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Spotlight: July 2, 2021

Esports

Welcome back to another installment in our blog series, Designing the Halo Esports Ecosystem. The goal of this blog series is to detail how we are working to develop a healthy and sustainable ecosystem for Halo esports. If you’re interested in our philosophical approach to esports as a fan, player, team, tournament organizer, or sponsor, then this blog series is for you! If you’re hoping to learn specifics about format and roadmap, stay tuned, more info will be released as we get closer to the launch of Halo Infinite. I will say though that today’s particular blog is a little juicier than ones in the past.



If you’re new to the series, thanks for joining us! You can catch up with the first four installments here:



<ul><li>January Installment – Overarching goals and approach</li><li>February Installment – Tournament Operators</li><li>March Installment – Viewership</li><li>April Installment – Sponsors</li></ul>



Alright Tashi, what are we talking about today?



Today my friends we are talking about Teams. No, not a group of 4 players but rather the team organizations that the players represent.



Let’s dig in!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHY ARE TEAMS IMPORTANT?</h2>



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Teams play a super critical role in the success of esports, and that role is increasing all the time. First and foremost, they provide financial stability for the players in the scene. For long term sustainability,  players cannot rely solely on prize money, so it’s important that there are ways for players to receive regular, reliable financial support to pursue competing. Creating content and streaming is also another great way for pro players to earn income.



On top of that, Teams also draw in fans to the scene, which is obviously critical to increase viewership for tournaments, content, and more. These fans also help draw in more fans to the team and game as they share the excitement on social media and in Twitch/YouTube chats.



With these two things in mind, you can see how deeply rooted teams are in the success of an esport, and that’s why we are taking a very intentional approach for Halo Infinite esports.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">OUR APPROACH</h2>



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When HCS first started, Teams would seemingly enter and exit the scene at random and we had no direct relationship with them. The events were just big open tournaments with no advanced stage for pro teams until the finals, and that contributed to the issue. Over time, we started creating team skins in Halo 5, which was a great program and something we wanted to build off of for Halo Infinite, but in a far more holistic way.



Our first step was to gather information and involve pro teams as early as we could. <a href="https://twitter.com/Tashi343i/status/1138541483009630209" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">We proactively sought out information</a> and feedback from those that participated in Halo and those that did not. We asked about how they decided which games they wanted to join, which game ecosystems are working for them and why, why did they decide to enter/exit Halo in the past, and much more. We also learned about where they saw their business heading and how they could potentially see Halo fitting into it. This was a long but extremely valuable process. It helped us create and strengthen relationships with the Teams but also gave us vital information that went directly into the design of the Halo Infinite esports ecosystem.



On top of this, we are also big esports fans ourselves and careful observers. We were seeing how the broader esports industry was evolving, what other games were doing well, what pain points were existing in other ecosystems, etc. This also went into the design of the ecosystem and helped us iterate . As we were working through the design process, the franchising model and format in esports  was starting to become popular, and we of course evaluated that option. For Halo, we decided it was critical that Halo Infinite esports had an open format and ecosystem, and that we were building off of the philosophy that started way back with Halo: Combat Evolved. We wanted to create an ecosystem that was as open as possible to allow for new teams to integrate into the scene at any time, for up-and-coming players to have the opportunity to rise to the top at any moment, and for tournament operators of all sizes to plug into the ecosystem across any region.



At this point, we were ready to start drafting our plans for how Teams would fit into the broader picture. Again, it was important that we took a collaborative approach. Once we had our v1 thoughts together, we reached out to trusted Team partners to get early feedback on our plans. From there we’d create a v2, then v3, and so on until we felt we were ready to kick off the official process for Teams joining Halo.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">HCS TEAM PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM</h2>



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For the first time in Halo esports there will be an official partnership program for Team organizations to apply for and take part in. Our goals are to offer a path to long term sustainability for teams (and thus players and staff), grow viewership, and grow overall fan engagement. At a high level, the Teams in the partnership program are a foundational part of the ecosystem and we want to deepen the relationship together with launch being just the beginning.



