A Brief History of Firefight

Games

Alex Wakeford

Firefight: King of the Hill Preview | Halo Infinite

Season Two of the Halo television series drops out of slipspace on February 8, 2024, which means it’s time for us to unseal the hushed casket and bring the Silver Debrief out of cryo!



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



“You deserve the truth. The enemy is at our gates… their numbers are overwhelming. Any Marine who makes this stand with us will not survive the day. For every moment that we hold the enemy at bay, more innocent people can escape—when they do, they will go forth and tell the story that you write today. You will be remembered.”



<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 The Series | Season 2 First Look Trailer | Paramount+" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pfiTJ2JNDco?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



The official Season Two teaser premiered at CCXP 2023 this weekend, promising eight new episodes filled with intense action to come as the Covenant threat to humanity escalates.



Following the events of Season One, picking up six months later, the state of the galaxy is very different to Season One as the Covenant War rages on and world after world falls to the alien alliance. Against these ever-mounting odds, the Master Chief must fight to prevent the war from tipping irrevocably into the certainty of extinction for humanity.



Returning in Season Two are many faces and names you’ll recognize from Season One, including Pablo Schreiber (Master Chief), Natascha McElhone (Dr. Halsey), Bokeem Woodbine (Soren), Shabana Azmi (Margaret Parangosky), Natasha Culzac (Riz-028), Olive Gray (Miranda Keyes), Yerin Ha (Kwan Ha), Bentley Kalu (Vannak-134), Kate Kennedy (Kai-125), Charlie Murphy (Makee), Danny Sapani (Jacob Keyes), and Jen Taylor (Cortana), with Fiona O’Shaughnessy (Laera) and Tylan Bailey (Kessler) also returning.



But we’ve also got some new faces…



Cristina Rodlo joins the cast as Talia Perez, a new character to Halo. As our story begins, she serves as a UNSC Marine Corps communications specialist.



And Joseph Morgan also joins the cast of Season Two as a character whose name will no doubt be familiar to fans of Halo’s expanded universe…



Say hello to James Ackerson.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="1406" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/S2JAckerson.jpg" alt="Halo TV series Season 2 image of Joseph Morgan as James Ackerson" class="wp-image-87402" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/S2JAckerson.jpg 2500w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/S2JAckerson-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/S2JAckerson-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/S2JAckerson-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/S2JAckerson-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/S2JAckerson-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/S2JAckerson-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption>Joseph Morgan as James Ackerson in Halo, season 2, streaming on Paramount+ 2024. Photograph by James Minchin III/Paramount+</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="1668" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/S2Ackerson.jpg" alt="Halo TV series Season 2 image of Joseph Morgan as James Ackerson" class="wp-image-87304" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/S2Ackerson.jpg 2500w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/S2Ackerson-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/S2Ackerson-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/S2Ackerson-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/S2Ackerson-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/S2Ackerson-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/S2Ackerson-1568x1046.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption>Joseph Morgan as James Ackerson in Halo, episode 1, season 2, streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Adrienn Szabo/Paramount+</figcaption></figure>



James Ackerson is a character who appeared throughout many of the early Halo novels, including The Fall of Reach and Ghosts of Onyx, before he was killed in the comic Uprising that tied directly into Halo 3.



Ackerson is a leader within the clandestine Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) who desires to advance his own initiatives to win the war against the Covenant… by any means necessary.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FORJamesAckerson.jpg" alt="Crop of Cortana accessing James Ackerson's file from the comic Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion, Issue 2" class="wp-image-87290" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FORJamesAckerson.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FORJamesAckerson-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FORJamesAckerson-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FORJamesAckerson-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FORJamesAckerson-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/12/FORJamesAckerson-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption>Halo: Fall of Reach – Invasion, Issue #2</figcaption></figure>



Speaking of new faces, Season Two also has a new showrunner and head writer, David Wiener, who has expressed his excitement to bring a more grounded and gritty tone to the series.



There’s a lot to digest in this teaser, and no doubt we’re going to see every frame analyzed and deconstructed! Stay tuned for a more detailed breakdown of this teaser in our next Silver Debrief!



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CATCH UP ON SEASON ONE</h2>



Season One of Halo spanned nine episodes which aired throughout 2022, kicking off a brand-new story as part of the Silver Timeline—a unique branch of continuity that is separate from Halo’s core canon (the games, books, comics, and other media).



For folks in the US, you can watch the entire first season of Halo for free! All nine episodes will be available to watch on Xbox, Paramount + Free Content Hub, YouTube, Apple, Roku, and PlutoTV from November 30 to December 31.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Halo-Season-Limited-Edtion-Steelbook/dp/B0BF2WXJ3X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=160MFOZXQL9YP&keywords=B0BF2WXJ3X&qid=1668047000&sprefix=b0bf2wxj3x%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/2022_1107_Waypoint_Silver_MBI_SteelCase_DBS_R03.png" alt="Image of Halo The Series steelbook" class="wp-image-51935" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/2022_1107_Waypoint_Silver_MBI_SteelCase_DBS_R03.png 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/2022_1107_Waypoint_Silver_MBI_SteelCase_DBS_R03-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/2022_1107_Waypoint_Silver_MBI_SteelCase_DBS_R03-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/2022_1107_Waypoint_Silver_MBI_SteelCase_DBS_R03-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/2022_1107_Waypoint_Silver_MBI_SteelCase_DBS_R03-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/2022_1107_Waypoint_Silver_MBI_SteelCase_DBS_R03-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



For fans of physical media, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.amazon.com/Halo-Season-Limited-Edtion-Steelbook/dp/B0BF2WXJ3X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=160MFOZXQL9YP&keywords=B0BF2WXJ3X&qid=1668047000&sprefix=b0bf2wxj3x%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Season One is available on DVD and Blu-Ray</a>, including a Limited Edition Steelbook that makes for a great collectible! The special 5-disc collection features all nine episodes at 4K quality, over five hours of behind-the-scenes special features, and collectable art cards of characters from the show.



