Alpha Pack Press Kit

Games

Halo Infinite


<p>Alpha Pack has arrived!</p>



<p>This two-week narrative event, which runs from <strong>July 19 to August 2</strong>, continues the story of “Lone Wolves,” Season 2 of <em>Halo Infinite</em>. Alpha Pack brings new story cinematics and a free 10-tier Event Pass featuring new cosmetics for your Spartan that can be unlocked through completing Event Challenges.</p>



<p>Let’s dive into this new event’s offering…</p>



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>NEW TOYS</strong></h2>



<p><em>“Out there… beyond the safety of these walls, without resupply or reinforcements? Survival depends on your teammates and whatever you can find in the field.”</em></p>



<p>Complete Event Challenges based around the Last Spartan Standing playlist to unlock reward tiers in the free 10-tier Event Pass and outfit your Spartan with new cosmetics for the RAKSHASA armor core!</p>



<p>Take a look at some of the items you’ll be acquiring from out in the field (and keep an eye out for some of Spartan Eklund’s field journals which will tell you more about some of their history and utility)…</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/ForBlog_ALPHA_PACK_REWARDS_1920x1080.jpg" alt="The Reward Track Summary of the ten-tier event pass which includes the Morrigan Helmet and Trapmaster's Map." class="wp-image-42686" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/ForBlog_ALPHA_PACK_REWARDS_1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/ForBlog_ALPHA_PACK_REWARDS_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/ForBlog_ALPHA_PACK_REWARDS_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/ForBlog_ALPHA_PACK_REWARDS_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/ForBlog_ALPHA_PACK_REWARDS_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/ForBlog_ALPHA_PACK_REWARDS_1920x1080-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>THE STORY THUS FAR</strong></h2>



<p>At the start of Season 2, the Avery J. Johnson Academy received some unexpected visitors. Spartans Sigrid Eklund and Hieu Dinh deployed from a stolen Phantom, with Dinh in need of immediate medical attention after capturing a dangerous new foe.</p>



<p>The first-of-its-kind Banished AI known as Iratus was contained within Dinh’s armor, incapacitating the Spartan. Eklund informed Commander Agryna that the AI was guarding intelligence about Banished operations, making the Spartans’ mission clear: get Iratus out of Dinh’s head and force it to tell us everything it knows.</p>



<p>Commander Agryna then ordered the Spartans to enter a simulation of the facility on Camber, serving as bait to entrap Iratus within the Academy’s systems where they would then crack open the Banished archive using the facility’s ONI tech.</p>



<p>But the missions change.</p>



<p>They always do…</p>



<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 | Alpha Pack Launch Trailer" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v5V38-d-zNY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<p><strong>HOW TO VIEW CINEMATICS</strong></p>



<p>In order to view the season cinematics, simply do the following:</p>



<p>A) From the main menu, navigate to the Seasonal Hub page.</p>



<p>B) To view the Season Intro, simply press X on Xbox or F on PC and the cinematic will load.</p>



<p>C) To view Alpha Pack’s introductory cinematic, when you enter the Event Pass page for the first time it will load automatically.</p>



<p>D) To view Alpha Pack’s concluding cinematic, when you enter the Event Pass page after completing all 10 tiers it will load automatically.</p>



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>EVERY SPARTAN FOR THEMSELVES!</strong></h2>



<p>The Alpha Pack Event is centered around Last Spartan Standing, a free-for-all attrition-based game mode.</p>



<p>Some of the old hands here know what you’re in for. For the rest of you who are due an education, 12 Spartans spawn with a pre-determined loadout and 5 respawns. All 12 players will fight for survival, accumulating personal score to power up their loadout.</p>



<p>As the match progresses, players that run out of respawns will be eliminated as the play space encloses until only one Spartan is left standing.</p>



<p>Last Spartan Standing can be played on all of <em>Halo Infinite</em>’s Big Team Battle maps, which includes:</p>



<ul><li>Breaker</li><li>Deadlock</li><li>Highpower</li><li>Fragmentation</li></ul>



<p>During the two weeks of the Alpha Pack Event, Last Spartan Standing will be the Event Playlist. After the Alpha Pack Event concludes on August 2, Last Spartan Standing will remain playable.</p>



