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Alex Wakeford

Spotlight: February 12, 2024

Back again already? Well, of course you are—we did just have a two-episode premiere for Season Two, after all!



Let’s dive right into episode two, ‘Sword.’



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">EPISODE SUMMARY: SWORD</h2>



Doctor Catherine Halsey is sat at a table in what appears to be a comfortable living room where she is visited by a young girl who brings her “gifts” and they begin to play a board game. As Halsey questions the young attendant about the man behind all this, the young girl’s nose begins to bleed and she seemingly loses consciousness.



RIZ RECOVERS



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1280" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2E2.jpg" alt="L-R Natasha Culzac as Riz and Kate Kennedy as Kai in Halo episode 2, season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Adrienn Szabo/Paramount+" class="wp-image-92780" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2E2.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2E2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2E2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2E2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2E2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2E2-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Following the events of Season One where Riz-028 was critically wounded during the final battle against the Covenant at Raas Kkhotskha, Kai-125 finds her still in discomfort and struggling due to her injuries—but Riz insists on training.



Riz trains with Louis, a blind instructor who can tell that she is struggling. Louis tells her that she won’t be able to serve forever and that there are other ways to live, encouraging her to think about life beyond being a Spartan, which she flippantly says is a life that doesn’t matter—something she immediately regrets saying, as Louis is a “washout” from the Spartan program.



When conducting a “ring the bell” training exercise with Silver Team in her Mjolnir armor, Riz is prevented from completing her objective by the Master Chief after firing a shot to make her fall while climbing. The Chief orders them to go again, but when Kai interrupts to point out Riz’s condition—concerned that she is being pushed too far—Riz insists that she is fine. However, though Riz gets close to ringing the bell at the top of the cliffs, she loses her grip and hits her back on the long fall down. The Chief orders her to get back up, insisting that this is necessary because the Covenant are training for something, before ordering them to go again.



Later, Riz waits with Louis for the man he says saved him when he washed out of the Spartan program. Louis relates his experience after the augmentation procedures that turned them into super-soldiers, saying that he felt invincible at first, but over time he began to experience darkness at the edges of his vision that he kept quiet, before losing his sight altogether—the last thing he remembers seeing being how proud and beautiful he saw his fellow Spartans to be.



STANDBY MODE



The Master Chief looks at the Spartan deployment roster and sees that Silver Team are being held on standby, confiding to Kai that Ackerson believes something is wrong with him and revealing that he saw Makee on Sanctuary. Kai denies the possibility of this, as she shot Makee herself on Raas Kkhotskha.



Seeing that Cobalt Team’s status is also set to standby, the Chief becomes aggravated and seeks out James Ackerson. Ackerson mockingly says that as far as he knows Spartans never die, prompting the Chief to demand that he clear Silver Team for action or he will find somebody else who will, but Ackerson makes it clear that the Office of Naval Intelligence is running the show—and that he represents ONI.



Taking a more direct tact, Ackerson says that the Chief’s account of events on Sanctuary are dubious and could not be corroborated by Corporal Perez, upon the Chief’s insistence that he speak with her, only to be told that she has no recollection of the events that transpired. The Chief says that she must be lying, to which Ackerson asks the Chief to put himself in his position. Given the Chief’s recent behavior, would he trust him?



The Chief concludes that Ackerson can’t win this war against the Covenant without Silver Team, which Ackerson confirms, pointedly saying that he—and everybody else—needs the Master Chief. But at the end of the day, John is just “a guy in the suit.”



UNWELCOME VISITS



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1280" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver14.jpg" alt="Cristina Rodlo as Corporal Perez in Halo episode 2,Season 2, Streaming on Paramount+ 2024. Photo Credit: Adrienn Szabo/Paramount+" class="wp-image-92967" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver14.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver14-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver14-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver14-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver14-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver14-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Dr. Halsey plays a board game with her young attendant, who has seemingly recovered, but as Halsey asks once more who the man that sent her was, the girl’s nose begins bleeding again. Halsey tells the girl that she is dying and insists on her saying the man’s name, but the girl dies before she can say anything.



