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Esports

HCS 10 Year Anniversary

Canon Fodder

Fiction

Alex Wakeford

Issue 159

Canon Fodder: Coming of Age

Games

Previously seen at HCS Salt Lake City and the 2024 Halo World Championship, the 1v1 Showdown experience is making its way to Combat Workshop for everyone to enjoy!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/05/CombatWorkshop_Waypoint.jpg" alt="3 Spartans standing around a drawing board, designing new concepts for the Combat Workshop." class="wp-image-106845" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/05/CombatWorkshop_Waypoint.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/05/CombatWorkshop_Waypoint-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/05/CombatWorkshop_Waypoint-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/05/CombatWorkshop_Waypoint-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/05/CombatWorkshop_Waypoint-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/05/CombatWorkshop_Waypoint-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-huge-font-size" style="text-transform:uppercase">1v1 me, bro</h2>



If you pride yourself on your ability to take on other Spartans head-to-head, then you’ll love the 1v1 Showdown. If the first round didn’t go your way, just take a deep breath and try again. The best of 5 wins and each round can be won in one of two ways:



<ul>
<li>Getting 5 kills</li>



<li>Capturing the zone</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66WTGTaimjw"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="540" height="960" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/CW1v1Playbutton_v2.jpg" alt="3 Spartans standing around the text, "Combat Workshop: 1 v 1 Showdown"" class="wp-image-124073" style="width:auto;height:540px" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/CW1v1Playbutton_v2.jpg 540w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/CW1v1Playbutton_v2-169x300.jpg 169w" sizes="(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px" /></a></figure>



Remember to keep a sharp eye on the capture timer because a smart opponent will take advantage of that and will sneak a capture right under your nose for the point. Both players will be equipped with identical loadouts that are randomized. Primaries, secondaries, grenades, and equipment will change from round to round. Additionally, you may occasionally receive a round modifier that will be denoted via UI banner. This could be anything from a Damage Boost, to low gravity—so keep your eyes peeled and your reflexes sharp.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-huge-font-size" style="text-transform:uppercase">name the place</h2>



If you feel a sense of déjà vu while playing, that is entirely understandable since the maps are small slices of well known and loved maps. Each round sees you teleported to a new map slice to keep things fresh. Here are the maps that the combat spaces have been pulled from:



<ul>
<li>Aquarius</li>



<li>Argyle</li>



<li>Bazaar</li>



<li>Catalyst</li>



<li>Empyrean</li>
</ul>



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Have thoughts? Be sure to follow up and provide your feedback!



The Combat Workshop is your one-shop stop to check out work-in-progress maps, modes, and other new experiences. This playlist allows us to test out new modes, new features, new experiences, and get feedback at-scale before taking that information back and iterating on it. From there, we can address issues and community feedback to get things ready for primetime matchmaking.



The survey will go live Thursday, November 14, so check back for the link then.



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The 1v1 Showdown Combat Workshop will be live until November 19 so jump in, take on your opponents, and give us your feedback when the survey is available!

snickerdoodle

Combat Workshop: 1v1 Showdown

The time has come. In celebration of Halo 2’s twentieth birthday, the Digsite modding crew has released their latest content drop which includes two cut missions from the 2004 game.



Let’s dive into what’s available now (and coming later) on the Steam Workshop for Halo: The Master Chief Collection on PC!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">E3 2003 “EARTH CITY”</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_Digsite-1.jpg" alt="Halo 2 E3 2003 Digsite demo screenshot of the Master Chief boarding a Ghost" class="wp-image-123981" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_Digsite-1.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_Digsite-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_Digsite-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_Digsite-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_Digsite-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_Digsite-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



“Bet ya can’t stick it.”



At E3 in 2003, over twenty-one years ago now, a gameplay demo of Halo 2 was shown for the first time to the world.



