Mode Prefab. Since the Node Graph loads the parent Mode Brain when going into it with a Mode Prefab selected, this will allow you to control which Mode Brain scripts you want to edit after you have created a Mode Prefab.



The Mode Variant value is important as it tells the game if you want to create a mode based on existing official mode logic or want to build all the logic from scratch by selecting Minigame.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="835" height="588" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Mode-Prefab-Settings-Mode-Variant.png" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Mode Variant option in the Mode Prefab settings" class="wp-image-91338" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Mode-Prefab-Settings-Mode-Variant.png 835w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Mode-Prefab-Settings-Mode-Variant-300x211.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Mode-Prefab-Settings-Mode-Variant-768x541.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 835px) 100vw, 835px" /></figure>



HOW TO SAVE MODE PREFAB TO MY FILES



After creating a Mode Prefab, there is one more step to actually create the Forge Mode. With the Mode Prefab selected, open the Action Menu and select “SAVE MODE PREFAB.”



Saving a Mode Prefab does two things:



<ul>
<li>Saves the Mode Prefab (the Mode Brains)</li>
</ul>



Saved Mode Prefabs can be found in the Object Browser – Modes category, where you can place them in a map and then edit in the Node Graph.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2592" height="1506" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Save-Mode-Variant-Action-Menu.png" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of saving a Mode Prefab in the Action Menu" class="wp-image-91366" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Save-Mode-Variant-Action-Menu.png 2592w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Save-Mode-Variant-Action-Menu-300x174.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Save-Mode-Variant-Action-Menu-1024x595.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Save-Mode-Variant-Action-Menu-768x446.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Save-Mode-Variant-Action-Menu-1536x892.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Save-Mode-Variant-Action-Menu-2048x1190.png 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Save-Mode-Variant-Action-Menu-1568x911.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2592px) 100vw, 2592px" /></figure>



<ul>
<li>Saves a Forge Mode based on the logic in the Mode Prefab’s Mode Brains.</li>
</ul>



Saved Forge Modes can be found in My Files and the Custom Game Editor Mode List. After saving a Forge Mode, you can then publish and/or play your Forge Mode.



NOTE: If you want to create a NEW Mode Prefab from an existing Mode Prefab, break apart the Mode Prefab FIRST and then create a new Mode Prefab from the ungrouped Mode Prefab. Ungrouping a Mode Prefab breaks its connection to the saved Forge Mode and Mode Prefab.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2601" height="930" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Forge-Mode-Versioning.png" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of Version History for a Mode" class="wp-image-91296" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Forge-Mode-Versioning.png 2601w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Forge-Mode-Versioning-300x107.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Forge-Mode-Versioning-1024x366.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Forge-Mode-Versioning-768x275.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Forge-Mode-Versioning-1536x549.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Forge-Mode-Versioning-2048x732.png 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Forge-Mode-Versioning-1568x561.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2601px) 100vw, 2601px" /></figure>



With this approach to mode creation, we can’t wait to see what the community is going to create with this new addition to Forge!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">MATERIAL SWAP</h2>



Another highly requested feature from the community is material swapping for foliage and decals, which is another improvement added to Forge in CU29.



FOLIAGE Players will be able to adjust up to three colors on select foliage objects to add a greater variety of visual flair for their creative vision.



DECALS Players will be able to mimic stains, foliage overgrowth, and other forms of discoloration to add more set dressing to their creations.





This opens up even more artistic options for Forgers when adding layers of detail to a map.



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



The Forge AI Toolkit made its debut with Season 5, and in CU29 we are continuing to update and enhance this feature to help build the best experiences possible with Halo Infinite’s AI units.



NEW SQUAD BEHAVIOR – WANDER WHEN IDLE



Wander When Idle is a new squad behavior available on the AI Spawner object. When set to ON, AI units in this spawned squad will wander around their assigned AI Move Zone when idle, which will make them seem a bit livelier.



