Games

Halo Infinite

Variety is the spice of life—and of Halo matchmaking.



Since launch, the Halo Infinite team has been slowly adding rotational playlists based on community feedback. As playlists come in though, it’s clear that some were popular and should stick around while others didn’t quite resonate with players in the same way. To help make sure we keep a quality experience in each playlist, we’ll be updating our approach to a more rotational strategy.



This new permanent and rotational approach will help keep the offerings fresh week-to-week and should feel similar to the playlist schedule established in Halo: The Master Chief Collection & Halo 5: Guardians.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Playlist Structure</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_043.jpg" alt="Two Spartans running alongside each other on Aquarius." class="wp-image-48821" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_043.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_043-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_043-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_043-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_043-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_043-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



As we touched on in our <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/august-matchmaking-updates" target="_blank">August</a> & <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-infinite-september-playlist-update" target="_blank">September Playlist Update</a> blogs, there are some playlists that have performed well and others that didn’t. The ones that have continued to perform well will be sticking around as more established fixtures in our matchmaking offering. The goal is to keep these healthy playlists (ones with good search times, lower latency, and balanced matches) in as permanent offerings, while others rotate through to provide fresh experiences.



Halo Infinite’s playlist offerings will continue to evolve and shift in response to player behavior in-game (where players spend their time) and community feedback. With that in mind, here’s a look at the playlist plan that’ll be landing with the Winter Update on November 8:



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Permanent Playlists</h3>



<ul><li>Quick Play</li><li>Big Team Battle</li><li>Ranked Arena</li><li>Fiesta</li><li>Tactical Slayer</li><li>Team Slayer</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/2022/11/October2022_056.jpg" alt="Spartan running with a Ravager in their hands." class="wp-image-48849" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_056.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_056-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_056-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_056-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_056-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_056-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rotational Playlists</h3>



<ul><li>Rotational Core Slot: A playlist that is typically close to the core Halo gameplay experience, similar to Quick Play (e.g., Team Snipers, Team Doubles, etc.)<ul><li>Winter Update’s first core rotational will be Covert One Flag, our new mode, on various maps</li></ul></li><li>Rotational Social Slot: A playlist that is usually closer to the fun, social, and whacky side of Halo (e.g., Social Slayer, Big Team Social, Rumble Pit, etc.)<ul><li> Winter Update’s first social rotational playlist will be Social Slayer, which includes fun-filled modes like Kong Slayer, Purple Reign, and Rock ‘n’ Repulsors</li></ul></li></ul>



Our goal is to have the rotational core and rotational social slots update every two weeks on alternating weeks, meaning a new experience will roll into matchmaking every week. This is very similar to the setup that Halo 5 used post-launch to rotate through multiple playlists as well. The plan is to hit this increased cadence, but playlist management will need to adapt and remain fluid based on community input and production realities.



Additionally, once a playlist rotates out, we’d like to refresh its contents with different map and mode combinations before it returns. Whether that means new maps or modes (or simply changing the map/mode combos), we want each playlist to have something different about it when it comes back.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_Ranked.jpg" alt="Spartan with flaming shoulders holding a red BR75." class="wp-image-48835" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_Ranked.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_Ranked-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_Ranked-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_Ranked-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_Ranked-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_Ranked-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<ul><li>Rotational Ranked Slot: A playlist that fosters a competitive experience (e.g., Ranked Doubles, Ranked FFA, etc.)<ul><li>Winter Update’s first Ranked rotational playlist will be Ranked Survivors, consisting of Ranked variants of the Attrition and Elimination modes.</li></ul></li></ul>



