Halo Infinite News & Patch Notes

Seconds into your first match of Firefight: Gauntlet, you’ll understand the name.

This deviously difficult PvE mode introduces upgradeable attributes, elimination objectives, and auto-scaled difficulty settings to a boss-filled Firefight experience designed to challenge even the toughest Spartans.

Bring your mightiest warriors, because each phase of the Gauntlet is harder than the last.

SLAY TO SURVIVE

As endless enemies rush from all sides, your team’s only hope is to eliminate the bosses in each arena to halt their reinforcements and progress to the next encounter.

Combat ranges through five maps connected by a supply area where you can gather ammo and equipment, roll for power weapons, or level up your personal buffs (Speed, Resistance, Regeneration, and Damage) for the onslaught ahead.

Between rounds, you’ll get a chance to upgrade your stats and kit out before the next attack—so make those choices count! Survive five rounds, and victory is yours.

Pro tip: If you can retrieve the Oddball from the Harbinger, bring it back to the supply zone to activate Skull modifiers and boost everyone’s Personal Score during the match.

Gear up, load out, and hold on for dear life. Play Firefight: Gauntlet with up to four players in Halo Infinite’s Firefight playlist now.

Seconds into your first match of Firefight: Gauntlet, you’ll understand the name.

Bring your mightiest warriors, because each phase of the Gauntlet is harder than the last.

SLAY TO SURVIVE

As endless enemies rush from all sides, your team’s only hope is to eliminate the bosses in each arena to halt their reinforcements and progress to the next encounter.

Between rounds, you’ll get a chance to upgrade your stats and kit out before the next attack—so make those choices count! Survive five rounds, and victory is yours.

Pro tip: If you can retrieve the Oddball from the Harbinger, bring it back to the supply zone to activate Skull modifiers and boost everyone’s Personal Score during the match.

Gear up, load out, and hold on for dear life. Play Firefight: Gauntlet with up to four players in Halo Infinite’s Firefight playlist now.

Welcome to another edition of Forge Features! This series highlights notable maps, modes, and other creations from our talented Forge community. Bookmark your favorites using the links below for your next custom game.

If it can be dreamed, it can be Forged. Our latest community Forge Feature starts with an in-depth look at TSG Warzone, and then genre-hops through space races, nightmare-fuel Infections, historical battles, “objectively” awesome strategy modes, and more!

TSG WARZONE*

Forged by: Okom1, TostEZ28, SilvervioletX98, Unusual Hiccup, spartan blood 1, JoValiant, Implied Skill, CaptainPunch374, Nas

Mode bookmarks: TSG Warzone | TSG Warzone Ultra

Map bookmarks: Skirmish at Darkstar | March on World’s End

After two years of work, The Scripter’s Guild has unveiled TSG Warzone, a lovingly remixed sequel to the Warzone mode featured in Halo 5: Guardians.

Adapted for Halo Infinite’s fast-paced play, this strategic, “12v12 PvPvE” mode features a match-based economy (for buying upgrades, weapons, and abilities), dozens of custom weapons (including new renditions of fan favorites from the original Warzone mode), and a sandbox filled with unique vehicles.

To earn your way to 1,000 points, your team must capture and hold zones or hunt down wild bosses hidden on each map. Hold all three Capture Zones to expose the enemy team’s Core, a power pylon in their home base that awards instant victory if destroyed.

Check out Okom’s mode overview for photos of both TSG Warzone maps, and read more about the mode’s mechanics and features in TSG’s official gameplay guide.

*An incorrect image was previously used to represent this mode. This was updated 4/23/2026 at 1815 PT to reflect the correct version of the map/mode.

SUPERB SLAYERS

Exciting arenas for free-for-all and Team Slayer matches. Use the links to add them to your Halo Infinite bookmarks.

CHAMPIGNON

Forged by: Mr Greencastle

Ever wonder how gnomes settle beefs? Embrace your inner lilliputian with Champignon, a gently climbing 1v1 arena set atop a canopy of overgrown mushrooms. What this map may lack in stature is regained through the good fodder of devious shortcuts and a dense mesh of staggered platforms compacted into its minimal headroom. Talk about a mycelial network!

Relish in the warmth of Mr Greencastle‘s “shroomlight” in the map overview video above.

RACINE

Bookmark this map

Forged by: YuriGloff, White WMen, Outwood5689, Kurtis6666915, Oligor 360, xLoud Mary Jane

This luxurious mountain complex once discreetly housed the corporate offices of various industrial concerns, and now opens its doors to Spartan-on-Spartan violence. Battle through modern furnishings and over glass-lined platforms until all your enemies have joined those defunct companies in the footnotes of history.

MADCAP MINIGAMES

All war and no play makes dull Spartans. Bookmark these minigames for a few laughs!

ALIEN MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: Mustard782

Pile into a Gungoose for a close encounter with intergalactic street racing. Alien Motor Speedway harkens to classic “kart” games with an explosives-laden course, rolling boulders, gravity cannons, speed boosts, and deadly automated defense turrets around the tightest bends. Ram opponents into fusion coils or perforate their fenders with your front-mounted guns to claim your rightful place in the winner’s circle.

DEATH RACE

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: Bperkov, Boosted180

Death Race puts a vertical spin on the “downhill slalom” genre. Survivors must mount up in Razorbacks and climb through a multi-level circuit to reach the top of a massive parking structure and escape. You’ll have heavy weapons handy and plenty of Repair Fields to repair your rig—provided you’ve got time for a pit stop between attacks by Infected!

The Infected team is armed with Heatwaves, Bloodblades, and an uncanny ability to soar through the air and descend on targets with pinpoint precision. Survivors will have to vault up staircases, leap chasms, and tread rickety bridges to reach a ship waiting on the helipad.

OUTBREAK: THE HOSPITAL

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: NinjaB51, Mathmatiqs, Caesar6850, LordVaderAmI, dragons1ayer369

Get ready for a bone-chilling game of hide and seek. In this Infection variant, Survivors find themselves locked inside a Flood-infested hospital as a gang of hungry Infected batter their way in from outside. With precious seconds (and pointy swords) between you and salvation, you can either choose to rove the hospital’s many wards or stay hidden and hope for the best.

FIREFIGHT FRENZY

Looking for a new Firefight map? Check out these PvE picks.

ESTUARY FIREFIGHT

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: Unusual Hiccup, I HaZ A SwAg, BachMaoGR, VocalCurve14096, Spartan1186868, Gamertag1236547,Taylor Qvist

This uplifting “lonely coastline” is about to make some new friends. In Estuary Firefight, you and your Fireteam must splash through the shallows of a tidal basin to defend a massive Forerunner promenade from the Banished. With rocky crags for sniping, plenty of vehicles, and good access to the upper walkway from the ground, you’ll find ample opportunity to turn the tide.

For folks who played Halo 2, this map should look familiar as it’s a reprise of Uplift.

MERIDIAN STATION FIREFIGHT

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: Steve Vengence

Return to the shipping yards of wealthy Meridian! Below the sheer walls of a natural plateau, this otherwise well-protected work site at Meridian Station has come under siege by the Banished. Use the sloped terrain to your advantage, take cover in the fortified courtyard, and try not to damage the merchandise, will ya?

Steve Vengence‘s custom Firefight mode also adds arcade-style perks to reward collaboration. Head into the base at spawn and use Marking to purchase power weapons, access new areas, or repair vehicles in the garage.

HELLBOUND FIREFIGHT

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: SilvervioletX98, Valkitteh

Halo 3′s Snowbound, reimagined for the mud and blood of the Entrenched Fracture. This guts-and-glory remake swaps pristine glacial cliffs and Covenant arrays for an igneous outcropping defended by a battery of AA guns. Grab your trustiest rifle, because the Banished are inbound with waves of bunker-busting baddies.

OBJECTIVELY AWESOME

A collection of Forge maps for strategic modes and objective-based experiences.

ALPHECCA LXVII RIG

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: ALIENWARE M7700

Beyond the lovely detailing and moody uplighting, this hydrofracking rig boasts excellent flow for a number of 4v4 strategic modes. As you traverse its crisscrossed gangways, you’ll encounter constantly changing combat scenarios. One second you’re swabbing the deck with a ranged weapon, and the next you’re maximizing outflows in the tight confines of a control room.

Alphecca LXVII Rig‘s slightly asymmetrical, but linear design supports Oddball and CTF just as well as Husky Raid. So go and get the adrenaline pumping!

OVERLORD

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: Scunion Time

Enter the UNSC Tactical Simulator for a beachfront assault from the annals of military history. On a stretch of war-torn beachfront, the Offense team must pursue multiple mission parameters at once to storm their opponents’ entrenched position.

Clear barricades to create new points of egress for your marine allies, secure all three zones on a line to advance, and get ready to capture the AA guns on the upper cliffs. Defenders must rout the Attackers’ advance by counter-capping points long enough to withstand the onslaught.