And, of course, you can <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/show-halo" target="_blank">check out our previous twelve issues of the Silver Debrief here on Halo Waypoint</a>, which feature detailed summaries of Season One’s episodes, behind the scenes tidbits, and more!



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



That wraps us up for this issue, which means it’s time to go and rewatch the trailer again… I don’t know about you, but I can’t get over that shot of the Covenant fleet rising through the clouds.



See you in February!

Debrief 013

Silver Debrief: Season 2 Reveal

The December Mid-Season Update for Halo Infinite arrives on December 5, just a few short days from now, and we’ve got the details of everything you need to know right here.



Firefight: King of the Hill, the new Repair Field equipment, Forge updates, Ranked and Custom Game Browser improvements, and much more are prepared to drop—let’s get you briefed!



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FIREFIGHT: KING OF THE HILL</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-10.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of a Brute Chieftain and Brute Warrior in a hill on the House of Reckoning" class="wp-image-87218" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-10.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-10-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-10-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-10-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-10-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-10-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Bip. Bap. Bam! Firefight is coming to Halo Infinite next week.



Over the years, Firefight has taken many forms across various Halo games. From its traditional survival mode in Halo 3: ODST to its more arcade-inspired incarnation in Halo: Reach, to Warzone Firefight in Halo 5, along with Blitz Firefight and Terminus Firefight in Halo Wars 2—it’s a mode that has evolved across games, and the time has come for it to arrive in Halo Infinite.



Firefight: King of the Hill will see you and three other players facing off against waves of Banished baddies as you fight to capture hills on nine maps when the playlist goes live—including the House of Reckoning from Halo Infinite’s campaign and three community-made maps.



We’ll have a full, detailed blog on Firefight: King of the Hill going live on December 4, ahead of its in-game debut the following day.



We can’t wait for you to get your hands on it!



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">REPAIR FIELD</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of the new Repair Field equipment attached to a Warthog on the map Breaker" class="wp-image-87274" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/RepairFieldAction-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Need to conduct some repairs while out in the field? We’ve got the perfect Equipment item for you…



Introducing our latest sandbox addition to Halo Infinite, the Repair Field!



Similar to the Regenerator from Halo 3, the Repair Field is a neutral piece of Equipment that heals allies and enemies within its radius. It’s also capable of repairing vehicles, and it can be attached to them (as well as most environmental surfaces). Additionally, the Repair Field can also revive downed Spartans in select modes such as Firefight: King of the Hill, Attrition, etc.



Are you the kind of player that prefers to provide support for the team? The Repair Field is a great complement to that particular playstyle and, used strategically, just might help give your team an edge in a firefight or vehicular showdown.



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



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/HI_S5_Extraction_01_Watermarked_1920x1080.jpg" alt="A multiplayer Spartan plays Extraction in Halo Infinite." class="wp-image-83075" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/HI_S5_Extraction_01_Watermarked_1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/HI_S5_Extraction_01_Watermarked_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/HI_S5_Extraction_01_Watermarked_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/HI_S5_Extraction_01_Watermarked_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/HI_S5_Extraction_01_Watermarked_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/HI_S5_Extraction_01_Watermarked_1920x1080-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



The Ranked experience is getting some improvements in this December Update, starting off with updates to Ranked Extraction and CSR.



<ul><li>RANKED EXTRACTION</li></ul>



At the moment, you can hear that your Extraction point is being converted by the enemy team from anywhere on the map. This meant players were able to leave the area around the Extraction device and use the global audio queue to tell them when to peek back out. With this upcoming audio change, the device itself will emit the audio, meaning you’ll have to be in close vicinity to hear it’s being converted. As a result, teams will need to pay closer attention to the Extraction device.



Right now, you can see in your UI when the Extraction point is being converted. Similar to above, this allowed players to leave the area near the Extraction device and only peek out when the UI showed it was being converted. With our upcoming change, this will go away almost entirely. The UI will no longer indicate to you when the Extraction point is actively being converted, and it will also no longer indicate to you how much time is remaining. It’s going to play a bit old school and hardcore, as players and coaches will need to time the Extractions like timing weapons and powerups in previous Halo titles.



<ul><li>CSR IMPROVEMENTS</li></ul>



There are some further improvements also coming to rank loss protection and teammate quitting. Once you rank up a tier, you will get three games, win or lose, before a loss will rank you down to the previous tier. Additionally, if a player in the match (who is not on your fireteam) quits, you will not lose CSR if you decide to quit as well. You can read more about these updates <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/december-ranked-updates">in our most recent Ranked Update blog!</a>



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



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



When Season 5 launched back in October, the Forge AI Toolkit quite literally changed the game for community creators, allowing players for the first time ever to place campaign enemies into multiplayer maps to build PvE experiences.



In the December Update, we have some more improvements to share with you that will enhance this feature even further…



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-9.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Unggoy High Value Target known as Bipbap running in a hill capture zone on the House of Reckoning map" class="wp-image-87232" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-9.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-9-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-9-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-9-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-9-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-9-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<ul><li>HIGH VALUE TARGETS & BOSSES</li></ul>



In Halo Infinite’s campaign, there are various boss enemies that can be encountered on Zeta Halo, such as the High Value Targets that can be hunted down, each one rewarding the Master Chief with a powerful special weapon variant.



All fifteen of these HVTs will be added to Forge with the December Update—from the almighty Bipbap the Vanquisher to the very hungry Ik’novus the Devourer, and beyond.



Major bosses are also included in this line-up as well, such as Jega ‘Rdomnai, Escharum, and the Harbinger. The potential for what the creative cartographers in the community are going to make truly is endless (heh!)



