Games


<p class="has-normal-font-size">Today, we’re thrilled to announce that Halo: Reach is <a href="https://xbox.com/halo">available to play</a> within The Master Chief Collection on Xbox One and PC! Whether you’re new to the series or a returning Spartan, we’re excited to welcome players to Noble Team and an epic experience that looks and plays better than ever. Visit <a href="https://www.xbox.com/halo">Xbox.com</a>, select your platform of choice, and jump in now.  </p>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Halo: Reach Drops on December 3, 2019" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/py3t0zT3szs?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>From the beginning you may know the end, but you’ve never experienced Reach quite like this before. Read on for everything you need to know about Halo: Reach on PC, what you can expect for Halo: Reach on Xbox One, how to share issue reports and feedback, and more helpful details. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">PC: A CLASSIC SAGA, BUILT FOR PC </h3>



<p>The Master Chief’s saga on PC comes equipped with new features, optimizations, and customizations built for the platform. Halo: Reach looks and plays better than ever at 60 frames-per-second (<em>or greater via an experimental variable framerate option</em>) with 4K UHD support, and a multitude of settings to custom-tailor the experience to your hardware and personal preferences. </p>



<p>Players will have a few different avenues to obtain Halo: Reach depending on the platform of choice:</p>



<ul><li><strong>Xbox Game Pass – </strong>Subscribe with <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/xbox-game-pass-ultimate/cfq7ttc0khs0?activetab=pivot%3aoverviewtab">Xbox Game Pass Ultimate</a> or <a href="https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-game-pass/pc-games">Xbox Game Pass for PC (Beta)</a> and get Halo: Reach, the first chapter in Halo: The Master Chief Collection, today. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST (Campaign) and Halo 4 are also included in your membership and will be available on each game’s respective release date, completing the collection on PC in 2020.</li><li><strong>Microsoft Store & Steam –</strong> The <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/976730/Halo_The_Master_Chief_Collection/">Halo: The Master Chief Collection bundle</a> is available today for $39.99 USD, which includes Halo: Reach and will automatically update with the remaining titles as they launch next year. Halo: Reach can also be purchased individually for $9.99 USD. Note that you don’t have to purchase both of these options – we’ve seen some confusion out there. Think of the MCC product as a launcher that will house Reach. You can purchase MCC complete which will auto-update with all titles as they are released or you can just purchase Reach standalone (but it will still install the MCC shell as a launcher). </li></ul>



<p>Please note that an Xbox Live Account is required to play Halo: Reach PC online. If you don’t have one yet, <strong>head <a href="https://www.xbox.com/en-US/live">HERE</a> to create a FREE Xbox Live account now</strong>. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">JUST THE BEGINNING</h3>



<p>Today is an exciting day as the first big step in the journey to bring Halo: The Master Chief Collection to PC but there’s plenty more work to be done. As a reminder, Forge and Theater will not be included with Halo: Reach on PC at launch. These complex features require additional work and fine-tuning in order to support the additional requirements (and opportunities) offered on PC. Work is already well underway on these features (and additional post-launch updates to Reach) and we’ll share more details later next year. In the meantime, the 343 team has performed a mass migration of more than 8 million unique pieces of Forge content from the Xbox 360-era so your favorite maps and modes from the original game are available to enjoy today.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p1_12.3.2019_1100x619-1024x576.jpg" alt="Capture the flag with Spartans fighting to capture each other's flag." class="wp-image-7938" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p1_12.3.2019_1100x619-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p1_12.3.2019_1100x619-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p1_12.3.2019_1100x619-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p1_12.3.2019_1100x619.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">BOX ONE: IMPROVED, REFRESHED, AND BETTER THAN EVER</h3>



<p>For existing owners of Halo: The Master Chief Collection on Xbox One, the Halo: Reach Campaign, along with Firefight, is now available as a premium add-on for $9.99 USD. The multiplayer components of Halo: Reach – including PVP modes, Forge, and Theater – are automatically included as part of the base content offering of Halo: The Master Chief Collectio<em>n</em> at no additional cost via a game update available today.</p>



<p>If you’re new to Halo: The Master Chief Collection on Xbox One, you can obtain the entire updated and improved collection with <a href="https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-game-pass?xr=shellnav">Xbox Game Pass</a> Ultimate or with Xbox Game Pass for Console, or purchase through the Microsoft Store. As of today, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is available for purchase at $39.99 USD and includes the totality of Halo: Reachas well as the Halo 3: ODST Campaign (previously only available as a premium add-on).</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">WELCOME TO HALO SUPPORT</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="342" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p2_12.3.2019_1100x367-1024x342.jpg" alt="Halo Support logo with Spartans in black & white surrounding it." class="wp-image-7951" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p2_12.3.2019_1100x367-1024x342.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p2_12.3.2019_1100x367-300x100.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p2_12.3.2019_1100x367-768x256.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p2_12.3.2019_1100x367.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>In conjunction with today’s launch of Halo: Reach, we’re also excited to officially launch the new Halo Support site! This new resource is designed to help streamline and expedite our ability to capture issues reported by the community. The Halo Support site currently contains a number of helpful articles to help improve your game experience and give you insights into current known-issues and ongoing development priorities.</p>



<p>To get started, be sure to follow our new official Twitter account <a href="https://www.twitter.com/halosupport">@HaloSupport.</a> We’ll use this channel to help provide quick broad announcements and helpful info.</p>



<p>And lastly, in addition to reports of any issues you may encounter, the team is also eager to hear your<strong><em> feedback</em> </strong>on Halo: Reach. For nearly two years now, the MCC team has been working closely with the community using feedback to help inform feature development, address issues, and drive update priorities to continue improving MCC. If you have general feedback, feature requests, and other thoughts to share with the development team, please do so in the official forum threads.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">BECOME AN INSIDER</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="342" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p3_12.3.2019_1100x367-1024x342.jpg" alt="Halo Insider logo on top of a Halo Ring in space." class="wp-image-7964" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p3_12.3.2019_1100x367-1024x342.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p3_12.3.2019_1100x367-300x100.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p3_12.3.2019_1100x367-768x256.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p3_12.3.2019_1100x367.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Please consider opting-in to the <strong>Halo Insider program</strong> for a chance to participate in surveys, share feedback, receive official communications, and have a chance to join future hands-on flights (alpha/beta tests). We wouldn’t be here today without all of the support we’ve received from the community and we’ll continue to partner closely with Halo Insiders to help test and polish the remaining titles heading to MCC on PC in the coming year. If you’re passionate about Halo and want to help ensure that future games, products, and services are the best they can be – become a Halo Insider today!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">343 VS THE WORLD</h3>