Meanwhile, the Master Chief pays a visit to Corporal Perez at her family home and is invited in for dinner. Perez relates her story to him about what she remembers: she heard something when the comms went down and could feel that something was with them, but she didn’t see anything—and then all of her fellow Marines were killed. She asks the Chief to explain why she wasn’t killed as well, explaining that this was why she didn’t tell Ackerson, because she was given a medal and doesn’t know what it’s for beyond simply surviving.



The Chief tells Perez that what she heard was a message from the Covenant and that it will happen again, and then confides that she will think about her squad every day, see their faces when she least expects, and that it doesn’t get better—only further away.



Back with Halsey, Ackerson meets with her in person as the body of her attendant—a flash cloned girl—is taken away. Halsey asks where Cortana and the Master Chief are, but Ackerson introduces her to a new flash cloned girl named Julia who will serve as Halsey’s next attendant. Departing the room, it becomes clear that Halsey is being held inside a simulated prison cell.



UNDER COVER



On the Rubble, Kwan goes out to steal food and attempts to remove the tracking tag used on indentured servants from her ear. Caught by several men hunting her down, Kwan escapes into a service duct and kills the two people hunting her.



Laera wants to take Soren’s ship to find him, but the crew that abandoned him tell her that it needs repairs that will take at least a couple of days. Laera insists that Soren is alive and reprimands them for not saving him themselves, as he would never have left them behind.



Kwan returns to the cavern where she tells Kessler she must leave because people are looking for her. Kessler says that Soren will protect them when he gets back, to which Kwan says that he isn’t coming back.



PROBLEMATIC PROBABILITIES



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1280" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver13.jpg" alt="L-R Joseph Morgan as James Ackerson and Natascha McElhone as Dr. Halsey in Halo episode 2, Season 2, Streaming on Paramount+ 2024. Photo Credit: Adrienn Szabo/Paramount+" class="wp-image-92953" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver13.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver13-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver13-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver13-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver13-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver13-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Ackerson enters the chamber where the smaller part of the Forerunner keystone artifact from Season One is still being held, remaining inert to his touch. Cortana then appears and Ackerson asks if she has made any progress with the problem that he gave her to solve, to which Cortana says that there is a ninety-seven percent probability based on the data he has given her.



Asking if there are any viable strategies that she would recommend to prevent this outcome, Cortana states that all simulations return the same result regardless of any action taken, leading Ackerson to conclude that there is nothing to be done. As Ackerson departs, he says that he will come back, but Cortana notes that—according to the simulations—he won’t be able to.



FLIGHTPLAN



The Master Chief attempts to track Cobalt Team’s mission, but is told that no missions are associated with them. Cross-checking missions concerning communications relays, two results for active missions are returned: one on Meridian, and another located in the Epsilon Eridani system—here on Reach itself. The Chief surmises that Cobalt Team never actually left the planet.



Taking a Condor with Silver Team under the pretense of a training mission, the Chief tells them they are actually going to Visegrad Relay, where Cobalt Team was sent, and they’re going to get them back. Kai asks if they’re cleared for combat, to which the Chief lies and confirms that they are. When Kai inquires as to the specific nature of their mission, the Chief simply responds: “The Covenant is on Reach.”



At Sword Base on Reach, a group of Marines move through a darkened corridor, but they are all cut down by a Sangheili warrior. Makee then appears, and asks the Sangheili to open the door, finding the other part of the keystone artifact within.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CORE CONNECTIONS</h2>



The Spartan roster and the scene where the Master Chief tracks the missions that other Spartan teams are on will return some undoubtedly familiar names to those familiar with the SPARTAN-II program.



Among the names listed are Black Team and Omega Team, who have both appeared throughout the expanded universe of Halo’s core canon.