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>FINISHING TOUCHES</strong></h2>



<p>Log in any time during the Alpha Pack Event to unlock the Iratus Unleashed emblem and nameplate…</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/LoneWolfOutro-IratusUnleashed_1920x1080.jpg" alt="A look at the Iratus Unleashed nameplate and emblem that players unlock for logging in anytime during the two week Alpha Pack event." class="wp-image-42658" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/LoneWolfOutro-IratusUnleashed_1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/LoneWolfOutro-IratusUnleashed_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/LoneWolfOutro-IratusUnleashed_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/LoneWolfOutro-IratusUnleashed_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/LoneWolfOutro-IratusUnleashed_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/LoneWolfOutro-IratusUnleashed_1920x1080-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<p> …and complete all your Weekly Challenges (and the Ultimate Challenge) to be rewarded with the Tactical Clippy weapon charm. There is, after all, no finer companion one could hope to have on the battlefield—even in charm form!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/TacticalClippy_WeaponCharm_S2_Ultimate_1920x1080.jpg" alt="The Tactical Clippy Weapon Charm." class="wp-image-42700" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/TacticalClippy_WeaponCharm_S2_Ultimate_1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/TacticalClippy_WeaponCharm_S2_Ultimate_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/TacticalClippy_WeaponCharm_S2_Ultimate_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/TacticalClippy_WeaponCharm_S2_Ultimate_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/TacticalClippy_WeaponCharm_S2_Ultimate_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/TacticalClippy_WeaponCharm_S2_Ultimate_1920x1080-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<p>Finally, head to the Shop and grab the CAMBION Helmet Set. This contains the fearsome CAMBION helmet, along with the UA/Februus, FCI-X/CIBO, and FCI-X/BANE helmet attachments, as well as the Lucky Number Seven emblem and nameplate.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/Cambion_Helmet_S2_Shop_Social_1920x1080.jpg" alt="The three options available to those who purchase the Cambion Helmet Bundle. " class="wp-image-42714" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/Cambion_Helmet_S2_Shop_Social_1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/Cambion_Helmet_S2_Shop_Social_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/Cambion_Helmet_S2_Shop_Social_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/Cambion_Helmet_S2_Shop_Social_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/Cambion_Helmet_S2_Shop_Social_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/07/Cambion_Helmet_S2_Shop_Social_1920x1080-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<p>Now go forth and lead the pack to victory!</p>



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



<p>Enjoy some event goodness for your social channels or your desktop with the<a href="https://aka.ms/AlphaPackPressKit"> Alpha Pack Press Kit.</a></p>




Alex Wakeford

Alpha Pack Launch

Book Preview

Fiction

The UNSC Infinity is under attack!

Halo: The Rubicon Protocol – Preview 1

Halo Infinite – Campaign Network Co-Op Preview

Canon Fodder

Community

Canon Fodder: Lore of the Jungle

343 INDUSTRIES

Season 2 Lone Wolves Launch

Community Update


<p>Hello Everyone,</p>



<p>With Season 2 locked and loaded for May 3rd, we want to
share a roadmap of what we’re planning to deliver during Season 2 and for the
rest of the year. </p>



<p>More than anything else, we want this roadmap to be accurate
and reliable. Some items and dates are certain, and these are clearly listed.
Others are marked as “targets” or “goals” and they will become more certain
over time. The roadmap’s timeframe will also expand as we announce longer-term
initiatives. In other words, this roadmap is an evolving document, and we’ll
let you know when we make changes to it.</p>



<p>With all that in mind, here’s the Halo Infinite roadmap for 2022:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/HaloInfinite-2022Roadmap-April.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/HaloInfinite-2022Roadmap-April.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite's 2022 roadmap as of April 22" class="wp-image-33672" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/HaloInfinite-2022Roadmap-April.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/HaloInfinite-2022Roadmap-April-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/HaloInfinite-2022Roadmap-April-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/HaloInfinite-2022Roadmap-April-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/HaloInfinite-2022Roadmap-April-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/HaloInfinite-2022Roadmap-April-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