The city of New Mombasa on Earth is under attack by the Covenant and the Master Chief is flown in to join the fight alongside Marines and ODSTs with a new arsenal (namely a single-shot battle rifle and dual-wieldable SMGs), new vehicles, new enemies, and a whole new look.



Alas, this mission was never part of Halo 2‘s retail release.



During the 2024 Halo World Championship, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/Xo57pHb2y74?si=08Q3wXYUwN0rkmEk&t=19956">we replayed this demo on an original Xbox devkit</a> before announcing that the intrepid Digsite crew have been finishing up work on rebuilding this demo as a playable level. The fruits of their labor are now available to everybody with MCC on PC.



Massive improvements have been made to the visual quality and overall stability of this experience, as the original demo required the player to hit specific individual triggers in order to ensure it did not break. Players will see that nav markers help to guide them through each beat of this mission from the moment they step off the Pelican all the way up to boarding the Ghost and escaping into the highway tunnel at the end.



We will be sharing more behind the scenes information about the E3 2003 demo and other recovered content in a future Digsite blog. But for now, after more than two decades, the Halo 2 E3 2003 demo is yours to experience!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ALPHA MOON</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_AlphamoonArt.jpg" alt="Halo 2 concept art of Alphamoon" class="wp-image-123658" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_AlphamoonArt.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_AlphamoonArt-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_AlphamoonArt-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_AlphamoonArt-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_AlphamoonArt-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_AlphamoonArt-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



“Assault the occupied control room and find the oracle.”



In Halo 2, we played not just as the Master Chief, but as the Arbiter as well—the Sangheili who led the Covenant fleet at Alpha Halo and has been punished by the Prophets for his failure to protect the ring. Given a final chance to redeem himself by taking on the role of Arbiter and sent to the gas mine known as Threshold that the ruins of Alpha Halo orbit, his mission is to assassinate a leader of heretics known as Sesa ‘Refumee.



As those who have played the game know, the Arbiter ultimately tracks ‘Refumee to the gas mine’s hangar bay where a boss fight ensues against him and two holographic decoys, whereupon the Covenant successfully recover 343 Guilty Spark—the monitor of Alpha Halo who survived its destruction.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_Campaign-10.jpg" alt="Halo 2 screenshot of 343 Guilty Spark and heretic leader Sesa 'Refumee" class="wp-image-123967" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_Campaign-10.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_Campaign-10-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_Campaign-10-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_Campaign-10-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_Campaign-10-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2_Campaign-10-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Originally, things were a little different.



‘Refumee would have escaped the gas mine and the Arbiter would have pursued him to Basis, one of the moons of Threshold. Fighting through heretic forces on the surface of the moon amidst the shattered remains of the Halo ring, the Arbiter’s final showdown with ‘Refumee would’ve taken place in the ruins of the control room.



This mission has been rebuilt from existing tags and is now playable. Note, however, that the showdown with ‘Refumee was only finished to a blockout stage and is not included in this reconstruction. The last meeting notes for this mission are dated August 2003 and the mission appears to have been cut shortly thereafter, as references to it are scrubbed by February 2004.



The main issues that led to Alpha Moon’s removal were problems with lightmapping (difficult to solve even with modern hardware), lack of environmental variation, and negative playtester feedback on the encounters. As this mission was still in heavy revision when it was cut you may encounter glitches and bugs!



Additionally, the audio for Alpha Moon was all placeholder recordings. It was ultimately decided that the Digsite team would re-record the dialog to match the last script revision we had—we even used the same audio processing chains that Bungie did to replicate the Elite voices.



Alpha Moon will be available on November 15, so keep an eye out for it on the Steam Workshop!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">HOW DO I PLAY?</h2>



To install and play these experiences, you need follow only three simple steps!



STEP 1 – <a href="https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3360515088">Head to the Steam Workshop page and subscribe to the mod.</a>



STEP 2 – Boot up MCC on PC with Anti-Cheat disabled (this can be selected on start-up).



STEP 3 – Enter the campaign menu for Halo 2 and load up the level you want to play.