AW…SHIP!

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: TJtheForger, ForwardFlip, R1Val Titan, VISSION BASS

Enemy airships have anchored over a tiny island in this intense CTF smash-and-grab experience. With open sightlines, a speed boost power-up atop the pyramid at center, and a hard scramble back to your capture point, Aw… Ship! turns a friendly game of capture the flag into a full contact sport. Mob your carrier to run block—and watch for deep waters! The flag will reset automatically if you let it sink.

Check out R1val Titan’s video overview for insights on strategies, perks, and quirks.

THE MOON

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: BillyForge, Swagonflyy

It’s one small step for maps, one giant leap for CTF. This expansive lunar map features rocky scrambles, multi-level research bases, a hydroponics facility, and delightfully low-gravity antics. After a quick snapshot near the Apollo module, try stomping the competition into moon dust in a game of Big Team Battle.

MIGHTY MISSIONS

Campaign-style missions and other narrative game modes. Jump into any of these Forge creations for a tough co-op battle beside your Fireteam!

THE COSMOLABE

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: Reginaldcide An artifact of immense power, Banshee dogfights, and ruins riven by time… What’s not to love? The Cosmolabe starts with a careful infiltration and quickly ramps up into a multi-point mission with artfully curated encounters. Leapfrog across the airy center and activate panels to reveal new areas as you reclaim the mysterious Cosmolabe from the Banished.

BEYOND THE FRONT

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: samigee93

Ready to drop behind enemy lines and disable a Covenant war spire? Beyond the Front is an infiltration mission designed for the best marksmen of the UNSC. The action starts with a stealth approach through a gulley, hustles through a difficult counter-sniping section, and finally ranges through a ravine chock-full of heavy resistance. This mini-op evokes a “classically evolved” feel that’s perfect for a solo or two-player co-op outing.

Found your work featured here? Fill out this form to claim your exclusive Fire Unicorn emblem and nameplate for Halo Infinite.

Stay tuned for another Forge Feature coming soon! To share your creations with the Halo Infinite community team, be sure to drop a link in the #forge-show-and-tell channel of our official Discord or post to r/Halo using the Forge tag.

All your favorite Halo titles on Steam are currently on sale!

Whether you’re jumping back in or picking up a classic for the first time, now’s a great time to expand your library.

Be sure to check out the full sale here:

https://store.steampowered.com/sale/halofranchisesale2026

While you’re there, make sure to wishlist Halo: Combat Evolved Campaign on Steam so you don’t miss what’s next:

A new turn around the sun warrants more Forging fun! Check out our latest Forge Features showcase of community-made creations, including epic-scale battle modes, multi-part missions, social free-roams, minigames, and more.

SUPERB SLAYERS

Exciting arenas for free-for-all and Team Slayer matches. Use the links to add them to your Halo Infinite bookmarks.

LIMINAL

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: JDzirkus

Liminal is a multicolor sporting arena featuring monogrammed team bases, roving play, and great sightlines at just the right angles. Between its zig-zagging walkways, exposed ramps, and tight corners tailor-made for ‘nade bounces, this training arena leaves little room for error, and ample space for nasty surprises. If you can’t find your quarry, try checking out the interactive mini-map at the heart of things.

TACHYON CORE REACTOR

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: ALIENWARE M7700

This research facility encourages ranged play over the lower floor and theorizes sweaty encounters closer to where the "science gets done." The chamber housing the titular (and titanic) tachyon core reactor may be protected by thick safety shielding, but the empiricists on your Fireteam may discover that the courtyard’s Gungooses fit neatly through the side hatch—scientific consensus be damned.

GOING UP

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: Small Napkins, Ehud2079

Vertigo-inducing verticals reign in this “subnautical” Forerunner facility. To reach the top, you could ride the constantly shifting lifts, skirt through the switchback ramps, or pinball your way over everything using the conveniently placed gravity cannons. Those see-sawing elevators sure have a pesky way of blocking rocket shots across the atrium…

DINOSAUR GULCH

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: BillyForge

Life, uh, finds a way. BillyForge sends us time-traveling to Blood Gulch, frozen sometime in the late Cretaceous, to assail enemies from bases that—upon second glance—appear to be colossal dino nests. Bring your favorite disaffected chaos theorist and shortest shorts, because this reptilian romp guarantees dino-mite delights in Team Slayer, Infection, and Capture the Flag modes.

EMERALDINE

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: Zlitchufdux

Secrets abound in unseen places. Modeled on the unused Grotto multiplayer map exhumed by the Digsite crew, Emeraldine is a remake of a Halo 2 “deep cut" that plays just as nicely with the Halo Infinite sandbox. This mysterious cavern’s sloping tree trunks afford quick access to split-level action in serene surroundings, while the labyrinthine Forerunner structures invite you to confrontations with destiny.

DOUBLE-EDGE

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: ArturBloodshot, Nilphz, PerivanG20

Ready for a classic Slayer feel? In this symmetrical map, combat rages across the sunny and shady sides of one of Zeta Halo’s colossal vertebrae. With wide lanes for vehicle assaults, bridges, and sneaky subterranean passages commodious enough for Warthogs, Double-Edge offers plenty of routes to get the drop on the opposing team.

BIGGEST BATTLES

A collection of large-scale battle modes with ingenious twists!

SKISMA’S HALO ROYALE

Bookmark map. | Bookmark modes: FFA | Teams

Forged by: Skisma

Scavenge and survive. Halo Royale is exactly what’s written on the box, set in a massive map located along the fractured spine of Zeta Halo. Drop from your Pelican and scrounge up a weapon—because you’re going to need one when the walls close in!

Featuring multiple biomes, collectible armor upgrades, custom abilities, PvE encounters, and randomly shrinking play areas, Skisma’s multi-year project culminates in a “battle royale” experience that will separate the “lore accurate” Spartans from the conveniently plot-armored. Spike your heart rate for the drop with Skisma’s epic launch trailer (embedded above).

HALO HEROES

Bookmark map. | Bookmark modes: KOTH | Strongholds

Forged by: Occur

Halo Heroes is a strategic mode offering class-based combat—with tailored loadouts, modified movement, and ludicrous perks for each of its distinctive classes.

Play revolves around a three-story temple, with Capture Zones at either end and roving enemies patrolling the outskirts. Aided by Grunt allies, your team must work together to seize and hold Capture Zones to earn points toward victory. Dispatch pesky minibosses to claim extra points or persistent buffs, and be prepared to switch classes on the fly to counter the enemy team.

Check out Halo Heroes in both King of the Hill and Strongholds variants.

CLOSE AND CASUAL

A collection of smaller Forge maps for less tactical, highly impractical outings with friends.

SNOWDRIFT

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: Stringhead9743, BlueSaturnV, Tairo 420, ArkhamKnight913

After touring the “mad scientist” laboratories, snowy courtyards, and the unassuming mess hall, the next thing you’ll probably notice about Snowdrift is the sheer preponderance of fusion coils everywhere you look. The resident scientists of this arctic research base appear to have received a grant to learn how to make one confined area as explosive as possible. Pair this map with FFA Fiesta and let the sparks fly.

BEACH HOUSE PARTY

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: MeatCannon72

Beat the winter blues with a surfside escape! Beach House Party invites you to enjoy the serenity of low tide from an oceanfront home dripping with the vice of a bygone decade. Linger beneath the vaporwave-flavored moonset, exchange a few choice words in the rumpus room, or head to the attached garage for a breathless encounter with a stranger.

With the action intimately bounded to your private pleasure palace, this map is perfect for tense tête-à-têtes or medium-size FFA Fiesta mixers.

HOTEL ROOM 027

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: SidewardWinner, Noticed458, DriftKing061910, Tyl4rgaming

A luxury suite can fetch a hefty price in this town, but who knew you’d have to fight your way in? Hotel 027 is a remake of a fan-favorite Halo 5: Guardians community map (originally designed by Lin#027) that adds an ample corridor for weapons-free fisticuffs. Check in, thrust your way to the room, and “express checkout” anyone who tries to jump on your bed.

MADCAP MINIGAMES

All war and no play makes dull Spartans. Bookmark these minigames for a few laughs!

MAGMA-NIFICENT

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: tippletine, Small Napkins

The floor is lava—literally! In Magma-nificent, a team of Survivors must leapfrog through a parkour-style course suspended high over molten rock before an Infected Falcon heaves you into the cooking pot. The jumps aren’t easy to begin with, but the persistent threat of getting squashed or jettisoned definitely “ups the ante.” Use your plasma pistol to ruffle the Falcon’s feathers and get moving!

BATTLESHIP

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: TeamShowStoppa, Okom1, spartan blood 1, Scrubulba, Virus11010, Mr IncrediJON, Handsome Huber, MrsSizzlin

New sabotage mission! Two enemy battleships are harbored just over that bridge. Whether you take to the skies or assault from the ground, your team will need to systematically destroy weak points on both ships to claim victory. If the Defenders can keep the raiding party at bay with the help of their fixed Scorpion “cannons,” they might just live to float on.

