Esports

Designed to support the community directly, HCS Grassroots helps content creators and community tournament organizers continue to do what they love – while introducing new and exciting opportunities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New Partnered Content Creators</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="436" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/01/New-Creators-Jan2023-63cb2403c180b.png" alt="New Wave of Partnered Creators - Alyek, Ynot, Extreme Breaker, and LVT" class="wp-image-55203" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/01/New-Creators-Jan2023-63cb2403c180b.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/01/New-Creators-Jan2023-63cb2403c180b-300x128.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/01/New-Creators-Jan2023-63cb2403c180b-768x327.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



As we kick off another year of Halo, we’re taking this opportunity to welcome the 6th wave of Partnered Content Creators!



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class=""><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/alyek">Alyek</a> Alyek has that warm community focused energy that you love to see. She lifts people up in her streams and is always thinking about providing unique events and experiences for her viewers. We can’t wait to see what you do on stream and at our events! </td><td><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/ynot_b_casting">YNOT</a> Tony brings high energy casting, insightful YouTube content, and ties that all up as one of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet in this community!</td><td><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/extremebreaker1">ExtremeBreaker</a> Rodolfo is our first LATAM Grassroots member! If you haven’t tuned in, it’s an insanely fun time! He bridges the gap between the NA HCS scene and the amateur Spanish-speaking community that is sorely needed. In addition to explaining why the HCS events and outcomes matter to his viewers, he has also done excellent work to stand up LATAM playdates with our English-speaking members. </td><td><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/LVTHalo">LVT</a> Brandon (LVT) is a builder and seems to always be thinking about shining a spotlight on the amateur and pro scene with high quality interviews, content, events, and broadcasts. Out of his own volition, passion, and love for game, Brandon and team have been a big part of the Halo scene. </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Want to join the Grassroots program? You’re in luck. Content Creator Applications are OPEN!



Fill out the application and tell us why you think you’d be a good fit. We’ll evaluate all submissions and announce a new wave of Partnered Content Creators later this Spring. Good luck!



<ul><li><a href="https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7186310/HCS-Grassroots-Content-Creator-Application-Form">Content Creator Application</a></li></ul>



As usual, be sure to follow <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://twitter.com/hcs" target="_blank">@HCS</a> on Twitter to be notified of all Grassroots events, playdates, and content!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">By the community, for the community.</h2>



We’re glad to support Halo communities all over the globe that foster positive and fun competition. See how you stack up against the community in tournaments of all sizes and skill ranges – registration is always free!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="436" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/01/CTO-Module-2023-63cb23f313ca3.png" alt="HCS Grassroots Partnered Community Tournament Organizers - Europa Halo, GTHalo, SWAT Nation, and Halo Australia." class="wp-image-55175" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/01/CTO-Module-2023-63cb23f313ca3.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/01/CTO-Module-2023-63cb23f313ca3-300x128.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/01/CTO-Module-2023-63cb23f313ca3-768x327.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Follow our partnered Community Tournament Organizers below to stay up-to-date on all future tournaments!



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class=""><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://twitter.com/europahalo">Europa Halo</a> Follow EuropaHalo for Tournaments and Live Broadcasts in the Europe region! </td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/gthalo">GTHalo</a> Follow GTHalo for all the latest events in the Greater Toronto area! </td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/haloswatnation">SWAT Nation</a> Follow SWATNation for SWAT focused Halo Tournamens!</td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/auhalo">Halo Australia</a> Follow Halo Australia for Tournaments and Events in the land down under!</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Community Tournament Organizer applications are OPEN. Head to the link below to apply!



<ul><li><a href="https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6513893/HCS-Grassroots-Application-Form">Grassroots CTO Application</a></li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Grassroots Partnered Content Creators</h2>