<p>This roadmap reflects the same studio priorities <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-infinite-update-march-2022" target="_blank">that we shared back in March</a>…</p>



<ul><li>Addressing issues negatively impacting player experience.</li><li>Completing Season 2 and delivering it as promised on May 3. </li><li>Continuing work on Campaign Co-op, Forge, and Season 3.</li></ul>



<p>…with a “priority zero” of team health and getting ourselves into a sustainable development rhythm so that we can deliver great experiences to all of you while maintaining a healthy work/life balance.</p>



<p>We know we need to deliver more content and more features more quickly. Staying true to priority zero means that sometimes we need to slow down in order to stay healthy and move faster later. But we’re also aggressively looking at ways to accelerate.</p>



<p>For example, we want to get the Forge toolset into your hands sooner rather than later so that awesome community maps and modes can more rapidly make their way into the game. To make this happen, we’re targeting a Forge open beta later in Season 2. We’ve successfully had Forge in private flighting with a limited audience for some time, so we’ve decided to forgo a large-scale formal flighting program and go right to open beta. With this approach, we can get the core Forge tools out to everyone quicker while also remaining focused on our core priority of continuing to improve foundational aspects of <em>Halo Infinite</em>. Forge will persist from the open beta onwards, evolving and growing over time.</p>



<p>As we continue to improve and ramp up, please understand that all of us at 343 are fully committed to making <em>Halo Infinite</em> the best <em>Halo</em> experience ever. Indeed, the primary reason that we’re extending Season 2 is to give us time before shipping another Season to fully address “quality of life” improvements based on <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/season-1-outcomes-report-live" target="_blank">learnings from Season 1</a> as well as other data and feedback we’ve collected.</p>



<p>Quality of life (QoL) is shorthand for bug-fixes, new features and/or content to address issues negatively impacting player experience. We’ll be delivering QoL improvements as part of Season releases and as separate updates during Seasons.</p>



<p>Our player-facing term for QoL updates that land during Seasons is “Drop Pods.” And much like their ODST namesakes, these release vehicles are meant to drop in hot, just as soon as they’re ready. Our target is one Drop Pod every month, and you can expect Drop Pods to vary in scope and size. We’ll have more to share about what’s going into Season 2’s Drop Pods as soon as possible after Season 2 launch.</p>



<p>Speaking of which, Season 2 launch is now less than two weeks away, on May 3! If you haven’t already seen the previews for Season 2’s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/season-2-map-previews-catalyst-and-breaker" target="_blank">new maps</a> and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/season-2-modes-preview" target="_blank">new modes</a>, please have a look. During these preview videos, you’ll spy some of Season 2’s new armor customization options. And here are a few extra combinations to whet your appetite:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/HaloInfinite_SpartanLineup_S2_4k_WATERMARKED.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1440" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/HaloInfinite_SpartanLineup_S2_4k_WATERMARKED-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-33643" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/HaloInfinite_SpartanLineup_S2_4k_WATERMARKED-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/HaloInfinite_SpartanLineup_S2_4k_WATERMARKED-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/HaloInfinite_SpartanLineup_S2_4k_WATERMARKED-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/HaloInfinite_SpartanLineup_S2_4k_WATERMARKED-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/HaloInfinite_SpartanLineup_S2_4k_WATERMARKED-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/HaloInfinite_SpartanLineup_S2_4k_WATERMARKED-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/HaloInfinite_SpartanLineup_S2_4k_WATERMARKED-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></a></figure>



<p>We’ll have a lot more to share about Season 2 including a deep dive into its Battle Pass rewards, events—including brand new “multiplayer narrative events” that place your personal Spartan in the center of an evolving Seasonal storyline—game modes, and much more during a community livestream scheduled for next Wednesday, April 27, at 1:00 PM PST on <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/Halo">Twitch.tv/Halo</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/Halo/live">YouTube.com/Halo</a>. We’ll also be discussing the roadmap in more detail during this livestream.</p>



<p>In summary: we are committed to delivering more content faster; we will accelerate while prioritizing team health; you can expect QoL improvements during Seasons via Drop Pods—and you can expect more regular roadmap updates as our plans snap into sharper focus.</p>