<ul><li>SKULLS IN NODE GRAPH</li></ul>



With Firefight: KOTH on the way, enabling Skulls to modify difficulty is a notable part of the experience. With this update, Forgers will be able to use Node Graph to enable or disable any of the twelve Skulls, from Bandana to Black Eye.



Notably, Skulls are not just limited to the Firefight game variants. These difficulty modifiers will work in any game mode, allowing creators to use them to spice up ordinary multiplayer matches or extend their Season 5 PVE experiences.



<ul><li>QUALITY-OF-LIFE UPDATES</li></ul>



The Global Material Allow list gives the player the ability to access all swatches contained in swatch groups added to the global allow list in all regions. This functionally gives the player access to a much larger pool of swatches for each region, and allows regions previously disallowed from using tiling swatches to access them.



Because hugs make everything better, we have also added the Trigger Grunt Hug node to Forge’s Node Graph. This will allow creators to make any Grunts in a squad pull out two plasma grenades and run toward the nearest enemy until the grenades explode. We sincerely hope this addition will make your Custom Browser experiences with Grunts more loving and friendly.



Scalable Blockers allow the player to place a single blocker object and scale it to the size they’d like it to be. This will help you save on object count and help clean up maps.



Auto Turret Allegiance has been updated, meaning the Auto Turret will now respect the Team setting it receives in Forge. When placed on a team, the Auto Turret will treat units (players & AI) as allies and will not target them. If placed on Neutral team, the turret will remain hostile to all units.



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CUSTOM GAME BROWSER</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-55.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of three Spartans in a Warthog" class="wp-image-87246" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-55.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-55-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-55-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-55-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-55-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-55-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



When Season 5 launched, we introduced Custom Game XP and the addition of the Forge AI Toolkit opened up the floodgates for countless hours to be spent jumping from custom game to custom game—whether you’re looking for some of that classic Infection fun you’ve been enjoying since Halo 3, or the vast range of exciting new experiences that folks have been creating.



The team has been working on a variety of improvements to the Custom Game Browser which should make for a smoother ride for you and your fireteam.



<ul><li>JOIN SESSION AS FIRETEAM</li></ul>



As long as there are enough slots available, the Fireteam Leader can bring their entire party into a CGB session. Upon joining the session, all members of your Fireteam will join together and merge into the Custom Game leader’s Fireteam.



While working on this, the team also made sure that it was enabled for lobbies. If you are playing with a friend and want to join another friend’s lobby, you can choose “Join with Fireteam” to bring your entire Fireteam into their matchmaking/custom game lobby.



<ul><li>IMPROVEMENTS</li></ul>



Several improvements have been implemented to the Custom Game Browser, resolving issues that block players from joining CGB sessions that were open when a backend change occurred; issues around unclear messaging when attempting to join a full session; and instances where attempting to join a session that was no longer active would not deliver any failure messages.



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">STABILITY & NETWORKING</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-39.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of three Spartans in a Firefight: KOTH match on Exiled" class="wp-image-87260" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-39.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-39-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-39-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-39-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-39-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/FF_KOH_PK-39-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Along with all the additions and quality-of-life updates above, this update is also focused on increasing the game’s stability by addressing crashes and improving our online experience via updates to our networking.



Season 5 added more reporting information in the game, which helps us better detect when and why crashes happen. Using this data, the team has knocked out multiple crashes across PC and consoles, including the top crash on Xbox Series X|S devices.



As for improvements to networking, we’ve been working on a more comprehensive overhaul of the system. The first glimpse of this updated networking model will land on December 5 with the December Update. You’ll be able to jump into the Firefight: King of the Hill playlist and try out the new networking model in a safe environment. Enabling it in a PvE experience gives us a safe testbed to see how it behaves at scale before enabling it in a PvP mode, where the stakes would feel much higher for each player. Please be sure to dive in, blast the Banished, and let us know how it feels in Firefight: King of the Hill. If the results are promising, we’ll look to host a PvP experience in the Combat Workshop in the future.



While there should only be improvements in these areas, please be sure to report any crashes or networking related issues to us <a href="http://aka.ms/HaloSupport" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">by using the Halo Support site</a>.



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



That closes us out for this preview of 2023’s December Update for Halo Infinite. Stay tuned for a deep dive on Firefight on December 4 ahead of the update dropping out of slipspace on December 5!

December Mid-Season Update Preview | Halo Infinite

The next update for Halo Infinite will release including two new features for Ranked play that have been highly requested by players; Rank Demotion Protection and Ranked Quit Penalty Adjustments. Let’s dive into the details and talk about how it’ll work!



Ranked Demotion Protection: You just leveled up from
Gold into Platinum – nice work, that wasn’t easy. Unfortunately, in your next
game you didn’t play too hot, or maybe you got a phone call and were
distracted, or maybe one of your teammates quit – welp, back to Gold you go.
Well, not anymore with the introduction of Rank Demotion Protection. Whenever
you rank up into a new division (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, or Onyx) you
will get a grace period of three games, win or lose, as a bit of safety net and
you won’t get demoted into the prior division.



Example scenario: You level up into Onyx and your CSR
is 1503. If you lose a game, disconnect, or quit – your new CSR will be 1500
which will keep you in Onyx. If the same thing happens two more times, you will
stay 1500. 



Winning a game will count as one of the three protection
games – it’s not 3 losses, it’s 3 games no matter what happens. 



Ranked Quit Penalty Adjustments: So, you’re in the
middle of a game and someone on your team just quit – great, now you’ve got no
real shot of winning and you’re just going to lose points anyway for quitting.
Well, that’s going to change as well. If someone in your game but not on your
fireteam quits, they will still receive the max penalty, but you will not lose any
CSR.