I don’t know about you, but I could spend hours watching Grunts waddle around!



NEW AI TRAIT NODES



Players will have the ability to give AI units certain traits which can help to spice up those campaign-style and PvE experiences you have been building.



AI Traits include:



<ul>
<li>Bonus Health</li>



<li>Bottomless Clip</li>



<li>Damage Resistance</li>



<li>Health Recharge</li>



<li>Movement Speed</li>



<li>Movement Speed With Turret</li>



<li>Prevent Weapon Firing</li>



<li>Vampirism</li>



<li>Weapon Damage</li>
</ul>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS</h2>



Improvements to single axis selection on both the scale and transform widgets. It’s now easier to grab a selection axis of the movement and scaling widgets when using a mouse.



Added “On Player Infected” node to Node Graph. This event node fires when a player is infected and returns both who got infected and who did the infecting.



Added “On Repair Field Heal” node to Node Graph. This event node fires when a player or object is repaired. Returns the Repair Field Object, Healed Object, Healed Amount, and Full Regen Completed.



Added Infected Energy Sword and Mythic Sandwich as weapons. Some weapons are just too powerful, too terrible, and indeed too delicious to even contemplate letting folks use them. The Mythic Sandwich in the wrong hands could spell doom for the entire galaxy, a weapon more devastating than the Halo Array itself… but do you know what these are? The wrong hands!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1003" height="1204" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/SandwichSword.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Infected Energy Sword and Mythic Sandwich" class="wp-image-91394" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/SandwichSword.jpg 1003w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/SandwichSword-250x300.jpg 250w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/SandwichSword-853x1024.jpg 853w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/SandwichSword-768x922.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1003px) 100vw, 1003px" /></figure>



The Infected Energy Sword and Mythic Sandwich will be available in the power spawner, weapon pads, weapon trunks, and as individually placed weapon objects.



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



As we have said, we are committed to the continued improvement of Forge and we’ve got more to come on that front this year. Of course, we can’t just tease you like that and stay quiet—how uncivilized that would be!



Coming in future Halo Infinite updates will be a Flood-themed palette and an alien-themed palette for you to play around with. Let’s take a look!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/CU29_ForgeBlog_FutureContent_Flood_1920x1080_Watermarked.png" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Flood palette coming in a future update" class="wp-image-91465" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/CU29_ForgeBlog_FutureContent_Flood_1920x1080_Watermarked.png 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/CU29_ForgeBlog_FutureContent_Flood_1920x1080_Watermarked-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/CU29_ForgeBlog_FutureContent_Flood_1920x1080_Watermarked-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/CU29_ForgeBlog_FutureContent_Flood_1920x1080_Watermarked-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/CU29_ForgeBlog_FutureContent_Flood_1920x1080_Watermarked-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/CU29_ForgeBlog_FutureContent_Flood_1920x1080_Watermarked-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/CU29_ForgeBlog_FutureContent_Alien_1920x1080_Watermarked.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the alien-themed palette coming in a future update" class="wp-image-91451" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/CU29_ForgeBlog_FutureContent_Alien_1920x1080_Watermarked.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/CU29_ForgeBlog_FutureContent_Alien_1920x1080_Watermarked-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/CU29_ForgeBlog_FutureContent_Alien_1920x1080_Watermarked-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/CU29_ForgeBlog_FutureContent_Alien_1920x1080_Watermarked-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/CU29_ForgeBlog_FutureContent_Alien_1920x1080_Watermarked-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/CU29_ForgeBlog_FutureContent_Alien_1920x1080_Watermarked-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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That brings us to the end of this Forge Overview for CU29, which is just days away from launch on January 30!



We can’t wait to see what you make this year. We’re coming up on almost thirty issues of Forge Features here on Halo Waypoint, which has showcased and spotlighted what is ultimately just a tiny fraction of what you’ve been building—so don’t forget to share your maps by tagging them with “343ask” in-game.



Happy Forging!



