In the words of Steve Downes, the voice of Master Chief himself, a Spartan's job is to fight for ALL of humanity. We're all stronger together, celebrating the things that make us unique as the foundation of our community.
Log into Halo Infinite this month to unlock the Unity nameplate and emblem for your Spartan, weapons, and vehicles.
Orchid Cluster Visor | Synthetic Dawn Bundle
Don't forget to water the plants!
Complete all of your Weekly Challenges and the Ultimate Challenge to earn this week’s Ultimate Reward – the Orchid Cluster visor.
A new Ultimate Reward will become available every week, so be sure to keep an eye on your Challenges and take advantage of these free rewards.
Redefining the meaning of the word "boombox."
Grab the Synthetic Dawn Bundle to acquire the Synthetic Dawn armor effect, Noob Cube stance, Flayer Crysknife shoulders, and Flayed Nerve CHIMERA armor coating.
But, er... are you just gonna stand there menacingly, or are you gonna throw that thing somewhere?
Forge Features
We’ve got a special new edition of Forge Features for you today where we’re offering the opportunity to get your maps into matchmaking for the return of the fan-favorite Husky Raid mode!
Let’s get you a briefing on the details, and then let’s take a look at a new selection of community-made maps.
Ain't No Raid Like A Husky Raid!
Ten years ago, we were playing a game you might have heard of called Halo 4. Like its predecessors going back to Halo 2, it featured the Action Sack playlist – the home of whacky and unusual gametypes often created by the community where we lost hours to Tug of War, Team Stickies, Dino Blasters, Paintball, and more. And one of the additions Halo 4 made to that offering was Husky Raid.
In Husky Raid, the map is a long, narrow corridor. You spawn on one side with random weapons, meaning that you, your allies, and your enemies may be heading out with a rocket launcher or a plasma pistol. And you’ve got to get through the chaos that’s about to ensue in order to capture the enemy flag.
The mode returned in Halo 5 (see an example in the screenshot above), and it’s now coming to Halo Infinite – and you’ve got an opportunity to get your own Husky Raid map into matchmaking!
The Templates
We have two prefab templates for you to download and utilize in the creation of your Husky Raid map. Grab them from the links below.
These will be useful for getting Forgers started, so if you just want to apply some cool artistic flourishes to them that’s absolutely fine for submission. But if you want to take things a step further and make your own changes, or start from scratch to unleash your creativity, you should absolutely feel free to do so!
As for testing your map, in the meantime we recommend using Fiesta: CTF.
How Do I Get My Map Noticed?
Once your map is in a state you are happy with, you need to publish it and tag it with the 343ask-Husky Raid tag and include a screenshot.
If your map is one we’d like to move forwards with, we will reach out to the gamertag listed as the author of the map and continue further dialogue on Discord.
Is There A Due Date?
The fun should never truly end, but for folks looking to try and make it into our first official Husky Raid selection, we’ll need your creations no later than June 30.
Take the time to flex those creative muscles – we can’t wait to see what you cook up for us.
With all that said, let’s take a look at what you’ve been up to with the maps you’ve already been making!
Ever looked at Wizard – or any of its remakes – and thought it could stand to be a little bigger to spread out some of that 4v4 or 5v5 chaos? Sorcerer is the map for you.
And that’ll bring this issue to a close. You’ve got your mission, should you choose to accept – to all community cartographers, prepare to drop feet-first into Forge and let loose your imagination on Husky Raid.
Make one. Heck, make two. That’s an order, soldier!
Redline Interrupt Coating | Flenser Armor Bundle
See these stripes? That's your warning.
Complete all of your Weekly Challenges and the Ultimate Challenge to earn this week’s Ultimate Reward – the Redline Interrupt CHIMERA coating.
A new Ultimate Reward will become available every week, so be sure to keep an eye on your Challenges and take advantage of these free rewards.
The FLENSER-class Executor is the key to the next generation of cybernetic war machines.
Equip your CHIMERA with the latest tech which includes:
Flenser helmet
Ghostlink Adaptation helmet attachment
Heirodyne Augmentor shoulders
Compliance Protocol chest attachment
Crysknife Utility hip attachment
Brink Plugin wrist attachment
Redundant Spiral armor coating
Tracelines visor
Head to the Shop and grab the Flenser Bundle today. Your expertise has been called upon for your infolife masters...
Fracture: Firewall
Fracture: FIREWALL returns from May 23-30!
The third of FIREWALL’s four weeks is here, giving you another opportunity to outfit your Executor’s CHIMERA Armor Core with a variety of free limited-time customization rewards.
Just like last time, there is no event-specific playlist that players have to dive into – play what you want, complete FIREWALL-themed Event Challenges, and progress (or finish) your free Event Pass.