That’s all it takes! And if you want to mix up your experience a bit, you can enable Skulls in the campaign menu as well for both of these levels.



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With all that said, go forth and celebrate Halo 2’s twentieth birthday by jumping into MCC and loading up these incredible new (old) levels that have been so faithfully restored and recreated by the Digsite crew.



Earth City awaits!

Digsite Demos: Halo 2

Community

Community Update

Celebrating 20 years of Halo 2

Halo 2 | Twentieth Anniversary

Halo Studios

Halo: Age of Retribution

Great Journey Operation Launch

About a month ago, Year 3 of HCS came to a thrilling conclusion, where we saw Spacestation Gaming continue their dominance to take home the <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halowc2024">2024 Halo World Championship</a>. Congratulations again to SSG, and to all the teams that qualified for HaloWC 2024 for putting on an amazing show!



Now that the dust has settled, let’s talk about some changes that are coming to both Ranked Arena and the HCS map pool for offseason tournaments, which we’ll have more specific details on later. As mentioned in the patch notes [<a href="https://support.halowaypoint.com/hc/en-us/articles/31505389702676-Halo-Infinite-Winter-Update-2024-Patch-Notes">link</a>], here are the changes coming to Ranked Arena and the HCS offseason map pool:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>ADDED Fortress CTF (3 Captures) Fortress Slayer Inquisitor CTF (5 Captures) Inquisitor Slayer</td><td>REMOVED Argyle CTF Interference King of the Hill Interference Slayer Interference Strongholds</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<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="TWO NEW Ranked Maps! Halo Infinite" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ELnw4LLMGL8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



We are very excited to have 2 new maps entering the Ranked Arena playlist! Fortress, created by MikRips and Ethan Hibbs is an original design. Inquisitor, which was created by UneeQ, is based on the iconic Halo 2 map Midship. These fast-paced maps are available now in all Ranked playlists, and you can compete on them in the HCS offseason tournaments. HCS offseason tournament dates and times will be announced later. We will be keeping a close eye on how Inquisitor and Fortress perform both in Ranked Arena and in the HCS offseason tournaments to help determine which gametypes are best suited for the HCS Year 4 map pool.



We also have a couple of maps exiting the Ranked Arena map pool, Argyle and Interference. Based on player feedback and date that showed the gametypes were not performing up to the quality bar we’d like, we’ve decided to remove these 4 gametypes and reevaluate each map to see what can be improved for potential future use. This also means that Argyle CTF and Interference Strongholds will no longer be a part of the HCS map pool. A huge thank you to Astro CSF, the creator of Interference for working with us to get the first community made Forge map into HCS!



These playlist updates are landing in tandem with the rank reset for all Ranked playlists. As part of this rotation, Ranked Snipers will be making its return while also featuring both new maps – Fortress and Inquisitor.



Now, it’s time to jump into matchmaking and test out the new maps! Good luck have fun, Spartans!

Official HCS

2 NEW Maps! (Ranked Arena & HCS Update)

With the twentieth birthday of Halo 2 on the horizon, the 2024 Winter Update will bring the celebrations to Halo Infinite with customization content based on the beloved game in Operation: Great Journey, which launches tomorrow—November 5.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">“YOU LOOK NICE!”</h2>



“Your new suit’s a Mark VI. Just came up from Seongnam this mornin’. Try and take it easy until you get used to the upgrades.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-46.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of a Spartan clad in the Master Chief Mark VI armor flanked by two ODSTs" class="wp-image-123008" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-46.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-46-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-46-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-46-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-46-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-46-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Upon returning to Earth in the aftermath of the events of Halo: Combat Evolved (and Halo: First Strike), the Master Chief received his Mjolnir Mark VI armor aboard Cairo Station at the start of Halo 2.