Ok very cool but we’ve got some questions, Tashi:



<ul><li>If someone on the other team quits, can I quit
with no penalty? Yes!</li></ul>



<ul><li>If someone on my fireteam quits, and then I quit, what’s the penalty? You will lose up to 5 CSR, just like it is today. </li></ul>



<ul><li>If someone not on my fireteam quits, but we stay
and lose the game, how much CSR would I lose? 0 CSR. Ranked games are not
meant to be played out with uneven teams – players should be able to leave with
no penalty and just start searching again for another match.</li></ul>



<ul><li>What happens if a teammate quits/crashes while loading in? The first quit after the match starts will still receive a full penalty, but after that all players will be able to leave without any penalty.</li></ul>



<ul><li>If someone in my game quits, and then I decide
to quit for no penalty, will I still get hit with the banhammer? No.
Quitting in these instances is safe from the banhammer.</li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">RANKED EXTRACTION UPDATES</h2>



Based on feedback we’ve heard from players we’ve also made a couple key updates to Ranked Extraction (you will NOT see these updates in the Extraction featured in social playlists). 



Audio changes: At the moment, you can hear that your Extraction point is being converted by the enemy team from anywhere on the map. This meant players were able to leave the area around the Extraction device and use the global audio queue to tell them when to peek back out. With this upcoming audio change, the device itself will emit the audio – meaning you’ll have to be in a close vicinity to hear it’s being converted. As a result, teams will need to play closer attention the Extraction device much more than they need to today. 



UI changes: Right now, you can see in your UI when the Extraction point is being converted. Similar to above, this allowed players to leave the area near the Extraction device and only peek out when the UI showed it was being converted. With our upcoming change, this will go away almost entirely. The UI will no longer indicate to you when the Extraction point is actively being converted, and it will also no longer indicate to you how much time is remaining. It’s going to play a bit old school and hardcore, as players/coaches will be needing to time the Extractions like timing weapons/powerups in the older Halo titles.



We hope these quality-of-life updates make your ranked
experience more enjoyable and best of luck on your grind to the top.



See you online! 



-Tashi

Tashi

December Ranked Updates

Fiction

343 INDUSTRIES

Halo: Battle for the Blood-Moon

Community

Forge Features

Would you believe we’re over a month into Season 5 already? We were floored by what folks were creating with the Forge AI Toolkit within the first week, and that momentum is still building with incredible new creations that we can’t wait to share with you.



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



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/1bbe31bc-c8a6-4541-aadf-a02de3756bec" target="_blank">THE SILENT CARTOGRAPHER CAMPAIGN</a> Credits: Nikos4476 Mode: <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/5ad007d1-705f-43cb-a01f-13f5c8d1fdc3">Easy</a> | <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/21becbf7-0b04-43fb-8ccb-fdabfeaf7657">Normal</a> | <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/bff3d99c-4717-4113-aa42-7b18cd2732ae">Heroic</a> | <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/2645dca7-043e-4465-91dc-0ebb9964472e">Legendary</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/1bbe31bc-c8a6-4541-aadf-a02de3756bec"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/SilentCartographer.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Silent Cartographer beach assault recreated in Forge" class="wp-image-87126" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/SilentCartographer.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/SilentCartographer-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/SilentCartographer-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/SilentCartographer-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/SilentCartographer-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/SilentCartographer-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Forgers have no chill. This much has become clear with our first spotlighted map. We anticipated that folks would recreate various moments and scenarios from previous Halo campaigns, but I don’t think we ever expected that we would see the entirety of The Silent Cartographer from Halo: CE remade—the island, enemy placements, substructures, objectives…



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



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/93bd943a-5125-4c7d-aca5-d48fa36cf376" target="_blank">HALO WARS 2 TERMINUS FIREFIGHT</a> Credits: Lemonsquare7609, Trooper509, vacant10086, Arxchangel, Donut Droper, Xitespdrman Mode: <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/ba099c5f-a2d1-4cb9-8acf-040f8b61f3b9">Halo Wars 2 Terminus Firefight</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/93bd943a-5125-4c7d-aca5-d48fa36cf376"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HW2Terminus.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of Halo Wars 2 Terminus Firefight created in Forge" class="wp-image-87112" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HW2Terminus.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HW2Terminus-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HW2Terminus-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HW2Terminus-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HW2Terminus-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HW2Terminus-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Twenty-one waves of Banished enemies are ready to throw themselves at you, your allies, and the cores you must protect. Get upgrades to strengthen your team, use vehicles to bring superior firepower to bear, and prepare to experience Halo Wars from a first-person perspective. (8-12 players recommended.)



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



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/7617ce5f-4a90-4756-9b70-ea3ccd8613dd" target="_blank">CORROSION CAMPAIGN</a> Credits: Private1179529 Mode: <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/bb30da74-5366-43dc-8640-5690598472ce">Corrosion Campaign</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/7617ce5f-4a90-4756-9b70-ea3ccd8613dd"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Corrosion.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of Corrosion mission created in Forge" class="wp-image-87070" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Corrosion.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Corrosion-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Corrosion-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Corrosion-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Corrosion-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Corrosion-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



The Banished have discovered a rare, highly toxic fluid that they are mining to enhance their fuel rod-based weaponry, and it’s up to you to stop them. Are you taking this on alone, as a Headhunter team of two, or will you deploy a full fireteam of four to bring an end to this dire threat?



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



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/8b05e1bd-25f9-48ac-b199-b8eae79632c0" target="_blank">FIREFIGHT HELM’S DEEP</a> Credits: AngeloGrotti



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/8b05e1bd-25f9-48ac-b199-b8eae79632c0"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HelmsDeep.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of top-down view of Helm's Deep created in Forge" class="wp-image-87098" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HelmsDeep.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HelmsDeep-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HelmsDeep-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HelmsDeep-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HelmsDeep-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HelmsDeep-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



“The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time. Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath, now for ruin, and the red dawn. Forth Èorlingas!”