<p>To help celebrate the launch of Halo: Reach, we’ll be ordering in pizza and jumping into Matchmaking on Xbox One and PC later this week and putting some special prizes on the line. During our “<strong><em>343 vs. the World</em></strong>” stream on December 5<sup>th</sup>, we’ll be giving away special MCC nameplates to everyone who matches with us on both PC and Xbox. And, any players who match and win against Team 343 will receive an ultra-rare commemorative nameplate as a token of victory. Join us in the stream chat to talk with members of the team and maybe even win a copy of Halo: Reach for the platform of your choice! </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="451" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p4_12.3.2019_1100x484-1024x451.jpg" alt="Screenshot of the 3 4 3 vs. The World event nameplates. The red and blue nameplate was awarded for matching the studio team. The other, orange flame unicorn, was awarded for beating the studio team in the match." class="wp-image-7977" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p4_12.3.2019_1100x484-1024x451.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p4_12.3.2019_1100x484-300x132.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p4_12.3.2019_1100x484-768x338.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/WelcomeToReach_MCC_In_Article_p4_12.3.2019_1100x484.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Join myself and other members of the 343 Team later this week for our “343 vs. the World” live stream on <strong>Thursday, December 5<sup>th</sup> from 1PM to 6PM PT on Mixer.com/Halo</strong>. Stay tuned to <a href="https://twitter.com/Halo">@Halo</a> for more details, including the scheudle for who’s playing what and where (spoiler: <em>343’s Pro Team will be throwing down in Team Hardcore</em>). We’ll see you online!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">LOOKING AHEAD</h3>



<p>As the team launches Halo: Reachtoday, the foundation is already being laid to kick off public flighting of the next PC release – Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary – in early 2020. Additionally, work is underway for post-release updates to Halo: Reach including additional refinements and improvements as well as the release of Theater and Forge (the latter of which includes several brand new objects). We’ll be paying close attention to Halo Support tickets and player feedback to help inform ongoing needs and priorities for Halo: Reach. </p>



<p>Thank you to the Xbox and Halo communities for going on this journey with us and thank you for partnering with us to finally make this long-requested dream a reality! This is just the start, and we cannot wait to finish the fight throughout next year as we release rest of the collection in 2020.</p>



<p>Until then, we’ll see you on Reach, Spartans. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/BlogPost/Reach/halo-master-chief-collection-2019_reach-cinematics_02-c8313a806b9d45b1b4bd567b25b4c9ac.jpg" alt="Spartan looking out on Reach"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">ADDITIONAL RESOURCES</h3>



<p>Looking for more info on Halo: Reach and the journey to bring MCC to PC? Want to stay up to date on the latest and greatest Halo happenings? Can’t get enough Halo news and info? Check out these helpful links:</p>



<ul><li><a href="https://www.twitter.com/halo">Follow @Halo on Twitter</a>!</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/halosupport">Follow @HaloSupport on Twitter!</a></li><li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/f3681fbc78fa43878c4aec9a63a46224/topics/halo-reach-screenshots-and-wallpapers/8a5fa910-769b-48c2-815b-9a5922bd839d/posts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Halo: Reach on MCC Fan Kit</a></li><li>Catch up on Halo: Reach and MCC Development with our latest monthly update blogs:<ul><li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/mcc-development-update-november-2019">November 2019 Update</a></li><li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/mcc-development-update-october-2019">October 2019 Update</a></li></ul></li></ul>



<ul><li><a href="https://support.halowaypoint.com/">Halo Support Site</a></li><li>Official Halo Waypoint forums : <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/84ad72a8b51847978545f685f651fc15/topics">Xbox One</a> | <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/f3681fbc78fa43878c4aec9a63a46224/topics">PC</a></li><li><a href="https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/halo">Official Xbox.com Halo Page</a></li></ul>


Brian "ske7ch" Jarrard

Welcome to Reach

Esports

Tashi

What’s Next For HCS

Canon Fodder

Community

GrimBrother One

Outpost Discoveries


<p>E3 is an exciting time for the entire video game industry, but for our team at 343 Industries it also marks a new beginning. Last year we unveiled a first look at Halo Infinite and a glimpse of our new Slipspace Engine; built from the ground up to power the future of our game. This year our story-driven teaser, created with that same engine, unveils the beginning of the narrative marking the next chapter of the Master Chief’s story.</p>



<p>And at E3, we’re also pleased to announce that Halo Infinite will debut in Holiday 2020 on Xbox One, PC and our next generation of consoles, Project Scarlett.</p>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Halo Infinite - E3 2019 - Discover Hope" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZtgzKBrU1GY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>I want to take a moment here to go deeper into the art, science and story of the in-game scene we’ve named “<em>Discover Hope</em>.” These elements are not only deeply rooted in the Halo franchise, but illustrate the passion of the entire team to create something more ambitious than anything we’ve done previously. We don’t want to simply build a sequel, we want to build on the story and invention that has gone before and take the gameplay and narrative in bold new directions, while honoring the legacy that fans have fallen in love with for almost twenty years.</p>



<p>So with that immense responsibility in mind, we are building what we internally refer to as a <em>spiritual reboot</em>, a game with a vision set firmly in the future, but a foundation rooted deeply in the things our team and our fans have fallen in love with – the scope, the scale, the heroism and the moments of spectacle and wonder that brought players together on couches, at basement LAN parties, on Xbox Live and in esports arenas for years. The stories of shared adventure and individual discovery that made the first Halo game such a defining moment for millions of gamers – and helped chart the course for countless FPS games ever since. We want to recapture that sense of awe and delighted surprise – and the right way to do that is to lean into the things that are already magical, and build outward from there.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">VISUAL APPROACH</h3>