Field tested by Maria-062 in Seongnam, Korea, the Mjolnir Mark VI platform represented a culmination of decades of research and improvement. Boasting a more resilient and quick-charging energy shield system, the Mark VI armor was even more streamlined and compact than its predecessors.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_MasterChief.jpg" alt="Halo 2: Anniversary cinematic screenshot of the Master Chief" class="wp-image-123036" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_MasterChief.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_MasterChief-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_MasterChief-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_MasterChief-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_MasterChief-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_MasterChief-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



This armor would see the Master Chief through some of the most pivotal events of the Covenant War. So, get ready to step into the iconic Mjolnir Mark VI suit and prepare to finish the fight.



Acquire the Rocket Reclaimer bundle from Halo Infinite’s Shop when Operation: Great Journey launches on November 5. This bundle includes:



<ul>
<li>Master Chief Mark VI armor kit</li>



<li>Green Man armor coating</li>



<li>Veteran SPNKr weapon model</li>



<li>Veteran Metal weapon coating</li>
</ul>



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



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-41.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of a Spartan clad in the Thremaleon armor" class="wp-image-122980" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-41.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-41-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-41-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-41-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-41-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-41-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Formerly a Special Operations commander for the Fleet of Particular Justice, the basis of inspiration for the Operation Pass armor is Rtas “Half-Jaw” ‘Vadum.



We first met ‘Vadum in Halo 2 where he led the Covenant forces tasked with eliminating the heretic leader Sesa ‘Refumee, journeying with the Arbiter to the Forerunner mine located on the gas giant Threshold.  ‘Vadum would aid the Arbiter in subsequent missions until the treachery of the Prophet of Truth was revealed, ousting the Sangheili from their long-held role within the Covenant.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_RtasVadumee.jpg" alt="Halo 2: Anniversary cinematic screenshot of Rtas 'Vadumee" class="wp-image-123050" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_RtasVadumee.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_RtasVadumee-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_RtasVadumee-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_RtasVadumee-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_RtasVadumee-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_RtasVadumee-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



As shipmaster of the assault carrier Shadow of Intent, ‘Vadum has continued to serve among the Swords of Sanghelios, hunting down the remaining Prophets responsible for countless crimes. This legendary character is set to appear in the upcoming novel Halo: Empty Throne, releasing early next year.



Acquire the Thremaleon armor along with other free rewards in Operation: Great Journey’s free 20-tier Operation Pass. This armor is custom crafted at the Kolaar Manufactorum for Spartans selected to serve alongside Swords of Sanghelios special forces.



Upgrade to the Premium Pass to secure the Veteran SRS99 weapon model, based on Halo 2’s sniper rifle, and Damascus Alchemy weapon coating.



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-1.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of a Spartan clad in the Master Chief Mark VI armor and a Spartan wearing Helioskrill" class="wp-image-122910" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-1.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Introduced in Halo 5, the Helioskrill armor quickly became a fan-favorite.



Created by a Sangheili prodigy, an artisan-armorer inspired to test her skill against the best that humanity could muster, the Helioskrill armor was regarded as a work of art in both form and function for Spartan super-soldiers.



As the alliance between the UNSC and the Swords of Sanghelios has continued to strengthen, the Spartan is but another canvas for the artisan-armorers of the Kolaar Manufactorum to create splendid masterpieces of lethality.



Acquire the Helioskrill armor from the Arbitration bundle in the Shop when Operation: Great Journey arrives on November 5. This bundle includes:



<ul>
<li>Helioskrill helmet</li>



<li>Stormclaw Mask helmet attachment</li>



<li>Helioskrill Pauldrons shoulder pads</li>



<li>Helioskrill Harness chest attachment</li>



<li>Helioskrill Cuisse hip gear</li>



<li>Helioskrill Poleyn kneepads</li>



<li>Risk Explorer armor coating</li>



<li>Reclaimed Wings armor effects set</li>
</ul>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">DELTA FORGED</h2>



For a look that says “Straight outta Delta Halo,” compiling the Rocket Reclaimer and Arbitration bundles into one, be sure to pick up the Delta Forged bundle.