Last year we conducted an application process with numerous teams in North America and Europe (more regions to come online later). We looked at why they were interested in Halo, what their plans and approach would be, what level of investment are they looking to commit to, and more. I’m happy to say that after a lengthy application process we have a solidified a list of partnered Teams for the launch of Halo Infinite this holiday.



At this point you might be wondering exactly what it means for a Team to be in the partnership program. Well to start, each partnered Team has designed their own in-game content which will be sold in the game on day 1 of Halo Infinite’s release, with more drops releasing over time. Of course, Teams will receive a significant portion of the revenue from each sale. Additionally, we’re looking to enable teams to create as much content as possible to drive interest in the league. We’ll be providing all access to broadcast VODs and footage captured at the event, as well as providing access for Teams to film their own content, including backstage and on stage while their team is competing. Each partnered Team’s roster and coach will also get their travel covered for every event they’re eligible for, even if they start in the open bracket. Partnered Teams will also have an opportunity to include their own sponsors (as long as they don’t conflict with the HCS’ sponsors) directly into our broadcasts. And really that’s just the tip of the iceberg as we are already expanding on ways to ensure that Teams have the opportunity and incentives to invest in Halo for many years.



If you’re an esports Team reading this and are interested in learning more about the partnership program and how your Team could get involved then first I’d say thank you, and we’d love to connect and share more when the time is right. As mentioned, we’re currently not bringing on any additional partners for launch. However, you can feel free to drop a line on <a href="https://twitter.com/Tashi343i" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a>.  And I know we’ve talked about pro players and pro teams almost exclusively today but rest assured, Halo Infinite esports is an open format and ecosystem. These partnered teams will need to earn every HCS Point they get, and we will have ways for amateur players to rise in the ranks and compete against the top pro teams on a regular basis, and live events will be open.



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



Now, I know you’re probably thinking, “That all sounds great Tashi but who are the partnered Teams?!”. Well unfortunately that’s not news that we’re able to share just yet. Also, it would be pretty lame if we just listed out all of the teams in a blog like this. Don’t worry, we and the Teams are cooking up some awesome plans to make the announcement. We intend to make a lot of noise when we’re ready later this Summer.



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



Enabling the success of our partners is critical to the success of Halo Infinite esports. We stated it back in the first blog when we detailed our mission, and we hope this blog provided a more detailed look at what we’ve been working on.



Thank you once again for everyone who’s been reading along and of course if you’ve got any feedback, let us know on <a href="https://twitter.com/HCS" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a>!



Until next time,



Tashi

Tashi

Designing the Halo Esports Ecosystem – June

Canon Fodder

<h4 class="wp-block-heading">ISSUE 116</h4>



So, it’s been a pretty good month for new Halo news I feel like. Last issue, we covered some of the more lore-related elements of our multiplayer reveal in the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase, as well as touching on further similarly-themed goodness (speaking of which, have you signed up for the Halo Insider program yet?). This edition, we’re looking ahead to a brand-new addition to the story, one that will pair with your Halo Infinite campaign experience like an extra helping of your favorite dish. And speaking of dish, let’s do so.



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



Kicking things off, today we’re excited to announce the next novel in this universe we all love—Halo: The Rubicon Protocol, penned by our stellar stablemate <a href="https://twitter.com/KellyHGay">Kelly Gay</a>. In her last novel, <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-Point-of-Light/Kelly-Gay/Halo/9781982147860">Halo: Point of Light</a>, Kelly made a pit stop onto the surface of Zeta Halo while on a galactic gallivanting tour with our favorite Mariner-class spacecraft and its daring denizens. This time, our popular pen pal is heading back to Installation 07, but on a very different mission, and with a very different cast of characters.



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Click the image for a bigger, cleaner version!



As you may have been piecing together throughout previous trailers and information drops, Halo Infinite’s campaign begins roughly six months after UNSC forces were ambushed at Zeta Halo. During that time, the UNSC has been mounting a resistance on a shorn fragment of the ring, desperately trying to hold out long enough for hope to arrive. In Halo: The Rubicon Protocol, you’ll get a unique glimpse of humanity’s struggle to survive amidst a growing Banished occupation that takes place in that period.



To be clear, this adventure stands on its own—but if you find yourself enjoying and eager to learn more about some of the scattered stories you might encounter while playing the game, then Halo: The Rubicon Protocol will be right up your alley when it drops next March.