<p>On behalf of the entire <em>Halo Infinite</em> team, thank you for your passion and patience as we embark on the road ahead. We’re fired up to deliver what’s already on the roadmap as well as to deliver other content and experiences that we’re not ready to reveal just yet… but that we can’t wait for you to play.</p>



<p>Joseph Staten<br>Head of Creative, <em>Halo Infinite</em></p>


The Road Ahead

Halo Infinite Update – April 2022

Season 2: Modes Preview

Fracture: Tenrai Event (Updated)


<p>Season 2 of <em>Halo Infinite</em>—“Lone Wolves”—is almost upon us!</p>



<p>Among the new additions in “Lone Wolves” are new story elements, new armor and cosmetics, new maps and modes. As we draw closer to release on May 3, we’re going to take a closer look at this upcoming content—starting with the two brand-new maps you’ll be playing, Catalyst and Breaker.</p>



<p>We’re fortunate to be joined today by Tyler Ensrude (he/him), Multiplayer Level Designer, to talk about the process of creating maps for <em>Halo</em> and some of the great experiences that players can look forward to having in Season 2.</p>



<p>But first, you want to take a look at these spaces, right?</p>



<p>Before we dive into the Q&A, check out this video flythrough put together by the fine folks on our Transmedia team, diving into the ancient and weathered ruins of Catalyst and the expansive, sand-blasted scrapyard site of Breaker…</p>



<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 | Catalyst & Breaker – Season 2 Map Previews" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aD88v-0IKJ0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



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



<p><strong>I think a good place to start is the question of what was the foundation for these maps and the process of making them? Do you start with a design goal, saying “We need a symmetrical map?” or is it more of an aesthetic one to visually diversify the new maps from what players are now very familiar with?</strong></p>



<p>We like to start with an idea that just gets us excited first and go from there. That idea could range from a location in the <em>Halo </em>universe, to an art palette, game mode, or encounter.</p>



<p>Every time we start something new though, it is important to consider what will make it stand out from the current selection of maps we already have. The context of experiences that players have already had in the game is definitely something we keep in mind when we look to deliver something exciting and new, and that extends across all of those factors—aesthetics, layout and design, and gameplay.</p>



<p>When you look at Catalyst and Breaker, it’s immediately apparent that they look very different from the maps players have become familiar with in <em>Halo Infinite</em>.</p>



<p><strong>How would you quickly summarize Catalyst and Breaker so <em>Halo</em></strong><strong> fans know what they’re in for with these maps?</strong></p>



<p>Catalyst is a symmetrical arena map nested high up inside of an expansive, tunnel-like Forerunner structure. You’ll find waterfalls pouring down around suspended catwalks, overgrown cathedral walls, and a light bridge connecting the sides of the map together.</p>



<p>Breaker is a pseudo symmetric BTB map set in a Banished scrapyard where each team’s base is a huge chunk of ship debris, divided by the plasma cutting beam structure in the middle. And yes, that beam is absolutely a dynamic element of the map that presents both opportunities and challenges in gameplay.</p>



<p><strong>Catalyst reminds me in some ways of Coliseum from <em>Halo 5</em></strong><strong>, which was a favorite for that symmetrical, competitive action. Is that same DNA part of this map, and was inspiration drawn from any other previous <em>Halo</em></strong><strong> arena maps?</strong></p>



<p>Even though the map is something completely new, there’s a ton of DNA from several legacy Forerunner locations in there. Most of that DNA is subtle, but there is quite a lot.</p>



<p>Some folks have definitely noted Haven vibes from <em>Halo 4</em> in the first screenshot we shared back in March, but I think the biggest influence for Catalyst though was Epitaph from <em>Halo 3</em>. I really wanted to evoke that architectural style because it left a huge impression on me after all these years.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1140" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/Catalyst_Arena_ConceptArt_Watermarked.jpg" alt="Concept art of Catalyst. " class="wp-image-33102" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/Catalyst_Arena_ConceptArt_Watermarked.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/Catalyst_Arena_ConceptArt_Watermarked-300x178.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/Catalyst_Arena_ConceptArt_Watermarked-1024x608.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/Catalyst_Arena_ConceptArt_Watermarked-768x456.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/Catalyst_Arena_ConceptArt_Watermarked-1536x912.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/Catalyst_Arena_ConceptArt_Watermarked-1568x931.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<p><strong>I think that naturally leads to the question of how you juggle drawing upon past inspiration and beloved maps from across the previous games versus the desire to create something fresh and new. How did that factor into the process of designing these maps?</strong></p>