<p>Halo has always been a graphically exciting universe to explore. From the epic sci-fi settings, unforgettable alien threats, and the iconic hero in the Master Chief, there are so many amazing things to discover. You can see glimpses from the video how the team has continued to embrace the art direction we touched on last year, envisioned by our Art Director Nicholas “Sparth” Bouvier. The new design for the Master Chief is, by far, the highest fidelity we have ever created to leverage the power of next generation platforms, but with a design that is Master Chief to the core and takes inspiration from the past, with color and texture and detail unavailable to us till now. This same attention to our design for the Chief is true of everything in <em>Halo Infinite</em>. You can see examples in the interior of our UNSC Pelican, the design of our pilot, and even details down to the UNSC logo on his flight suit. <em>Halo Infinite</em> is intended to embrace all that our fans have grown to love in our franchise, while evolving it to something even more visually stunning for players.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p1_6.9.2019_1100x619-1024x576.jpg" alt="Master Chief and the Pilot react to the alarm on the Pelican." class="wp-image-5674" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p1_6.9.2019_1100x619-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p1_6.9.2019_1100x619-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p1_6.9.2019_1100x619-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p1_6.9.2019_1100x619.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">UNFORGETTABLE MUSIC</h3>



<p>Music is critical to every Halo experience. It has been from the very beginning and in <em>Halo Infinite</em>, we’re taking that tradition very seriously. I am excited to introduce our new Music Supervisor, Joel Yarger, who led the creation of music for major franchises like <em>God of War</em>, <em>Uncharted</em>, and countless other blockbuster video games. Our Audio Director, Sotaro “Tajeen” Tojima, has challenged Joel to find accomplished music composers that can stay true to the musical traditions of Halo — originally created by maestros Marty O’Donnell and Mike Salvatori — harness its inherent power, and build on those foundations with new creativity and emotional depth.</p>



<p>Given the enormity of the score’s importance and scope, we wanted to hire a team with a specific working sensibility and skillset. More importantly, a team of talented composers of original music that could work seamlessly with existing melodies and themes to blend the classic and the new – music that will sometimes map to familiar characters and ideas, but also introduce brand new threats, wonders and discoveries in dramatic and immersive ways.</p>



<p>We are excited to introduce Curtis Schweitzer, who composed all of the music in “Discover Hope” and music for <em>Halo Infinite. </em>We have been inspired and impressed by the emotional depth and creativity Curtis has delivered so far. There have been tear-inducing, hair-raising, and spine-tingling moments each time we have listened to his inspired compositions. Joel and Curtis are hard at work on <em>Halo Infinite</em> to bring rich emotion to our experiences, to punctuate the thrilling moments of combat, and to connect players to our universe more deeply than ever before. We look forward to sharing more of this new vision for our music in the future!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p2_6.9.2019_1100x619-1024x576.jpg" alt="The Pilot longs to go home, watches the recording of his family." class="wp-image-5687" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p2_6.9.2019_1100x619-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p2_6.9.2019_1100x619-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p2_6.9.2019_1100x619-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p2_6.9.2019_1100x619.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">THE POWER OF SLIPSPACE</h3>



<p>Beneath the hood of every important game rumbles an equally important engine. A game engine can define how a game looks and performs – and that’s incredibly important, but it’s more than a method of putting pixels on a screen and making them dance, it’s also key to a game’s soul. There are millions of lines of code that can be read and understood, but when it’s all running smoothly, those bits create far more than the sum of their parts – they create the soul of a game and the hard-to-describe feeling of holistic fun. The original Halo engine was extremely powerful and, for its time, innovative. It let console players, for the first time, explore worlds at a scale of interaction and visual spectacle that was industry leading in 2001. And elements of that still hold true today.</p>



<p>But as we move forward to Project Scarlett and PC gaming platforms, we have an amazing opportunity to create a powerful new engine to take advantage of new hardware and architecture – and take better advantage of the <em>still-not-fully-tapped</em> power of the Xbox One.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p3_6.9.2019_1100x619-1024x576.jpg" alt="Master Chief walks under a projection of Zeta Halo's broken shape." class="wp-image-5700" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p3_6.9.2019_1100x619-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p3_6.9.2019_1100x619-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p3_6.9.2019_1100x619-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p3_6.9.2019_1100x619.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>There were some inward facing reasons to do this now. We want better, more flexible tools, so that our artists and engineers have more agility and are taking advantage of more power and performance to iterate on our experiences. To push things further and higher and faster than we have been able to in the past.  We want to give our creative teams faster workflows and better control over the creations and concepts that are vital to the player experience.   </p>



<p>Slipspace not only empowers our creative teams to reach detail and performance no Halo has ever delivered, but also provides technology and tools – from cameras to facial capture that will let us tell intimate stories like the moments you witness in “Discover Hope” — and the ability to iterate and update those experiences to compliment gameplay.  By harnessing the power of our new <a href="https://www.343industries.com/slipspace-engine">Slipspace Engine</a> and combining it with the power and promise of Project Scarlett, we plan to build the Halo game we’ve always dreamed of – and share it with even more players, competitors, adventurers, and creators than ever before.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">BEGINNING THE NARRATIVE</h3>



<p>The Master Chief is our hero and <em>Halo Infinite</em> will continue his decades long saga. While we plan to introduce important new characters — like the resilient Pilot you already met in the video — this story is the Master Chief’s. The universe will continue the continuity of Halo 5 and in that sense contain the adventures that led up to this moment, but in the pursuit of our “spiritual reboot” and the launch of a new console, we also want to make sure that this is a perfect starting point for new players too. This story will mark the beginning of a new chapter and challenge for the Chief, but it will also respect and continue threads that led to this point. If you’ve never played a Halo game before, this will be a great place to jump into the story. You’re arriving in the middle a universe at war, with a sense of history underlying your entry into the world. But it will also feel fresh, full of potential, and new adventure. We will weave in context and guideposts to understand your place in a new universe. But if you’ve invested in Halo for all these years, you’ll feel immediately at home – and some of our story moments will spark a different resonance for your investment.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p4_6.9.2019_1100x619-1024x576.jpg" alt="Master Chief looks at the broken ring of Zeta Halo from a Pelican." class="wp-image-5713" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p4_6.9.2019_1100x619-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p4_6.9.2019_1100x619-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p4_6.9.2019_1100x619-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/DiscoverHope_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p4_6.9.2019_1100x619.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>To tell great stories, you need great storytellers, and great storytelling capabilities. Paul Crocker, our Associate Creative Director, and Dan Chosich, Narrative Experience Director, have done an amazing job weaving story and technology together for <em>Halo Infinite</em> — and the “Discover Hope” video is just a glimpse of that. Although the content here is ultimately a real part of the game we’re building, the team balanced polishing this moment with the rigor and effort of our mainline game production schedule. This was a labor of love from more folks than we can name, who worked long days to get it right from a place of pure passion. It will change and evolve as the process continues, but simply getting it into a state of readiness and polish separately from the main production pipeline is a herculean effort and we’re extremely grateful to them.</p>