No matter what type of content you’re in to, our partnered creators have something for you. Check them out below!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/01/Grassroots-Creators-ALL-2023-1-1024x576.png" alt="HCS Grassroots Partnered Creators 2023" class="wp-image-55189" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/01/Grassroots-Creators-ALL-2023-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/01/Grassroots-Creators-ALL-2023-1-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/01/Grassroots-Creators-ALL-2023-1-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/01/Grassroots-Creators-ALL-2023-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/01/Grassroots-Creators-ALL-2023-1-1568x882.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/01/Grassroots-Creators-ALL-2023-1.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class=""><tbody><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Alyek Hangout in game or Twitch chat with me for some fun customs, ranked, and complete new events & battle pass challenges together. Meet a friendly community to play games with! <a href="https://twitter.com/alyekly">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/alyek">Twitch</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/alyek">YouTube</a></td><td>Echidna Great in-game knowledge, LAN experience, chill vibes and hilarious smack talk. <a href="https://twitter.com/lady_echidna">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/echidna">Twitch</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@EchidnaJH">YouTube</a></td><td>Elamite On my channel, we focus on top level Ranked game play, halo news and rumors, but especially on Halo tournaments. <a href="https://twitter.com/elamite">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/elamite">Twitch</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Elamite">YouTube</a></td><td>Eli X High octane gameplay mixed with solid chat interaction. Viewer/community games often and lots of multi-kills! <a href="https://twitter.com/eeli_x">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/eli_x">Twitch</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/EliXHalo">YouTube</a></td></tr><tr><td>Extreme Breaker Come for the gameplay, Stay for the vibes. <a href="https://twitter.com/Extremebreaker1">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/extremebreaker1">Twitch</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@EXTREMEBREAKER1">YouTube</a></td><td>Lucid I am a professional Halo player for <a href="https://twitter.com/optic">OpTic Gaming</a>. I’m always trying my best to provide some quality gameplay and answer any questions you guys have. So enjoy the stream and be sure to say hello 🙂 <a href="https://twitter.com/Lucid_TW">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/luciid_tw">Twitch</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LucidTWW">YouTube</a></td><td>LVT Halo Our channel is second only to Halo itself. You will catch community favorites passionately storytelling the gameplay of the top 1% of Halo competitors, all while embracing Halo’s richest Twitch culture and community. <a href="https://twitter.com/LVTHalo">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/lvthalo">Twitch</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LVTHalo">YouTube</a></td><td>Mint Blitz You’re going to see a lot of Killionaires. <a href="https://twitter.com/MintBlitz">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://twitch.tv/MintBlitz">Twitch</a> | <a href="https://youtube.com/MintBlitz">YouTube</a></td></tr><tr><td>Monza A mix of both competitive & casual gameplay, the vibes are always chill. (: <a href="https://twitter.com/monza">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://Twitch.tv/monzz">Twitch</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@monzaroo">Youtube</a></td><td>Oath I’m primarily a Halo streamer but I also cover certain new releases. If you enjoy fun gaming content and banter and want to always be in the loop for HCS play dates, watch parties and activations, this is the place to be! <a href="https://twitter.com/OathxX024">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://Twitch.tv/oathxx">Twitch</a> | <a href="https://m.youtube.com/@oathxx024">YouTube</a></td><td>Real Life Spartan High energy and entertainment value at 117% with full-blown Halo immersion and an amazing community (Spartan Army) to enjoy it with. <a href="https://twitter.com/RealLifeSpartan">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/reallifespartan">Twitch</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/reallifespartan">YouTube</a></td><td>Reclaimer Anything and everything competitive Halo and HCS. Ranked gameplay, highlights, reaction content, watch parties and more with an emphasis on positivity, inclusiveness and humor. <a href="https://twitter.com/ReclaimerCR">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/reclximer">Twitch</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMYH-lk8VQrXkINwalqi8Tw">YouTube</a></td></tr><tr><td>Stress Great clips and chill vibes. <a href="http://twitter.com/stresss">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/stresss">Twitch</a> | <a href="http://youtube.com/jeremystress">YouTube</a></td><td>Taquin Freak of nature fast-paced Halo gameplay in multiplayer and custom games paired with constant high octane chat interaction. <a href="https://twitter.com/taquin">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/taquin">Twitch</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thereachway">YouTube</a></td><td>UberNick A welcoming community who all love Halo, Think of it as a group of friends hanging out while playing their favorite game! <a href="https://twitter.com/UberNick">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/ubernick">Twitch</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@UberNick">YouTube</a></td><td>YNOT My content is all about talking Halo esports (drama, roster changes, etc,) and playing low Onyx (or high Diamond depending if I can shoot that day lol) while interacting with chat. My community I are always have fun. I always interact with chat and fail a lot… don’t worry I’m not afraid to make fun of myself! <a href="https://twitter.com/YNOT_B_RECKLESS">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/ynot_b_casting">Twitch</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/YNOT_B_CASTING">YouTube</a></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

Official HCS

HCS Grassroots

Games

Halo Infinite

Alex Wakeford

Season 3: Echoes Within Launch

Congratulations OpTic Gaming, your HCS Charlotte Champions!

WATCHDOG NEO

CADET & SCARLET COATINGS

Customization Preview | Season 3

Community

Over the years, the ways and places which players engage with each other and with development studios has continued to evolve. Nowadays, there are more platforms and opportunities than ever to participate in communities of all shapes and sizes.



For years, these Waypoint forums have served as a communal hangout where we’ve shared our passions for Halo, relayed feedback, engaged in lively debates, helped each other with issues, and fostered friendships. Thank you to everyone who has contributed along the way and been a part of the Waypoint community. 



At 343 Industries, our commitment to the Halo community is unchanged – we will still be listening, engaging, gathering your feedback, giving you updates, and helping you with support matters.



Halo Waypoint and our Halo social channels will continue to act as a source of official news for Halo. Player feedback and overall conversations with the development team and community will live on. And for feedback in particular, we’ll continue to utilize the Halo Insider Program for periodic surveys along with the ongoing outreach our partners in Xbox User Research conduct. And of course, we continue to monitor social media channels and some other forums, even if we can’t always respond.



Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing and speaking with you across our other Halo channels.



Where to find Halo:



<ul><li>Halo on Twitter – <a href="https://twitter.com/Halo">https://twitter.com/Halo</a></li><li>Halo on Discord – <a href="https://discord.gg/Halo">https://discord.gg/Halo</a></li><li>Halo on Instagram – <a href="https://instagram.com/Halo">https://instagram.com/Halo</a></li><li>Halo on Facebook – <a href="https://facebook.com/Halo">https://facebook.com/Halo</a></li><li>Halo on TikTok – <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@halo">https://www.tiktok.com/@Halo</a></li><li>Halo on Twitch – <a href="https://twitch.tv/Halo">https://twitch.tv/Halo</a></li><li>Halo on YouTube – <a href="https://youtube.com/Halo">https://youtube.com/Halo</a></li><li>Halo Insider Program – <a href="https://aka.ms/HaloInsider">https://aka.ms/HaloInsider</a></li></ul>



Where to find Halo Support:



<ul><li>Halo Support on Twitter – <a href="https://twitter.com/HaloSupport">https://twitter.com/HaloSupport</a></li><li>Halo Support Site – <a href="https://aka.ms/HaloSupport">https://aka.ms/HaloSupport</a></li><li>Halo Insider Support Site – <a href="https://aka.ms/HaloInsiderSupport">https://aka.ms/HaloInsiderSupport</a></li></ul>

Forum Farewell

Season 3: Echoes Within is fast approaching, and it’s bringing two brand-new items into the sandbox. The M392 Bandit weapon and the Shroud Screen equipment are sure to add fun and skillful new ways to approach each engagement. There will also be a few tuning updates and bug fixes for networking (“desync”) and existing sandbox items, all of which should help improve your gameplay experience.