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For more on CU29 of Halo Infinite, check out our other blogs:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/community-livestream-cu29">UPDATE OVERVIEW</a> – Catch up on our livestream about all things Halo Infinite in 2024.</li>



<li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/map-overview-halo-infinite-cu29">MAP OVERVIEW</a> – Take a guided tour of Illusion, the new Arena map coming in CU29.</li>



<li>CUSTOMIZATION OVERVIEW – Get a closer look at the Mark IV Armor Core, customization improvements, and upcoming Operations.</li>
</ul>

Forge Overview | Halo Infinite CU29

Coming to Halo Infinite when Content Update 29 (“CU29”) lands on January 30 is a new map: Illusion.



Illusion takes place within an abandoned and forgotten ONI black site where old experiments with recovered (and familiar) Covenant technology still remain, evoking the feeling and design of maps from Halo: Combat Evolved. Let’s take a look…



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</div></figure>



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We’re joined by multiplayer designer Cliff Schuldt to delve into the depths of this abandoned facility and explore how it came together.



Halo Infinite’s latest update brings an awesome new map to the game—Illusion. What can you tell us about it?



This map is really a love letter to the map design of Halo: Combat Evolved, where every map in that game has a kind of unique element to it—whether that’s in the layout, the location, and so on. Illusion is set at an ONI black site facility, and we really wanted to give it a unique hook to give it a strong sense of identity.



The main point of interest in this map is that its middle section has an active camouflage effect, so players who go into the center will turn invisible—we originally played around with having that area obscured by lots of smoke, but impacting the player’s vision in such a way just didn’t really translate to a fun time in gameplay.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_103_1920x1080_Watermark.jpg" alt="A screenshot of Illusion, the newest arena map coming to Halo Infinite." class="wp-image-91197" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_103_1920x1080_Watermark.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_103_1920x1080_Watermark-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_103_1920x1080_Watermark-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_103_1920x1080_Watermark-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_103_1920x1080_Watermark-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_103_1920x1080_Watermark-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Once we transitioned to the active camo hallway, the lore of the map really grew out of that. On one side of the map, you’ll see an active camo pyramid from Halo: CE and Halo 2 which is hooked up to still-functioning machinery, a remnant of ONI’s attempts to reverse engineer its effects. On the other side of the map, there’s an overshield cube also hooked up to the ONI machines, but that side is damaged and inactive with error messages.



Just as the Season 5 map Prism tells a story about the crystals being mined on Suban for the Needler, Illusion really showcases the secret experiments ONI was conducting around these power-ups from Halo: CE and Halo 2. It shows how this Covenant technology transitioned to the form it takes as portable equipment, which we see in how the camo and overshield modules appear in Halo 5 and Halo Infinite.



What are some of the unique features and locations of this map?



The camo hallway is the central feature, which harkens back to some of that Halo: CE design philosophy. And the ONI aesthetic, too, is something that feels unique. We have felt the “UNSC fatigue” as well at times, but—like with Cliffhanger in Season 3—there are some really cool new visual and design elements that ONI has which breaks away a bit from the more straightforwardly industrial design of the UNSC. This looks and feels like an abandoned and forgotten black site, the past is buried here.



The way we think of this map is that it has “roles” you can take on to suit your kind of playstyle. Do you want to be the person who ventures into the camo hallway to try to take advantage of the center of the map, or are you somebody who prefers to hang back and be the spotter for the team if an enemy is encroaching on your base while you play defense with the sniper? Those long-range plays can really swing the direction of a match. And you can play offensively, going around the side areas of the map or using kinetic launchers to get the jump on the enemy team.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_005_1920x1080_Watermark.jpg" alt="A screenshot of Illusion, the newest arena map coming to Halo Infinite." class="wp-image-91226" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_005_1920x1080_Watermark.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_005_1920x1080_Watermark-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_005_1920x1080_Watermark-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_005_1920x1080_Watermark-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_005_1920x1080_Watermark-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_005_1920x1080_Watermark-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



What modes play well with this map?