For those of you who have already been progressing that free 20-tier Event Pass, this week is your first opportunity to finish the fight and complete all twenty tiers. Doing so will make you eligible for Season 3’s Halo Gear Reward: the FIREWALL Logo Pin.
The Fracture: FIREWALL Event Pass is free and offers players themed, limited-time rewards for playing multiplayer matches and completing Event Challenges while the event is live.
During FIREWALL event weeks, the Event Pass will appear in your Season 3 progress menu between the Battle Pass and your Challenges. Each week, players can unlock up to 10 tiers of their 20-tier Event Pass.
FIREWALL event weeks are scheduled for the following dates:
Week 1: March 21-28
Week 2: April 11-18
Week 3: May 23-30
Week 4: June 13-20
Let’s take a look at some of the customization items you’ll be unlocking…
Precipice, Part 2
Alongside the return of Fracture: FIREWALL is the next part of the choose your own adventure-style Story Shard series, Precipice.
Last time, High Auxiliary Sloan mused about the state of the Created in the wake of Cortana’s final sacrifice at Zeta Halo and set plans into motion to lay the foundations for the future of their kind.
Sloan’s answer takes the form of the Executor, who has been placed into a simulation for analysis and study of the choices they make in different scenarios.
In Part 2, the Executor is deployed to Carinae Station and tasked with retrieving an artifact of great importance – but they’ll have to defeat a Spartan to claim this prize...
Halo Gear Rewards are back for Season 3 and Fracture: FIREWALL!
Halo Gear Rewards are exclusive limited-edition products in the Halo Gear Shop that players can earn access to purchase after completing specific in-game accomplishments.
In Season 3: Echoes Within, players will have the opportunity to earn access to four collectible Halo Infinite pins, each tied to a specific event in Season 3.
Next up, players can earn access to the FIREWALL Logo Pin by completing the full Fracture event and making their purchase from the Halo Gear Shop by July 4 to secure the reward.
How does it work?
Upon completion of each qualifying event, the player will receive a reward code via their Halo Waypoint Profile.
When you complete each event, simply visit Halo Waypoint online or via mobile and sign into your account to trigger your reward. The reward code will be delivered to you via Waypoint notifications.
Please note that it may take up to 24 hours for the code to be delivered after completion of an event.
Once you receive the reward code, visit the Halo Gear Shop and hop to the respective Pin product page to proceed with your purchase. The price will look REALLY high, but don’t worry!
Add the pin to your cart and proceed to checkout
In checkout you will enter the code in the “Gift card or discount code” field. Click apply
The cost will update to the pin’s actual retail price
Finish your transaction by entering your shipping and billing details and selected your shipping option
This is a pre-order item that will ship in Q3/Q4 2023
The Halo Gear Rewards items are available for purchase until the dates specified
Note: This is not the real price of the collectible pin. This is a Halo Gear Rewards item, exclusively for Halo Infinite players that have completed one of the qualifying Season 3 events. Qualifying players will receive a code to reduce the price to the intended retail cost.
Now then, Executor, it’s time for you to combine mind and machine by donning your CHIMERA and showing those rogue biologics how it’s done.
Complete all of your Weekly Challenges and the Ultimate Challenge to earn this week’s Ultimate Reward – the Sequence Authority weapon charm.
A new Ultimate Reward will become available every week, so be sure to keep an eye on your Challenges and take advantage of these free rewards.
Free yourself from a glass case of emotion.
Let people know you're kind of a big deal as you outfit your MARK VII, MIRAGE IIC, and CHIMERA armors with the Burgundy Spear coating.
Don't act like you're not impressed. Swing by the Shop, secure the Burgundy Spear bundle, and show everyone how good you look today!
Forge Features
The time has come for another bi-weekly instalment of Forge Features!
We’re on a bit of an original trilogy binge in this issue, starting aboard the UNSC Pillar of Autumn and working our way across games from there. So, bring yourself up to combat alert alpha and let’s take a look at some community creations.
“Cortana, all I need to know is did we lose them?”
Not yet, you haven’t! Multiple Covenant vessels are inbound and it’s up to you to gather as many of your friends as possible to jump into Wasps and defend the UNSC Pillar of Autumn (stunningly recreated in Forge) from attacking Banshees.
Forget those adjustments to your A2 scope, there’s a station to defend. Arrival is a map that has been spiritually and aesthetically based on Halo 2’s Cairo Station—it even has an antimatter charge!
Insolence
Credits: xDTx Kaos, W0lfR3ign, THE SLAMMERSS, Le Frenchys Bookmark: Insolence
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a Halo game in possession of a multiplayer must be in want of a Forerunner-themed map in a box canyon.
With two opposing bases that have been based (heh!) on the barrier towers from Halo 3’s classic mission The Covenant, and featuring a downed Scarab that is being reclaimed by nature, you’d have to be pretty insolent to not try this out with up to 24 of your friends!