WHATCHAMACALLIT 1982

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: RockyRambos, Tlan Atolm

(Mac)ready up. They found something under the ice—and boy, can it move!

Cheating at chess is the least of your problems in this desolate Infection variant inspired by a horror feature from another famous “John.” Between the pilot’s lonely watch tower, the burning body in the yard, and a crashed helicopter, cinephiles will find plenty of Easter eggs hidden throughout the map (provided they haven’t been assimilated yet).

PERILOUS PURSUITS

Race courses for “cops-and-robbers” Infection modes. Play both of these maps with the "Hot Pursuit Skilled Only" mode by Tyrant Hacker and Aversive Sphinx, and check out more perilous pursuits in Forge Features #34!

GRUNT CITY

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: UnknownEmerald, The5thLAment, III FRIJOLEROS

It’s another hot night in Grunt City—but those fleeing perps aren’t sweating the law! Hit the magenta-hued slopes of an urban Unggoy metropolis and jump through hoops (floating teleporters) to catch troublemakers before they can escape. Watch out for the peaceful denizens of Grunt City waddling on the sidewalk around the turns, and don’t be surprised if you end up in the frigid methane lake.

ARCHON

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: Kione9796, Reconshot 23

Even Forerunner installations need security. Defend the ecumene from pesky bandits in this deviously complex course! What should be a relatively straightforward pursuit is complicated by lateral gravity cannons and narrow off-ramps spanning the central concourse. The moat is just as lethal to cops as to robbers, but the agile escapees might have more luck than their pursuers on the skinnier bridges.

MIGHTY MISSIONS

Jump into any of these narrative Forge creations for a tough co-op battle! This entry’s selections focus on two “raid-style” campaigns best completed with a full Fireteam.

SHARD OF ASCENSION

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: MadmanEpic

Shard of Ascension is a truly ambitious project. Inspired by the raids of a certain “fated” FPS from some of Halo’s creators, this campaign-style mission tells the story of a Spartan strike team dispatched to a broken shard of Alpha Halo in orbit around a distant sun.

Gameplay is broken into four, increasingly devious “encounters” that will test your mind and mettle. In the first encounter, your team must disable an energy gate by destroying three generators using an orbital laser. To dodge death from above, you’ll have to play “hot potato” with a targeting beacon while a crew of Iratus-Infected Spartans rushes you.

During subsequent encounters, you’ll need to cross a chasm while one of your teammates constructs ephemeral hardlight bridges from a control room, withstand Iratus’s attempts to hack your armor, and platform through deep space using Repulsor jumps.

When Iratus gains control of the orbital laser, you’ll need to follow closely behind as one of your teammates pilots a special cloaking Mongoose to throw him off your scent. If you can make it all the way to the top, you’re in for a tough boss fight against Iratus as he replaces your allies with lumbering Spartan zombies.

Check out the video embedded above for an in-depth walkthrough from creator MadmanEpic.

FALL OF ALEXANDRIA

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: Frostmear, Handsome Huber

New Alexandria has fallen. UNSC forces have been ordered to evacuate the city, but it could be a real hike.

Ascend to great heights and shatter the Covenant ground forces through a sprawling cityscape campaign. Featuring aerial encounters, risky platforming sections, and a final, nigh-impossible boss fight at the top of a skyscraper, Raid: Fall of Alexandria promises all the adrenaline of a desperate escape and more.

STRICTLY SOCIAL

A collection of social maps for hanging out, roleplaying, or free-roaming with friends.

SANGHEILI SOCIAL

Forged by: Razo Revam, Juza Dy Nragam, Cheddar WlZ, LASTZOMVE, FF Duko

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Sangheili Social is a curious map set within a kaidon’s clan holding. To conduct your diplomatic affairs, you’ll first need to disembark from your Phantom and proceed through a lush jungle seeking an audience with the rightful lords of a palatial estate on the other side.

Once you’ve crossed the threshold (and cast a respectful glance at the hieroglyphic history etched in the façade), the great halls of the kaidon’s keep offer Sangheili roleplayers a place to sojourn, collect weapons to defend their sacred soil, and challenge would-be claimants to the throne to mortal swordplay in two beautiful dueling stages.

SOCIAL CUP FREE ROAM

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: SQUISHIER BREAD

A ginormous map featuring a small city and its alpine surroundings. Social Cup Free Roam boasts many notable eccentricities, from discoverable loot crates and score-based weapon shops (run by uncommonly friendly Banished!) to a thought-provoking “cup-themed” art installation and a death-proof “Friend Zone” for socializing.

When you tire of city life, hop in a Hornet to explore just about anywhere you like in the chilly surroundings. The glacial peaks opposite the city make for the perfect complement to a wintry walk with a newfound friend!

SILLY SCENERY

Here’s a selection of funny bookmarks for the next after-hours customs sesh.

Paper Company CTF Firefight

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: IcyAsh3956, MeatShieldThis, DOC7007, ComanderProwl89, The Irony, DISTORTED JAKAL

Cue the talking-head confessional, because the Banished have besieged a dowdy little paper company!

Spartans Jim and Dwight must race into action to reclaim corporate’s stolen flags from the break room—and hopefully avoid running afoul of human resources. Defend Scranton’s proudest 26th century office-supply outfit to earn that coveted promotion to “Assistant to the Spartan Commander.” (Just watch out for the spilled chili by reception.)

CLOCK TOWN KOTH

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: HappyMajora

The Carnival of Time is in town for three days only! Based on a village from a certain time-hopping hero’s second foray into the third dimension, HappyMajora’s delightfully lo-fi recreation features plenty of nostalgic Easter eggs for fans to encounter. Link up with your Fireteam to save the festivities in Firefight: King of the Hill.

TUTORIAL: COVENANT REBORN

RunicDejavu offers a comprehensive how-to guide on cloning Forge Objects and duping enemy projectiles to create working Covenant turrets, mortar cannons, and deployable enemy spawners in your own Forge creations.

Found your work featured here? Fill out this form to claim your exclusive Fire Unicorn emblem and nameplate for Halo Infinite.

To celebrate all the Spartans in our Halo Infinite Fireteam, Operation: Infinite introduces a 100-tier free Operation Pass featuring three full armor sets and a 100-tier Premium Pass offering five more sets, six weapon models, and over 30 exclusive Spartan customizations.

Upgrade to the Premium Pass at any time to transfer your tier progress from the free Operation Pass and earn your way to eight full sets.

Halo Infinite’s last planned multiplayer update also welcomes permanent progression boosts, new maps, refreshed Ranked Seasons, over 200 never-before-seen customizations arriving in The Exchange, and more!

Steady on, Spartan. The future is Infinite.

OPERATION PASS

The missions may change, but these Operation Passes are here to stay. Operation: Infinite’s 100-tier Operation Passes have no expiration date, meaning their armor sets, customizations, and Spartan Points can be earned at any time.

Likewise, the 100-tier Premium Pass—offering five exclusive armor sets, instant unlocks, and a heroic assortment of Spartan customizations—can be purchased indefinitely.

FREE OPERATION PASS

Three new armor sets await in Operation: Infinite’s free Operation Pass. Complete all 100 tiers at your leisure to unlock the Serpin, Seeker, and Adamant armor sets, plus a champion’s purse of coatings, rewards, and Spartan customizations.

As you complete all 100 tiers, you’ll also unlock the Questing Sky, Celestite Sparkle, Unbroken Defender, and Silent Snow armor coatings, Icicle Falls visor, Blackened Steel weapon coating, and the terminally chill Respect stance.

See all armor sets in the Operation: Infinite preview.

PREMIUM OPERATION PASS

The 100-tier Premium Operation Pass features five earnable armor sets, six all-new weapon models, instant unlocks, and over 30 Spartan customizations you won’t find anywhere else.

Check out our Community Livestream to see all five armor sets and more exclusive customizations only available in Operation: Infinite’s Premium Operation Pass.

See all armor sets in the Operation: Infinite preview.

Upgrade to the Premium Operation Pass to instantly unlock the Charged Quill Shock Rifle weapon model and the Phoenix Gold weapon coating.

Operation: Infinite’s Premium Operation Pass can be purchased at any time. Once acquired, you’ll instantly carry over your tier progress from Operation: Infinite’s free Operation Pass and permanently unlock bonus XP and an additional challenge slot.

2 NEW MAPS

Get tactical in a new Ranked map and cozy up to a festive Husky hideaway just in time for the Halodays!

YULETIDE

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: Sikamikanico, bullet2thehead9, Whos Blaze

Set in a quiet, alpine village nestled beneath the Northern Lights, Yuletide gift-wraps the warm glow of streetlights, freshly fallen snow, and the aimless smoke of a familiar hearth together in one beautifully serene package—and shatters it with mercilessly merry Husky combat.