Right now, our plan is for Ranked rotationals to be live for two weeks before the slot shifts to another Ranked offering. The two-week cadence was chosen based on data from Ranked FFA and Ranked Doubles’ performance, which both saw their engagement decline after their first two weeks. Ranks will not reset when a playlist rotates out, so you’ll be able to continue your progress the next time it comes back. Since we’ll keep a predictable cadence, there will be multiple opportunities to jump into your favorite Ranked experiences.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_036-636161dd8228c.jpg" alt="Spartan clambering over cover while holding a Gravity Hammer." class="wp-image-48863" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_036-636161dd8228c.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_036-636161dd8228c-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_036-636161dd8228c-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_036-636161dd8228c-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_036-636161dd8228c-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/October2022_036-636161dd8228c-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Event Playlists</h3>



<ul><li>Event Playlist Slot: A slot that will be used when Events roll into the game (e.g., Cyber Showdown, The Yappening, etc.)</li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Playlist Schedule</h2>



Now, let’s ask (and answer) the most important question about—how does this come together and what does it look like to me as a player?



Below is an example of what it could look like as a calendar view. The playlists that rotate in and out are always subject to change based on the live nature of the game, but this should provide a good idea of how the rotational schedule will function.



Here’s what it could look like when the Winter Update kicks off!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2113" height="1211" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/November-Resized.jpg" alt="November Playlist Calendar" class="wp-image-48877" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/November-Resized.jpg 2113w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/November-Resized-300x172.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/November-Resized-1024x587.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/November-Resized-768x440.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/November-Resized-1536x880.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/November-Resized-2048x1174.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/November-Resized-1568x899.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2113px) 100vw, 2113px" /><figcaption>November Playlist Calendar </figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2113" height="1211" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/December-Resized.jpg" alt="December Playlist Calendar " class="wp-image-48884" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/December-Resized.jpg 2113w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/December-Resized-300x172.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/December-Resized-1024x587.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/December-Resized-768x440.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/December-Resized-1536x880.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/December-Resized-2048x1174.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/December-Resized-1568x899.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2113px) 100vw, 2113px" /><figcaption>December Playlist Calendar</figcaption></figure>



Please note: These dates and playlists are subject to change.



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



Thanks for your continued input on Halo Infinite’s playlists and offerings. We’re doing our best to make sure we ensure a quality matchmaking experience while the team continues to work on an improved method that provides players with even more autonomy over what they want to play. Additionally, when the Custom Game Browser lands in Season 3, it should be even easier to find or create the exact experience you want to play.



Thank you again, and we’ll see you on the battlefield!

Unyshek

Playlist Schedule | Winter Update

The Winter Update is Halo Infinite’s largest feature update yet and arrives on November 8, bringing highly anticipated experiences and content across the entire game. Amongst many new additions (including Campaign Network Co-Op, the Forge Beta, and a free 30-tier Battle Pass) are two new maps and a new mode, which we’re going to delve into more detail on today.



MAP | ARGYLE



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HI-Argyle.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Argyle in Halo Infinite" class="wp-image-48291" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HI-Argyle.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HI-Argyle-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HI-Argyle-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HI-Argyle-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HI-Argyle-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HI-Argyle-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Set within the narrow corridors of a UNSC vessel, Argyle comes to Halo Infinite as one of the first multiplayer maps to be built entirely within Forge.



This tight, indoor, symmetrical map makes for a competitive arena environment that showcases merely a fraction of what the Forge tool is capable of.



MAP | DETACHMENT



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HI-Detachment.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Halo Infinite map Detachment" class="wp-image-48305" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HI-Detachment.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HI-Detachment-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HI-Detachment-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HI-Detachment-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HI-Detachment-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HI-Detachment-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Also built entirely within Forge, Detachment comes to Halo Infinite as an all-new symmetrical arena map.



Set atop a rocky outcropping, this once-abandoned UNSC research facility is composed of indoor and outdoor environments, providing opportunities for dynamic combat that suits a variety of game modes and play styles.



MODE | COVERT ONE FLAG



Covert One Flag joins Halo Infinite as a unique variant of One Flag CTF. In this round-based mode, attackers and defenders swap sides as they battle for control of a single flag.