We’ll certainly have more to share down the road, but in the meantime, enjoy the fantastic cover art above, composed by the talented <a href="https://twitter.com/pixelflaregfx">William “Pixelflare” Cameron</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">MARK INSTALLATION</h2>



This week we launched Season 7 of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, which focuses primarily on Sangheili customization items. If you’re interested in learning more about some of the lore behind the armors we added, check out Issue 114.  But that’s not all we added!



To celebrate the upcoming Halo Infinite, we’re adding the prototype for the Mk.VII helmet—KEYSTONE—into Halo 4 within the MCC. It’s a pretty awesome opportunity to look ahead to the studio’s latest brand-new adventure by placing a small piece of it in our first one.



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Behold! Even more pixel flair.



The KEYSTONE enhancement suite represents a Materials Group evolutionary design study that—when combined elements developed on earlier Mk. VII iterations, such as the example seen worn by Spartan Naomi-010, as well as the GEN2 DECIMATOR suite, among others—eventually formed the basis of the production Mk. VII in Mjolnir’s third development generation.



If you want to get your hands on—or, head in, I guess—one for yourself, make sure you pick it up for free at the Exchange in-game!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">HIGHWAY TO HELMET</h2>



As we mentioned up top, last issue we touched on a number of different sandbox elements from our universe that fans saw show up in last week’s showcase of Halo Infinite multiplayer goodness. Several fans noted that were some obvious items that we didn’t highlight, including some examples of pieces—helmets in particular—that had actually already been seen as far back as our first Inside Infinite development blog this past December. We figured that seemed like a logical spot to reach a revelatory compromise, so today, we’re bringing back those items and giving you a few additional little lore details to attach to them.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">ANUBIS [GEN3]</h4>



Manufacturer: Lethbridge Industrial



The ANUBIS is unusual in that its structural frame and core electronics are “grown” inside Sangheili assembly forges, though final assembly and integration uses traditional fabrication techniques.



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading">MK.V ZETA [GEN3]</h4>



Manufacturer: Materials Group



Spartans assigned to ONI’s Xeno-Materials Exploitation Group on Installation 07 found that their upgraded MARK V’s mix of high-threat response and surveillance interlinks were ideal for the ring’s peculiar operating environment.



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading">CAVALLINO [GEN3]</h4>



Manufacturer: Emerson Tactical Systems



The CAVALLINO expands Emerson’s offerings with MJOLNIR-platform helmets, tailored for the needs of fireteam leaders, trainers, and combat observers.



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The above options pieces were developed from the ground up as the initial wave of the GEN3 Mjolnir suite. Of course, you’ll also have the opportunity to pursue the GEN1 Mjolnir Mk.V(b) platform as well, with its own array of available modifications. This technology dates back to the Covenant war era but has been fully reconditioned and upgraded with newer and more optimized components, giving life to older tech at an integral time, and offering a new generation of Spartans the opportunity to take to the battlefield outfitted in the same style of armor that some of their own heroes once donned. Let’s take a look at once such example:



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">GRENADIER [GEN1]</h4>



Manufacturer: Materials Group



GRENADIER helmets are officially categorized as prototypes, as NAVSPECWAR wrestles with the overwhelming cost of its lightweight armored composite shell.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">DIVINE WIN</h2>



Before we close for today, we thought we’d bookend this issue with some extra bit of novel news. Back in Issue 112 we announced the next novel from the acclaimed penman Troy Denning, Halo: Divine Wind. We gave you the title, the author, and the cover—which you can see here again, by the fantastic Benjamin Carre. Today, we thought you might enjoy a more detailed description of the adventure to whet your whistle.