If you want to get extra ready for Season 3, be sure to read up on our other blogs here on Waypoint: 



<ul><li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/echoes-within-maps-modes-preview" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maps & Mode Preview</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/playlists-ranked-matchmaking-season-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Playlists & Ranked Matchmaking</a> </li></ul>



Also, in case you missed, a small update in February brought a few Sandbox adjustments, such as improved accuracy when no-scoping with the S7 Sniper, reduced Frag Grenade damage radius, and more, which you can read about <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/february-update-preview" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here on Waypoint</a>.  



With that out of the way, let’s take a closer look at what you can expect when Season 3 lands on March 7!



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">M392 Bandit</h3>



The newest addition to the UNSC arsenal in Halo Infinite is the M392 Bandit. This semi-automatic weapon, which has a silhouette that’s reminiscent of the DMR from Halo: Reach, is best suited for mid-range combat. You won’t need to worry about bloom when going for a 5-shot kill but we’d still advise that you keep your shots controlled, as the recoil will kick up when spamming multiple shots in a row. Mastering this single-shot weapon is bound to pay off on the battlefield.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_S3_Sandbox_Bandit_1920x1080_UNSC.png" alt="A render of the M392 Bandit on a UNSC background." class="wp-image-58176" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_S3_Sandbox_Bandit_1920x1080_UNSC.png 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_S3_Sandbox_Bandit_1920x1080_UNSC-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_S3_Sandbox_Bandit_1920x1080_UNSC-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_S3_Sandbox_Bandit_1920x1080_UNSC-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_S3_Sandbox_Bandit_1920x1080_UNSC-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_S3_Sandbox_Bandit_1920x1080_UNSC-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Shroud Screen</h3>



The Shroud Screen is a launchable equipment that creates a spherical shroud upon landing, obstructing line-of-sight and motion tracker. Acting like a smoke screen, it can add to the fog of war in a tactically advantageous (and fun) manner if used correctly. Rewarding players with smart positioning and a strong understanding of the game flow, the Shroud Screen can buy you and your teammates time to reload, go after the objective, traverse the map without being spotted, and so much more. Use it wisely and you’ll be rewarded.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_S3_ShroudScreen_1920x1080_Watermarked.png" alt="Multiple Spartans fight in and around a Shroud Screen that has been deployed on Live Fire." class="wp-image-58232" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_S3_ShroudScreen_1920x1080_Watermarked.png 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_S3_ShroudScreen_1920x1080_Watermarked-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_S3_ShroudScreen_1920x1080_Watermarked-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_S3_ShroudScreen_1920x1080_Watermarked-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_S3_ShroudScreen_1920x1080_Watermarked-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_S3_ShroudScreen_1920x1080_Watermarked-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Balance Updates</h3>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">VK78 Commando </h4>



<ul><li>Tuning: The VK78 Commando will require one more shot to kill<ul><li>From 8 bullets to 9 bullets to kill (damage per bullet from 20 to 17.5)</li></ul></li></ul>



Sandbox Dev Team Notes: We got pretty consistent feedback after the Winter Update that the Commando felt better to use, people were able to keep on target and land their shots! But this new handling made it a little too easy to have a high damage output. Since the Commando was feeling good to shoot, we wanted to pursue a small nerf to its efficacy to keep it in line with other weapons in the Sandbox.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Plasma Pistol </h4>



<ul><li>Tuning: The Plasma Pistol’s charged shot will have its charged time increased and its tracking properties adjusted</li></ul>



Sandbox Dev Team Notes: The Plasma Pistol was another weapon that got a buff in the Winter Update. That patch pushed it in the right direction, but we were still not totally satisfied with it. There were two situations we were seeing on social media and running into ourselves during playtests:



<ul><li>First, players could sprint with the Plasma Pistol, start getting shot in the back, turn while charging and “noob combo” the player that should have had advantage. Reversals are important to Halo, but with how strong the Plasma Pistols charged shot has to be mechanically, the reversal was just too easy. This gameplay loop is also less interesting than a charge when it takes more commitment, and rewards a player’s good positioning and timing.<ul><li>Charge time increased from 1s → 1.6s  </li></ul></li><li>The tracking was unpredictable for victims. We want to give victims a chance to avoid the projectile if played well. To encourage this, we gave a mixture of changes to the projectile tracking which should make it more consistent overall. Player should find the projectile seeks closer to center mass but has less aggressive tracking.<ul><li>Tracking Angle Max: 70 degrees → 50 degrees </li><li>Tracking Angle Min: 35 degrees → 25 degrees </li><li>Tracking Target Radius: 0.5 wu → 0.3 wu (World Units) </li></ul></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/2023/03/HI_BTB_Plasma_Pistol.jpg" alt="A Spartan wearing purple Mark V [B] armor holds a Plasma Pistol with a destroyed Brute Chopper in flames behind them." class="wp-image-58190" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_BTB_Plasma_Pistol.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_BTB_Plasma_Pistol-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_BTB_Plasma_Pistol-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_BTB_Plasma_Pistol-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_BTB_Plasma_Pistol-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HI_BTB_Plasma_Pistol-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



As mentioned in our February tuning update blog, we did plan on reducing the amount of power on the map in Ranked due to weapon respawn rates and ammo counts. We updated the respawn timers in February and we’ve updated the ammo counts on select weapons in Season 3. In Ranked, you can expect to see fewer rounds of ammo in the CQS48 Bulldog, Heatwave, Shock Rifle, and Stalker Rifle to help address this community feedback.



To further improve the flow of gameplay in Ranked Arena, Season 3 will also bring a few changes that <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/hcs-year-2-maps-modes-and-settings" target="_blank">the HCS Team discussed in their latest competitive blog</a>.