Asymmetric team loadouts equip attackers with Active Camo to help sneak their way past enemy defense while defenders possess Threat Sensors to help spot the intruders. The team who wins the majority of rounds wins the match.



With that context established, let’s explore these three new additions in our Map & Mode Preview video!



<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">
https://youtu.be/BC0wfvHyqo8
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Alex Wakeford

Halo Infinite | Winter Update Maps & Mode Preview

343 INDUSTRIES

Fracture: Entrenched Event (Updated)

Entrenched

Story Shard: The Last Sky Marshal

The Winter Update for Halo Infinite is just a few short weeks away, bringing with it a plethora of new content.



Campaign Network Co-Op will allow you and up to three of your friends to experience the Master Chief’s journey in Halo Infinite’s Campaign together—from the Warship Gbraakon to the Silent Auditorium, and the vast shattered landscapes of Zeta Halo itself. This will further be supported with the addition of Mission Replay, allowing you to hop between completed missions as you wish, and gives you a further 24 Achievements to unlock.



The Forge Beta will also arrive in the Winter Update. With thousands of new objects and countless new additions and improvements, many of which we explored in our <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-infinite-forge-fundamentals">Forge Fundamentals</a> video series, the time has come for you to unleash your creativity as we put the most powerful tools of Halo’s map and mode creation in your hands at last.



And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. With a new 30-tier Battle Pass, new events, new modes, new maps, and more, our latest Overview showcases all the exciting new additions coming your way when the Winter Update launches on November 8.



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Halo Infinite | Winter Update Overview" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IooofLOzwxQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Halo Infinite | Winter Update Overview

The first time I looked at Forge in Halo Infinite, I was like “Oh hey, cool that’s… oh, holy– you guys did what?!”



With November already on the horizon, in just a few short months the Forge Beta will be in your hands to unleash your creativity with, dare we say, infinite possibilities.



In this four-part video series, we’re going to explore the foundational elements of Forge to get you acquainted with its tools, showcase brand new features and improvements from previous games, and provide some direct developer insight into what’s coming.



Here are the topics we’ll be covering in each video of this series:



<ul><li><a href="#building">Part 1: Building</a> – what can I make and how do I make it?</li><li><a href="#scripting">Part 2: Scripting & Bots</a> – what is scripting, how can I use it, and how can I test my map with bots?</li><li><a href="#lighting-audio">Part 3: Lighting & Audio</a> – what lighting, art, and audio tools can make my maps look and sound great?</li><li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-infinite-forge-fundamentals#file-sharing-canvases">Part 4: File Sharing & Canvases</a> – where can I build my maps and how can people discover them?</li></ul>



But first, of course, for those of you who may just be joining us on this great journey, or may need a refresher, let us take a moment to look back on what Forge represents as a pillar for Halo…



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT IS FORGE?</h2>



Once upon a time, matches on Halo 2’s Colossus would begin with a frenetic rush to collect the various plasma pistols and battle rifles strewn across its lower end, and we would have to impose honor rules.



In those days, the placement of weapons, objectives, spawns, and other details of Halo’s multiplayer spaces were largely fixed—rooted in place, until they were picked up and spent, after which an invisible countdown would bring them back to be fought over once again.



But then, Halo 3 brought with it an exciting new feature. Forge began as an object layout editor, enabling players to rework weapons, vehicles, scenery, and spawns—and you could invite your friends to hop in and test out these changes live, or spend an hour trying to drop tanks on each other.



As with all creative tools, when put in the hands of the community, impossible things happened. You built Scarabs and Pelicans out of crates and scenery items. You used teleporter nodes to keep objects floating in the air. You discovered techniques that allowed blocks to intersect with each other and the environment, creating all-new maps on empty canvases.



From that point, Forge ceased to be a simple layout editor. It became a map maker, and a community of creative cartographers arose from its foundations.



Since then, Forge has been continually upgraded in successive Halo titles with new tools and capabilities to give Forgers more agency and options in what they seek to create. More objects, bigger budgets, new terrain pieces, color editing, magnets, baked lighting, scripting… Forge is your playground, and in Halo Infinite we’re giving you more toys to play with than ever before.