October 2559. With the galaxy in the suffocating grip of a renegade artificial intelligence, another perilous threat has quietly emerged in the shadows: the Keepers of the One Freedom, a fanatical and merciless Covenant splinter group, has made its way beyond the borders of the galaxy to an ancient Forerunner installation known as the Ark. Led by an infamous Brute named Castor, the Keepers intend to achieve what the Covenant, in all its might, failed to: activate Halo and take the last steps on the path of the Great Journey into transcendence…



But unknown to Castor and his new, unexpected ally on the Ark, there are traitors to the cause in their midst—namely the Ferrets, composed of Office of Naval Intelligence operative Veta Lopis and her young team of Spartan-IIIs, who have been infiltrating the Keepers to lay the groundwork for Castor’s assassination. But with ONI’s field operations now splintered and cut off by the Guardian threat, Veta’s original mission has suddenly and dramatically escalated in scope. There’s simply no choice or fallback plan—either the Ferrets somehow stop the Keepers or the galaxy faces an extinction-level event….



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Veta. Lopis. Fanclub.



Halo: Divine Wind is slated to hit store shelves, digital displays, and audio instruments on October 19, and you can <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-Divine-Wind/Troy-Denning/Halo/9781982174903">secure your own copy by heading here</a>!



Before we head out, just in case you missed it, go and check out our latest edition of Inside Infinite, which dropped yesterday. It covers some cool new info about upcoming updates to Halo Waypoint (both in web and app forms!) as well as some new progression details on how you’ll be able to expand your personal arsenal in Halo Infinite—with new items within the Halo universe, as well as some that fall decidedly outside of our canon in some cool and unique ways. But more on that another day…



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For now, that will do it for us this time around. Don’t wander off too far though… we do have a bit of a special milestone coming up next issue it seems like.



Until next time… Live well, play Halo, and it’s Spartan Agryna [ah-GREEN-yuh]. Laurette is her first name.



<a href="https://twitter.com/grimbrotherone"><3 Grim</a>

GrimBrother One

Parallel Threads

Games

343 INDUSTRIES

Inside Infinite – June 2021

At long last, the day has finally arrived. After all the testing, after all the designing, and after all the implementation – Season 7 for Halo: The Master Chief Collection, is here.



The latest MCC season, Elite, covers a lot of ground. With a fresh set of Elite customization options to choose from, two new maps for matchmaking with Edge and Waterfall, the return of the Halo 4 Champions Bundle, Firefight being added to the social matchmaking menu and, of course, the Custom Game Browser (CGB) for Halo: Reach, along with quite a few more additions – there’s plenty for every Halo fan to sink their teeth into. So, buckle up, make sure MCC is all updated, and prepare to spend any leftover Season Points you might still have around. 



Welcome, to Season 7:



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">MCC SEASON 7: ELITE</h2>



MCC Season 7 is the culmination of a great deal of hard work, feedback, and – did I mention hard work? The Pub Team has been bringing together Elite armor customization and maps to MCC from Halo Online, bringing new vehicle skins to Halo: CE, and of course – bringing the Champions Bundle for Halo 4 back to its rightful home.



For those looking to dive in as soon as possible, let <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://twitter.com/343Postums" target="_blank">Postums</a> give you the full rundown in the latest edition of Seasonal Sitrep:



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">ELITE CUSTOMIZATION SENSATIONS</h3>



With the arrival of MCC Season 7, the Sangheili-centric among you are about to get a heaping helping of new customization options for Halo 3. A litany of armors are returning from their time in Halo Online and arriving here in MCC, providing a fresh coat of paint for those that wish to do battle against the heretics.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/MCCS7-LaunchBlog/halo-master-chief-collection-2020_season7_05_watermark_1120-7799d1e739054df883ff06b5a142b374.jpg" alt="MCC Season 7 elites wielding energy swords"/></figure>



And of course, be sure to update your Energy Sword as well – with seven colors to choose from, you’ll have a solid set of tingly new customization sensations.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">HALO 4 CHAMPIONS BUNDLE, AND NEW ARMOR EFFECTS</h3>



Returning from their initial debut in Halo 4 in August of 2013, the Champions Bundle is making its triumphant return to the forefront and is officially in MCC. With its arrival, you’ll have brand-new armor sets to unlock, and brand-new ways to intimidate your foes.



And, if you’re the kind that likes to make your presence known on the map, Halo: Reach’s armor effects are arriving in Halo 4! So, whether you’re interested in lighting your skull up in flames, or you just want to be a roaming storm, you’ll have everything you need to dial up your look even that much more.