<p><em>Halo </em>has provided us with so many inspirational places over the years. It’s easy to look at something already made and just do that again, but it’s not as creatively fulfilling—and some sandbox evolutions may not translate as well to the “remake” experience. I think it’s important to recognize aspects of what made those things so memorable and use that as a starting point.</p>



<p>Forerunner architecture is typically monolithic and ornate, which opens a lot of doors creatively. The Banished art palette is much newer, and its library of reference material is still something that is growing and evolving, so there’s a great opportunity for a bit more exploration for that. A lot of Banished stuff is scavenged from the UNSC and Covenant, but there’s also core design language unique to the Brutes as well, and often these elements are mixed together so it pulls from a lot of different areas of <em>Halo</em>’s aesthetics.</p>



<p>Expanding upon what the campaign had established, the team landed on leaning heavily into the scrapyard aspect of the map and had a lot of fun thinking about how that theme could be explored.</p>



<p><strong>We’ve obviously got some new modes coming in Season 2, which we’ll be doing a blog on next week so keep an eye out for that! To that point, was the design of these maps influenced by any particular modes? What can we really look forward to playing on Catalyst and Breaker?</strong></p>



<p>Catalyst was meant to expand our CTF (Capture The Flag) suite, but it proved to be a solid contender for several modes and was actually the first map that our new Land Grab mode was implemented on, which quickly became a favorite amongst the team.</p>



<p>Breaker started out as a CTF map as well. The whole idea was to create high-tension flag moments around the laser beam.</p>



<p>You can look forward to all the new modes releasing in Season 2, which were made from the ground up on these new maps. Of course, all the existing modes are supported on them as well.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1160" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/Breaker_BTB_ConceptArt_Watermarked_V2.jpg" alt="Concept Art of Breaker. " class="wp-image-33116" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/Breaker_BTB_ConceptArt_Watermarked_V2.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/Breaker_BTB_ConceptArt_Watermarked_V2-300x181.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/Breaker_BTB_ConceptArt_Watermarked_V2-1024x619.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/Breaker_BTB_ConceptArt_Watermarked_V2-768x464.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/Breaker_BTB_ConceptArt_Watermarked_V2-1536x928.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/04/Breaker_BTB_ConceptArt_Watermarked_V2-1568x947.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<p><strong>Breaker definitely looks like one of our most ambitious BTB maps ever, what are some of the things that set this one apart from what players have experienced in <em>Halo Infinite</em>?</strong></p>



<p>We designed this map to embrace base versus base combat where territorial ownership is key to success. We love mixing environmental hazards with the <em>Halo </em>sandbox and Breaker offers an exciting variety of ways to melt your enemies. We’re also big fans of sniper battles, and Breaker’s sightlines and center lane offer risk and reward over key objectives.</p>



<p>The central feature of this map is the middle, which divides the spaces with ramps over a death pit which has given way to some pretty memorable vehicle runs.</p>



<p>We love dynamic map elements, which is something many players will no doubt remember from the remade maps in <em>Halo 2: Anniversary</em>’s multiplayer. For Breaker, we’ve got a giant laser that cuts through anything in its path as it moves across the map.</p>



<p>That death pit you’re going to try to jump your Warthog over to get your flag carrier back to your base? You’re definitely going to want to time that right because I don’t think insurance is going to cover the damage that laser will do to your Warthog and teammates. Alternatively, grab a Repulsor and time your usage wisely so you can ruin somebody else’s day!</p>



<p>But really, the artists and designers who brought this space to life did such an amazing job.</p>



<p><strong>That all sounds incredible, thank you for joining us today, Tyler! I can’t wait to get out onto the virtual battlefield myself to explore these spaces and get carri—I mean, </strong><em><strong>totally carry my team to victory!</strong></em></p>