As a bonus, you will also acquire the Oracle Augmentor shoulder pads and Oracle Protocol, chest attachment—armor pieces modelled on the appearance of 343 Guilty Spark.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/Shop_DeltaForged.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite Shop image of the Delta Forged bundle" class="wp-image-123106" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/Shop_DeltaForged.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/Shop_DeltaForged-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/Shop_DeltaForged-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/Shop_DeltaForged-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/Shop_DeltaForged-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/Shop_DeltaForged-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WARTIME REQUISITION</h2>



“Get tactical, marines!”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-2.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of a Spartan clad in armor inspired by Marines in Halo 2" class="wp-image-122924" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-2.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-2-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Even prototype Marine Corps helmet designs have been snapped up for use by active-duty Spartans.



Based on the design of the UNSC Marines’ battle dress uniforms, particularly those seen in Halo 2: Anniversary, the Wartime Requisition bundle offers a fitting look for the frontlines.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_Marines.jpg" alt="Halo 2: Anniversary screenshot of three Marines on Outskirts" class="wp-image-123022" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_Marines.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_Marines-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_Marines-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_Marines-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_Marines-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/H2A_Marines-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



This bundle contains:



<ul>
<li>XM55 ACH helmet</li>



<li>HUL-I/UPTIK helmet attachment</li>



<li>UA/Model 48 shoulder pads</li>



<li>UA/M532 Plate chest attachment</li>



<li>UA/ULAP hip gear</li>



<li>UA/Type MI kneepads</li>



<li>Pixel Camouflage armor coating</li>



<li>Podium Finish stance</li>
</ul>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE EXCHANGE</h2>



Operation: Great Journey brings a refresh of The Exchange, where you can acquire various customization items with Spartan Points earned by playing matches and completing certain Challenges.



The fan-favorite Mark V Zeta helmet and Scorpion Punch armor coating make a (re)appearance, becoming available to players for the first time since the Tactical Ops event all the way back in 2022. If you missed these back then, be sure to secure ‘em when they hit The Exchange on November 5!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-15.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of a Spartan clad in the Mark V Zeta helmet and Scorpion Punch armor coating" class="wp-image-123064" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-15.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-15-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-15-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-15-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-15-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/GJ_PK-15-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



We’ll have a full list of customization items in The Exchange in tomorrow’s launch blog, so stay tuned.



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That concludes our look at the customization content coming in Operation: Great Journey, which kicks off Halo Infinite’s Winter Update for 2024.



For more on the Winter Update, check out the following blogs:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/playlist-overview-great-journey">PLAYLIST OVERVIEW:</a> Learn more about the upcoming third-person Firefight: King of the Hill experience and Delta Arena playlist coming to Halo Infinite.</li>



<li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/sandbox-overview-great-journey">SANDBOX OVERVIEW:</a> Discover the new MA5K Avenger coming to Halo Infinite along with further sandbox balance changes.</li>



<li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/forge-overview-winter-update-2024">FORGE OVERVIEW:</a> From third-person camera controls to enhanced credit attribution for creators of maps and modes, find out more about all the updates and improvements coming to Forge.</li>
</ul>

Customization Overview | Great Journey

The 2024 Winter Update for Halo Infinite is fast approaching and we wanted to give you a look at the updates and improvements coming to Forge, including third-person camera options, enhanced Forger attribution for player-created maps and modes, and much more.