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



If you’re a Halo Insider, this won’t come as a surprise. (Hint!) But, two new maps from Halo Online are now officially in the wild world of social matchmaking – Waterfall, which arrived back with MCC Season 6 and its compatriot from the annals of Halo Online, Edge are now both officially in the day-to-day rotation. So, dive into the social playlist of your choice, and check it out once you get a chance!



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">NEW WAYS TO GET TOGETHER</h3>



If you’ve been looking for an easier way to gather up a social crew for Firefight, we’ve got you covered. Firefight for both Reach and ODST is now an option in social matchmaking – so, you can find your favorite free-flowing foe-flaying game mode front-and-center.



And of course, the Custom Game Browser (CGB) is entering Phase One and will be in MCC for Halo: Reach! Dive in and tweak every setting to your little heart’s desire, because we can’t wait to see you build all-out frays of your own design. (And if you come up with something cool, be sure to let us know on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Halo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a>!)



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">WEAPON EXPRESSION</h3>



As far as customization options go – we’re not letting the Elites have all the fun. If you’re looking for a fresh coat of paint to apply to your favorite loadouts in Halo 4, some weapon skins of yester-decade are making their return! Check them all out in the Season Pass, and make sure your weapons are all fitting your aesthetic requirements.



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And as long as we’re on the topic, there are new vehicle skins coming to Halo: Combat Evolved! Be sure to dive into the Season Pass and give them a look, because there’s a lot to dig through. But, rest assured that your presence on the battlefield will be unmistakable.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TIMED CONTENT DURING SEASON 7</h2>



As is true with each Season in MCC, we’re going to have some timed content available only during Season 7. As usual, you can look forward to some Nameplates focused on events, but of course, there’s going to be an Energy Sword, Tech Suit, and Battle Rifle Skin to go after as well for those that want to push themselves that much further. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">SPARTAN MK. VII: KEYSTONE</h3>



With today’s release of Season 7, you can find the Halo Infinite-inspired Mk. VII Keystone helmet up for grabs in the Exchange! Once you unlock it for free, it’ll permanently become an option for you to utilize in Halo 4.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/MCCS7-LaunchBlog/mccs7_itempromo_halo4_keystone_1120-6b678a306b00481ba57d85f3760712e4.png" alt="Two Spartans equipped with the Keystone Helmet"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">TIMED SEASONAL CHALLENGES</h3>



As is always the case, we’ve got some Season 7-exclusive goodies for those of you that want to step up, and show your prowess over the coming weeks. This time around, you can choose from: 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/MCCS7-LaunchBlog/s7-seasonlchallenge-sword-copy-f051d9ed5e7c4d52a688e98a670d9149.png" alt="Elite wielding an energy sword from Season 7"/></figure>



Elite Swordplay : Complete ‘Nice Slice’ and ‘Keep Killer’ Challenges:



<ul><li>Nice Slice: Earn 343 points with an Energy Sword where campaign kills on Heroic or harder are worth 1 and Spartan Kills in Multiplayer are worth 10.</li><li>Keep Killer: Kill 500 High Ranking Elites in Campaign or Spartan Ops missions on Normal or harder.</li><li>Reward (Pictured above on the Halo 3 Elite): Evocoti’s Edge Energy Sword Skin (Halo 3)</li></ul>



Nightcrawler: Complete ‘Bedtime Stories’ and ‘Caesar Dressing’ Challenges:



<ul><li>Bedtime Stories: Complete 7 Night Missions in campaign on Heroic or Harder</li><li>Caesar Dressing: Get 343 assassination kills. In campaign you must be on Heroic or harder.</li><li>Reward: Tinted Smoke Tech Suit (Halo 3)</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/MCCS7-LaunchBlog/s7-seaonalchallenge-h4battlerifle-copy-ffec62b2e7b949288524ce89bf38da9b.png" alt="Grey and yellow Spartan equipped with a Halo Battle Rifle"/></figure>



Pixel Perfect: Complete ‘Brain Burst’ and ‘Quattro King’ Challenges:



<ul><li>Brain Burst: Earn 500 Headshots in matchmade games.</li><li>Quattro King: Win 15 rank matchmade games in Halo 4</li><li>Reward (Pictured on the Halo 4 Spartan above): Pixel Battle Rifle Skin (Halo 4)</li></ul>



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



Of course, we couldn’t let the Seasonal Challenges have all the fun. We’ve got brand new static and animated Nameplates for you to choose from this time around, which will give you some handy new ways to intimidate (or, more operatively, distract) your pre- and post-game lobbies.