<ul><li>Enemy footsteps are now harder to hear at a distance, but easier to hear when very close. We’ve also improved the accuracy of enemy location based on footstep audio when enemies are above, below, or behind you. </li><li>Removed from Ranked Arena: Mangler, Energy Sword, Pulse Carbine </li><li>Will receive future tuning: Disruptor, Spike Grenades </li></ul>



We’re excited to see how the gameplay meta continues to evolve with these changes. As always, please make sure to share your feedback online about how everything feels to you once you’ve had a chance to go hands-on with Season 3.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Networking & “Desync” Improvements</h3>



Beyond creating new weapons and updating existing ones, the team has also been hard at work improving the foundation of the online experience. Season 3 will bring about another round of improvements to address feedback around “desync” and networking during matches.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Multiplayer</h4>



<ul><li>Rubberbanding is less likely to occur when moving or sprinting immediately after a match starts. </li><li>Ammo, Equipment, and Grenades counts are more consistent after entering and exiting a vehicle. </li><li>On the map Behemoth, players are now less likely to experience rubberbanding while using the Grappleshot to pick up a weapon from a Power Weapon pad. </li><li>Vehicles are now less likely to desync when players use the Repulsor against them. </li><li>Melee attacks are now more likely to register while holding a Power Seed. </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/2022/11/HaloInfinite_2022_CO-OP_WinterUpdate_05_WM_4k.jpg" alt="4 Master Chiefs with different weapons jumping down from a high elevation" class="wp-image-50829" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/HaloInfinite_2022_CO-OP_WinterUpdate_05_WM_4k.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/HaloInfinite_2022_CO-OP_WinterUpdate_05_WM_4k-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/HaloInfinite_2022_CO-OP_WinterUpdate_05_WM_4k-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/HaloInfinite_2022_CO-OP_WinterUpdate_05_WM_4k-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/HaloInfinite_2022_CO-OP_WinterUpdate_05_WM_4k-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2022/11/HaloInfinite_2022_CO-OP_WinterUpdate_05_WM_4k-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Campaign Network Co-Op</h4>



<ul><li>When playing with an unlocked framerate on PC, rubberbanding and teleporting is now less likely to occur in the mission Warship Gbraakon.</li><li>Players are now less likely to fall through the floor of the gondola in the mission Conservatory.</li><li>Stuttering and teleporting are now less likely to occur after taking the teleporter to the elevator room in the mission Spire.</li><li>Rubberbanding and teleporting is now less likely to occur in the Pelican at the end of the mission Outpost Tremonius. </li></ul>



We appreciate the support and feedback around our sandbox and Halo Infinite all-up. We’re excited to continue improving the experience, and we’ll see you when we take that next step together when Season 3: Echoes Within releases on March 7!

Unyshek

Sandbox Updates | Season 3

Season 3 will bring many updates to Halo Infinite and that includes new content for matchmaking, new playlists, as well as improvements to the ranking system. In today’s blog we’re going to share more of what you can expect, and get the details on what’s changing for Season 3. Let’s dive right in! 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_16.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-58074" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_16.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_16-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_16-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_16-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_16-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_16-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">PLAYLISTS FOR THE MONTH </h3>



Season 3 brings with it 3 entirely new maps in Chasm and Cliffhanger for 4v4 arena, as well as Oasis for Big Team Battle. Our version of “gun game”, Escalation Slayer also makes it’s way into Season 3.  



As with Empyrean, we’re offering a special playlist for the first week that only features Chasm and Cliffhanger called New Arena Unlimited. After a week, New BTB Unlimited will rotate into that slot and exclusively feature Oasis for the next week.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">New Arena Unlimited</h4>



<ul><li>4v4 </li><li>Maps: Chasm and Cliffhanger </li><li>Modes: Escalation Slayer (new mode!), CTF, King of the Hill, Slayer, Strongholds, One Flag CTF </li></ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">New BTB Unlimited</h4>



<ul><li>12v12</li><li>Map: Oasis </li><li>Modes: BTB Escalation Slayer (new mode!), CTF, Slayer, Fiesta, Fiesta Total Control, Total Control</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/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of Season 3 map Oasis" class="wp-image-58042" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



We’ve also updated most of the playlists to feature Season 3’s new content with an increased weighting for the start of the season.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Playlists featuring new content</h4>



<ul><li>Quick Play </li><li>Bot Bootcamp </li><li>Fiesta </li><li>Team Slayer </li><li>Tactical Slayer </li><li>Big Team Battle</li></ul>



And here’s a look at the full calendar for the month so you can see when each playlist will make its way into the game. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="587" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/S3-Playlist-Calendar-Updated-640226ce8843a-1024x587.jpg" alt="A calendar displaying all the playlists available in March." class="wp-image-58161" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/S3-Playlist-Calendar-Updated-640226ce8843a-1024x587.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/S3-Playlist-Calendar-Updated-640226ce8843a-300x172.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/S3-Playlist-Calendar-Updated-640226ce8843a-768x440.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/S3-Playlist-Calendar-Updated-640226ce8843a-1536x880.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/S3-Playlist-Calendar-Updated-640226ce8843a-2048x1174.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/S3-Playlist-Calendar-Updated-640226ce8843a-1568x899.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



We can’t wait to jump into matchmaking with you on March 7 when Season 3 releases! 



To talk about ranked, I’m going to pass it over to Tashi with the latest. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ranked Improvements</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">CSR-Based Matchmaking</h3>



As announced and released on February 28, we’ve made an update to the ranking system to match based on CSR as opposed to MMR. From a philosophical standpoint, this means teams will match based on what they’ve accomplished in the system as opposed to an underlying skill rating. While today we’re nearing the end of the season and almost all active players have settled into a rank, the experience will be different from prior seasons on March 7 when the rank reset hits. There will still be placement matches but you might find that early on there are higher skilled players in matches where there weren’t ones for prior season starts. Because matching is done on CSR, the players at the higher skill rank (Onyx, for example) will have to qualify (Diamond 4 is highest placement) and then work their way out of Diamond and into Onyx. This will mean that you might see some more lopsided matches at the start of the season, particularly for true Diamond players, while players settle into their ranks. And, for those wondering, we will use MMR to match players who are still completing their placement matches.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_15-640151bf3ea50.jpg" alt="Spartan wearing Mirage IIC armor reloads their M392 Bandit." class="wp-image-58130" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_15-640151bf3ea50.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_15-640151bf3ea50-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_15-640151bf3ea50-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_15-640151bf3ea50-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_15-640151bf3ea50-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Halo_Infinite_S3_PK_15-640151bf3ea50-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