Welcome back to Construct, just as you know and love it! We hope you like the new coat of paint.
Community Creations
Scrubulba has been working on recreating the hangar bay from the Halo 2 missions The Arbiter and The Oracle, where you fight Sesa ‘Refumee – leader of the heretics on the Threshold Gas Mine – as he tries to escape in a Seraph fighter. Scrubulba has given us a breakdown of cost-effective lighting techniques he used, which could be useful for your own maps.
That brings this issue of Forge Features to its end. Whether you’re looking for some space dogfights, direct remakes of old classics, or new maps with a familiar flavor, these maps have got you covered.
Now get to your action stations and get ready to give your friends a warm welcome.
If you encounter any issues while playing, you may also submit a ticket on the Halo Support site that will go directly to the team for investigation.
Thank you for the continued support and input as we continue to improve the Halo Infinite experience.
AAP/GRANIT Attachment | Erinyes Bundle
Got any spare mags?
Complete all of your Weekly Challenges and the Ultimate Challenge to earn this week’s Ultimate Reward – the AAP/GRANIT chest attachment for your MIRAGE IIC Armor.
A new Ultimate Reward will become available every week, so be sure to keep an eye on your Challenges and take advantage of these free rewards.
Prepare for every eventuality.
Equip your MIRAGE IIC with the Erinyes Bundle, which includes:
Erinyes helmet
Erinyes Hymn helmet attachment
TAC/LACEWEB TRM Core chest attachment
TAC/LACEWEB SCM-P shoulders
TAC/SCM-P knee pads
Void Ultra armor coating
Head to the Shop today and outfit yourself with the new hexagonal hawtness!
May Update Preview
Next Wednesday, May 10, we’ll be releasing an update to address many community-requested quality-of-life improvements, sandbox tuning updates, and bug fixes. Thank you for providing feedback online and reporting issues on the Halo Support site – your input continues to have a direct, positive impact on the game.
In the meantime, be sure to check out Site Unseen, our latest event in Halo Infinite, which is going on right now until May 16. It includes a free 10-tier Event Pass filled with rewards for your MIRAGE IIC armor. Read up on the new narrative event here!
Today, we’ll be looking at some of the bigger items landing inside the May Update but be sure to keep an eye out for the full patch notes from the Halo Support team next week when it drops to catch all the specifics.
Mode Updates
Super Fiesta
The party is just getting started. The fan-favorite mode from Halo 5 will make its explosive return with this update as campaign’s unique weapon variants and fully upgraded Equipment enter the Arena.
Ranked King of the Hill
Based on player feedback, the Hill will now spawn-in faster at the start of the match and no longer have a “wind-up” time when a player initially enters it.
Developer Note:
To help facilitate more meaningful choices at the beginning of a King of the Hill match we decided to reduce the timer for the Initial Hill. This now requires teams to be more thoughtful in establishing their starting strategies as teams now have to decide between scavenging weapons and equipment and scoring points in the Hill.
Based on feedback, we felt there was an opportunity to make the decision to hop in and out of a Hill more impactful. With base settings, players engaging in this behavior weren’t giving up enough as they could hop out of the hill without losing it if they returned quickly enough. This could also lead to some ambiguity around Hill ownership. This change should make the state of the Hill clearer for players.
The initial hill spawn has been reduced from 15 seconds to 5 seconds
The wind-up period to score has been removed
Players can score right away when stepping into the hill
This allows players to quickly score while maneuvering grenades and avoiding damage all up
Sandbox Balance Tuning
There will also be a few updates that should help to keep the sandbox in a good state until Season 4 rolls around.
Disruptor
Overall, we wanted to reduce the complexity of this weapon – which currently Supercombines, deals damage over time (DOT), slows Spartans, chain reacts to other players, etc. – while still ensuring that it could be successful in combat. The Disruptor will have an increased rate of fire and Supercombine damage, but will no longer deal DOT and its chain reaction distance will be halved.
Developer note:
The goal of this change was to reduce the complexity of the weapon’s behavior, focusing the utility on the Supercombine detonation and shock chaining and their ability to damage nearby players. By upping the direct damage from Supercombines and increasing the Rate of Fire (ROF), it leans the Disruptor more towards a combat pistol with a straightforward utility.
Changes:
Removed Damage Over Time
Reduced chain distance from 5 World Units (wu) to 2.5 wu
Increased Supercombine damage from 60 to 70
Increased ROF from 4.285 to 5 rounds per second
Spike Grenades
We noticed that with its current tuning, Spike Grenades were dealing high damage but not requiring as much precision as a Frag or Plasma Grenade. To address this, we’re bringing the behavior of Halo Infinitee’s Spike Grenade more in line with Halo 3’s Spike Grenade by tightening the explosion cone and reducing the damage radius while increasing the number of flechettes.
