It’s no secret that 343 Industries, the lead developer behind Halo, has struggled to meet live service expectations since launching their latest installment Halo Infinite to strong praise back in November 2021. Only a small portion of the 20M+ players there at launch have stuck with the game through its recent ups and downs, but 343i is doing all that it can to correct course and encourage players to step into spartan super suits once again. Following a significant shuffling of leadership this Fall, 343i is now set to launch their largest, most significant update yet with the game’s “Winter Update” set to drop on Tuesday, November 8th. While not labeled as a “season” this one is set to pack quite the punch, here’s a snapshot of what it includes:
Progression: One of the biggest complaints has been around the game’s challenge system and how it makes it both difficult to progress through the battle passes and forces players into playing modes that they don’t want to play. Players can say goodbye to those headaches with a new match xp system being added that will reward players for simply playing the game, while adding in bonuses for strong individual performances and victories. Alongside the new match xp system, challenges are being adjusted to no longer be tied to specific modes and will remain as a way to further boost progression.
Maps: Lack of maps currently available in-game is also very high on the list of things to address for 343i. There are currently only 8 arena maps and 4 big team battle (BTB) maps available, a small selection for a game that has been in “live service” for nearly a year now. That changes in a big way starting with this Winter Update as well. Halo Infinite is set to add “Argyle” to its arena playlist and “Detachment” to its BTB list. In addition to these two, a number of other Forge Council made maps are expected to be added throughout the Winter season with a remake of legendary map “The Pit” set for a December drop. But wait there’s more…the Winter Update will also include a beta version of popular map building platform “Forge” for the community to go hands-on with as well.
Forge: By far the biggest part of the Winter Update, Forge mode stands on a pedestal of its own, offering players a way to contribute to map and mode creation, while opening the doors wide to so much more. Halo 5’s Forge mode was touted as one of the best player content creation tools in the industry and Infinite’s takes it to a whole different level adding in scripting, a considerably larger object budget to draw from, and cool new features like time-of-day selection. If anything can bring Halo back to its prominence in the FPS genre, this is it. 343i has released a four-part video series as well as a Q&A on the new mode; both are worth checking out.
Balance Changes & Matchmaking Improvements: In continuing to improve and grow the game, 343i is also bringing a handful of weapon balance changes in hopes of reinstating less used weapons back into the mix. In addition to these balance changes, bug fixes, and overall server improvements, 343i is also looking to improve the overall matchmaking by allowing players to select their region, improving ranked progression, and enhancing playlist rotational options.
And the crazy part is that this really just scratches the surface. It’s a hefty update that will also include multiple events with unlockables, at least one new mode, a free, 30-tier battle pass, and more. Halo Infinite’s Winter Update is scheduled to drop on Tuesday, November 8th with Season 3 (the game’s first 3-month long season) set for March 2023.
Image from: Xbox