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



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/bd443aee-f7c4-4727-8c28-8e5a00a8a83c" target="_blank">FIREFIGHT BIKINI BOTTOM</a> Credits: Im Adopted69527



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/bd443aee-f7c4-4727-8c28-8e5a00a8a83c"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/BikiniBottom.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of Bikini Bottom map created in Forge" class="wp-image-87056" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/BikiniBottom.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/BikiniBottom-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/BikiniBottom-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/BikiniBottom-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/BikiniBottom-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/BikiniBottom-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Plankton has enlisted the aid of the Banished to steal the Krabby Patty formula! Fight to defend Bikini Bottom from this evil, diabolical, lemon-scented scheme!



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TUTORIAL TRAINING</h2>



Zechariot has been turning out some fantastic tutorials for Forgers to use in a variety of creative ways. To kick things off, how about a “vending machine” where you can buy AI units for your team?



<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="AI Vending Machine (AI Shop) | Halo Infinite Forge Tutorial" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dVUP41NElig?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



And on the aesthetic side of things, Ducain23 has a guide to help you create murky algae water and custom trees.



<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="Create Murky Algae Water and Custom Trees | Halo Infinite Tutorial" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mGRDJN9E5C0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



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



That’ll round us out for this issue of Forge Features! If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a very important appointment with the Custom Game Browser—Bikini Bottom needs rescuing at three, and first light on the fifth day is rapidly approaching so we’ve gotta make sure we’re in the right spot when the forces there look to the east…



Happy Forging!

Community Cartography 022

Forge Features: November 22, 2023

Canon Fodder

Welcome back to this year’s penultimate issue of Canon Fodder—what a year it’s been, and we’re not quite done yet on the fiction front!



New multiplayer map lore for Season 5’s latest additions, new Waypoint Chronicles and Intel, a new Armory Infinitum entry, and even more await within…



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">MAPTACULORE: RECKONING</h2>



Season 5 brought with it two new maps which both hint at some fascinating backstory elements from the broader Halo universe. Let’s get you acquainted with ‘em!



FORBIDDEN



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Forbidden.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the multiplayer map Forbidden" class="wp-image-86997" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Forbidden.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Forbidden-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Forbidden-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Forbidden-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Forbidden-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Forbidden-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



While ancient stone ruins have been observed on multiple Halo installations, Zeta Halo invites additional curiosity as it continues to bear features from its original configuration as Gyre 11. Lifeworker stations take many forms and house even more secrets, hidden both by and from Forerunners and the various inhabitants who once lived within these old spaces.



Since the initiation of the Zeta Halo project in 2555, several groups of human researchers and follow-up rescue teams have been listed as missing after reporting their discovery of these facilities, or unknowingly wandering into them, which are speculated to be concealed by advanced baffler and dazzler technologies. None have been recorded as having returned.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity"/>



PRISM



“A lone colo is prey. A drove of colos is an unstoppable force.”



“Until a pack of teroks push them over a cliff. Then they are dinner. The Banished are the teroks, Arbiter, and you will know when we are hungry. That, I promise.”



Halo: Outcasts, Chapter 24



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Prism.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Ghost of Barolon in the skies of Suban on the multiplayer map Prism" class="wp-image-87011" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Prism.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Prism-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Prism-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Prism-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Prism-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/Prism-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Not known to make idle threats, Atriox began moving a contingent of Banished forces towards Suban, the blood-moon of Sanghelios, following his confrontation with the Arbiter on Netherop. Seeking to claim ownership of the Subanese crystal mines used for needle-based weaponry, the Jiralhanae alchemist corps aboard the dreadnought Ghost of Barolon seek to find inventive new applications for this strange, little-understood technology.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SATURN DEVOURING HIS SON</h2>



Our latest Waypoint Chronicle, Saturn Devouring His Son, went live on Halloween and brought a spooky new short story about the Flood.



Halo: Saturn Devouring His Son is available <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-saturn-devouring-his-son" target="_blank">here on Halo Waypoint</a>, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://aka.ms/SaturnPDF" target="_blank">as a free PDF</a>, and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://aka.ms/SaturnAudio" target="_blank">in audiobook format on YouTube</a>.



<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: Saturn Devouring His Son | Audiobook" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9H9Pj2YhpyQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



The question has been asked: what exactly is the big deal about a Spartan becoming infected?



It’s certainly true that the Flood in all its varied forms—from the lowliest spore to the most terrifying of abominations—is deadly to anyone. But to infect a Spartan brings a whole other kind of danger.



Spartans are, as we well know, the master of any weapon, pilot of any vehicle, and fear no enemy. Their lethality comes in no small part from their understanding of how to effectively utilize any piece of technology on the battlefield, whether it’s a UNSC rifle or an alien vehicle. That is a significant element which differentiates Spartans from any other grunt, and that knowledge getting absorbed by the Flood, especially in the early stages of an outbreak (as told in this story), spells doom for all.



Add to that their protective and power-amplifying Mjolnir armor, as well as their knowledge of classified information, and the sheer morale-breaking spectacle of witnessing a champion of humanity transformed into a weapon to be used against them… what sweet misery this scenario brings on every level.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BATTLE FOR THE BLOOD-MOON</h2>



Speaking of Waypoint Chronicles, we are just days away from the release of our next one! Halo: Battle for the Blood-Moon releases on November 27, and it will be available in all the standard Waypoint Chronicle formats.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity"/>



2560. The Banished have come to Suban, the blood-moon of Sanghelios, seeking to claim the unique natural resource within its vast mines: the beautiful but volatile Subanese crystals.



The Swords of Sanghelios and their Spartan allies face an overwhelming force on the ground, while a Sangheili shipmistress in the skies above seeks to find a weakness in the enemy’s armor that might turn the tide against these invaders.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity"/>



Tying in with this upcoming Waypoint Chronicle, our latest Intel drop has provided some details about the Banished dreadnought Ghost of Barolon. Scannermaster Dibdib’s report features some run-on speculative commentary alongside her analysis that it seems her shipmistress deemed to be an unnecessary addition.