Here’s just a few:



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/MCCS7-LaunchBlog/mccs7-nameplates-01a0d14c8bb04e159ea484fddcfdbb80.gif" alt="Halo Master Chief Collection Season 7 animated nameplates"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">MODDING IN MCC</h2>



With this Season, we’ve released a couple of tools that players will be able to use for modding in Halo: Combat Evolved. These mod tools are available to all PC players, even if you don’t own MCC or Combat Evolved, by default through your Steam Tools library. In your Steam library, simply select “Tools” (<a href="steam://run/1532190">or, use this handy hyperlink</a>) from the dropdown menu and you’ll see the mod tools in your collection by default. If you own MCC through Game Pass or Windows Store, you will be able to access the tools through the creation of a Steam account and utilizing the Steam desktop client, just as an MCC owner on Steam would do.



If you are a long-time modder of Halo, some of the programs will look familiar in Guerilla, Sapien, and Tool. But there is an additional tool called Standalone, that will allow for some iterative testing of mods.



For full details on this, make sure to check your library for the latest tools to mod in MCC!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FIGHTING HERETICS, TOGETHER</h2>



To celebrate the arrival of MCC Season 7, be sure to join us for a Community Playdate over on <a href="http://www.twitch.tv/Halo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitch.tv/Halo</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/Halo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube.com/Halo</a>!



We’re going to be going live at 2 PM Pacific on Thursday, July 1st – so, make sure your calendar is clear. As per usual, if you match in with us, you’ll land the Ice Unicorn Rewards.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/MCCS7-LaunchBlog/halo-master-chief-collection-2021_season6_hoz_toros_05_watermark_1120-7ae7be3171af419d914b7f7396d6f83a.jpg" alt="Purple Banshee from menu screen"/></figure>



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



PC players can pick up Halo: The Master Chief Collection on a few different digital storefronts of their choice:



<ul><li><a href="https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-game-pass/pc-games" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Xbox Game Pass for PC</a>: Join Xbox Game Pass for PC and get Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, and Halo 4 today as a part of Halo: The Master Chief Collection.</li><li><a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/halo-the-master-chief-collection/9ntm9hxnlszx?activetab=pivot:overviewtab" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft Store</a> and <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/976730/Halo_The_Master_Chief_Collection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Steam</a>: The Halo: The Master Chief Collection bundle is available today for $39.99 USD, which includes today’s launch of Halo 4 along with the already available Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo: Reach. Each title can be purchased individually for $9.99 USD with the exception of Halo: 3 ODST which can be purchased for $4.99 USD.</li><li><a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/halo-the-master-chief-collection/9ntm9hxnlszx?activetab=pivot:overviewtab" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Xbox Store</a>: Purchase Halo: The Master Chief Collection for your Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S on the Microsoft Store as well!</li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FEEDBACK AND SUPPORT</h2>



As always, if you’re having any issues or want to provide us with any feedback, our ears are wide open. Below we’ve got some handy links to get you right as rain, whether you’re looking to file a ticket to get some help – or, you just want to provide some feedback on your gameplay experience.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">FORUM FEEDBACK</h3>



Got something you want us to get a closer eye on? Have some feedback about your gameplay experience? We’ve got some forums set up and ready to go.



And as a reminder, be sure to use these forums for suggestions and feedback, NOT bugs and issues:



<ul><li>Season 7 Feedback</li></ul>



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



Want to let us know about your gameplay issues? Something not working how you expect it to? Give the Halo Support Team as a heads-up!



Before you go filing a ticket, please be sure to do yourself a favor and check out the known issue lists:



<ul><li>Halo: The Master Chief Collection Patch Notes</li><li>MCC Global Known Issues</li><li>MCC Xbox Series X|S enhancements</li><li>Halo: Reach Known Issues</li><li>Halo: Combat Evolved Known Issues</li><li>Halo 2: Anniversary Known Issues</li><li>Halo 3 Known Issues</li><li>Halo 3: ODST Known Issues</li><li>Halo 4 Known Issues</li></ul>



Always be sure to only file one ticket per issue as well, just to ensure that there’s the best chance they can isolate the problem and help you out.