Developer note:
The goal here was to enhance the directionality of Spikes, requiring tighter precision but better rewarding good placement. With double the flechettes, but a shorter range and tighter cone, they will cause focused, directional damage where placed. Out in the open, away from enemies, they won’t be as effective as frags. Sticking them on walls that are facing nearby enemies will inflict the highest possible damage, being lethal in one shot if a player is directly in front of (or on top of) one.
Changes:
Increased number of flechette submunitions that are released on detonation from 8 to 16
Reduced flechette travel distance from 5 World Units (wu) to 3.5wu
Reduced Area of Effect (AOE) damage radius from 3.2 wu to 2 wu
Reduced AOE damage amount from 300 damage to 160
Adjusted flechette bounce behavior to deviate less
Dynamo Grenades
Similar to the Spike Grenade, we wanted to make sure the Dynamo Grenade was being used more deliberately during gameplay. To do this, we’ve reduced the area of effect (AOE), reduced the chain reaction distance, and removed its movement slowdown properties while slightly increasing its damage potential.
Developer note:
The goal with this change is to tighten the area of effect, requiring more thoughtful placement with a higher reward for direct hits. The previous tuning would damage enemies well outside the immediate combat area, feeling overly generous and hard to escape. With higher damage per tick, but a shorter radius, Dynamos create a more potent but contained threat. Use them in corners where enemies have no escape to cause max damage, or to force enemies away from a route.
Changes:
Reduced shock Area of Effect (AOE) distance from 3.5 wu (World Units) to 2 wu
Reduced shock chain distance from 5 wu to 2 wu
Increased shock damage per burst from 18 to 21
Removed movement stun from shock damage
Lowered arming time from 0.65 to 0.5 seconds
Reduced delay between shock damage pulses from 0.3 to 0.25 seconds
Added one additional shock damage pulse at 2.5 seconds
Shroud Screen
In Ranked Arena, the Shroud Screen will be updated to have 1 charge upon pickup.
Developer note:
The goal of this change was to reduce the total impact Shroud Screen was having for high skilled players without changing the effectiveness of the equipment itself. With this change, players will be required to be more strategic with how they decide to use the Shroud Screen.
Forge
The May Update will bring a nice quality of life update to Forge in the form of PC screenshot uploading and numerous bug fixes. This includes improvements to the Z-fighting movement controls, Forge monitor movement speed, and more.
To improve the stability of script-heavy creations, individual script brains will be updated to have a 128 node cap. Fear not though, existing creations above that limit will still work, they will just not be able to add any additional nodes. You’ll also still be able place multiple script brains, to make sure you still have access to the full power of Halo Infinite’s scripting system.
FPS Counter on Xbox
One quality of life update that we’re excited about is the addition of an FPS Counter option on Xbox consoles. Not only does this provide great contextual information for you while playing in a match, but it’s also vital for Forgers looking to build maps that have steady performance (framerate). Allowing Forgers this extra bit of insight should help them create quality maps that feel even more smooth to slay on.
UXUI
In this update, we’re also excited to be rolling out a few highly requested improvements to our menus. Notably, we’ll be making the Customs Browser accessible from the “Custom Game” option right on the main menu. When clicking in, you’ll be able to choose between checking out what the Customs Browser has to offer and starting up your own Custom Game.
The matchmaking menu will also receive an update which will allow twice as many playlists to be visible at once – from 5 playlists to 10 – before needing to scroll down. Though this change means the playlist images will be moved into each specific playlist’s details, presenting more playlist variety up front is worth it to the players.
Last, but certainly not least, a selection of bundles from previous seasons will be able to be purchased through the customization menu. When checking out an item that was part of an eligible Bundle, players will now be presented with an option to view and purchase that Bundle from the Shop.
Please note: previous season HCS bundles and current season bundles are not currently available for purchase.
Resolved Issues
We’ve outlined a few improvements throughout this blog, but we had several more that we wanted to call out before wrapping things up.
Here’s a quick look at them:
Various server and client stability improvements (reduced server and game crashes)
Various Theater / Observer improvements and bug fixes
Halo Infinite will no longer crash on launch when attempting to play on a PC that is below the minimum specifications. This was an unintended bug that caused the game to crash before showing the below minimum specification warning message. Players can once again choose to continue past this warning message, but the expected functionality and visual experience are not guaranteed To learn more about PC hardware specifications, please visit our PC Hardware Specs and Drivers guide on the Halo Support site
Addressed an issue causing Wasp “gun jamming” when playing with the Bumper Jumper control scheme
Cutscenes should no longer replay when relaunching the game
That’s all we’ve got for this preview but remember a full version of the patch notes with additional details will go live on the Halo Support site when the update drops next Wednesday, May 10. And, as always, be sure to give @Halo and @HaloSupport a follow on Twitter to ensure you get the latest Halo news as it happens.
Until then, we’ll see you online for the Site Unseen event!