Yuletide is available in Husky Raid and Super Husky Raid modes in the Quick Play playlist.

VACANCY

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: MikRips, Ethan Hibbs

On a quiet square sits the Hotel Kijani, a modest inn baked into its surroundings by years of mid-afternoon heat. Hours after the markets have closed, when the alleyways and busy thoroughfares have emptied, and long shadows begin to grow on the crested archways of this storied city—only then do warriors strafe its scenic courtyards in pursuit of glory.

Vacancy is available in Ranked Arena, Slayer, Doubles, and select rotational modes.

PROGRESSION UPDATES

We’ve updated two core progression mechanics to make playing Halo Infinite more rewarding than ever! Starting today, you’ll earn 2X SP on Daily Challenges and Weekly Ultimate Rewards, and progress twice as fast through Career Ranks thanks to doubled Applied Score multipliers on every matchmaking playlist.

Check out our Operation: Infinite preview for more details and a rundown on what to expect for the 25th anniversary of Halo: Combat Evolved.

FREE LOG-IN UNLOCK

As the 25th anniversary of Halo: Combat Evolved approaches, we look forward to celebrating Halo’s universe, community, and enduring legacy with you throughout next year.

To kick things off, look for a free customization bundle to arrive in January as an instant log-in unlock for all Halo Infinite players, containing all these never-before-released items:

25th Anniversary Nameplate
GEN XII Vehicle Coating
Access Denied Armor Coating
Lifegivers Hex Weapon Coating
Ring Breaker Weapon Charm
Zeta Emissary Nameplate
Zeta Trailblazer Nameplate

Play Halo Infinite anytime in 2026 to unlock the anniversary bundle!

THE SHOP

As we bid adieu to four years of Halo Infinite multiplayer updates, the sentimental caretakers of The Shop have forged fitting testaments to three of Halo’s legendary villains—and one fiendish incarnation straight from the Covenant’s nightmares.

DEFIANT BUNDLE

Prove your legend with the Defiant bundle, featuring arcane weaponry, an exclusive death effect, and armor sets inspired by Halo Infinite’s enigmatic Harbinger and the demoniac Spartan awaiting her beyond the mortal plane.

Deimos: First conjured in the Prophets’ sermons of fear, the wrathful silhouette of DEIMOS has now been forged in the heat of glassed cities to deliver absolution as an emblem of humanity’s wrath. Give your foes the horns with the Flawless Sentinel helmet attachment, and add a touch of damnation with the Fiendbane Raiment armor coating.

Exorcist Mutilator: Cleanse corruption with the holy fire of the Exorcist Mutilator weapon model and the Fiendbane’s Blessing weapon coating.

When you’re finished hellraising, opt for a greener hue to rock a saintlier look inspired by the Master Chief’s armor in Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn.

Sibyl: Emissaries of the Endless don the Sibyl armor set to perceive the truths between spaces and heighten their kinship with the unseen. It has proven uniquely suitable for dispelling Forerunner lies, especially when deployed in harmonic resonance with the Harbinger of Truth armor coating.

Kylixian Heatwave: The destined weapon of those who whisper truths. Enshroud thy innermost intent in the Final Codex weapon coating, and pay homage to your Xalanyn mistress with the Chibi Harbinger weapon charm.

Meteor Fall: Pummel your enemies with fiery darts from beyond the stars with the bundle-exclusive Meteor Fall death effect set.

Defy the odds with the Defiant bundle, containing the Deimos and Sibyl armor sets, Fiendbane Raiment and Harbinger of Truth armor coatings, Exorcist Mutilator and Kylixian Heatwave weapon models, Fiendbane’s Blessing and Final Codex weapon coatings, Chibi Harbinger weapon charm, and the exclusive Meteor Fall death effect set.

Available in The Shop now through January 5, 2026.

RECOMPILED FOES

Two of the Master Chief’s bitterest enemies now play sweetly together in the Recompiled Foes bundle, featuring a tag-team of the Escharum-inspired Dominarch and a Cavalier take on Cortana’s eternal knight from Halo 5: Guardians.

Dominarch: Gird yourself in the unbroken pride of the Banished! The Dominarch armor set echoes the glory of Escharum, fallen but not forgotten, whose legacy shall live on in awe-struck whispers across a thousand worlds. March to unrelenting war in the Blood and Iron armor coating.

Hopebreaker Mutilator: Abandon hope, ye down the barrel. The Hopebreaker Mutilator’s burning crest announces its dominion most mightily against the sepulchral hues of the Deliverance Denied weapon coating, or when bearing the immortal leer of the Chibi Escharum weapon charm.

Cavalier: Echoes of the dead replicate ceaselessly in defense of the Domain, and at the gates proudly stands the Cavalier, ever watchful in its vigil against unworthy lusts for sacred knowledge. Clad in the heraldic Mantle’s Duality armor coating, those who shoulder its timeless burden shall bring all others to kneel.

Riftwave Heatwave: A precision instrument for unprejudicial composition. Spread the ancient message of your makers with the Promethean Shell weapon coating.

Perfect Decomposition: When will they understand that composition is a mercy? Leave no trace of your foes’ corporeal forms with the bundle-exclusive Perfect Decomposition death effect set.

Join forces with the Recompiled Foes bundle now through January 5, 2026.

2026 SHOP CALENDAR

Customization bundles from past Shop updates and Premium Operation Passes will return in a monthly rotation of remixed bundle configurations throughout 2026. As always, formerly featured premium customizations can be purchased directly through the Armor Hall by previewing an item and visiting its bundle in The Shop.

THE EXCHANGE

We’ve added over 200 never-before-released accessories, coatings, charms, visors, and other Spartan necessities to The Exchange!

In addition to the four armor bundles commemorating ten years of Halo 5: Guardians, Operation: Infinite’s Exchange drop debuts the earnable Whisper, Lancer, and Dirgesinger armor sets released in the Fall Update.

NAME

TYPE

FROM

Hunter

Bundle

Halo 5: Guardians 10th Anniversary

Helljumper

Bundle

Halo 5: Guardians 10th Anniversary

Copperhead

Bundle

Halo 5: Guardians 10th Anniversary

Shinobi

Bundle

Halo 5: Guardians 10th Anniversary

Ghost of Reach

Bundle

FLEETCOM

Whisper

Helmet

Shadows

TACAIR XMU

Helmet Attachment

Shadows

UTIL/Paradigm Terminal

Shoulderpads

Shadows

WILLOWKEY II

Chest Gear

Shadows

UTIL/IWNH-2559

Hip Gear

Shadows

TAC/PODA

Wrist Gear

Shadows

UA/Type WHSP

Kneepads

Shadows

Midnight Whisper

Armor Coating

Shadows

Lancer

Helmet

Warpath

Advanced Bevor

Helmet Attachment

Warpath

Advanced Gardbrace

Shoulderpads

Warpath

Advanced Plackart

Chest Gear

Warpath

Lancer’s Belt

Hip Gear

Warpath

Advanced Vambrace

Wrist Gear

Warpath

UA/Type LCR

Kneepads

Warpath

UEG Regalia

Armor Coating

Warpath

Dirgesinger

Helmet

Haloween II

Depthless Messenger

Helmet Gear

Haloween II

True Mantle

Shoulders

Haloween II

Tangent Caress

Chest Gear

Haloween II

Blighted Vitality

Hip Gear

Haloween II

Gravestone Growth

Wrist Gear

Haloween II

Erupting Growth

Kneepads

Haloween II

Veteran Steel

Armor Coating

Haloween II

Hundreds of free customizations from previous Operations, Seasons, Events, and Fractures have now made their way to The Exchange! Dig into 2X SP now to flex a new Spartan ‘fit.

PLAYER RESOURCES

To help new and returning players navigate the constellated cosmos of Halo Infinite, we’ve compiled a list of useful resources below. Visit these links for detailed information on all multiplayer playlists, an overview of game modes, patch notes, and more:

Join the official Halo Discord server.
Read the patch notes for Operation: Infinite.
Check out all multiplayer matchmaking playlists.
Read descriptions for multiplayer modes in Halo Infinite.
Learn about creating custom maps and modes in Forge.

If you’re discovering Halo Infinite for the first time, visit our Campaign, Multiplayer, and Forge pages to discover all the different ways to play.

SUPPORT

Run into a bug, glitch, or unexpected issue? Submit a ticket to Halo Support.

You can submit tickets on a wide range of topics that includes reports of audio issues, crashes, game-save corruption, general bug reports, and more.

PRESS KIT

Download the Operation: Infinite press kit.

Upgrade to the Premium Pass at any time to transfer your tier progress from the free Operation Pass and earn your way to eight full sets.

Steady on, Spartan. The future is Infinite.