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/reckoning-intel#S5Intel2" target="_blank">INTEL 2: GHOST OF BAROLON</a>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ARMORY INFINITUM</h2>



One of the newest weapons introduced in Halo Infinite was the Sicatt Workshop Volt Piercer, or “shock rifle,” which has become a favorite for landing some incredibly satisfying headshots, along with its more powerful variant: the Purging Shock Rifle. 



It just so happens that—as revealed in our latest Intel drop—the Banished dreadnought hanging in the skies of Suban, as you can see on the map Prism, is the Ghost of Barolon. What a fortuitous coincidence, given what we learned in the Halo Encyclopedia last year…



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity"/>



The shock rifle is the latest in a long line of experimental voltaic application devices that represent some of the only remaining vestiges of the Jiralhanae’s rich technological age, just before the dark days of the Great Immolation. Technicians from the Sicatt Workshop on board the Banished dreadnought Ghost of Barolon were able to break ground on the latest volt piercer, achieving a robust production run of the long-range Banished electrolaser that could also be charged and maintained at local armory outposts. This brutal precision-energy weapon is an extremely powerful asset, neutralizing approaching enemies even at great distances. 



Halo Encyclopedia (2022), p. 477



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CFShockRifle.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of a Banished hologram of the Shock Rifle" class="wp-image-86983" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CFShockRifle.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CFShockRifle-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CFShockRifle-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CFShockRifle-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CFShockRifle-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CFShockRifle-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



And so, given the current circumstances, it seemed only natural that this latest Armory Infinitum entry should provide some further insight into what the bright minds aboard the Ghost of Barolon have been working on.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity"/>



SICATT WORSHOP // ALCHEMY CORPS GHOST OF BAROLON >>PERSONAL LOG // VULCUS



As the Banished looks to extend its reach beyond the shadowed corners of the galaxy we have remained hidden in, Atriox has expressed his desire to bring new kinds of weaponry to bear—the kind that was spoken of in the old stories across the three moons. It was for this purpose that Sicatt Workshop was born, and thus far rudimentary efforts to harness directed-energy electrolasers recovered from old vaults on Doisac have delivered… satisfactory results.



But I see this as just a template. A foundation.



The manufacturers deliver me a weapon that fires three bursts—I say, why not five? Voltaic application devices are still experimental in nature, let us see how much power they can truly offer as we explore the truth of their limits. The Gray Guards are already eager to test this new firepower on the field as Escharum seeks to convene the Legionmasters for a new operation. I want these weapons to match precision and power to take down the shields of a human strike fighter.



In time, perhaps we can even mount such a weapon onto our ships… overload enemy systems to aid in ramming and boarding maneuvers…



Let it never be said that a Jiralhanae lacks the ambition to explore what can be achieved through our minds as well as our might.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">COMMUNITY LORE CORNER</h2>



Let’s round up some of the latest Halo lore-centric endeavors from folks in the community.



Starting us off is <a href="https://youtu.be/NtaNFY2EsC0?si=j1VBmn9R7Eo48yAb">MegMage</a>, who recently completed her first ever playthrough of Halo: Combat Evolved—welcome to the madness, Meg!



Meg has put together a reaction video to the tragic and esoteric story of 343 Guilty Spark as told in those marvelous Combat Evolved Anniversary Terminals. It’s always a joy to see series newcomers become invested in the rich history of this universe.



<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: Combat Evolved Anniversary Terminals Reaction" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NtaNFY2EsC0?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>



Next up, the iconic <a href="https://youtu.be/Gb6Ni3dMwLw?si=oJS5abLlf9lPRdu4">HiddenXperia</a> has put together his own awesome recap and retelling of Saturn Devouring His Son, which you should definitely check out!



<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="THE FIRST SPARTAN EVER INFECTED BY THE FLOOD & The Horrors of Site 22… (NEW)" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gb6Ni3dMwLw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



And speaking of Saturn, <a href="https://youtu.be/iZ38fcfPaSE?si=DiNFJ8V8lnO0M29-">Halo Infinite Store Customization</a> has created a fantastic short machinima video from the perspective of the cameras across Site 22, showcasing the Flood outbreak.



<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="The Flood is released when miners delved too greedily - Saturn Devouring his Son" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iZ38fcfPaSE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



To keep the running theme here, <a href="https://youtu.be/qdDbHh1Yi7A?si=HVYtDGzBC3DfoOnw">Installation00</a> has also created a fantastic new video about the CORRUPTER cryptonym featured in Saturn concerning a Spartan being infected by the Flood.



<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="Corrupter Protocol | Lore and Theory" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qdDbHh1Yi7A?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity"/>



That’ll close us out for this month’s issue, leaving just one week before our next Waypoint Chronicle drops—our penultimate one for the year (yes, going by what we teased at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://youtu.be/6NLZw-BL8hg?feature=shared&t=26149s" target="_blank">Canon Fodder LIVE</a>, there is indeed one more still to come in 2023!)



Until then, off with you! There’s a twenty-tier Combined Arms Operation Pass in Halo Infinite that demands completion and a new Halo 3-themed playlist to jump into, the perfect way to pass the time until Battle for the Blood-Moon arrives.



See you on Suban.

Esports

Issue 147

Canon Fodder: Fly Me to the Blood-Moon

Community Spotlight

Issue 011

Community Corner: GCustomsCreations

Sylvanus

The Pit

Cliffside

Domicile

Banished Narrows

High Ground

Isolation

Critical Dewpoint

Preferred snacks, a bottle of Game Fuel (aka Citrus Cherry Mountain Dew™️), and a controller in hand, I’m ready to play Halo like it’s 2007.