<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/BloodLine_BlackTeam.jpg" alt="Crop of a panel from Halo: Blood Line showing the four Spartans of Black Team" class="wp-image-92981" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/BloodLine_BlackTeam.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/BloodLine_BlackTeam-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/BloodLine_BlackTeam-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/BloodLine_BlackTeam-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/BloodLine_BlackTeam-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/BloodLine_BlackTeam-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Black Team (composed of Margaret-053, Roma-143, Otto-031, and Victor-101)made their debut in the Halo: Evolutions anthology novel, specifically in the story ‘Blunt Instruments’ where they were sent to take out a station that would prevent Helium-3 from being supplied to the Covenant ships blockading the colony Tribute.



They were also the primary focus of the comic series Halo: Blood Line, and later appeared in Halo: Escalation’s ‘The Next 72 Hours’ arc where they met their end at the hands of the Forerunner commander known as the Didact.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1384" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/HW2_OmegaTeam_Full.jpg" alt="Halo Wars 2 art of Omega Team" class="wp-image-92693" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/HW2_OmegaTeam_Full.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/HW2_OmegaTeam_Full-300x216.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/HW2_OmegaTeam_Full-1024x738.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/HW2_OmegaTeam_Full-768x554.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/HW2_OmegaTeam_Full-1536x1107.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/HW2_OmegaTeam_Full-1568x1130.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Omega Team (composed of August-099, Leon-011, and Robert-025) was first introduced to us in the beloved announcement teaser for Halo Wars back in 2006, where a group of Spartans appear at the end with the line: “This is Spartan Group Omega. If they want war, we’ll give ‘em war.”



Omega would go on to appear briefly during the campaign of Halo Wars when the UNSC Spirit of Fire helps evacuate civilians on the colony world Arcadia, and they were also hero units that could be deployed in Halo Wars 2’s multiplayer.



Most recently, Omega Team appeared in our latest Waypoint Chronicle, Halo: Hippocratica. You can read this free short story <a href="http://aka.ms/Hippocratica">here on Halo Waypoint</a>, <a href="http://aka.ms/HippocraticaPDF">as a PDF</a>, or <a href="http://aka.ms/HippocraticaAudio">as an audiobook on YouTube</a>!



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://youtu.be/azcC0xEyyrY?si=pRzqTBmzf6yN4o6z"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2_Declassified.jpg" alt="Title card for Season Two of Halo The Series Declassified" class="wp-image-92897" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2_Declassified.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2_Declassified-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2_Declassified-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2_Declassified-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2_Declassified-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2_Declassified-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Sydnee Goodman brings us the latest instalment of Halo The Series: Declassified which takes us behind the scenes of today’s dual-wielded episode premiere.



In this episode, Sydnee speaks with David Wiener (Executive Producer) and Joseph Morgan (James Ackerson), explores the process that goes into getting Riz-028’s injury make-up and prosthetics done, and more.



(NOTE: Some regions may not be able to view this episode.)



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">RIZ-028</h2>



The second episode of Season Two had a strong focus on Riz-028 and the struggle that she is going through following the injuries she sustained at the end of last season. It is only fitting that this week’s Ultimate Reward in Halo Infinite, obtained by completing all of your challenges, would be Riz’s helmet.



Oh, and that’s not all! Log into Halo Infinite this week and you’ll instantly unlock Riz-028’s visor for your Spartan as well.



<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/ULT_Riz028.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of Riz-028's helmet" class="wp-image-92721" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/ULT_Riz028.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/ULT_Riz028-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/ULT_Riz028-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/ULT_Riz028-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/ULT_Riz028-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/ULT_Riz028-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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That wraps us up for this two-episode premiere, which has gotten Season Two off to an explosive start—and, in the words of the Master Chief himself: we’re just getting started.



Same time next week for episode three where we’re heading to Visegrad. To all the Halo: Reach fans out there who perked up at the mention of that particular location… from the beginning, you know the end!

Debrief 016

Silver Debrief: Sword

The time has come. Season Two of the Halo television series is here with an explosive two-episode premiere, launching us straight into the action with new and familiar faces as the Covenant threat escalates for humanity.