OPERATION PASS

Likewise, the 100-tier Premium Pass—offering five exclusive armor sets, instant unlocks, and a heroic assortment of Spartan customizations—can be purchased indefinitely.

FREE OPERATION PASS

See all armor sets in the Operation: Infinite preview.

PREMIUM OPERATION PASS

The 100-tier Premium Operation Pass features five earnable armor sets, six all-new weapon models, instant unlocks, and over 30 Spartan customizations you won’t find anywhere else.

Check out our Community Livestream to see all five armor sets and more exclusive customizations only available in Operation: Infinite’s Premium Operation Pass.

See all armor sets in the Operation: Infinite preview.

Upgrade to the Premium Operation Pass to instantly unlock the Charged Quill Shock Rifle weapon model and the Phoenix Gold weapon coating.

2 NEW MAPS

Get tactical in a new Ranked map and cozy up to a festive Husky hideaway just in time for the Halodays!

YULETIDE

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: Sikamikanico, bullet2thehead9, Whos Blaze

Yuletide is available in Husky Raid and Super Husky Raid modes in the Quick Play playlist.

VACANCY

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: MikRips, Ethan Hibbs

Vacancy is available in Ranked Arena, Slayer, Doubles, and select rotational modes.

PROGRESSION UPDATES

Check out our Operation: Infinite preview for more details and a rundown on what to expect for the 25th anniversary of Halo: Combat Evolved.

FREE LOG-IN UNLOCK

As the 25th anniversary of Halo: Combat Evolved approaches, we look forward to celebrating Halo’s universe, community, and enduring legacy with you throughout next year.

To kick things off, look for a free customization bundle to arrive in January as an instant log-in unlock for all Halo Infinite players, containing all these never-before-released items:

25th Anniversary Nameplate
GEN XII Vehicle Coating
Access Denied Armor Coating
Lifegivers Hex Weapon Coating
Ring Breaker Weapon Charm
Zeta Emissary Nameplate
Zeta Trailblazer Nameplate

Play Halo Infinite anytime in 2026 to unlock the anniversary bundle!

THE SHOP

DEFIANT BUNDLE

Exorcist Mutilator: Cleanse corruption with the holy fire of the Exorcist Mutilator weapon model and the Fiendbane’s Blessing weapon coating.

When you’re finished hellraising, opt for a greener hue to rock a saintlier look inspired by the Master Chief’s armor in Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn.

Meteor Fall: Pummel your enemies with fiery darts from beyond the stars with the bundle-exclusive Meteor Fall death effect set.

Available in The Shop now through January 5, 2026.

RECOMPILED FOES

Riftwave Heatwave: A precision instrument for unprejudicial composition. Spread the ancient message of your makers with the Promethean Shell weapon coating.

Perfect Decomposition: When will they understand that composition is a mercy? Leave no trace of your foes’ corporeal forms with the bundle-exclusive Perfect Decomposition death effect set.

Join forces with the Recompiled Foes bundle now through January 5, 2026.

2026 SHOP CALENDAR

THE EXCHANGE

We’ve added over 200 never-before-released accessories, coatings, charms, visors, and other Spartan necessities to The Exchange!

NAME

TYPE

FROM

Hunter

Bundle

Halo 5: Guardians 10th Anniversary

Helljumper

Bundle

Halo 5: Guardians 10th Anniversary

Copperhead

Bundle

Halo 5: Guardians 10th Anniversary

Shinobi

Bundle

Halo 5: Guardians 10th Anniversary

Ghost of Reach

Bundle

FLEETCOM

Whisper

Helmet

Shadows

TACAIR XMU

Helmet Attachment

Shadows

UTIL/Paradigm Terminal

Shoulderpads

Shadows

WILLOWKEY II

Chest Gear

Shadows

UTIL/IWNH-2559

Hip Gear

Shadows

TAC/PODA

Wrist Gear

Shadows

UA/Type WHSP

Kneepads

Shadows

Midnight Whisper

Armor Coating

Shadows

Lancer

Helmet

Warpath

Advanced Bevor

Helmet Attachment

Warpath

Advanced Gardbrace

Shoulderpads

Warpath

Advanced Plackart

Chest Gear

Warpath

Lancer’s Belt

Hip Gear

Warpath

Advanced Vambrace

Wrist Gear

Warpath

UA/Type LCR

Kneepads

Warpath

UEG Regalia

Armor Coating

Warpath

Dirgesinger

Helmet

Haloween II

Depthless Messenger

Helmet Gear

Haloween II

True Mantle

Shoulders

Haloween II

Tangent Caress

Chest Gear

Haloween II

Blighted Vitality

Hip Gear

Haloween II

Gravestone Growth

Wrist Gear

Haloween II

Erupting Growth

Kneepads

Haloween II

Veteran Steel

Armor Coating

Haloween II

Hundreds of free customizations from previous Operations, Seasons, Events, and Fractures have now made their way to The Exchange! Dig into 2X SP now to flex a new Spartan ‘fit.

PLAYER RESOURCES

Join the official Halo Discord server.
Read the patch notes for Operation: Infinite.
Check out all multiplayer matchmaking playlists.
Read descriptions for multiplayer modes in Halo Infinite.
Learn about creating custom maps and modes in Forge.

If you’re discovering Halo Infinite for the first time, visit our Campaign, Multiplayer, and Forge pages to discover all the different ways to play.

SUPPORT

Run into a bug, glitch, or unexpected issue? Submit a ticket to Halo Support.

You can submit tickets on a wide range of topics that includes reports of audio issues, crashes, game-save corruption, general bug reports, and more.

PRESS KIT

Download the Operation: Infinite press kit.

As we look back on four years of evolution and updates in Halo Infinite, we’d like to thank our community for your steadfast support. Without your feedback and enthusiasm, Halo Infinite multiplayer would not be the special place it is today: a robust arena for slaying and playing, with something for every Spartan.

With multiple Halo titles in development, we’ll need our whole team’s combined focus to deliver new experiences with the same passion and care that our community has given us. While we remain committed to supporting Halo Infinite on the road ahead, Operation: Infinite is the last major content update currently planned.

Starting November 18, Operation: Infinite will introduce a 2X boosts on Career Rank and SP, 100-tier Operation Pass, eight earnable armor sets, new Ranked Seasons, and 200 never-before-released customizations arriving in The Exchange.

Jump into Operation: Infinite on November 18.

A “perfectly perfect” pair of progression updates awaits! On November 18, we’ll double the earning rate for both Career Rank and Spartan Points to make each match of Halo Infinite more rewarding than ever.

2X Career Rank Progress

Starting in Operation: Infinite, the Applied Score multipliers for all matchmaking playlists will be doubled so that players can progress twice as fast through Career Ranks.

Upon completing matches in Halo Infinite, your match-based Personal Score gets factored into an Applied Score multiplier to generate Career Rank progress from your heroic exploits. With a 2X boost on every matchmaking playlist, you’ll climb ranks on the double.

Reach the maximum level of Hero, and you’ll unlock the coveted Mark VI armor kit as worn by the Master Chief in the Halo Infinite Campaign.

2X Spartan Point Rewards

If you’ve been admiring something shiny in The Exchange, get ready to splurge!

Halo Infinite players will soon earn twice as many Spartan Points (SP) for completing any match-based Daily Challenge that awards SP. Weekly Ultimate Rewards (earned by completing all Weekly Challenges) will also be doubled to 2,000 SP—making one mighty bonus for champion challenge-seekers.

OPERATION PASS OVERVIEW

The missions may change, but these Operation Passes are here to stay. Operation: Infinite’s free, 100-tier Operation Pass and 100-tier Premium Pass have no planned expiration date.

Upgrade to the 100-tier Premium Pass to transfer your Operation: Infinite progress and earn your way to five more unique armor sets, six weapon models, and over 30 exclusive Spartan customizations. That’s eight total armor sets up for grabs!

FREE OPERATION PASS

Three new armor sets await in Halo Infinite’s final free Operation Pass. Complete all 100 tiers at your leisure to unlock the following exclusive armor sets, plus a champion’s purse of coatings, rewards, and Spartan customizations.

Serpin: Kaidon Thel ‘Vadam grants the rank of Serpin to Spartans who have proven their loyalty and martial prowess in battle beside the Swords of Sanghelios. The master-crafted Serpin regalia betokens their esteem among Sangheili.

Seeker: Lethbridge Industrial’s GEN 2 SEEKER armor set contains state-of-the-art distortion and sensor technology to ensure that you can always find your target—but they’ll never know what hit ‘em.

Adamant: Cultivated from a flake of Forerunner crystal, the ADAMANT unit’s lab-grown layers resonate harmoniously with ancient mechanisms and instantaneously forge compatible interfaces with Mjolnir systems.

As you climb through this Operation’s lofty 100 reward tiers, you’ll also unlock the Silent Snow armor coating, Icicle Falls visor, Blackened Steel weapon coating, and the terminally chill Respect stance.