This map was originally designed with CTF in mind. As a bit of a peek behind the curtain: maps are typically built with a particular mode in mind, and usually you can get a couple of modes that work well… but Illusion ended up surprising us because every mode we tested on it felt like it could have been the “origin mode” for the map.



Strongholds, King of the Hill, and Extraction were modes we particularly loved playing on this, zone control modes in general really brought out that depth in gameplay I mentioned earlier. But Oddball might have been one of my personal favorites—the camo hallway adds a whole new dynamic to how you play. If you take the Oddball into the camo hallway, you run a risky gambit of putting yourself in a vulnerable position but you’re also able to bait the enemy team if your own team is on top of their game.



And Infection… I think people are going to have a good time with that mode on Illusion. Lots of jumpscares!



I remember when you first showed me this map and I literally said “This feels like a map straight out of Halo: CE,” which you then said was very much the intent!



I’ve been a fan of the series since Halo: CE. We used to have LAN parties every weekend with over thirty people coming over, epic high school rivalries emerged from these experiences, and we really carried that feeling through to Illusion as a love letter to the game that started it all.



That’s in the design as well. Like I said about the difference between the “traditional” UNSC aesthetic and what ONI brings to the table, you have more of an eerie vibe to this abandoned space, brutalist designs with those unnaturally tall hallways, this pervading sense that your eyes might be playing tricks on you as you wonder what mysteries were buried here…



And then, in a gameplay sense, there’s a healthy verticality to it as well. Halo: CE had a lot of that when you look at maps like Prisoner, Hang ‘em High, Damnation, Chill Out, and so on. Those all had these strong characteristics, unique hooks in visuals and gameplay (especially when you think of mind-bending maps like Chiron TL-34!)



Do you think Illusion is a map geared towards a particular kind of Halo player?



During testing, one person actually said that they were having a good time on Illusion even though their team was losing! This is not a common response to that kind of situation, but hearing it was great because we want players to enjoy what they are experiencing. Winning is fun, but playing should feel fun.



Illusion is designed for both social and competitive play, we hope that every type of Halo player will find elements of this map that really grab them. It’s super rewarding when you find someone in the camo hallway and take them down with that feeling of “I got you!”, and on the other side of it you feel empowered as a player when you get to be invisible—there’s just something about being stealthy and sneaky which adds a lot of fun, but it’s in a controlled area so you have to think about your positioning.



We wanted players to think about this map differently when they’re in those heat of the moment situations and make interesting choices with plentiful opportunities for risky gambits and exciting counter-plays.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_008_1920x1080_Watermark.jpg" alt="A screenshot of Illusion, the newest arena map coming to Halo Infinite." class="wp-image-91211" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_008_1920x1080_Watermark.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_008_1920x1080_Watermark-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_008_1920x1080_Watermark-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_008_1920x1080_Watermark-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_008_1920x1080_Watermark-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/HI_Map_Illusion_008_1920x1080_Watermark-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



We’re quite accustomed to there being fun Easter eggs on new Halo Infinite maps at this point, are there any that players should look out for on Illusion?



Every time people started exploring, we would hear “Oh, cool!” There are lots of little things we put in there that really felt like we were celebrating Halo, remembering our time with the series.



There’s a break room with some fun memorabilia. Let’s say that there are also some more… colorful elements that may prove to be key to discovering something…



And the location of this map is a bit of an Easter egg in itself, as it’s actually underneath another map in the game.



Thank you for joining us again, Cliff—it’s always a joy to talk about map design and fun Halo memories with you! Do you have any parting words to share?



It’s been over twenty-two years since Halo: CE released and we are still so excited about leaning into the original DNA of that game’s design—strong identities, approachable depth, and great fun!



That’s really the heart and soul of the team’s love and passion for Halo. We’re all fans, we want to build maps which facilitate players getting to share their crazy moments at the water cooler, whether you’re just running around with your friends and punching each other or if you’re sweating with the team.