That means it’s time to bring the Silver Debrief out of cryo. This blog series will release every week alongside new episodes, featuring episode summaries, links to all the amazing additional programming to do with the series (like Declassified), and more.



Be warned: here there will be spoilers for these episodes, and in Halo Infinite there will be spoils in the form of Silver Team’s helmets—but more on that later!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">EPISODE SUMMARY: SANCTUARY</h2>



The episode begins with John-117, the Master Chief, on an operating table following the events of Season One’s finale. As he is tended to by medical personnel, he is saved by having the Cortana implant extracted from his head.



OPERATION: SHEPHERD



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1280" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver9.jpg" alt="Halo The Series image of the Master Chief carrying Corporal Perez over his shoulder and conversing with The Mother" class="wp-image-92841" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver9.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver9-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver9-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver9-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver9-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver9-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



On the planet Sanctuary, Silver Team assists the UNSC as they attempt to evacuate a settlement with Condor dropships due to an impending Covenant attack, but some of the civilian refugees refuse to leave—having been previously relocated from other Covenant invasions.



Keeping overwatch with Vannak-134, Kai-125 spots lights flickering in the fog on a clifftop and the Master Chief uses a grappleshot to investigate, discovering that communications in this area are suffering from significant interference. After encountering a group of Marines who were stationed at the communications outpost, they are snatched through the fog one by one by an invisible enemy until only the Master Chief and a young woman (Corporal Perez) are left.



A Sangheili lunges at the Chief with an energy sword and is quickly dispatched, but it is quickly followed by more. In the fighting that ensues, the Chief loses track of Perez—eventually finding her injured among the bodies of her fellow Marines. The Chief sees more Sangheili figures appear out of active camouflage, but they retreat and depart; through the fog, the Chief sees a familiar human figure among them.



The Covenant begin glassing Sanctuary, unleashing devastating lances of plasma upon the planet from orbit, wiping out many of the civilians and UNSC personnel. Kai and Vannak help the civilians aboard their Condors, some of which are shot down as they depart, and the Chief returns carrying Perez. The leader of the outpost—The Mother—and her entourage approach the Spartan, telling him to find his fate and that she has seen his death coming soon.



UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1280" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver4.jpg" alt="Danny Sapani as Captain Jacob Keyes in Halo episode 1, Season 2, Streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Adrienn Szabo/Paramount+" class="wp-image-92813" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver4.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver4-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver4-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver4-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver4-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Back on Reach at the FLEETCOM headquarters, Silver Team debriefs with the recently promoted Admiral Jacob Keyes who informs the Spartans that Covenant attacks have been increasing across the Outer Colonies.



The Master Chief insists that this case was different because the Covenant were already present before they glassed the planet, asking why they would invade the planet if their intention was just to glass it anyway. Keyes says that the Office of Naval Intelligence will conduct an analysis, and as the Chief makes to argue his case further they are interrupted by the arrival of James Ackerson, who introduces himself as Dr. Catherine Halsey’s replacement as director of the Spartan program.



Later, as the Chief heads to Ackerson’s office, he spots Corporal Perez in a room nearby. Having researched the new Spartan program director, the Chief gives respect to Ackerson for having served in combat, then reiterates that he understands the Covenant as an enemy that acts with meaning and intention. He believes that the Sangheili there were training, but he doesn’t know for what.



Ackerson seeks to undermine the Chief by questioning his mental state following the events of Season One where Dr. Halsey was implicated in crimes concerning unauthorized procedures and projects, such as the creation of Cortana—an illegal artificial intelligence that was implanted into the head of the UNSC’s most important strategic asset, the Master Chief himself.