PREMIUM OPERATION PASS

The 100-tier Premium Operation Pass features five additional earnable armor sets, six all-new weapon models, and over 30 Spartan customizations you won’t find anywhere else.

Artificer: The totemic gaze of the Artificer reveals multitudes of overlaid meanings that only its bearer may parse. Each interlocking piece of its indecipherable whole is a potsherd sculpted through reverent contemplations on war.

Seedwarden: A reclaimed instrument of long-promised legacy. The Seedwarden’s nascent abilities may be inscrutable to Executors and other infolife, but its capacity as a weapon of war pales in comparison to its lifegiving potential.

Kobold: Models from the KOBOLD combat drone series are interoperable with most GEN2 Mjolnir armor cores through specialized jockey frames. This armor can be outfitted with a tactical chassis for autonomous combat or operated remotely via telepresence.

Phoenix: The PHOENIX is an artistic expression of the bold anima that drives Meyer’s visionary engineers to continuously redefine armored combat. Enhanced with energy dispersion technology, it is the ideal armor for rising from the ashes.

First Vanguard: Though unlikely, a Spartan adopted into a Sangheili clan may rise to the rank of Kaidon—and become First Vanguard of their lands in times of war. This armor is cast with soil from the Kaidon’s lands, as a reminder of their sacred duty.

Beyond the armor sets listed above, Premium Pass operators can earn six weapon models, nine weapon coatings, three vehicle coatings, five weapon charms, and more exclusive customizations only available in Operation: Infinite’s Premium Operation Pass.

Get a sneak peek at Operation: Infinite’s Premium Pass in our Community Livestream!

INSTANT PREMIUM UNLOCKS

Upgrade to the Premium Operation Pass to instantly unlock the Charged Quill Shock Rifle weapon model and the Phoenix Gold weapon coating.

EXCHANGE UPDATES

Operation: Infinite’s Exchange drop will debut over 200 never-before-released armor pieces, armor attachments, coatings, charms, visors, and other Spartan necessities!

In addition to the armor bundles added to commemorate ten years of Halo 5: Guardians, the earnable Whisper, Lancer, and Dirgesinger armor sets released in the Fall Update will also arrive in The Exchange on November 18.

With hundreds of free customizations available in The Exchange, including items from previous Operations, Events, and Fractures, there are millions of potential Spartan suit-ups to choose from. If you missed out on completing an armor set, take advantage of 2X Spartan Points to claim the rest!

PLAYLIST UPDATES

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: Sikamikanico, bullet2thehead9, Whos Blaze

The Halodays come early for Husky Raiders! A festive map, Yuletide, has been added to Husky Raid and Super Husky Raid modes in the Quick Play playlist.

Look for Yuletide in the Quick Play playlist starting November 18.

RANKED UPDATES

Bragging rights are forever. Operation: Infinite introduces a new asymmetrical map for select Ranked modes and a fresh Ranked Seasons calendar to keep your skills sharp.

NEW MAP: VACANCY

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: MikRips, Ethan Hibbs

On a quiet square sits the Hotel Kijani, a cozy, but modest inn practically baked into its surroundings by years of mid-afternoon heat. Hours after the markets have closed, when the last fruit truck has packed away its wares, the alleyway staircases and typically busy thoroughfares have emptied, and long shadows begin to grow on the crested archways of this storied city—only then do warriors strafe its scenic courtyards in pursuit of glory.

You can check in anytime you like, but you can never leave.

Vacancy arrives in Ranked Arena, Ranked Slayer, Ranked Doubles, and select ranked rotational playlists on November 18, 2025.

RANKED SEASONS

More Ranked Seasons are on their way. Every few months, skilled tacticians will get the chance to secure a spot on the seasonal leaderboard and claim exclusive Spartan customizations from a new slate of Ranked Rewards before Competitive Skill Rank (CSR) values reset at the conclusion of each Ranked Season.

During Ranked Seasons, the Ranked Rotational playlist will periodically change to offer fresh challenges with a mix of strategic, throwback, and tactical modes.

The next Ranked Season begins November 18.

HALO INFINITE ROADMAP

Operation: Infinite may be the last major update currently planned for Halo Infinite, but we’re fully committed to supporting players with exciting challenges, ranked rewards, and community events throughout next year and beyond.

Challenges: Halo Infinite players will continue to find a rotating selection of Daily and Weekly Challenges that offer a variety of ways to level up your Career Rank, progress through Operation Passes, and earn Spartan Points (SP).
Ranked Seasons: A new slate of Ranked Seasons awaits. The Ranked Rotational playlist (the fourth Ranked matchmaking playlist after Ranked Arena, Slayer, and Doubles) will continue to change formats periodically to offer a fresh challenge.
Halo at DreamHack: Halo returns to DreamHack. Get tickets now to DreamHack Birmingham (March 27–29, 2026) and DreamHack Atlanta (May 15–17, 2026) to experience all the artistry, cosplay, and esports excellence on display at one of gaming’s greatest expos.
Halo Fest: Join us December 2026 in Seattle for a convention celebrating Halo’s community and iconic legacy. Read more details below! Tickets go on sale December 10, 2025 at

HaloFest.com

THANK YOU FROM HALO STUDIOS

As the Halo Studios team shifts focus to in-development projects such as Halo: Campaign Evolved, we’d like to thank our Halo Infinite players for years of steadfast support.

It’s been a legendary run of Seasons, Events, Fractures, and Operations, with plenty of maps, modes, sandbox additions, Forge tool upgrades, and incredible memories along the way. None of those milestones would have been possible without the guidance and enthusiasm of our community.

Between the players lobbing stickies in matchmaking, the pros tearing up the Ranked leaderboards, and the Forgers expanding Halo’s multiplayer mythos with remarkable experiences, each and every Halo fan has helped to create this unforgettable moment. Thanks to your support, Halo Infinite features nearly endless ways to have fun, share Forge creations, and lay a Spartan smackdown on your friends.

Your excitement is the lodestar for our every effort. Whether you’re a long-time player, a recently returned Spartan, or a brand-new ally, we’re grateful to have you on our Fireteam.

As we look ahead, your feedback will continue to help us refine our goals, in hopes of exceeding expectations and delivering the best Halo experiences possible. Throughout our day, we look to your suggestions, your art, and even your memes as constant reminders of our dual commitment to faithfully stewarding Halo’s legacy and forging its future.

Since formally announcing Halo: Campaign Evolved in October, we’ve been floored by the response from both longtime fans and Halo newcomers. We’re humbled by the trust you’ve placed in us, and we can’t wait to introduce new players to the iconic story of Halo: Combat Evolved for the first time in 2026.

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF HALO

As the 25th anniversary of Halo: Combat Evolved approaches, we look forward to celebrating Halo’s universe, community, and enduring legacy with you all next year.

If you missed your chance to join us for this year’s Halo World Championship, don’t miss out on Halo Fest in December 2026. The event begins with an orchestral performance of iconic Halo music, in concert for one night only, followed by a two-day convention celebrating Halo’s legacy, story, and unrivaled community. We hope to see you there!

Halo Fest tickets go on sale December 10, 2025 at HaloFest.com.

Stay tuned to Halo Waypoint for retrospectives, reminiscences, and more info on Halo: Campaign Evolved in 2026—and don’t miss Operation: Infinite, launching November 18.

Whether you joined us in Seattle or on our live broadcast, we’d like to thank everyone in the Halo community for making this year’s Halo World Championship in Seattle such an unforgettable experience.

Between swapping stories with Halo fans, watching elite Halo Infinite players duke it out on the main stage, announcing Halo: Campaign Evolved, and seeing our community raise a whopping $67,000 for Gamers Outreach, it’s hard to pick a favorite moment from this incredible weekend—so we thought we’d share a whole collection of them!

Check out more highlights from this year’s Halo World Championship below.

Congrats to Shopify Rebellion

After three days of intense competitive heat, Shopify Rebellion clutched up and came out on top against OpTic Gaming in the best-of-seven Grand Finals. It was a remarkable journey from this year’s earliest HCS events to the Halo World Championship stage, and their relentless dedication certainly paid off on Sunday!

Congratulations to Shopify Rebellion, our 2025 Halo World Champions, and to all the teams that made this year’s tournament the most attended HCS event to date.

Cunning Cosplay

Halo cosplayers really know how to strut their Spartan stuff! This year’s Community Cosplay Contest welcomed 85 cosplayers to the Community Stage, where they showed off their stellar handiwork and a flair for dramatic entrances.

Congratulations to Miss_Boof (as Olympia Vale), James (as Crochet Master Chief), and Sola Mors (as Flood Spartan) on ascending to the Main Stage, and to all our heroic contestants who dazzled the crowd at the Community Cosplay Contest!