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="building">PART 1 – BUILDING</h2>



In our first video, we focus on some of the core features that have been added or improved in Halo Infinite’s version of Forge.



Join Michael Schorr, Forge Lead Designer, and Cliff Schuldt, Multiplayer Level Designer, as they walk through object palettes, new features (such as the much-anticipated undo/redo buttons and object scaling), and much more that will empower you to build and create.



<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Halo Infinite | Forge Fundamentals – Building" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SAwEbD5qNG8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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We look forward to seeing what you all can build when the Forge Beta lands later this year. Until then, be sure to subscribe to <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/Halo" target="_blank">our YouTube channel</a> to see even more Forge videos in the coming weeks.



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="scripting">PART 2 – SCRIPTING & BOTS</h2>



In our second video, we’re exploring new and improved features around scripting, node graphs, and Bot support on Forge maps.



Michael Schorr, Forge Lead Designer, and Connor Kennelly, Technical Designer, dive into the fundamentals of scripting: what is it, how can I use it, what sort of things does it enable me to do with my maps, and how has it been made more accessible from how it’s previously appeared in Halo 2: Anniversary and Halo 5? And, most importantly: how do I use scripting to make my assault rifle shoot rockets?



Of course, as you’re building things, you’re going to want to try them out as well. Michael and Connor detail how you can test your scripts in the newly added Test Mode, and how you can also get a good feel for how your map plays with the addition of Bots—as well as the “nav mesh” which directs how Bots can move around your custom maps.



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Halo Infinite | Forge Fundamentals – Scripting & Bots" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sgIxew1x12s?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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These features are just another aspect of how Forge in Halo Infinite is levelling up to empower you with more options to create maps with more agency than ever before.



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="lighting-audio">PART 3 – LIGHTING & AUDIO</h2>



For our third Forge video, we’re looking at how you can leverage new lighting and audio tools in the creation of your maps.



Michael Schorr, Forge Lead Designer, and Tyler Feddeler, Lighting Artist, showcase a series of new lighting and audio options that can be used to create more immersive and detailed maps than ever before.



Adjust your map’s time of day and even change the color of the sun and sky to get the exact atmosphere you want, whether that’s a pitch-black night-time environment with volumetric fog and curated shadows, a neon pink sun blazing down upon the battlefield, or anything equally wild your imagination comes up with. The sky(box) truly is the limit!



Then bring your maps to life with a suite of ambient audio options with primary and secondary sounds, reverb, effects, and even scripting audio. Looking to make an underwater or outer space map? It’s not just the sights, but the sounds that are now an integral part of your Forge arsenal.



<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Halo Infinite | Forge Fundamentals – Lighting & Audio" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uyKLrBs6GDM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="lighting-audio">PART 4 – FILE SHARING & CANVASES</h2>



Our fourth and final Forge video details the canvases you’ll be building your maps on and the key to sharing your creations with your friends and other players. 



The Halo Infinite Forge Beta will launch with six canvas maps, providing a range of environments—from arid desert to lush grasslands and marshes, to outer space and the underwater sea floor, and even a blank void—which are about double the size of Halo 5’s canvases. 



Add collaborators to your map, giving your selected friends a range of options to co-Forge alongside you and list them in its credits; look at your map’s “version history” and track the major additions or changes you’ve made to then seamlessly jump between past and present versions of your maps; and head into the main menu’s Community tab to browse published maps, modes, and prefabs from other players. 



Join John Junyszek, Senior Community Manager, and Michael Schorr, Forge Lord (that is, Forge Lead Designer!), one last time as they get you acquainted with the powerful options and tools at your disposal when Forge arrives with the Winter Update on November 8.



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Halo Infinite – Forge Fundamentals

As we continue to explore and experiment with Halo Infinite’s playlist offerings, two new experiences now join the fray – Ranked FFA and Social Slayer.  