COBALT TEAM



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1280" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver5.jpg" alt="Joseph Morgan as James Ackerson in Halo episode 1, Season 2, Streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Adrienn Szabo/Paramount+" class="wp-image-92827" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver5.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver5-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver5-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver5-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver5-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Silver Team banters with the Spartans of Cobalt Team, who have notably not removed their pellets, as they complain about Ackerson sending them on a babysitting mission to escort a tech team looking to repair a communications relay in a distant system. This gets the Chief’s attention, leading him to confront Ackerson once more for not briefing Cobalt Team on what happened on Sanctuary.



Ackerson then throws the Chief’s mission report into doubt, questioning how he could have prevailed against so many Sangheili warriors alone who then disappeared, portraying the Spartan as a victim of Halsey’s experiments that have compromised him, meaning that he cannot authorize them for combat missions. The Chief relents, but asks that Ackerson just tell Cobalt Team what they’re walking into.



Heading into the city, the Chief secretly meets with Margaret Parangosky, who is no longer serving as an admiral following the events of Season One. She tells the Chief that he will find Ackerson unresponsive to his theories and that nobody wants to believe that the nature of the Covenant War is changing. Parangosky tells the Chief to pursue evidence of the Covenant’s activities and bring it to her, providing him with a tracking device so she can find him when he activates it, and when the Chief asks what she’ll do for him she says that she will believe him.



A PIRATE’S LIFE



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1280" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver3.jpg" alt="Bokeem Woodbine as Soren in Halo episode 1, Season 2, Streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Adrienn Szabo/Paramount+" class="wp-image-92799" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver3.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver3-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



On the Rubble, a network of habitable hollowed-out asteroids where piracy thrives, the former Spartan known as Soren and his wife Laera observe the selection process for refugees seeking asylum through indentured servitude based on the skills they can contribute. One refugee from Harvest captures Soren’s attention when he claims to know the location of Catherine Halsey, which Soren publicly dismisses but directs one of his men to go after him.



Upon returning home, they find their son Kessler playing with a toy of the Master Chief. Laera criticizes Soren for playing the role of pirate king dreaming of bringing Dr. Halsey to justice while the galaxy burns around them. Laera says that the other syndicate families don’t fear Soren the way they used to and suggests that the three of them should go away, but Soren insists that they don’t run.



Soren meets with Felix and departs with his crew, the Harvest refugee relates a story about a salvage job where he saw a cryo tube containing Dr. Halsey when a side panel fell off a crate before the ship went missing, with Felix being the only one who knows the course it plotted. An alarm interrupts them as they find the wrecked remains of the ship, and Soren orders Felix to accompany him alone to investigate.



As Felix recounts his knowledge of Halsey’s actions and questions Soren’s past as a Spartan, he surmises that the pirate leader’s investment in capturing her isn’t about the money but what she did to him. Upon finding the crate that Felix claimed held Halsey’s cryo tube, Soren begins questioning Felix’s story, only to see his crew steal his ship and jump out of the system, stranding him. Finding the crate empty, Soren is the surrounded by troops that were hidden in the room and Felix states that he is under arrest for the crimes of piracy, kidnapping, extortion, and treason.



THE MONSTER



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1280" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver7.jpg" alt="Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief in Halo episode 1, Season 2, Streaming on Paramount+ 2024. Photo Credit: Adrienn Szabo/Paramount+" class="wp-image-92869" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver7.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver7-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver7-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver7-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver7-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/Silver7-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



After conversing with an AI that takes on the form of Cortana and Dr. Halsey, the Chief fears that a piece of him is missing now and recalls seeing the figure of Makee on Sanctuary, saying to him “You should have stayed with me.”



As Soren’s crew returns to the Rubble, Laera sees that Soren is not among them and fears that her husband is either lost or dead.



A Sangheili observes a vast fleet of Covenant ships rising through the clouds, prepared to embark on their next conquest.



Kessler enters an asteroid cavern where he is greeted by Kwan Ha, who tells him about an ancient monster that is coming—markings on the cavern wall showing a circular maw…



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CORE CONNECTIONS</h2>



“Core connections” is a section that explores some of the cool details and connections the Silver Timeline draws with Halo’s core canon.