Download photos from the contest: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Mighty Makers

This year’s Maker’s Contest was filled with impressive armaments, curious creations, and oddly satisfying oddments. Check out photos from the top three winners below!

Draxes took first place with his Jega ‘Rdomnai bust and Elite Bloodblade (above), followed closely by MightyMarkProps with an extra-lethal Hydra model and Fallen922 with a Craigtastic bass guitar (below).

Meet-up Memories

It’s always a treat to meet so many Halo fans IRL! During this weekend’s event, the Halo Studios community team held daily Community Meet-ups featuring Halo-themed games and limited-edition posters by Soul_ant19, OutletChief729, and entransing.

We’re so grateful to everyone who stopped by to say hello, play games, and sign our posters for the Halo Studios office! If you couldn’t attend in person, don't forget to snag a digital copy of this year’s Community Meet-up posters.

Halo Fest 2026

Don’t miss your chance to join us in Seattle, WA again for Halo Fest in December 2026.

The event begins with an orchestral performance of iconic Halo music, in concert for one night only on December 11, followed by a two-day convention celebrating Halo’s legacy, story, and unrivaled community. We hope you can make it!

Something wicked this way spawns…

Join us for our Operation: Haloween II Community Playdate tomorrow at 11am PT for some spooktacular shenanigans. Match us to earn your treat – the Unicorn of Ice rewards!

Costumes optional. Chaos guaranteed.

Fireteam Osiris, the light is green!

It has been ten years since Spartan Locke sent Fireteam Osiris to Kamchatka, thus setting in motion the events of Halo: 5 Guardians.

We’re celebrating in Halo Infinite by bringing some fan-favorite armor sets to the Exchange and bringing back the new, unique mode, Extermination.

Anniversary Armors

If you’ve banked enough Spartan Points, you’ll be able to grab these sets as soon as they drop out of slipspace. If not, fear not – they will be available from the Exchange so you may obtain them at your leisure. (Or you can grab them from the Shop if you prefer that route.)

Hunter: Savvy Spartans choose HUNTER technology for its customizable interfaces, a puissant surveillance suite, and dependable maneuverability in hand-to-hand sparring.
Helljumper: Thanks to innovative field upgrades by Cascade Stronghold Technologies, testbed HELLJUMPER armor can reliably endure the atmospheric rigors expected of GEN3 Mjolnir.
Copperhead: When it comes to building interspecies alliances, COPPERHEAD armor has consistently proven its merits for both kinetic diplomacy and charm offensives.
Shinobi: Though the design’s origins remain obscure, the undisclosed reasons behind its approved use among Spartans of the UNSC may prove even more unknowable.

Exacting Extermination

We’re all familiar with Team Slayer where it’s 4v4 and you score a point for each kill on the opponent’s team. And first team to 50 points, wins the match. Extermination is the same at the very basics: 4v4 and you gotta kill the enemy. But you’re not trying to get to 50 kills.

The Goal:

Eliminate all members of the enemy team at once.

Super simple right? If you can kill the entire enemy team before anyone respawns, you win the round.

Were it so easy.

So what’s the catch? If a player can stay alive long enough for their teammates to respawn, the round continues. You’ll have a 15 second respawn between each death. And for the record: this goes by fast when you’re hunting that last elusive Spartan but somehow seems to last an eternity when you’re desperately evading, trying to let your teammate respawn.

Combat Components

Alright let’s get the lowdown before you throwdown:

Short, two-minute rounds
First to win five rounds, wins
Teams swap sides after each round
Round ends at time or when an entire team is on respawn
Ties can occur when no team was Exterminated before timer runs out
If three ties occur, the team with the most points wins

Strategic Spaces

With a new playlist comes new maps! Bookmark the mode here, then grab the maps and check ‘em out!

Collateral Bookmark Credits: Pat Sounds, Dellsoto

No uplink. No Signal...Nothing but static and rain

Stadium Bookmark Credits: Pat Sounds

1...2...3 kills, you're out.

Breakthrough Bookmark Credits: Silencer EU, Kat Rat A Tat

Just listen to the rain and the wind.

Eyrie Bookmark Credits: DanZama, ArturBlooshot, Starkey213036

Guess some of us just don't like leaving a job half-finished.

Ilex Bookmark Credits: Igrizhar, Yeehaw J24, JoValiant, Virus11010

It's the facility, not the goat.

Oppressor Bookmark Credits: Starkey213036, ArturBloodshot

Drowned desperate screams of useless defiance.

Runoff Bookmark Credits: Cousin Tim, MikRips

Where does the water come from?

Abbiocco Bookmark Credits: bullet2thehead9

Grab a pizza on your way out.

Closing Contemplations

The light is still green, Spartans. Grab the new gear and check out Extermination today!

2558. Amid the chaos of the Created uprising, five tales of truth, compromise, betrayal, purpose, and change unfold across the galaxy.

Doctor Catherine Halsey and Jul ‘Mdama share an honest conversation, Captain Lasky makes arrangements for a vital mission to Sanghelios, Arbiter Thel ‘Vadam confronts a traitor, Exuberant Witness makes some new friends, and a strange signal is picked up on Zeta Halo.

Halo: Fifth Canticle is available here, on Halo Waypoint, as a free PDF, and in audiobook format on YouTube.

HISTORIAN’S NOTE

Halo: Fifth Canticle takes place in October 2558 as the Created uprising radically threatens to alter the power structure of the galaxy.

CANTICLE I. THE CHILDREN

SONG OF RETRIBUTION // OCTOBER 16, 2558

Doctor Catherine Halsey had not specifically intended to catch Jul ‘Mdama in a moment of quiet repose, but she was never one to let an opportunity like this slide.

She could not see his face, but she knew immediately where his focus was. She glimpsed a small holograph projected from a handheld device depicting what appeared to be three other Sangheili—two children and an adult female.

Family? Halsey surmised. Unexpected... but useful.

The Sangheili’s head snapped in Halsey’s direction as he suddenly sensed her presence, her long shadow cast against the curved iridescent far wall. In the pale light of his ready room—or the Sangheili equivalent of such a thing—the Covenant supreme leader looked haggard and gaunt, his grey-white skin almost sickly. From his widened, bloodshot eyes and sharp intake of breath, Jul looked as if Halsey had caught him in the act. A private, vulnerable moment. Something he was loath to share.

Already, Halsey could see the fire igniting in Jul’s eyes. What had begun as a performative façade he so often put on in front of his followers had seeped into his very being. Whoever he once was before embarking on this crusade had been corroded away over the years. It seemed to Halsey that the sad charade of Jul’s zealotry was increasingly becoming more real. Jul had tasted the power that his title of “Didact’s Hand” had given him and, naturally, he desired more.

Unfortunately for him, a series of crushing defeats—the denial of the Absolute Record, Sali ‘Nyon’s rebellion, and the recent betrayal of the Prometheans at the behest of a new commander—was driving Jul ever closer toward impatience. Stoking his rage was making him irritable, reactive. Weak.

“Tell me about the children.” Halsey spoke the words evenly, breaking the tense silence of the moment and abruptly quelling whatever storm had been rising between them.

Halsey had never thought of herself as a prisoner here. Expressing her desire for revenge against the UNSC was all it had taken to begin wrapping the Sangheili cult leader around her finger. She saw straight through his act—and he knew it.

Not to give herself too much credit, she too had suffered failures and setbacks of late, but when she was eventually back in the cramped confines of the UNSC’s little sandbox, she would make quite a meal out of how she alone had been more effective at bringing down the Didact’s Hand than hundreds of their so-called Spartans.

“As hatchlings, the minds and bodies of our children are honed to become warriors,” Jul said in a low voice. “Their lives dedicated to duty and service to the Covenant. And then they would be sent to battle your children—your demons.” He practically spat the last word as he turned away, staring at the holograph once more.

“That war is over five years finished, Jul. And when the Arbiter sought to make peace, you started a new one—not just against humanity, but your own people. If your children are in danger now, is that not because of your choices?”

“The Arbiter is blinded by his need for redemption,” Jul snorted. “He will lead the Sangheili to ruin in pursuit of it. Truly, he is the greatest killer of us all. I began this war to depose him because your Office of Naval Intelligence set me on this path. Just as they did with you.”

Of late, it was easy to get Jul ranting. Halsey knew all the right buttons to press that would send him on a tirade.

“What I do is to save my people," Jul continued. “Dural. Asum. Raia... It is in their name that I shall free Sanghelios from the Arbiter’s grasp. Once there is unity, we shall burn ONI out of the shadows. Then, and only then, once my vengeance is complete, can there be a road to peace.”

Halsey could, at least, sympathize with the rage that drove and sustained him. After she’d learned that Jacob perished on the first discovered Halo ring, she had felt a profound shift in her logic. No longer could she bear to sacrifice others for humanity’s survival. Instead, she sought to save as many lives as she could.

Even now, in the deepest, darkest pit of her life, in the company of the enemy as a traitor to her people, that philosophy held true.