It’s been a huge honor to work on this game, but the blessing I didn’t expect was all about the people—from art, design, sandbox, community, and beyond. Getting to work with so many kind and passionate folks who deeply care about what they’re creating has been amazing, and it’s been such a privilege to share these things with the fans. We hope you enjoy the map, and (as always) can’t wait to see the gameplay clips you share online!



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For more on CU29, stay tuned for the following blogs to come:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/community-livestream-cu29">UPDATE OVERVIEW</a> – Catch up on our January 19 community livestream which outlines the content coming in CU29 and our approach to Halo Infinite going forwards this year.</li>



<li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/forge-overview-cu29">FORGE OVERVIEW</a> – Learn more about the new features and improvements coming to Forge, including the Covenant palette, Mode Creator, and more.</li>



<li>CUSTOMIZATION OVERVIEW – Get a closer look at the Mark IV Armor Core, customization improvements, and upcoming Operations.</li>
</ul>

Map Overview | Halo Infinite CU29

Today, during our first Community Livestream of the year, we pulled back the curtain on what’s next for Halo Infinite and shared details on what’s in store for year three of the Halo Championship Series (HCS).



If you missed the stream, we highly recommend giving it a watch to get up to speed on what you can expect with Infinite’s next update, how the studio is approaching the game going forward, a few longer lead features in active development, and what’s cooking for HCS.



<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="January Update & HCS 2024 Roadmap | Halo Infinite" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9aV4pIIz2p8?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">CONTENT UPDATE 29</h2>



Halo Infinite’s next free update, Content Update 29 (“CU29”) arrives on January 30, bringing a new Arena map, a Covenant object palette and new Forge features, a new armor core and customization rewards, and the first of three free Operations—starting with the Halo Wars-themed “Spirit of Fire.”



Stay tuned to Halo Waypoint in the coming days as we’ll take a closer look at some of the key components of this latest update:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/map-overview-halo-infinite-cu29">MAP OVERVIEW</a> – Take a guided tour of Illusion, the new Arena map coming in CU29.</li>



<li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/forge-overview-cu29">FORGE OVERVIEW</a> – Learn more about the new features and improvements coming to Forge, including the Covenant palette, Mode Creator, and more.</li>



<li>CUSTOMIZATION OVERVIEW – Get a closer look at the Mark IV Armor Core, customization improvements, and upcoming Operations.</li>
</ul>



Looking further ahead, we also confirmed several player-requested features in active development including “Match Composer” functionality for matchmaking, new ways to earn past customization content, updated networking model, and a new anti-cheat initiative.



We’ll have plenty more to share on these fronts as they get nearer to release but for now, we’re excited to let the team cook and look forward to these marquee updates landing later this year.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Crop_EvergreenTitle_V01_16x9_1920x1080_Watermarked-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-90873" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Crop_EvergreenTitle_V01_16x9_1920x1080_Watermarked-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Crop_EvergreenTitle_V01_16x9_1920x1080_Watermarked-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Crop_EvergreenTitle_V01_16x9_1920x1080_Watermarked-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Crop_EvergreenTitle_V01_16x9_1920x1080_Watermarked-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Crop_EvergreenTitle_V01_16x9_1920x1080_Watermarked-1568x882.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Crop_EvergreenTitle_V01_16x9_1920x1080_Watermarked.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">HCS 2024</h2>



Year three of HCS is upon us! New events, ranked updates, and new team cosmetics are on the horizon, <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/2024roadmap">and you can get the full scoop via the latest HCS blog</a>.



Stay tuned to <a href="http://halo.gg">Halo.gg</a> and be sure to follow <a href="https://twitter.com/HCS">@HCS</a> for the latest competitive Halo news.



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That’s all for now, but we’re excited to have much more to share with you next week as we get closer to the release of CU29 on January 30!



Until then, may you have sweet dreams of Mjolnir Mark IV armor…