<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 3 Refueled Playlist Map Flythrough | Halo Infinite" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l9fJJI2nk3c?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Halo 3 Refueled has landed and it’s full of your old favorites… or at least the maps which might have left the biggest impact from the Halo 3 era. Now, it is 2023 so things have evolved a bit. These maps may visually resemble these old favorites but it’s important to note that they have been refreshed and adapted for Halo Infinite’s sandbox so they may play slightly differently.



Oh, and did we mention there’s one more bonus map created specifically for this celebration?



Let’s do the dew and jump in!



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



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">MAPS</h3>



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/2578ceda-876c-4bfa-83f1-15a8809bc6bf">SYLVANUS (aka Guardian)</a> Credits: Epik Xero, NightAvenger01, InfiniteForges, I Crush All, Virus11010 Modes: Slayer | Land Grab | Oddball | King of the Hill (KOTH)





Ask anyone what their favorite Halo 3 map is and odds are good that “Guardian” is up there, so it’s no surprise that we’ve got a great reimagining of it here for you to explore. Another map with some great Slayer action, famous for Oddball, and just a great all-arounder that feels like coming home.



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



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/ac771b36-b6ba-4d0f-ad2e-3200a6597db2">THE PIT (aka The Pit)</a> Credits: UneeQ, Mr Greencastle, Azwilko1997, Artifice7285 Modes: Capture the Flag (CTF) | Slayer | KOTH





The Pit is another usual answer to the “Name your favorite Halo 3 map!” question. This map excels at CTF thanks to its symmetrical nature and equal chance for teams to exert control. Grab your crew and let the muscle memory flow straight to your thumbs.



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



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/4fd49663-5bde-4065-8759-96bd2f7a37c4">CLIFFSIDE (aka Blackout)</a> Credits: AngelitoCO, tHe PR gAmEr117 Modes: Slayer | KOTH | Oddball





<s>Lockout</s> Blackout returns as Cliffside! First seen in Halo 2, then Halo 3, and now Halo Infinite, this fan-favorite will have you reminiscing over LANs of days past. Play some Slayer, Oddball, or KOTH and revel in the familiarity.



(WARNING: Please report any ghost sightings. They should not be there!)



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



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/a137d555-0e78-447a-9c68-e29fbabb287e">DOMICILE (aka Construct)</a> Credits: Lunnzies Modes: Slayer | Oddball | Land Grab | KOTH





One of the more vertical maps in Halo, Construct returns as Domicile! Pretty fitting considering people often grab a part of the map to hang out in. From straight-up Slayer to KOTH, this map has a wide variety of experiences to offer.



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



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/02d79c17-79e5-4140-9583-118db700ee11">BANISHED NARROWS (aka Narrows)</a> Credits: AngelitoCO, tHe PR gAmEr117 Modes: CTF | Slayer | Strongholds | Oddball





Keep your head on a swivel and watch for flying Spartans! Narrows returns with a new coat of paint. How you get from end-to-end is up to you, but each option has a risk—take the lift and be exposed in mid-air, dare crossing top-middle, or try your luck below? Narrows is an excellent CTF map but also plays well with other modes.



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



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/b9168aff-1646-4005-9acf-8a632aaccd95">HIGH GROUND (aka High Ground)</a> Credits: UneeQ, Mr Greencastle, Azwilko1997, Artifice7285 Modes: 1 Flag CTF | Slayer | KOTH





If one-sided objective modes like 1 Flag CTF are your jam, then High Ground is the map for you. Storm up the beach, breach the gates, grab the flag, and make a dash back for the score. KOTH and Slayer are also favorites on this map.



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



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/a4fd132c-26a6-4f51-83d9-54471ff60a98">ISOLATION (aka Isolation)</a> Credits: D0ctorSmurf, LudoHT, Okom1, nkdape, Virus11010, Mr IncrediJON, Mr Greencastle Modes: Slayer | CTF | Strongholds | Land Grab | Oddball





You either love it or hate it, but Isolation returns. Famous for its location on the Installation 00 Flood containment facility, Isolation is ripe for Mongoose shenanigans, crazy CTF runs, and sneaky Slayer plays. 



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



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/d5dbd44e-1de8-4c14-a097-351bd66148fe">CRITICAL DEWPOINT</a> Credits: ArturBloodshot Modes: Slayer | CTF | KOTH | Oddball





<a href="https://www.artstation.com/artwork/B193g8">If you’ve played Athlon in MCC</a>, then Critical Dewpoint will be familiar to you. This re-imagining of the map is perfect for some high-octane gameplay so get your squad and practice those callouts. PS – Don’t forget to stop for supplies during your match, you might be in for a treat!



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



Grab your controller, grab your Dew, squad up, and party like it’s <s>1999</s> 2007!

snickerdoodle

Halo 3 Refueled | Halo Infinite

HALO 3 REFUELED MAPS

Combined Arms Press Kit

Combined Arms, Halo Infinite’s first Operation, arrives tomorrow!



From November 14 to December 19, Operation: COMBINED ARMS will be active, bringing a free 20-tier Operation Pass with new customization rewards. The iconic Mjolnir Mark V armor from Halo: CE and a playlist of beloved classic maps from Halo 3 have also come to Halo Infinite.



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



<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="Operation: Combined Arms Trailer | Season 5: Reckoning | Halo Infinite" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bCrWlAfWFSM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



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



The Combined Arms Operation Pass features 20 tiers of free customization rewards, along with new armor and vehicle coatings, emblems, and visors.