Let’s dive in!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THIRD-PERSON CAMERA</h2>



Once upon a time, before it was an original Xbox launch title, Halo looked very different…



Before the series became the first-person shooter we have known and loved for almost a quarter of a century, Halo previously saw a period of exploration as a third-person action game.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/MacWorldHalo_ThirdPerson.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Pre-Xbox Halo in third-person" class="wp-image-122825" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/MacWorldHalo_ThirdPerson.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/MacWorldHalo_ThirdPerson-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/MacWorldHalo_ThirdPerson-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/MacWorldHalo_ThirdPerson-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/MacWorldHalo_ThirdPerson-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/MacWorldHalo_ThirdPerson-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Of course, there are elements of third-person that have long been part of the Halo gameplay experience, such as when the player gets into a vehicle. Adopting a third-person perspective has also been possible in Theater mode, where players are able to watch, record, and screenshot their previous matches, but—outside the realms of modding—there has never been a proper third-person experience in Halo.



That changes with the 2024 Winter Update.



The ability to change between first- and third-person perspectives will be available at a mode level in Custom Games options and as a scripting node in Forge.



Players will be able to get hands-on with this in matchmaking when the Third-Person Firefight playlist launches, helping you to get a handle on what Halo feels like in this new way to play.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/pk_006.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of third-person Firefight gameplay" class="wp-image-122749" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/pk_006.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/pk_006-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/pk_006-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/pk_006-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/pk_006-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/10/pk_006-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">IMPROVED FORGER ATTRIBUTION</h2>



Since Forge launched as part of Halo Infinite, we have continued to build on this feature with continuous updates and improvements to the experience. We have also sought to improve how we highlight Forge creators, which is another element of the 2024 Winter Update.



To increase the visibility of Forgers who have created the maps and modes you’re enjoying, we have updated multiple areas of the game to highlight the gamertags and more easily allow players to bookmark their creations.



Starting next week, you will be able to see these updates on the following screens:



<ul>
<li>Match intro camera</li>



<li>Pause menu</li>



<li>Scoreboard</li>



<li>Post-game carnage report</li>
</ul>



Additionally, we have added the ability to bookmark maps and modes on several of these screens as well.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">COMMANDER AGRYNA LINES</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/SpartanLauretteAgryna.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite cinematic screenshot of Spartan Commander Laurette Agryna" class="wp-image-122839" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/SpartanLauretteAgryna.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/SpartanLauretteAgryna-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/SpartanLauretteAgryna-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/SpartanLauretteAgryna-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/SpartanLauretteAgryna-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/11/SpartanLauretteAgryna-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



In Halo Infinite, we were introduced to Spartan Commander Laurette Agryna, head of the Avery J. Johnson Academy where the multiplayer aspect of the game is centered.



Agryna also serves as one of the multiplayer announcers in Halo Infinite, and Forgers will be able to utilize her voiceover in the same fashion as when we added Jeff Steitzer’s voice lines to Forge.



And, to allow maximum control with this new feature, you can also ensure that only the intended players or team will hear each line set up in Forge’s nodegraph:



<ul>
<li>Play Announcer Voiceover for All Players</li>



<li>Play Announcer Voiceover for Player</li>



<li>Play Announcer Voiceover for Team</li>
</ul>



These nodes will have Agryna’s lines for the following categories:



<ul>
<li>Accolades</li>



<li>Mode: Assault</li>



<li>Mode: CTF</li>



<li>Mode: Land Grab</li>



<li>Mode: Lone Wolves</li>



<li>Match</li>



<li>Mode Titles</li>



<li>Ordnance</li>



<li>Score</li>



<li>Mode: Stockpile</li>



<li>Time</li>



<li>Mode: Total Control</li>



<li>Weapon Drills</li>
</ul>



You’ll be able to find these new lines alongside the existing Steitzer lines within the “Play Announcer Voicer” nodes mentioned above. Be sure to use the “Announcer Voice” custom game option to better control mode communication.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">GLOBAL LIFEPOOL</h2>



Lifepool (or respawn ticket) systems have been a staple of many heart-pounding gaming experiences. To help bring the intensity of that win condition to all our modes, we’ve now made it a global custom game option.



This means that players can now create modes with two different win conditions. If applied to Capture The Flag, the conditions could now be “Capture the flag or wipe out the enemy team’s forces to win.”