<p>Our new focus on art direction that both advances Halo’s scale and  fidelity, while also looking to its history for inspiration and aesthetics, is amplified and augmented by the Slipspace Engine, the Xbox ecosystem, the potential of the PC platform and the incredible opportunities afforded to us by Project Scarlett.</p>



<p>It’s also helping our effort to lean into the core storytelling principles that made Halo so engaging for fans. “Discover Hope” is the first glimpse into this story and sets the stage for the beginning of <em>Halo Infinite</em>, leaving you with a sense of mystery, curiosity and wonder for us to unravel together in the coming months.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">UNTIL NEXT TIME</h3>



<p>Bringing a game to life is incredibly challenging and moments like this, sharing our vision, mean so much to us. I know that many of you will want to see and know more about <em>Halo Infinite </em>and I am excited to share more of our experience with you in the future. As I said last year, we’d love to hear what you think, and we still intend to support an early flighting program that will give you a way to play the game and provide feedback that will directly impact decisions we make for launch and into the future. We aren’t ready to kick this off yet, but you will certainly hear about it when we’re ready to welcome you to the program!</p>



<p>As for what’s next, E3 2020 will be a big moment for <em>Halo Infinite</em>. Until we reach that destination in 2020, we’ll continue to embrace the mystery and wonder of Halo and the endless opportunity and potential of this engine, this hardware and, most of all, this <em>team</em>.</p>



<p>– <em>Chris Lee</em></p>



<p><em>Studio Head of Halo Infinite</em></p>


343 INDUSTRIES

Discover Hope

Grassroots


<p>Since the HCS Grassroots program was announced, it’s been amazing to see just how many people in the community are continuing to produce content, and how many are starting out for the first time. <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/hcs-grass-roots-content-creators-update" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">In February,</a> we revealed which content creators were accepted into the HCS Grassroots program in Wave 2. For Wave 3, we received hundreds of applications and after reviewing each and every one of them, we’ve narrowed down the list to just four.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/hcs/body/grassroots_banner_1120x250-88304be7eac649b2914b4fb876298246.png" alt=""/></figure>



<p>Let’s meet the content creators!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WAVE 3 CONTENT CREATORS</h2>



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



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<p> If you’ve been watching the HCS, then you’ve seen Saiyan snipe and slay his way up the professional scene for the last few years. With Saiyan’s primary focus now on creating content, Saiyan has impressed his fans day in and day out providing high level Halo 5 gameplay!</p>



<p><strong>Follow Saiyan:</strong></p>



<ul><li>Twitch: <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/TheOneSaiyan_">https://www.twitch.tv/TheOneSaiyan_</a></li><li>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUjqYkWG30kot0uzZxlH3GA/featured">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUjqYkWG30kot0uzZxlH3GA/featured</a></li><li>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheOneSaiyan">https://twitter.com/TheOneSaiyan</a></li></ul>



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



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<p> Boasting fun and high-level gameplay on Twitch and YouTube has seen Reclaimer make a name for himself in the Halo scene. As an HCS Grassroots partner, we can’t wait to see him grow both his audience and as an entertainer!</p>



<p><strong>Follow Reclaimer:</strong></p>



<ul><li>Twitch: <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/reclximer">https://www.twitch.tv/reclximer</a></li><li>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/reclaimer">https://www.youtube.com/reclaimer</a></li><li>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/reclaimercr">https://www.twitter.com/reclaimercr</a></li></ul>



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



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<p> This Seattle-native is most known for his YouTube montages where no-scope Overkills are the minimum. With a mix of FFA, Team Snipers, and Social playlists, Ishii provides high-level play in a variety of modes for his stream.</p>



<p><strong>Follow Ishii:</strong></p>



<ul><li>Twitch: <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/IshiiVids">https://www.twitch.tv/IshiiVids</a></li><li>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/TheMLGIshii">https://www.youtube.com/user/TheMLGIshii</a></li><li>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/IshiiVids">https://twitter.com/IshiiVids</a></li></ul>



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



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<p> If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “How the heck did Roy do that?!” then Shyway has you covered. Providing in-depth analysis of pro-level play and tactics, Shyway has been educating his fans for years. You can also watch Shyway perform these high-level plays himself on his live stream on Twitch as well, and as the host of the HCS Weekly show by UGC.</p>



<p><strong>Follow Shyway:</strong></p>



<ul><li>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shyway">https://www.youtube.com/shyway</a></li><li>Twitch: <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/theshyway/">https://www.twitch.tv/theshyway/</a></li><li>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheShyWay">https://twitter.com/TheShyWay</a></li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">NEXT APPLICATION WINDOW</h2>



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<p> If you didn’t make it into Wave 3, don’t give up! The HCS Grassroots program is an important part of the future of the Halo esports ecosystem. We believe it’s important we nurture its growth slowly and build it over a long period of time, expanding organically as we get closer to Halo Infinite’s launch and beyond. Our plan is to continue to accept applications and keep growing our network.</p>



<p><strong>The next application window will be open from July 1 at 12PM PT to July 31 at 12PM PT</strong>.</p>



<p>Continue to innovate and entertain and be sure to apply once the window opens again. As always, thank you to everyone for your continued support of each other and the HCS Grassroots program. For all the latest on the Halo Championship Series, keep it locked to <a href="http://halo.gg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Halo.gg</a> and follow <a href="https://www.twitter.com/hcs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@HCS</a> on Twitter.</p>


Official HCS

Content Creators Wave 3


<p>It’s now been over six months since the HCS Grassroots program has launched and as we look back we can’t help but feel thankful for the amazing support the community has shown towards the program as well as the incredible partners we’ve joined forces with.</p>



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<p>While we’ve had a tremendous start already, the future looks even brighter and today we’ll be looking at Community Tournament Organizers that will be joining the program. Community Tournament Organizers and the competitions they run around the world are crucial to the grassroots competitive scene for Halo – and their efforts have not gone unnoticed. Thank you to everyone who has submitted an application – we’re still continuing to receive and review applications, and more community tournament organizers will be partnered through the program as the year progresses. Let’s jump right in and meet our newest partners!</p>