The Fireteam CSR Limit range has not changed as part of this update and is as follows:



<ul><li>For 899 CSR (Gold 6) or lower, there are no restrictions.  </li><li>At 900 CSR (Platinum 1) a limit of 900 points is introduced. </li><li>Between 900 CSR (Platinum 1) and 1500 CSR (Onyx) the Fireteam CSR limit will slowly tighten as you climb the ranks. It will start at the 900 limit mentioned above and tighten to its final destination of 500. This essentially means that on the way to Onyx, every 2 CSR gained will tighten the Fireteam limit by an increment of 1 CSR. <ul><li>For example, if a player progresses from 900 CSR (Platinum 1) to 1200 CSR (Diamond 1), their Fireteam CSR limit would tighten from 900 to a stricter 750. At this new 1200 CSR, the lowest rank they could party up with would then be 1200 (their CSR) – 750 (the Fireteam CSR limit) = 450, or Silver 4. </li></ul></li><li>At 1500 CSR and above, the limit is 600 points. <ul><li>For example, if a player was Onyx 1700, the lowest CSR they could party up with would be 1100 or Platinum 5. </li></ul></li></ul>



We’re going to closely monitor the performance of these changes across all CSR divisions to ensure things are behaving as expected via data as well what player feedback we see online.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/INFINITE_NOBLE_INTENTIONS_PK_THOM_05-63e1c86637d61.jpg" alt="Thom for Halo Infinite Noble Intention" class="wp-image-56373" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/INFINITE_NOBLE_INTENTIONS_PK_THOM_05-63e1c86637d61.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/INFINITE_NOBLE_INTENTIONS_PK_THOM_05-63e1c86637d61-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/INFINITE_NOBLE_INTENTIONS_PK_THOM_05-63e1c86637d61-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/INFINITE_NOBLE_INTENTIONS_PK_THOM_05-63e1c86637d61-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/INFINITE_NOBLE_INTENTIONS_PK_THOM_05-63e1c86637d61-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/INFINITE_NOBLE_INTENTIONS_PK_THOM_05-63e1c86637d61-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Placement Matches</h3>



Placement matches are in place to ensure we’re accurately putting players in the appropriate division to ensure they have a smooth and fair experience once they’ve been placed. While this is working, we’re also finding that the number of placement matches is also creating a barrier between friends who want to play together but haven’t finished their matches yet. In order to alleviate this, we’re reducing the placement matches required from 10 to 5.  



Our hope is that we see more players complete their placement matches and continue on their ranked journey to improving and testing themselves against other players.  



Like with CSR matchmaking, we’re going to keep a close eye on the performance of this update and will make further tweaks in the future if needed.



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



We’re excited for these playlist and Ranked updates to come together with the launch of Season 3: Echoes Within, and we’re looking forward to jumping in to play them with you on March 7.



 To get a closer look at the three new maps, be sure to check out our latest <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Maps & Modes Preview blog here on Halo Waypoint (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/echoes-within-maps-modes-preview" target="_blank">Maps & Modes Preview blog here on Halo Waypoint</a>!



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Playlists & Ranked Matchmaking | Season 3

Season 3 of Halo Infinite arrives on March 7.



A new season means new maps! Season 3: Echoes Within brings with it a trio of exciting and unique spaces for your regularly scheduled online Spartan-slaying. These maps are Oasis, Cliffhanger, and Chasm.



We’re joined today by a terrific trio of our veritable multiplayer designers—Cliff Schuldt (Multiplayer Level Designer), Donnie Taylor (Art Director), and Kim Haines (Lead MP Env. Technical Artist)—for a Q&A deep-dive into these new maps, the process of creating them, the fun we’ve had on them, and more…



Of course, before we get into talking about these maps, how about we show them off in their full majesty with a new flythrough video?



<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="Map Preview | Season 3: Echoes Within | Halo Infinite" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ho8m9Q9Wz5U?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



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I’m super excited to be able to talk with you about the three new maps coming in Season 3! To start off, let’s give each of them a general introduction—how would you summarize these maps so Halo fans have a sense of what they’re in for with these spaces?



CS: Oasis is a mosh pit of pure vehicular fun for BTB, and it’s got a stunning skybox with a Forerunner ship terraforming the desert environment around it.



Cliffhanger is set at an ONI black site atop a mountain, also featuring man cannons for maximum vertigo!



Chasm is what you’d get if you took Boarding Action from Halo: CE and put in some Grappleshots, which is every bit as fun as it sounds.



To dive into Oasis, the first thing I think we have to do is marvel at that stunning vista—that’s as much a staple of Halo as the complexities of its design, to my mind. Can you tell us a bit about what goes into creating a skybox on a Halo map?



DT: When production starts for our skybox, or really any art asset, we begin with concepting several mood sketches that depict time of day and any major feature that we want to put on display for the vista. In the case of Oasis, that was the large Forerunner structure.



We use those concepts to help guide us to a final direction and that becomes the visual target for the game art moving forward. This direction is not fully set in stone as translating ideas from 2D to 3D always has its curveballs, but the overall goal is to stay true in game to the hook that first drew us to select the original 2D piece.



I definitely get some Halo 4 BTB map vibes from Oasis. Were there any specific inspirations that were part of the development of this map?



CS: There are elements of inspiration taken from the map Exile from Halo 4, which was a BTB favorite back in the day, with the emphasis on more open space for lots of fun vehicular action.



CTF modes were particularly exciting on this map during testing, as vehicles allow for some truly epic flag capture runs. Practically every space here is accessible with a Warthog, even the interior spaces. So you can go out into the open, where you might be more at risk of falling prey to air or heavy vehicles, or you can drive through some of the interior spaces where those other vehicles are going to have a much harder time catching you and risk getting boxed in.