On top of being a blast, both playlists provide unique opportunities to learn even more about player preferences in matchmaking. Their additions as rotationals will help us study player behavior and playlist health, which will help inform our future rotational plans for the Winter Update and beyond. In <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-infinite-september-playlist-update" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">September’s Playlist Update</a> blog, we discussed this concept in greater depth and also outlined the popularity of Halo Infinite’s existing playlists. 



Now, let’s take a look at the two new playlists you can play today!



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ranked Free-For-All</h3>



Ranked FFA will test your ability to separate yourself from the pack. Prove that you are the ultimate lone wolf and climb your way up the ranks.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Modes</h4>



<ul><li>Ranked FFA Slayer</li><li>Ranked FFA King of the Hill</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/2022/10/HaloInfinite_Ranked_FFA_1920x1080.jpg" alt="Three Spartans of different colors stand on pedestals of different heights." class="wp-image-47882" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HaloInfinite_Ranked_FFA_1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HaloInfinite_Ranked_FFA_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HaloInfinite_Ranked_FFA_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HaloInfinite_Ranked_FFA_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HaloInfinite_Ranked_FFA_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HaloInfinite_Ranked_FFA_1920x1080-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption>Competitive Halo Infinite Settings: Battle Rifle Starts. No Radar. It’s every Spartan for themselves!</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Social Slayer</h3>



Social Slayer takes fun to the extreme with some new action-packed Slayer variants. Hop into this playlist with your friend and you’ll have more fun than a barrel of monkeys.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Modes</h4>



<ul><li>Kong Slayer</li><li>Ninja Slayer</li><li>Purple Reign Slayer</li><li>Rock ‘n’ Repulsors Slayer</li><li>Rocket Dodgeball</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/2022/10/HaloInfinite_SocialSlayer_1920x1080.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-47896" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HaloInfinite_SocialSlayer_1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HaloInfinite_SocialSlayer_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HaloInfinite_SocialSlayer_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HaloInfinite_SocialSlayer_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HaloInfinite_SocialSlayer_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/HaloInfinite_SocialSlayer_1920x1080-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption> Play with friends, Slay your foes. Obliterate your opponents in an assortment of Team Slayer based modes.</figcaption></figure>



Whether you’re powering through the ranks in Ranked FFA or throwing Fusion Coils at each other in Social Slayer, we hope you find these new experiences enjoyable.



If you have any feedback about these playlists, please let us know in the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://forums.halowaypoint.com/c/games/halo-infinite/8" target="_blank">Halo Waypoint forums</a>. If you run into any technical issues while playing, be sure to report it on the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://aka.ms/HaloSupport" target="_blank">Halo Support site</a>.



We’ll see you online in matchmaking or in-person at the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/HaloWC2022" target="_blank">Halo World Championship</a> next week in Seattle!

Ranked FFA & Social Slayer

Halo Waypoint - Game History & PGCR

As Halo Infinite’s in-game offerings continue to expand, so does our support for the game with Halo Waypoint’s web and mobile app experiences. From launching with deep game integration to expanding its feature set with Halo Infinite’s Service Record earlier this year, Halo Waypoint continues to improve as the essential companion to the game.



Today, we’re excited to share that Halo Waypoint’s latest update, which is now available on all platforms, brings two highly requested features to players’ fingertips — <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/players/Unyshek/matches?page=1" target="_blank">Game History</a> and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/players/Unyshek/matches/583a7b16-dda3-46cd-9a25-44890a453f03" target="_blank">Post-Game Carnage Reports (PGCR)</a> for Halo Infinite.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Waypoint-PGCR-BTB-Fiesta.jpg" alt="PGCR's Player Recap of a BTB Fiesta Slayer match"/><figcaption>PGCR’s Player Recap of a BTB Fiesta Slayer match</figcaption></figure>



The Game History feature serves as your main navigation page to find previous Halo Infinite matches that you’ve played in. That means this goes all the way back to your first match ever played, even all the way back to our surprise launch on November 15 of last year.