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



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<p> With the goals of creating a platform to grow European Halo as a competitive force in the HCS, Europa Halo has been running online leagues and tournaments for over two years. Now partnered with the HCS Grassroots program, Europa Halo will be offering monthly tournaments for Halo 5: Guardians. Here’s a look at the next six months of tournaments with the first kicking off this weekend!</p>



<ul><li>Team Takedown (4v4) Sunday, May 5, 2019</li><li>Double Down (2v2) Sunday, June 9, 2019</li><li>FFA Frenzy (FFA) Sunday, July 7, 2019</li><li>Team Takedown (4v4) Sunday, August 4, 2019</li><li>Double Down (2v2) Sunday, September 8, 2019</li><li>FFA Frenzy (FFA) Sunday, October 13, 2019</li></ul>



<p>You’ll see promotion for Europa Halo tournaments and broadcasts each month from <a href="http://www.twitter.com/hcs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@HCS</a> on Twitter, and both competitors and viewers will have a chance to receive the coveted HCS Grassroots nameplate and Battle Rifle skin. Thank you to Europa Halo for the continued support of the Halo community!</p>



<p>For all the latest, be sure to follow <a href="https://twitter.com/EuropaHalo">@EuropaHalo</a> on Twitter.</p>



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



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<p> For over ten years, the Greater Toronto Halo group (GTHalo) have been running consistent competitions and creating content with the goal of growing the love for Halo in Toronto and also fostering Canada’s next greatest Halo players and content creators. Their impact thus far has been immense, and they’ve also begun inspiring other city-based communities to form within North America. A huge thanks is owed to the crew behind the GTHalo, including <a href="https://twitter.com/MartinOmes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Martin</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/TheOnlyZoltan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colten</a> for their dedication to the Halo community. Now part of the HCS Grassroots program, we hope even more people will join the cause and participate in their upcoming tournaments:</p>



<ul><li>GTHalo LAN at Lords Gaming Centre (703R Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G 1L5) – Saturday, May 24, 2019</li><li>GTHalo Schoolyard Roulette Tournament at Yorkdale Microsoft Store (3401 Dufferin St #305, North York, ON M6A 3A1) – Sunday, June 30, 2019</li></ul>



<p>For more information including details on how to register, follow <a href="https://twitter.com/GTHalo">@GTHalo</a> on Twitter.</p>



<p>As part of the HCS Grassroots program, you can expect to also receive the HCS Grassroots nameplate and BR skin for competing, as well as chances to win for viewers that tune in.</p>



<p>Once again, thank you to everyone who has applied to the HCS Grassroots program, and supported the people and organizations we’ve partnered with along the way. In June, we’ll be sharing the content creators who have made it into the program in Wave 3. For all the latest on the Halo Championship Series, stay tuned to <a href="http://halo.gg/">Halo.gg</a> and follow <a href="http://twitter.com/hcs">@HCS</a> on Twitter.</p>


Grassroots Community Tournament Organizer Update


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<p>Back in November we announced the HCS Grassroots program for content creators and tournament organizers alike. A few months and over 500 applications later, we’re humbled by the response and reception to the program. We are very thankful for the support shown not only for the program itself but also for the tournament organizer and content creators we have partnered with thus far.</p>



<p>The HCS Grassroots program is an important part of the future of the Halo esports ecosystem and we believe it’s important we nurture its growth slowly and build it over a long period of time, expanding organically as we march towards Halo Infinite’s launch and beyond. In the long run, we’re aiming to have a strong network of partners and build a strong relationship with each of them. These are content creators we hope you love to watch, interact with online, and hang out with at events like the upcoming HCS Invitational.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">APPLICATION PROCESS UPDATE</h2>



<p>Since the program launched, we’ve discovered some places to improve not only our partnership with the content creators, but also our application process. We’ve also heard feedback that many creators are looking for clearer understanding of when they should apply and when they should anticipate hearing back. The HCS Grassroots program is meant to grow and evolve over time, so thank you for all of your thoughts, feedback, and contributions so far.</p>



<p>Going forward, applications will be only be open for month-long windows during certain points throughout the year. As a content creator, this will give you time to work on your content and craft, and build up your channel in anticipation of each application window opening. Once the window closes, we’ll be diligently reviewing applications and selecting the next group of content creators that make it into the program – and then re-opening applications for another window.</p>



<p><strong>The next application window will be open from March 1 to March 31.</strong></p>



<p>Thank you to those who create Halo content to entertain the entire Halo community! If you didn’t make it into the program this time, we encourage you to keep creating content and reapply in the future. There were many great creators that applied but only a small group were selected for this wave. For those that applied, be on the lookout for an email with more tips on how you can improve your application and chances for future entry into the program!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WAVE 2 CONTENT CREATORS</h2>



<p>Selecting the next wave of content creators to be accepted into the program was no small task. For this wave, we’ve selected another four creators who we felt had been creating a wealth of content both live and VoD for quite some time, and have also been positive influences in the community. Help us welcome the crew!</p>



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



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<p> Known for streaming and creating videos ranging from casual to competitive multiplayer, Proximitty has been bringing the excitement and laughs for years. We can’t wait to see how he evolves as an entertainer!</p>



<p><strong>FOLLOW PROXIMITTY</strong></p>



<ul><li>YouTube – <a href="https://nam06.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fc%2FProximitty&data=02%7C01%7Ctahirh%40microsoft.com%7C9c4e5952159e4c3d9f7308d68c7ee82b%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C1%7C0%7C636850874020613199&sdata=IlVEstZVFWcYtKHOVdgspOZSFUSAxBpCiA2YVVnoDPo%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.youtube.com/c/Proximitty</a></li><li>Twitch – <a href="https://nam06.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitch.tv%2FProximitty&data=02%7C01%7Ctahirh%40microsoft.com%7C9c4e5952159e4c3d9f7308d68c7ee82b%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C1%7C0%7C636850874020613199&sdata=7mpNbY%2BMFP6X6EkwjqwxyvD8F2fqLN6y%2BZBmZolgo2I%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.twitch.tv/Proximitty</a></li><li>Twitter – <a href="https://nam06.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FProximittyCE&data=02%7C01%7Ctahirh%40microsoft.com%7C9c4e5952159e4c3d9f7308d68c7ee82b%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C1%7C0%7C636850874020623203&sdata=HnuuI43Fab8T1YLEcsCPEKNTTxSB59kcI7GkON3W0ZA%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://twitter.com/ProximittyCE</a></li></ul>