That risk/reward aspect of Halo’s vehicular gameplay is always incredibly engaging, and we think Oasis is a great showcase of that.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Oasis-4K.jpg"><img decoding="async" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HIS3-Oasis.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of Season 3 map Oasis"/></a></figure>



Let’s shift over to Cliffhanger—so aptly named because this ONI facility is set on the edge of a cliff. What are some of the unique elements of this map?



DT: Biome diversity is always a big one for us when it comes to multiplayer maps. We want these spaces to feel different from past maps we’ve offered—and even where we might be using a similar “theme,” like a human base, we have unique visual elements to tap into.



An ONI black site is going to look quite different to the more traditional UNSC aesthetic of Live Fire, or the water treatment facility of Recharge. And there’s a subtle Forerunner element in this map you might pick up on as well.



What are some of the design considerations that go into creating an asymmetrical Arena map like this?



CS: Cliffhanger was originally designed with zone control modes (like Strongholds and King of the Hill) in mind, and what that means is that each “zone” has to look and feel unique.



There’s a bit of a “rock, paper, scissors” dynamic that zone control modes have in terms of how you tactically consider what your team is going to go for—if we go for Zone A and C, we might lose out on B, but that location might end up being a solid base for the enemy team to make a comeback if we’ve divided our forces across the map, and so on.



That goes on to inform sightlines, weapons spawns, equipment placement… everything ties back into how you can work together with your team to control areas of the map.



Something I always enjoy about asymmetric maps are the “scenarios” that are naturally created by the map layout—like on Halo 3’s High Ground where the turret above the door to the enemy base creates the sense of a “siege.” What are some of those focal points on Cliffhanger?



CS: What we really felt as we were testing this map was how different it feels depending on which mode you’re playing. One Flag, for example, creates a more “linear asymmetric” experience in a similar vein to the example you gave of High Ground—attackers and defenders are not just put on different ends of the map, it feels like they’re in different “scenarios.”



Of course, when you then play a mode like Strongholds, you get a totally different experience of the map. We hope that creates a cool dynamic that players enjoy.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Cliffhanger-4K.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Cliffhanger.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-58014" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Cliffhanger.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Cliffhanger-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Cliffhanger-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Cliffhanger-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Cliffhanger-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Cliffhanger-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



We’ve got a third map coming as well when Season 3 drops. Chasm looks and feels quite different to the other maps in Halo Infinite, so how did this map come to be?



CS: This map came to be when my friend Andrew and I were running through the Halo Infinite Campaign Network Co-Op flight. As we were playing through the second mission, Foundation, we were goofing off in a particular area and I thought this could be a fun space to play in for multiplayer.



So, I investigated this, pulling the space into a multiplayer level (note: this was definitely a more involved process than ctrl-C and ctrl-V!) and redoing the layout to be a rotational symmetrical map to support CTF.



After the first couple of playtests, the map was received really well, and we decided to give it the full treatment to pull it in as an official map.



Even though it looks incredibly similar to a space in the campaign, it has been laid out—and thus plays—very differently. One of the things I think is awesome about this map is the risk of falling into the “chasm” (har har!), but with the Grappleshot you can actually turn that to your advantage and make some incredibly cool skill jumps and maneuvers that turns falling from a danger of death to a risk/reward “route” through the map.



While the other two maps have Forerunner elements in them, Chasm is entirely Forerunner-themed. What are some of the unique visual and gameplay factors of this particular palette that offer something fresh?



CS: I think the visuals of this space are awesome. Being in the cavernous depths of Zeta Halo has this eerie and mysterious feeling in the campaign, and that really translates to the map as well—the Art Team knocked it out of the park!



Something we did to help visually differentiate parts of the map is that one side has that traditional cool blue tone you often see in Forerunner spaces, while the other side has a greater emphasis on the gold element you see in places like the Silent Auditorium in the campaign.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Chasm-4K.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Chasm.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57986" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Chasm.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Chasm-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Chasm-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Chasm-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Chasm-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-Chasm-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



How do you think the new sandbox additions—namely, the M392 Bandit and Shroud Screen—will change up the way these maps are played?



CS: Oh, I think they’re both strong additions! A lot of the feedback we got from players on Chasm noted that it felt like the Bandit worked really well for the kind of ranges you have on that map.



Shroud has been great on Oasis as well. It’s fun to “smoke” a long sightline before pulling a flag—we’ve seen some amazing “Houdini” plays around it!



We’ve previously stated that we’re bringing editable dev maps to Forge in Season 3. Does that include these three maps as well?



KH: Yes! Each of these maps are editable on release, along with all the previously shipped Arena and BTB maps. Future maps will be editable on release as well.



What modes can players expect to be playing on these maps? Do you have any you’re especially excited about players getting to experience?



CS: Well, I am a sucker for CTF, so I have really enjoyed CTF matches on these maps quite a bit. On Oasis, there have been some truly incredible flag runs with Warthogs and Banshees chasing you down through the caves.



On Cliffhanger, Strongholds, KOTH, and One-Flag have been super fun. There are a lot of great opportunities to push people into death pits with the Repulsor, and using a man cannon to fly across the map into the hill location has been a fun (and risky) way to assault the other team.



I will say that people should load up KOTH on Chasm to see one of the spiciest hill locations Halo has ever seen.



And then, of course, there’s the new Escalation Slayer mode coming in Season 3 as well. We can’t wait for everyone to jump into that!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-OasisVista-4K.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-OasisVista.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of Season 3 map Oasis" class="wp-image-57916" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-OasisVista.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-OasisVista-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-OasisVista-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-OasisVista-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-OasisVista-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/HIS3-OasisVista-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Do you have any fun stories from playtests on these maps?



CS: Oh, absolutely!