<p>— </p>



<p>We’re super excited for all of you to jump into the new maps and modes of Season 2, speaking of which that’s the next thing we’ll be covering—check back next week for a look at King of the Hill, Land Grab, and Last Spartan Standing!</p>



<p><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-infinite-update-march-2022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Last month, Joseph shared our first look at Season 2’s content (opens in a new tab)">Last month, Joseph shared our first look at Season 2’s content</a> with details about these maps, the RAKSHASA and EAGLESTRIKE armor cores, the newest game modes, and more. Be sure to give that a read here on Waypoint!</p>



<p>Oh, and for fans who are keen to learn more about the story behind these maps, we’ll be doing a deeper dive into that in our next Canon Fodder.</p>



<p>See you online, Spartans.</p>


Season 2 Map Previews: Catalyst & Breaker


<p>Representing two decades of storytelling, the largest and most comprehensive official guide to the <em>Halo </em>universe ever to be created—the new <em>Halo Encyclopedia</em>—has finally been released into the wild. In this massive tome, Dark Horse and 343 Industries have partnered together to deliver a vast directory of <em>Halo </em>canon, allowing fans to explore the intricacies of an epic saga that spans over a hundred millennia and countless far-flung alien worlds. Delve into a vast archive of ships, vehicles, and weapons that defined the wars of the 26th century and come face-to-face with the major players of the UNSC, the Covenant, the Forerunners, and the Banished. The <em>Halo Encyclopedia</em> features stunning, never before seen art revealing characters, technology, and locations that fans have only ever imagined. </p>



<p>This extravagant oversized hardcover has something to offer both veteran fans of the <em>Halo </em>universe and those who are greeting it for the very first time. Pick up your own copy of the <em>Halo Encyclopedia</em> <a href="https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/3008-349/Halo-Encyclopedia-HC">here</a> or secure the impressive <em>Deluxe Edition</em> <a href="https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/3009-942/Halo-Encyclopedia-HC-Deluxe-Edition">here</a>, elegantly enshrined in a mysterious Forerunner cylix. </p>



<p>And whether you are totally new to <em>Halo </em>or perhaps coming back after some time, we know that with the release of <em>Halo Infinite</em>, many folks may be unfamiliar with some of the terminology we’ve accrued over the past twenty years. No worries, we’ve got you covered! Below is an online companion resource for the new <em>Halo Encyclopedia</em>—a brief, high-level glossary to help you navigate some of the names, terms, and acronyms that populate the universe’s lexicon. So no matter if you read this book from front to back or just dive into its 488 pages somewhere in the middle, feel free to use this directory as a friendly guide, especially if you’ve found yourself suddenly lost in the vast ocean of lore this new book holds. We really do hope you enjoy it!</p>



<p>For more information about the <em>Halo Encyclopedia</em>, check out the roundtable discussion we had with its writers, where we talk about its development process and showcase brand new art created specifically for this book:  </p>



<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 Encyclopedia | Full Roundtable Discussion" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yNx3Vqv99t0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="#glossary-a">A</a> | <a href="#glossary-b">B</a> | <a href="#glossary-c">C</a> | <a href="#glossary-d">D</a> | <a href="#glossary-e">E</a> | <a href="#glossary-f">F</a> | <a href="#glossary-g">G</a> | <a href="#glossary-h">H</a> | <a href="#glossary-i">I</a> | <a href="#glossary-j">J</a> | <a href="#glossary-k">K</a> | <a href="#glossary-l">L</a> | <a href="#glossary-m">M</a> | <a href="#glossary-n">N</a> | <a href="#glossary-o">O</a> | <a href="#glossary-p">P</a> | <a href="#glossary-q">Q</a> | <a href="#glossary-r">R</a> | <a href="#glossary-s">S</a> | <a href="#glossary-t">T</a> | <a href="#glossary-u">U</a> | <a href="#glossary-v">V</a> | <a href="#glossary-w">W</a> | <a href="#glossary-x">X</a> | <a href="#glossary-y">Y</a> | <a href="#glossary-z">Z</a></h2>



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The New Halo Encyclopedia is Out Today