At the FLEETCOM headquarters when Silver Team debriefs with Admiral Keyes, they learn that several planets have been lost: Madrigal, Estuary, and FLEETCOM believes that Fumirole is next.



We of course spent a lot of time on Madrigal in Season One, but Estuary and Fumirole are names that might sound familiar to lore fans out there.



<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/H2A_Terminal_Estuary.jpg" alt="Halo 2: Anniversary Terminal screenshot of the colony world Estuary" class="wp-image-92883" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/H2A_Terminal_Estuary.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/H2A_Terminal_Estuary-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/H2A_Terminal_Estuary-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/H2A_Terminal_Estuary-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/H2A_Terminal_Estuary-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/H2A_Terminal_Estuary-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Estuary made an appearance in Halo 2: Anniversary’s Terminals (Terminal 3 – ‘ONI File: Particular Justice’) as one of the seven planets that was glassed by Thel ‘Vadamee during his campaign against humanity as Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Halo Reach Deliver Hope (Extended Cut)" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MxnL7PIxW14?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Fumirole will no doubt be more familiar, as it was the setting for the (still jaw-dropping) Halo: Reach live action trailer ‘Deliver Hope.’



Noble Team fought here in April 2552 with the objective of destroying a Covenant battlecruiser, Sanctity of Purification, by detonating a Fury tactical nuclear weapon from inside the ship. When Kat-B320 is critically injured by a Banshee, Thom-A293—the original Noble Six on the team—takes the bomb and uses his jetpack to get it to the finish line, sacrificing himself in the process.



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://youtu.be/2j_szqdJGz8?si=imMnXmpSJQPiXCUm"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2_Declassified.jpg" alt="Title card for Season Two of Halo The Series Declassified" class="wp-image-92897" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2_Declassified.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2_Declassified-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2_Declassified-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2_Declassified-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2_Declassified-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/S2_Declassified-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Halo The Series: Declassified returns with host Sydnee Goodman to give a behind the scenes look at the Season Two premiere.



Exclusive sneak-peeks, interviews with the cast and crew about the making of the show, a recap of Season One, and a discussion with Kiki Wolfkill (Executive Producer) and Pablo Schreiber (Master Chief John-117) await in Season Two’s debut episode of Declassified.



(NOTE: Some regions may not be able to view this episode.)



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Halo The Series: Declassified (S2, E1) | Pablo Schreiber On Returning To Halo | Paramount+" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2j_szqdJGz8?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">SILVER TEAM HELMETS</h2>



Silver Team has been deployed into Halo Infinite! With the arrival of the latest content update, players can acquire the helmets of Kai-125, Riz-028, and Vannak-134.



Simply complete all of your weekly challenges on the following dates and secure your ultimate reward!



(NOTE: Kai-125’s helmet was the ultimate reward from January 30-February 6.)



WEEK TWO: RIZ-028 FEBRUARY 6-13



WEEK FOUR: VANNAK-134 FEBRUARY 20-27



<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/ULT_Riz028.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of Riz-028's helmet" class="wp-image-92721" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/ULT_Riz028.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/ULT_Riz028-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/ULT_Riz028-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/ULT_Riz028-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/ULT_Riz028-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/ULT_Riz028-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Visors for each member of Silver Team will also be given as free rewards simply for logging in on these weeks. All of these items are multi-use, meaning that they can be used across all your Armor Cores.



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That wraps up our first issue in the blast radius of Season Two’s premiere!



Come back later today and we’ll have the Episode Two summary up for you to check out. Until then, secure those Silver Team helmets and be sure to check out the latest Declassified episode for some great behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of Season Two.

Debrief 015

Silver Debrief: Sanctuary

Community Update

Fireteam February

Fiction

343 INDUSTRIES

Halo: Hippocratica

Fireteam Jorogumo

Canon Fodder

Issue 149

Canon Fodder: Covering Fire

Games

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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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