On Oasis, I was driving a Warthog with Brian Berryhill on the turret during a CTF match and we managed to do all three flag captures. We had a Wasp on our tail throughout, which we managed to shake off in a tunnel, only to emerge and find an enemy Scorpion on the other side—but we managed to escape that as well and steal the flag. By the time we got back to base, we had wheels missing, our Warthog was on fire, but we won and the tension around whether we would make it was absolutely exhilarating!



On Cliffhanger, there’s a man cannon that sends you over a death pit, and using the Repulsor to knock enemies who are chasing you off the map is tremendous fun. There’s an elevator shaft elsewhere on the map, as well as some sneaky mountainside paths, and the Repulsor and Grappleshot really bring a new dynamic to the danger of those kinds of locations.



Finally, Chasm. People loved faking their deaths on this map—pretending to jump off the edge into the abyss, only to use the Grappleshot to swing back up with incredible momentum that can have them sailing through the air to another part of the map.



There was one situation where a player got to the Active Camo spawn a little early, putting him in danger of getting picked off from an exposed position, and so he jumped off the hex pillar to use it as cover and zipped back around to grab the Camo as it spawned in. It was this dawning realization that we’ve never been able to play Halo quite like this before, and we really are excited to see some of the insane plays people are going to have.



Thank you very much for taking the time to chat about the maps coming in Season 3! Do you have any parting words before we wrap this up?



We’ve put some fun little Easter eggs on these maps (some sandwich-related, others we’re going to let you find yourselves), so do let us know if you find anything interesting…



And, as mentioned above, we really can’t wait to see what kinds of plays you make on these maps—whether that’s a heroic flag capture on Oasis, mountainside tumbles courtesy of the Repulsor on Cliffhanger, or Grappleshot fake-outs on Chasm. Absolutely tag us with your clips and montages, we’d love to see them!



Huge shoutout to our partners who helped bring these maps together, and to our players as well who we hope are really going to enjoy what we’ve been cooking up for Season 3.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ESCALATION SLAYER</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Escalation-Slayer-4K.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Escalation-Slayer.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57958" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Escalation-Slayer.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Escalation-Slayer-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Escalation-Slayer-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Escalation-Slayer-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Escalation-Slayer-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/03/Escalation-Slayer-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Also coming in Season 3 is the Escalation Slayer game mode.



Escalation Slayer is a mode that some of you may have played in Halo: MCC, as it came to the collection in the Series 6: Raven update back in April 2021 and quickly became a fan favorite—and now it is coming to Halo Infinite.



In Escalation Slayer, players progress through a list of weapon and equipment loadouts as they score kills. With each elimination, you advance to a new weapon, culminating in a final challenge to win: getting a kill with the Oddball.



You can also de-level enemy players by meleeing them in the back, so watch your six out there!



The order of loadouts is as follows:



LEVEL 1: Rocket Launcher, Cindershot, Repulsor LEVEL 2: Energy Sword, Gravity Hammer, Grappleshot LEVEL 3: Sniper Rifle, Skewer, Threat Sensor LEVEL 4: Hydra, Ravager, Repulsor LEVEL 5: Bulldog, Needler, Grappleshot LEVEL 6: Battle Rifle, Commando, Threat Sensor LEVEL 7: Shock Rifle, Stalker Rifle, Drop Wall LEVEL 8: Heatwave, Sentinel Beam, Thruster LEVEL 9: Bandit, Assault Rifle, Drop Wall LEVEL 10: Mangler, Sidekick, Threat Sensor LEVEL 11: Oddball, Shroud Screen



This mode is launching in Season 3 with two variants: Team Escalation and FFA Escalation.



Team Escalation progresses all players on a team through the loadout list together. Kills are summed across the team, so everybody’s efforts count. And FFA Escalation is, of course, every Spartan for themselves!



And yes, there will indeed be a BTB version of Escalation Slayer, along with a “Super” version of the mode which will bring in the special weapon variants and upgraded equipment that you can obtain in Halo Infinite’s Campaign.



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That concludes our showcase of the maps and modes coming when Season 3 of Halo Infinite launches on March 7.



We can’t wait for you all to embark on a maptacular odyssey that awaits, from the vehicular mosh pit of Oasis, to the dangerous heights of Cliffhanger, and the cavernous depths of Chasm (I don’t know about you, but I was certainly sold the second I heard “Boarding Action with Grappleshots!”)



We’ll be back soon with more information on the Ranked experience and Playlist updates, and follow up with a Sandbox blog as well—so stay tuned for more Season 3 news!

Maps & Modes Preview | Season 3

Forge Features

Hot off the presses—it’s time for a new Forge Features blog. Featuring original creations and remakes alike, this is bound to have a few maps that will catch your eye.



As a reminder, each of the creations shared below can also be found in the “Recommended” section of <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc" target="_blank">the Content Browser here on Halo Waypoint</a> (so you can bookmark them online) and in Halo Infinite.



Now, let’s take a look at some fantastic new Forge maps so you can give them a bookmark and play them the next time you jump online.



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COLD STORAGE Credits: Redbeard4720 Bookmark: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/7aac6cb7-3f74-4156-b88a-eadcd8c6a37f" target="_blank">Cold Storage</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/7aac6cb7-3f74-4156-b88a-eadcd8c6a37f"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ColdStorage.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Cold Storage map made in Forge" class="wp-image-57518" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ColdStorage.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ColdStorage-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ColdStorage-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ColdStorage-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ColdStorage-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ColdStorage-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Sometimes it’s nice to remake old maps and just chill out.



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SUBAN Credits: Level Design Bookmark: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/3fdfde19-1938-4c1c-b39d-02ccd7c35289" target="_blank">Suban</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/3fdfde19-1938-4c1c-b39d-02ccd7c35289"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Suban.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Suban map made in Forge" class="wp-image-57616" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Suban.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Suban-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Suban-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Suban-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Suban-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Suban-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Explosive crystals mined from a moon. What could go wrong?