Additionally, we’ve paired this lifepool system with global revive systems, which players may recognize from Firefight and Attrition. The new custom game options will be:



Health & Damage > Lifepool



<ul>
<li>Lifepool Enabled for Teams</li>



<li>Eagle Team Respawn Count</li>



<li>Cobra Team Respawn Count</li>
</ul>



Revive



<ul>
<li>Team Revive</li>



<li>Auto-Revive</li>



<li>Auto-Revive Timer</li>



<li>Revive-Grants Over shield</li>



<li>Preserve Revive Progress</li>



<li>Revive Allies Action Time</li>



<li>Revive Action Time Scales Per Revive</li>



<li>Revive Time Scalar</li>



<li>Revive Orb Lifetime Enabled</li>



<li>Revive Orb Lifetime</li>
</ul>



The new nodes added to help Forgers control these systems even more include:



<ul>
<li>Revive Player</li>



<li>Revive All Players</li>



<li>Revive All Players On Team</li>



<li>On Revive Orb Spawned</li>



<li>Get Lifepool Lives Remaining</li>



<li>Adjust Lifepool</li>
</ul>



The mode possibilities with these settings are quite exciting, and we can’t wait to see what players are able to do with them.



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



As more mode functionality has come online with Forge, we’ve also set our sights on improving how mode information can be communicated to the players during the match. In our Fleetcom update, we added a ton of improvements with Nav Markers, but we knew that there was still more to do.



The next improvement we wanted to go after was ‘docking’ of Nav Markers, which helps someone who is actively working on an objective, like securing a Stronghold. This will take a Nav Marker that is displayed on a capture zone and move it into a ‘docked’ position in a player’s HUD when they enter it. <a href="https://youtu.be/Q8B4Bppq_JM?t=1742">An example of this can be seen during our Winter Update Community Livestream</a>.



To support this functionality, we’ve added over a dozen new nodes to Forge’s scripting nodegraph.



We’ve also added four new nodes to help support Volume Visibility to bolster modes that could benefit from the additional controls.



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



Alongside these new features, we have made some additional improvements to Forge as well. These have come as the result of feedback from the community as folks look to further expand their range of options to create on an increasingly granular level in Forge.



MUSIC IN FORGE CONTROLS



Mode creators will now have the option to turn off each mode’s default music in Custom Games, allowing them to take full advantage of the Campaign Music functionality added earlier this year.



To accompany this addition, new music control nodes will also be added to the Forge nodegraph:



<ul>
<li>Fade Music Track for All</li>
</ul>



GET GENERIC ZONE PROGRESS NODE



The default nav markers provided by Generic Zones are valuable in getting basic functionality into the hands of players. The major limitation in creating your own markers for Generic Zones is that there is no way for players to get the progress of Generic Zones themselves.



We have added a new node called Get Generic Zone Progress, the result of which is that it will show the capture progress of a particular zone and works in any game mode template for Generic Zones.



MINIGAME MODE LABELS



When we previously released the minigame variants, we got some feedback from the community that these lacked specific mode labels. As a result of that feedback, we have added some new mode labels:



<ul>
<li>Minigame Asymmetrical Include</li>



<li>Minigame Asymmetrical Exclude</li>



<li>Minigame BTB Include</li>



<li>Minigame BTB Exclude</li>



<li>Minigame Ranked Include</li>



<li>Minigame Ranked Exclude</li>



<li>Minigame Ranked Asymmetrical Include</li>



<li>Minigame Ranked Asymmetrical Exclude</li>



<li>Minigame BTB Asymmetrical Include</li>



<li>Minigame BTB Asymmetrical Exclude</li>
</ul>



When an object has the “Include” label, it should only appear in that mode variant. When an object has the “Exclude” label, it should be available in all modes except the one selected.



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That’s everything coming on the Forge front for the 2024 Winter Update to Halo Infinite. We’re always looking for further feedback to expand the options available to players and can’t wait to see what you make!