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



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<p> Stress is an HCS competitor and has not only been on the grind to improve his skills, but also to create as much content for the community as possible. As part of the HCS Grassroots program, we hope to see Stress grow both as a player and creator.</p>



<p><strong>FOLLOW STRESS</strong></p>



<ul><li>YouTube – <a href="https://nam06.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fjeremystress&data=02%7C01%7Ctahirh%40microsoft.com%7C9c4e5952159e4c3d9f7308d68c7ee82b%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C1%7C0%7C636850874020633212&sdata=gxWvOoIt3jtLXZP4bYBsfVRRRmxlRI6Gwq99atAAqAw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">http://www.youtube.com/jeremystress</a></li><li>Twitch – <a href="https://nam06.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitch.tv%2Fstresss_&data=02%7C01%7Ctahirh%40microsoft.com%7C9c4e5952159e4c3d9f7308d68c7ee82b%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C1%7C0%7C636850874020883429&sdata=VFK0Ih81gP0Jcv%2B2eZ2H%2FwCUeW9C4QLnshT8h74at5s%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.twitch.tv/stresss_</a></li><li>Twitter – <a href="https://nam06.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FStressJS&data=02%7C01%7Ctahirh%40microsoft.com%7C9c4e5952159e4c3d9f7308d68c7ee82b%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C1%7C0%7C636850874020893437&sdata=EhbQa6McMdTBcQuc%2BBlvhOhWunIEsHYJDguHgMMm738%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://twitter.com/StressJS</a></li></ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">ELI X</h3>



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<p> Eli X has been creating live content for years across casual and competitive multiplayer, and everything in between. Eli X’s stream has seen consistent growth, and we’re excited to have him part of the HCS Grassroots program.</p>



<p><strong>FOLLOW ELI X</strong></p>



<ul><li>YouTube – <a href="https://nam06.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fuser%2Fyxrikuxy&data=02%7C01%7Ctahirh%40microsoft.com%7C9c4e5952159e4c3d9f7308d68c7ee82b%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C1%7C0%7C636850874020893437&sdata=d4HHxj5tVIV7%2FXn21RCm7Yuk%2FS3NC1DbG3Fai3FJTCY%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.youtube.com/user/yxrikuxy</a></li><li>Twitch – <a href="https://nam06.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitch.tv%2Feli_x&data=02%7C01%7Ctahirh%40microsoft.com%7C9c4e5952159e4c3d9f7308d68c7ee82b%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C1%7C0%7C636850874020903446&sdata=KMbNFxeikz7RM17JVIJE5twtf84XuIybykgRv38jcJ8%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.twitch.tv/eli_x</a></li><li>Twitter – <a href="https://twitter.com/EEli_X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://twitter.com/EEli_X</a></li></ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">HCS WEEKLY BY UGC STUDIOS</h3>



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<p> While individual creators are an important part of the content ecosystem, we also recognize that many creators like to partner on larger productions. The folks at UGC have not only put their efforts towards LAN events and esports broadcasts, but have also been putting together weekly content in the form of the HCS Weekly. The HCS Weekly is the destination for the latest news and interviews from the competitive Halo community and is quickly becoming a mainstay each week. </p>



<p><strong>FOLLOW HCS WEEKLY<br></strong></p>



<ul><li>Homepage – <a href="http://www.hcsweekly.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">http://www.hcsweekly.com/</a></li><li>YouTube – <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB9ICqfPFQod_fJDzsy2VAA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB9ICqfPFQod_fJDzsy2VAA</a></li><li>Twitch – <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/ugc/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.twitch.tv/ugc/</a></li><li>Twitter – <a href="https://twitter.com/HCSweekly" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://twitter.com/HCSweekly</a></li></ul>



<p>Not only will they will be bringing regular content for everyone to enjoy, but you’ll also see them at the HCS Invitational at SXSW next month on March 15-17!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THANK YOU</h2>



<p>Once again, thank you to everyone who has supported the HCS Grassroots program thus far – either as a tournament organizer, creator, or fan who has supported the HCS Grassroots partners. This is just the beginning of the program, and we’re excited to partner with the community in an all-new way to grow and evolve Halo esports like never before.</p>



<p>For all the latest on the Halo Championship Series – keep it locked to <a href="http://halo.gg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Halo.gg</a> and follow <a href="http://twitter.com/hcs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@HCS</a> on Twitter.</p>


Content Creators Update


<p>Today, we’re launching a new initiative for Halo esports called <strong>HCS Grassroots</strong>. Designed to support the community directly, HCS Grassroots will help tournament operators and content creators continue to do what they love and also introduce new opportunities. Let’s jump in!</p>



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<p>Halo esports would not have such a rich history without the contributions from the community over the years – in particular the tournament operators that unite the community to play Halo, and the content creators that tell their stories both in and out of the game. We believe that these contributions are crucial to building the foundation of Halo esports and competitive Halo, and we aim to strengthen this foundation with HCS Grassroots.</p>



<p>For tournament organizers, our goals are to help them continue to run tournaments both in North America and around the world. These will range from in-person LAN events to online tournaments, seasons, and leagues to encourage participation from everyone and unite communities big and small under one roof.</p>



<p>For content creators, our goals in the first year are to build out a network of partners to help them achieve their viewership goals and also shine a spotlight on entertainment for the community to watch on a regular basis. We hope to help grow the culture of content creation within the Halo community.</p>



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<p>For both groups, we also want to take feedback and look for ways that the HCS Grassroots program can grow and evolve to provide even more opportunities down the road. In the long run, our ambitions are for HCS Grassroots to be the platform that tournament organizers and content creators leverage to thrive on and grow their own communities in a sustainable and long-lasting way. In addition to our very own 343-driven official HCS competition, we intend to have a vast network of partners who are able to provide competitions around the world as well as content for everyone to enjoy when Halo Infinite releases.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">HOW DOES IT WORK?</h2>



<p>HCS Grassroots is not a new league – it’s a partnership program where tournament organizers big and small, along with content creators, can apply for support that comes in a number of different ways that will evolve over time. We also want to support all flavors of competitive multiplayer, as well as all Halo games from Halo: CE to Halo 5: Guardians and everything in-between. If the community has interest in a particular game or mode, we want to be there to support that desire.</p>