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APOSTLE Credits: CertifiedChamp, b0b is here Bookmark: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/f06d58e8-d1e5-456b-bc44-1a4ca2857b89" target="_blank">Apostle</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/f06d58e8-d1e5-456b-bc44-1a4ca2857b89"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Apostle.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Apostle map made in Forge" class="wp-image-57504" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Apostle.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Apostle-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Apostle-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Apostle-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Apostle-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Apostle-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Reminiscent of the Gravemind level from Halo 2, this map is sure to take you back to 2004.



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DEAD WATER Credits: Black Picture Bookmark: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/0e105df8-52fd-43b9-93cb-4ea6a87ffc7e" target="_blank">Dead Water</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/0e105df8-52fd-43b9-93cb-4ea6a87ffc7e"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/DeadWater.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Dead Water map made in Forge" class="wp-image-57546" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/DeadWater.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/DeadWater-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/DeadWater-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/DeadWater-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/DeadWater-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/DeadWater-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



The name is quite literally the opposite of Live Fire. That means the map either plays exactly like it or nothing like it—bookmark it to find out!



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REVOLT Credits: Box Knows Bookmark: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/1ecfeee4-27f3-47b0-923f-a46e508d26d4" target="_blank">Revolt</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/1ecfeee4-27f3-47b0-923f-a46e508d26d4"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Revolt.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Revolt map made in Forge" class="wp-image-57602" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Revolt.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Revolt-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Revolt-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Revolt-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Revolt-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Revolt-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



The board has big plans for you…



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CORROSION Credits: ArturBloodshot Bookmark: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/59530e05-b465-4dbe-997b-8f289820aa49" target="_blank">Corrosion</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/59530e05-b465-4dbe-997b-8f289820aa49"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Corrosion.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Corrosion map made in Forge" class="wp-image-57532" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Corrosion.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Corrosion-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Corrosion-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Corrosion-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Corrosion-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Corrosion-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



After the fall of Voi, the rest of the industrial complexes were left to rot.



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HANG ‘EM HIGH Credits: xxxFLACOxxx Bookmark: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/fa060be7-f447-4bf2-bdd2-0dd85389266b" target="_blank">Hang ‘Em High</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/fa060be7-f447-4bf2-bdd2-0dd85389266b"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HangEmHigh.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Hang 'em High map made in Forge" class="wp-image-57588" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HangEmHigh.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HangEmHigh-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HangEmHigh-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HangEmHigh-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HangEmHigh-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/HangEmHigh-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



 These tombstones look oddly familiar…



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FLOWFALLS Credits: Soulfull Soul Bookmark: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/5f5cda9e-90e4-4fc4-9293-9c10ab014c45" target="_blank">Flowfalls</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/5f5cda9e-90e4-4fc4-9293-9c10ab014c45"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Flowfalls.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Flowfalls map made in Forge" class="wp-image-57560" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Flowfalls.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Flowfalls-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Flowfalls-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Flowfalls-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Flowfalls-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/Flowfalls-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



The higher they flow, the harder they fall.



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



Back with more scripting tutorials, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="VidGamesPete (opens in a new tab)" href="https://twitter.com/VidGamesPete" target="_blank">VidGamesPete</a> recently put together another useful walkthrough on how to push a message to a player’s HUD in-game. We covered this briefing in our Forge Fundamentals video on scripting last year, but this detailed explanation is bound to help you get a better understanding of how it all flows together.



<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="Forge Scripting Basics - UI Messages" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6iZliMCJeJA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



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Thanks for joining us as we highlight another round of community creations here on Waypoint. Don’t forget to use the Custom Game Browser and Content Browser to find even for Forge goodness the next time you jump on Halo Infinite.



As always, stay tuned here on Halo Waypoint and follow <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="@Halo (opens in a new tab)" href="https://twitter.com/Halo" target="_blank">@Halo</a> for the latest on Halo news and Forge features!

Community Cartography 006

Forge Features: February 24, 2023

We’re excited to announce our renewed partnership with ZOWIE as the official monitor for the Halo Championship Series 2023 season. ZOWIE is known to deliver one of the best competitive experiences and this was proven throughout the 2022 season. We’re excited to bring players the same great experience they’re familiar with. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="975" height="548" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/image.png" alt="" class="wp-image-57432" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/image.png 975w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/image-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/image-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 975px) 100vw, 975px" /></figure>



The XL2540K 24.5-inch esports gaming monitor delivers a 240Hz refresh rate with 1080p resolution. It’s built with a fast TN panel to ensure consistent fast-motion clarity with every fight you take, and features <a href="https://benqurl.biz/3XWbR37">XL Settings to Share™</a> which allows players to share their settings with teammates.



For fans and players interested in playing with the same equipment that will be used at all official HCS events this year, click <a href="https://benqurl.biz/3IvswFc">here</a> to learn more! The XL2540K esports gaming monitors will be used in the Open Bracket, Pool Play, and Championship Bracket.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ZOWIE-Monitor-Announce-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57460" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ZOWIE-Monitor-Announce-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ZOWIE-Monitor-Announce-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ZOWIE-Monitor-Announce-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ZOWIE-Monitor-Announce-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ZOWIE-Monitor-Announce-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/02/ZOWIE-Monitor-Announce-1568x1046.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



The Kickoff Major in Charlotte begins in just a few days, and we can’t wait to bring you all the amazing action. To learn more about the event, be sure to check out our <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/charlotte2023">event</a> page. 



Thank you ZOWIE for the continuous support and we can’t wait to have another successful season together!



Make sure to follow ZOWIE on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/ZOWIEbyBenQUSA">@ZOWIEbyBenQUSA</a>) and Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/zowiebybenqusa/">@zowiebybenqusa</a>) to keep up with the latest news! And for the latest on the Halo Championship Series be sure to follow HCS on <a href="https://twitter.com/hcs">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hcs/">Instagram</a>.