For those who need a quick refresher: Operations are the new evolution of Events in Halo Infinite, and Combined Arms is the first of more Operations to come. For a full breakdown, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/battle-pass-operations-season-5" target="_blank">check out our Operations blog</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HALO_INFINITE_EVENT_S5_COMBINED_ARMS_REWARDS_1920x1920_RGB-1024x1024.jpg" alt="A visual representation of the Combined Arms Operation Pass. " class="wp-image-86742" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HALO_INFINITE_EVENT_S5_COMBINED_ARMS_REWARDS_1920x1920_RGB-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HALO_INFINITE_EVENT_S5_COMBINED_ARMS_REWARDS_1920x1920_RGB-300x300.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HALO_INFINITE_EVENT_S5_COMBINED_ARMS_REWARDS_1920x1920_RGB-150x150.jpg 150w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HALO_INFINITE_EVENT_S5_COMBINED_ARMS_REWARDS_1920x1920_RGB-768x768.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HALO_INFINITE_EVENT_S5_COMBINED_ARMS_REWARDS_1920x1920_RGB-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HALO_INFINITE_EVENT_S5_COMBINED_ARMS_REWARDS_1920x1920_RGB-1568x1568.jpg 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/HALO_INFINITE_EVENT_S5_COMBINED_ARMS_REWARDS_1920x1920_RGB.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Player feedback around Events was that their short two-week window felt too limiting, and that once they’re gone there’s no way to obtain those rewards again. Enter Operations, which will run for approximately four-to-six weeks with a free 20-tier Operation Pass that is progressed with Match XP. An Operation can be purchased at any point via Halo Infinite’s in-game Switcher or Shop.



The Operations Pass comes with additional premium upgrade options:



<ul><li>500 credits instantly unlocks an exclusive bonus customization item, makes the Operation Pass durable (it will not expire), and—when equipped—offers bonus XP and an extra Challenge slot during the Operation’s live window.</li><li>2,000 credits instantly unlocks all 20 tiers of the Operation Pass at purchase and includes the exclusive bonus customization item.</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CombinedArmsSwitcher.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of the Combined Arms switcher showing the 500 credit Premium Operation Pass and the 2000 credit Premium Operation Pass" class="wp-image-86347" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CombinedArmsSwitcher.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CombinedArmsSwitcher-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CombinedArmsSwitcher-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CombinedArmsSwitcher-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CombinedArmsSwitcher-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/CombinedArmsSwitcher-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



Purchase either of the Combined Arms Operation Pass options above and you will additionally acquire the Grey Hunter armor coating.



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">HALO 3 REFUELED</h2>





2007 has arrived in 2023, as seven Halo 3 maps recreated in Forge in partnership with the community are coming to a new matchmaking playlist in Halo Infinite alongside the Combined Arms Operation tomorrow.



Claim the High Ground and revisit the vertical heights of Construct, the lush jungles of Guardian, a Banished-themed take on Narrows, and other beloved classics recreated in Halo Infinite’s Forge mode. Alongside these is also Critical Dewpoint, a map created by ArturBloodshot, based around our nostalgia-fueled partnership with Mountain Dew.



For more details, be sure to check out our Halo 3 Refueled blog when it lands tomorrow.



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">NEW WAYPOINT CHRONICLE INBOUND</h2>



Also accompanying the release of Combined Arms is a new Waypoint Chronicle which will release later this month!



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



2560. The Banished have come to Suban, the blood-moon of Sanghelios, seeking to claim the unique natural resource within its vast mines: the beautiful but volatile Subanese crystals. 



The Swords of Sanghelios and their Spartan allies face an overwhelming force on the ground, while a Sangheili shipmistress in the skies above seeks to find a weakness in the enemy’s armor that might turn the tide against these invaders.



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



Stay tuned for the release of this short story (which will be available here on Halo Waypoint, as a free PDF, and in audiobook format on YouTube) on November 27.



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">“LOOK, A MARK V!”</h2>



Bred for combat, built for war, you are the master of any weapon, pilot of any vehicle, and fear no enemy.



<figure class="wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">Bred for combat, built for war, you are the master of any weapon, pilot of any vehicle, and fear no enemy 🫡 The Combat Evolved Mark V bundle is now available in the Shop. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HaloReckoning?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HaloReckoning</a> <a href="https://t.co/W7w6jHdvOr">pic.twitter.com/W7w6jHdvOr</a>— Halo (@Halo) <a href="https://twitter.com/Halo/status/1722313153910878324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



In celebration of Halo’s upcoming birthday, the CE Mark V armor kit became available for purchase in the Shop on November 7. The Combat Evolved Mark V bundle contains:



<ul><li>Combat Evolved Mark V armor kit</li><li>Cinder Ring multi-use armor coating</li><li>Viridescent Ring multi-use armor coating</li><li>Aurum Evolved visor</li></ul>



Unseal the hushed casket and awaken the flawless cowboy within. Prevail through nerves of steel and a quick trigger finger.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/CEMarkV3.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of the CE Mark V armor kit" class="wp-image-83322" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/CEMarkV3.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/CEMarkV3-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/CEMarkV3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/CEMarkV3-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/CEMarkV3-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/10/CEMarkV3-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



And be sure to complete all of your Challenges this week to unlock the latest Ultimate Reward: AAP/Ordnance Pack Oscar for your Mark V [B] armor.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/ULT_AAPOrdnancePackOscar.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite image of Ultimate Reward: AAP Ordnance Pack Oscar" class="wp-image-85883" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/ULT_AAPOrdnancePackOscar.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/ULT_AAPOrdnancePackOscar-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/ULT_AAPOrdnancePackOscar-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/ULT_AAPOrdnancePackOscar-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/ULT_AAPOrdnancePackOscar-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/11/ULT_AAPOrdnancePackOscar-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



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



That concludes this overview of Halo Infinite’s debut Operation, which runs for the next five weeks (after which, the Winter Contingency III Operation will begin).



Go forth and start working your way through that free Operation Pass to claim your customization rewards, check out the new Halo 3 Refueled playlist, secure the CE Mark V armor kit to indulge in some classic nostalgia that has never looked so snazzy, and stay tuned for the upcoming Waypoint Chronicle!



See you on Suban.



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



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



<a href="http://aka.ms/CAPressKit">Download the official Combined Arms Press Kit here!</a>

Combined Arms Operation Launch