From this Game History page, you can select a match and examine its PGCR to see its scoreboard and all its finer details. Kills, Objective play, Accuracy, Medals, and plenty more stats—they’re all shown on this deeper dive with the PGCR. Additionally, if the match was Ranked, you can also see how much your CSR moved up or down as a result of that match’s outcome.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/10/Waypoint-PGCR-Ranked-Progression-Diamond.jpg" alt="PGCR's Player Recap of a Ranked Arena match, including CSR progression "/><figcaption> PGCR’s Player Recap of a Ranked Arena match, including CSR progression </figcaption></figure>



We’re excited to continue supporting Halo Infinite and Halo Waypoint experiences across the board, and today’s update is another step on that great journey. 



To try out these features on your mobile device, download the Halo Waypoint app today: 



<ul><li>Android: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://aka.ms/HaloWaypointAndroid" target="_blank">https://aka.ms/HaloWaypointAndroid</a> </li><li>iOS: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://aka.ms/HaloWaypointiOS" target="_blank">http://aka.ms/HaloWaypointiOS</a> </li></ul>



If you have any feedback about this latest update, please share be sure to share it with us on our <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://forums.halowaypoint.com/" target="_blank">Forums</a>. If you come across any technical issues, please let us know on <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://aka.ms/HaloSupport" target="_blank">the Halo Support site</a>. 



Thank you for your continued support and feedback, and we’ll see you online!

Halo Waypoint | Game History & Post-Game Carnage Reports

Halo Infinite – Campaign Co-Op and Mission Replay Achievements

We’ve got two changes coming to Halo Infinite’s playlist line up next Tuesday, September 20: The Yappening BTB shenanigans will continue, and we’ll be rotating out the dedicated Land Grab playlist.



Before we jump into those specifics, we wanted to share some insights around how the current playlists are performing, as well as the team’s philosophy and priorities for ongoing playlist management, as these are questions we hear often.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Playlist Fundamentals</h2>



Ever since Halo 2, matchmaking playlists have been at the heart of Halo’s online multiplayer and that remains true today in both MCC and Halo Infinite. Likewise, for as long as there have been Halo playlists, there have been rotational plans that see various modes coming and going at regular intervals. With Infinite, we haven’t seen a lot of rotations thus far, but as the team continues to amass a backlog of tried-and-true modes—along with brand new offerings—this will occur more regularly.



When it comes to playlist management, the team’s priorities are offering variety and breadth of experiences, focusing on the things that are most popular to players (while improving and evolving those that are less popular), and maintaining the best player experience possible.



In general, when new playlists are added, there’s a likelihood that overall match quality declines as the player population is spread across more options (unless, of course, a suitable influx of incremental new players is seen). As a result, some playlists become “unhealthy,” meaning they will experience longer than desired wait times, degraded online performance due to smaller populations around specific data centers, and/or larger than desired variances in player skill levels. Each of these factors can contribute negatively to the overall experience, with the worst case being some players have such a bad time that they move on entirely.



Most recently, Last Spartan Standing was removed as a dedicated playlist due to it no longer sustaining a suitable level of engagement to hit the match quality and player experience bars the team has set. For context, LSS accounted for less than 1% of all player activity (despite it also being some players’ personal favorite mode).



The team has to weigh all of these considerations any time a new playlist is added and/or the population changes. Meanwhile, rotational playlists will continue to play a part in matchmaking and should become more commonplace as the game continues to evolve.