<p>If you’re a <strong>tournament organizer</strong>, you can apply for support and potentially receive things like:</p>



<ul><li>Prize pool contributions</li><li>Loaner consoles</li><li>Giveaways and digital prizes</li><li>Promotion on social media and Halo.gg</li><li>Content</li><li>Graphics</li><li>Sponsor acquisition support</li><li>Sanctioning</li></ul>



<p>If you’re a <strong>content creator</strong>, you can potentially receive:</p>



<ul><li>Promotion on social media and Halo.gg</li><li>Giveaways and digital prizes</li><li>Hosting on broadcast channels</li><li>Content</li><li>Graphics</li></ul>



<p>This initial offering is really just the beginning – we hope it will continue to grow and evolve over time alongside the support of community and partners.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">INITIAL PARTNERS – TOURNAMENT ORGANIZERS</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">THE HALO CLASSIC BY UGC EVENTS</h3>



<p>In partnership with HCS Grassroots, UGC have stepped up to the plate and will deliver the first LAN event supported by the program. HCS Grassroots will be supporting this event by providing the entire prize pool, promotion, content, and more.</p>



<ul><li>Date: January 11-13</li><li>City: St. Louis, Missouri</li><li>Game: Halo 3 on MCC</li></ul>



<p>Tournaments: Halo 3 4v4 and MCC side tournament</p>



<p>Prize pools: $30,000 for Halo 3 4v4, and $5,000 for MCC side tournament</p>



<p>For more information on the tournament and how you can be involved, check out <a href="http://ugc.gg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UGC.gg</a> and follow <a href="http://twitter.com/ugcevents" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@UGCEvents</a> on Twitter.</p>



<p>Get your tickets and team passes now at: <a href="http://ugc.gg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ugc.gg</a></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">GAMERS FOR GIVING 2019</h3>



<p>Halo returns to one of the biggest LANs in North America – Gamers For Giving. The team at Gamers Outreach have been running Halo tournaments since Day 1 and we knew we had to lend our support of the event, the Gamers For Giving community, as well as the amazing charity efforts. For this event, HCS Grassroots will be providing prize pool, promotion and content, and we’re also donating a Gamers Outreach Gaming Kart.</p>



<ul><li>Date: March 23-24</li><li>City: Ann Harbor, Michigan</li><li>Game: Halo 3 on MCC</li><li>Tournaments: Halo 3 2v2</li></ul>



<p>For more, be sure to follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/gamersoutreach">@GamersOutreach</a> on Twitter and head to <a href="http://gamersforgiving.org/">gamersforgiving.org.</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">INITIAL PARTNERS – CONTENT CREATORS</h2>



<p>The four content creators we’ve decided start with as HCS Grassroots partners should be familiar faces to many in the Halo community and we’re proud to partner with positive, fun, and entertaining creators who have already contributed so much to the community.</p>



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



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<p> Former Halo competitor and current streamer and YouTuber, Vetoed has been consistently bringing high quality gameplay, analysis, and content to the community for quite some time now. We’re excited to see how he grows and evolves his craft as a creator and a player.</p>



<p>Follow Vetoed: <a href="https://twitter.com/vetoed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TWITTER </a>| <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/vetoed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TWITCH </a>| <a href="https://www.youtube.com/vetoed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YOUTUBE</a></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">AC7IONMAN</h3>



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<p>Few creators out there can bring the level of skill, comedy, and passion to Halo and its community that Ac7ionman does. With dedication and consistency, Ac7ionman has quickly risen to be one of the fan-favorites in the community, and we can’t wait to share his antics with even more people.</p>



<p>Follow Ac7ionman: <a href="https://twitter.com/ac7ionman" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TWITTER </a>| <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/ac7ionmannn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TWITCH </a>| <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/Ac7ionMan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YOUTUBE</a></p>



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



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<p> UberNick has been creating content for Halo since the Halo 4 days and has worked hard to build his audience on YouTube, while also expanding to live streaming. Uber Nick is no slouch on the sticks, and delivers content across a variety of Halo games and modes.</p>



<p>Follow UberNick: <a href="https://twitter.com/UberNick_" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TWITTER </a>| <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/ubernick" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TWITCH </a>| <a href="https://www.youtube.com/ubernick" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YOUTUBE</a></p>



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



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<p> Last but not least, we’re thrilled to partner with a Halo esports legend. Naded has been one of Halo’s biggest streamers for years now, and delivers a unique mix of pro-level gameplay as well as his own unique flavor of humor while building a strong community at the same time. It’s never a dull moment with Naded both on mainstage and in his stream (including extra live coverage at events).</p>



<p>Follow Naded: <a href="https://twitter.com/naded" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TWITTER </a>| <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/naded" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TWITCH </a>| <a href="https://www.youtube.com/naded" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YOUTUBE</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">EXCLUSIVE IN-GAME ITEMS</h2>



<p>In anticipation of the HCS Grassroots program launch, we’ve also created a new Battle Rifle skin for Halo 5: Guardians as well as a nameplate for MCC.</p>



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<p> These in-game items will be given out <strong>exclusively</strong> by HCS Grassroots partners by attending and participating in tournaments, and entering giveaways by content creators. 5×5 codes will be given out as part of the redemption process, which will net you BOTH the BR skin in Halo 5 and nameplate in MCC at the same time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">APPLICATION PROCESS</h2>



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<p> We are excited to grow the HCS Grassroots partner program, and starting now, you can apply at Halo.gg/Grassroots. Before you do, here’s what we’re looking for in partners:</p>



<p><strong>Types of partners:</strong></p>



<ul><li>Tournament Organizers (LAN events, online tournaments and leagues)</li><li>Content creators (streamers and VOD content)</li></ul>



<p><strong>Criteria for selection:</strong></p>



<ul><li>Established track record of tournament operation or content creation</li><li>Established track record of community outreach, engagement, and support</li><li>Consistent positive influence and contributions to the Halo community</li><li>Established track record of investment in the community</li></ul>



<p>If you’re just starting out or the news of HCS Grassroots has you wanting to contribute – that’s great! We encourage you to jump in and create your own consistent tournament program or consistent content, build a solid relationship with the community, and then apply. We’re here for questions along the way, so feel free to tweet @HCS if you’ve got any.</p>