And of course, for the latest updates from Halo Support, be sure to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/HaloSupport" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">follow them on Twitter</a>.



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



To our passionate community, thank you. We simply wouldn’t be here without you, and we couldn’t think of more capable soldiers to join us on this Great Journey. To the Halo Insiders, we couldn’t be more thankful for your support, dedication, and feedback.



But for now, it’s time for you to dive in with all the latest and greatest! Enjoy, and as always, be sure to follow us on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Halo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.instagram.com/Halo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a>, and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Halo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a> for all of the latest updates.



Stay safe out there,



–<a href="https://twitter.com/asalisbury" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Andy</a>

Andy Salisbury

MCC Season 7: Meet the Elites

Showcase Sensitive

Halo Infinite Multiplayer Reveal

The Halo community spans different games, artistic mediums, and locales across the globe. But the cosplay community uniquely manages to combine all three – and, that’s why we’re thrilled to reveal our latest Cosplay Guide, featuring the freshly revealed Spartan Mk. VII Armor, which you may have spotted in our Halo Infinite Multiplayer Reveal just a couple of days ago.  



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/CosplayGuides/mkvii-cosplay-guide-blog-image-1-f4647ec6022d4c3cb74c928b4fc29d44.png" alt="Halo Infinite Spartan Mark VII Gen 3 cosyplay suit"/></figure>



As a reminder, if you’re also interested in perfecting your ODST look in addition to your freshly minted Spartan – or, you’re just on the hunt for some more reference material, be sure to check out our guide for Halo 3: ODST’s Rookie. But now, without further ado, let’s take a look at the Mk. VII.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SPARTAN MK. VII [GEN3]</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/CosplayGuides/mkvii-cosplay-guide-blog-image-2-77c824d134ea4341b976a32f882a0522.png" alt="Armor turnaround for the Spartan Mk. VII Gen 3 cosplay"/></figure>



 Created with input from Dr. Halsey herself, the latest Mark VII iteration refreshes the Mjolnir technical architecture with breakthroughs in neural interfaces, shield emitters, fusion power, and armor formulation.



The Mark VII designation refers to a number of prototype platforms that test the ever-evolving Mjolnir Generation 3 standard. The most recent design to bear the name was selected by Dr. Halsey from Materials Group’s KEYSTONE development program. 



To download the full guide, be sure to click either of the links just below:



<ul><li><a href="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/CosplayGuides/mk7_cosplayguide_fullsize-a95f71a129ae4094aef3ea0b6121fca4.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark VII | Cosplay Guide (Full)</a></li><li><a href="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/CosplayGuides/mk7_cosplayguide_mobile-c9b71de988af42f9b6f6010ef44a2417.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark VII | Cosplay Guide (Mobile)</a></li><li>NOTE: ‘Full’ file size may be large on mobile devices. If you’re on your phone, please consider waiting until you’re on your PC before you download.</li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SHOW US YOUR BUILDS!</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/CosplayGuides/mkvii-cosplay-guide-blog-image-3-b0f9d35a3da24548af1a45cdbed416ab.png" alt="Helmet for the Spartan Mk. VII Gen 3 cosplay"/></figure>



We’d love to see what you’ve been building! Whether you’re kicking off a brand-new build of our freshly released Spartan Mk. VII, you’ve got an ODST already built and ready to go, or if you’re just looking to share your art with the Halo community, be sure to share it with us on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Halo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a> using <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HaloSpotlight" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">#HaloSpotlight</a>! That hashtag makes it much easier for us to find your works of art, and to highlight them to the community.



And of course, thank you to our fans for truly becoming a part of our world. Whether you’re just firing up a casual match of BTB with friends, you’re stepping foot into the campaigns for the very first time, or you know the lore like the back of your hand – we wouldn’t be here without each and every one of you. Thank you.



Stay safe out there,



–<a href="https://twitter.com/asalisbury" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Andy</a>

Official Cosplay Guide: MARK VII

Spotlight: June 10, 2021