Overall, playlist management is a dynamic process and our plans will continue to evolve based on data and player feedback.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PLAYLIST RANKINGS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/09/HaloInfinite_2022_Yappening_06_Watermarked_1920x1080.jpg" alt="A multiplayer Spartan rocking the citron white coating which is part of the Yappening Event Pass." class="wp-image-45501" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/09/HaloInfinite_2022_Yappening_06_Watermarked_1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/09/HaloInfinite_2022_Yappening_06_Watermarked_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/09/HaloInfinite_2022_Yappening_06_Watermarked_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/09/HaloInfinite_2022_Yappening_06_Watermarked_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/09/HaloInfinite_2022_Yappening_06_Watermarked_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/09/HaloInfinite_2022_Yappening_06_Watermarked_1920x1080-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Quite a few folks were surprised to hear that Last Spartan Standing was hovering around the bottom of the list given how much they personally enjoy it. Naturally, this raises the questions of what are the most popular playlists and how do my favorite playlists currently fare?



Here’s a stack ranked list of Halo Infinite’s playlists over the past month to give you an idea of what’s most popular and where players are spending their time:



<ol><li>1) Quick Play</li><li>2) Ranked Arena</li><li>3) Fiesta</li><li>4) Team Slayer</li><li>5) Big Team Battle</li><li>6) Tactical Slayer</li><li>7) Land Grab</li><li>8) Ranked Doubles</li><li>9) Team Doubles</li><li>10) Team Snipers</li><li>11) Rumble Pit</li><li>12) Bot Bootcamp</li></ol>



Anytime we have an active event, we see significant impact and shifts across matchmaking. Since it debuted, the Yappening playlist has been the overwhelming favorite playlist (nearly 4x as popular as the #2 playlist).



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE YAPPENING KEEPS ON HAPPENING</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/09/HaloInfinite_2022_Yappening_04_Watermarked_1920x1080.jpg" alt="A multiplayer Spartan rocking the Quilhawk cosmetic item which is part of the Yappening Event Pass." class="wp-image-45473" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/09/HaloInfinite_2022_Yappening_04_Watermarked_1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/09/HaloInfinite_2022_Yappening_04_Watermarked_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/09/HaloInfinite_2022_Yappening_04_Watermarked_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/09/HaloInfinite_2022_Yappening_04_Watermarked_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/09/HaloInfinite_2022_Yappening_04_Watermarked_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/09/HaloInfinite_2022_Yappening_04_Watermarked_1920x1080-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



It’s been great to see so many people enjoying BTB antics as part of the Yappening event (which we’ve also been having a blast playing!). Our pal Flipflop the Grunt has thrown one heckuva party and, with his permission, we’re going to keep the good times rolling with a minor change in branding.



When the Yappening officially ends on Tuesday, September 20, the new “BTB Social” playlist will emerge as the new home for the shenanigans you’ve come to know and love in the event playlist.



The Yappening has been a huge success in terms of popularity and engagement, but we’ve also seen the core BTB playlist activity significantly decline in its shadow. The team will be monitoring closely to see how both playlists hold up together and what the overall player experience is to determine what future steps may be needed.



In order to maintain a positive player experience and optimal playlist health, we may need to consolidate and/or rotate things around while we also apply the insights gathered during the Yappening to further improve BTB as a whole further down the road. We’re eager to see how things go and as always, look forward to your feedback.



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Land Grab</h2>



On Tuesday, Sept. 20, the dedicated Land Grab playlist will be rotated out of matchmaking. While we know many players have enjoyed this new mode introduced in Season 2, at this stage it’s been steadily declining and starting to fall short of the quality bar for a positive player experience.



Land Grab will be back as part of the Entrenched event with Week 5 kicking off Sept. 27, and the final week slated to begin on Oct. 25. Looking further ahead, Land Grab will roll into Quick Play as part of the Winter Update coming Nov. 8.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">LOOKING AHEAD</h2>



As Halo Infinite continues to evolve and we see new modes brought online we expect to see more regular rotations to offer experiences players want while also maintaining that high quality bar we have set for ourselves. We can’t always offer everything that every individual player wants today, but we’ll continue doing our best to focus on the breadth Infinite has to offer, the modes that are most popular to players, and keep addressing areas that negatively impact your online experience.



We’ll see you online, and thank you for your continued support!