<p>Applying is easy – you’ll just need to sign in at <a href="http://halo.gg/grassroots" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Halo.gg/Grassroots</a>, tell us if you’re a tournament organizer or content creator, and fill out the application. We anticipate a large volume of applications in the first month, so we appreciate your patience as we carefully review each application and reply via email.</p>



<p>If you’re not accepted at first – don’t give up! We’ll be providing feedback on ways to continue to grow so that you can join the program later down the road. If you are accepted, we’ll be sending an acceptance email welcoming you to the program along with what level of support you’ll be receiving. Once you accept – you’re in!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THANK YOU</h2>



<p>The HCS Grassroots program is our way of giving back to the community and those who invest so much into the Halo franchise and the scene, and while we’re excited to take this first small step, we can’t wait to see how it grows and evolves. We’ve heard the calls for more community support, and this is just one way we’re doubling down. Halo esports could not thrive without you, and we can’t wait to begin the next chapter in our journey with you. Thank you!</p>


Grassroots Program


<p>With HCS 2018 Season Finals at DreamHack Atlanta rapidly approaching, we know many folks across the competitive community have questions regarding what’s next for the HCS and what they can expect from Halo esports going forward. So today, we’d like to share some important esports updates around Halo 5, MCC, and more – and we’ll have more to share at DreamHack Atlanta and beyond.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">HALO 5 ESPORTS</h2>



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<p>After three years of tournaments, unbelievable moments and matches, and more than $6,000,000 awarded, the HCS Finals 2018 at DreamHack Atlanta will be the final, official Halo 5 esports tournament for the Halo Championship Series – though competitive Halo will continue on in brand new ways (more on that below). We’re so thankful to all the amazing players, teams, and fans that have invested so much in supporting Halo 5 competitions to help us continue the growth of Halo esports together.</p>



<p>While we’ll all fondly reflect on so many incredible Halo 5 HCS memories, we’re also excited as we look forward to an even brighter future.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT’S NEXT</h2>



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<p> Esports and supporting the competitive Halo community continues to be an important focus for the studio and there will still be events and activities for competitive players to participate in beyond Halo 5. With MCC receiving improvements and new features, and Halo Infinite in development, we are excited to seize an opportunity to lay the foundation for the entire competitive scene to build up from there and support the community as it grows. From official grassroots programming and events, to the ongoing Microsoft Store tournaments, we will continue to explore new opportunities and initiatives for the coming year.</p>



<p>As competitive Halo morphs and evolves, we’re mindful of our guidelines and our priorities for the pillars we want to be reflected in the Halo Championship Series. We want to continue to be open to and accessible for all players, we want to continue to communicate openly about our plans for the future of Halo esports, and we want Halo esports to be successful for those that invest in it.</p>



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



<p>Later this year, we are kicking off a program to support grassroots tournaments and content creators across all Halo titles, and will have full details to share at DreamHack Atlanta. We believe that Halo esports is only as successful as the community and foundation it’s built upon, and investing in grassroots is an important part of setting that foundation for the future. Stay tuned – we’re excited to share more information next month including how you can get involved to play, watch, and apply.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">HALO: THE MASTER CHIEF COLLECTION</h3>



<p>With the recent updates and improvements to MCC, and even more feature work underway, there’s a renewed sense of excitement and reinvigoration for these games – particularly with Halo 3. We’re excited to support this with the 2v2 Showdown at DreamHack Atlanta and would like to continue to deliver similar experiences in the future. The scope and specifics of potential MCC competitive offerings will be largely dependent on how well the 2v2 Showdown performs in terms of participation and viewership. We’re eager to kick this off and will be keeping a close eye on the community response as we continue to evaluate plans and opportunities for MCC moving forward.</p>



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



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<p> As we look further ahead, we know there’s a lot of anticipation surrounding Halo Infinite. We’re not ready to pull the curtain back just yet, but the Halo esports team has been working closely with the development team to represent the wants and needs of the ever-evolving esports community in terms of gameplay, features, viewership, and more. Halo 5, both as a game and esport, has evolved a great deal over the years with new maps and gametypes, spectator and observer modes, local server, and more – and we’ve learned a tremendous amount along the way. We’re excited to carry our learnings (and industry learnings) forward in Halo Infinite in a more integrated way than ever before here at 343.</p>



<p>While we wait for the right time to share more game details, we want to remind folks about the community flighting program that Chris Lee mentioned in his blog back in June:</p>



<p><em>In the future, you will be able to join early flighting programs that will let members of the community play the game with us, and give direct feedback, much like the current Insider flighting program for Halo: The Master Chief Collection. It will take some time for us to be ready to kick those flighting events off, but when they do they will start small and grow along the way.</em></p>



<p>We can’t overstate how important the flighting process will be to the development of Halo Infinite, and the team is excited to share the journey with the entire Halo community, including competitive players. We look forward to sharing more details as soon as the team is ready.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THANK YOU</h2>



<p>On behalf of the HCS team and the entire 343 studio, we want to thank everyone who has supported Halo 5 esports over the past three years and we look forward to continuing this journey together to grow Halo esports for years to come. With some intense competition and rivalries heating up and the Halo 3 2v2 Showdown looming, Dreamhack Atlanta promises to be an awesome finale. Join us at <a href="https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.halowaypoint.com%2Fen-us%2Fesports%2Fhcs-finals-2018&data=02%7C01%7Ctahirh%40microsoft.com%7Cbf062bf7b5a14d538bda08d634538006%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C1%7C0%7C636753930569208852&sdata=tCjtA3WARoAMmn1GvBm98Imk3dJh1JfZumWfH5LGbqo%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DreamHack Atlanta</a> to celebrate Halo 5 esports with player-voted awards, flashbacks to the greatest memories from the past three years, and more. What are your favorite Halo 5 esports memories? Have any photos or clips? <a href="https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fhcs&data=02%7C01%7Ctahirh%40microsoft.com%7Cbf062bf7b5a14d538bda08d634538006%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C1%7C0%7C636753930569218857&sdata=Isck9Scaf3LUamCuZOK2OWvwNPd9qgiR%2BjC3DcVWU3s%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tweet @HCS</a> to share them with us!</p>



<p>Thank you, and we’ll see you when the HCS Finals kick off on Friday, November 16.</p>