An imprint of the Librarian herself had offered Halsey the chance to make it happen. She did not believe in destiny or divine providence, but she had been chosen to uplift humanity with the bountiful gifts of Forerunner technology. Her efforts, however, had resulted in failure. And now something—someone—else was taking her place, awakening the Forerunner legacy from its long slumber.

She had been usurped, confined to the margins once more. She would not allow it.

Halsey had decided that the end of her partnership with Jul was imminent. The Covenant leader’s usefulness in the pursuit of her goals had run its course. Yet, she found herself wanting to dig deeper into the truth that this Sangheili had buried deep within him—the things that he dared not reveal to his followers. She savored the irony that the only one he could truly confide in was a human... perhaps that was why he had not yet moved to discard her.

“And what of your children, Doctor?” Jul asked, prompting Halsey to realize that she had failed to seize upon her opening to press him further. “What would you give to see them again? To ensure that they are safe?”

Halsey thought about lying. She had done so frequently over the course of this particular relationship... but the thought of Miranda rose unbidden, and with her bubbled a deep well of regret. She had been so sure that giving her child up was the right thing to do. Given the circumstances, it was the best decision she could have made as a mother to ensure that Miranda was loved and raised as she deserved to be. But that choice had come at the cost of resentment and distance. And now she would never have a chance to explain herself.

Halsey thought of her Spartans. So many of them gone now. With every loss, the hole within her had widened into a pit. It was the only counterargument, the only clue, that suggested she had underestimated her capacity to love.

She thought of John. He’s out there, somewhere...

The truth slipped past her lips. A mission that surpassed all others.

A promise to keep.

“Anything, Jul. I would do anything.”

CANTICLE II. THE DEAL

UNSC INFINITY // OCTOBER 26, 2558

Captain Thomas Lasky straightened his collar and stood at attention in front of the monitor in his ready room.

“They’re on the horn now, Captain.” Roland’s holographic avatar—the orange-tinted form of a military pilot from one of humanity’s historic twentieth century wars—appeared on the desk. “Er... best of luck.”

“Thank you, Roland. Patch them through.”

Roland saluted, then disappeared.

“Admiral Hood, Admiral Osman,” Captain Lasky formally greeted the split-screen image of the elderly Fleet Admiral Terrence Hood, clad in his pristine white uniform. On the screen next to him was Serin Osman, ONI’s imposing and sharp-featured Commander-in-Chief.

“Captain Lasky,” Hood replied, looking thoroughly exhausted, though he still managed to convey a sense of natural warmth and authority that helped to ease Lasky’s mind. “How’re you holding up, son?”

“As well as possible, given the circumstances, sir. Eleven of our colonies hit by Guardian awakenings with no sign of these events stopping, countless people dead—not to mention the Master Chief and Blue Team going AWOL to find Cortana themselves. But I didn’t call you both just to complain.”

“I should hope not, Captain," Osman interjected. “Given that this is a private meeting instead of a full UNSC Security Council briefing, I presume this is urgent. What do you need?”

“It is urgent, Admiral. After what happened on Meridian, we now know that Cortana is awakening these Guardian constructs across the galaxy. Once they emerge from their craters, they jump into slipspace, and we need to find out where they’re going. Roland’s come up with a good plan, and Doctor Halsey believes--”

“Halsey?” As if by instinct at the mere mention of her name, Osman’s face contorted as though she had bitten down hard into a lemon.

“She was feeding information to us about these events while in Jul ‘Mdama’s custody before Fireteam Osiris recovered her, and she believes she has a solution,” Lasky continued. “A way to follow the Guardian that Blue Team boarded to its destination and figure this whole thing out.”

“What’s the catch?” Osman asked as she narrowed her eyes.

“We need to go to Sanghelios.”

A moment of uncomfortable silence settled between them. If the mention of Halsey’s name hadn’t ruined Osman’s day already, the prospect of a mission to Sanghelios seemed like a twist of the knife.

“Sanghelios is off-limits, Captain,” Osman said sternly. “If the Covenant want to throw everything they’ve got at the Arbiter, let them. I doubt that he would welcome the UNSC’s assistance again after we dealt with the last major uprising against him in ‘53. That is why he’s in this situation, after all.”

“We both know that there is more than one reason why the Arbiter is embroiled in this conflict, Admiral,” Hood maintained a diplomatic but unsubtle tone. Lasky took note of Osman squaring her jaw—holding back whatever barbed retort she no doubt wanted to give.

“Sanghelios is the location of the next known Guardian awakening, so our window is limited," Lasky said, hoping to keep the conversation focused on the matter at hand. “I appreciate the complexities, but the situation is this: If we want to catch up with the Master Chief and put a stop to whatever Cortana’s plans are, we need the Arbiter’s help.”

“I’m afraid Admiral Osman is correct,” Hood replied. “There is a significant risk to sending Infinity, both to the ship itself and to the Arbiter’s delicate political situation. We need you back with the Home Fleet to hold the line when these Guardians come knocking on Earth’s door.”

Osman seemed to relax a little as she settled in her seat, apparently not expecting that she and Hood would find alignment.

“However,” Hood continued after a momentary pause. “I have no doubt that Blue Team are heading to the heart of this mess and they’re going to need back-up. I’m sure we can afford to send a single Spartan team with Doctor Halsey to pursue this lead.”

“Commander Palmer will be there as Doctor Halsey’s handler,” Lasky followed up, sensing Hood’s play.

“Then I think that settles the matter. Commander Palmer, her Spartan fireteam, and Doctor Halsey will rendezvous with the Arbiter’s forces, and then you are ordered to immediately return to Earth.” Hood paused for a moment before adding: “Any objections, Admiral Osman?”

“If anything goes wrong, this mission does not exist,” Osman said, her tone clipped and direct. Lasky had only heard her speak this way once before, and he had admitted to Palmer that it put the fear of God into his bones. “Your team will be on their own. And if Halsey sets so much as one toe out of line, Commander Palmer is ordered to finish the job she failed on Requiem, Aktis IV, and Operation: ATHENA. I will grant no further leniency.”

Before Lasky or Hood could respond, Osman—resigned to having been outmaneuvered on this occasion—severed her connection.

“I agree with the Admiral on one particular point, Tom,” Hood said. “It’s a mess on Sanghelios right now and there are plenty who want to keep it that way. Doctor Halsey is a wild card, but I can say with certainty that she will be highly motivated by the opportunity to assist Blue Team.”

“Understood, sir,” Lasky saluted.

“Godspeed, Captain.” Hood returned the salute. “We’ll see you soon.”

CANTICLE III. THE TRAITOR

SANGHELIOS // OCTOBER 27, 2558

“This heretic, and those who follow him, must be silenced.”

The placid, dispassionate voice of the Prophet of Truth still whispered to Arbiter Thel ‘Vadam.

It came in the quiet moments—an undeniable presence. The sensation of three spindly, elongated fingers draping over his shoulder as if to provide a sacred blessing. The phantom pain of searing heat in his chest in the middle of the night, his left side burning as if the mark on his flesh was being branded anew.

It came to Arbiter Thel ‘Vadam now in the form of whispered, winged words from the past as he faced the traitor within his own ranks—of his own blood.

Murok ‘Vadam, one of the clan’s council of elders.

A security officer had interrogated an Unggoy captive who revealed that the Covenant had been able to track the Arbiter’s movements because of an informant. When the gathering at the elder council chamber was convened, a blockade runner had arrived and disgorged vast numbers of troops from assault carapaces. Covenant forces had launched a surprise attack in an effort to eliminate him.

Indeed, they might have succeeded had it not been for the timely arrival of Shipmistress Mahkee ‘Chava, accompanied by a Spartan fireteam. Their leader presently awaited an audience with him.

That was another matter he would deal with in due course.

First, he had ordered Murok to be brought to the cliff’s edge as the Swords of Sanghelios set up their fortifications in the region. There was no avoiding having an audience for this confrontation, and an example of cowardly traitors needed to be made at this critical moment.

Murok, accompanied by a lone guard, simply stood looking out at the vast Nuursa valley beyond the camp. Sloping plains of arid desert and naturally stacked rock formed a basin where a small river served as a tributary of the Csurdon Sea.

“I betrayed you, Arbiter. Yet that act pales next to the gravest dishonor of all. My failure to kill you,” Murok said as the Arbiter approached, though he did not turn from the view. “You have come to ask why I did it?”

“You compound such dishonor by enlisting an army to attempt what you alone would not,” the Arbiter replied. “And you have done so, elder, because you refuse to see any way other than what you have known. Still you follow the path of the Covenant, even as it fractures beneath your feet on the cusp of its annihilation.”

“And what shall replace it, I wonder?” Murok mused, turning at last to face the Arbiter, his eyes ablaze with anger. “You seek to ally with our greatest enemies. You hold fruitless peace talks with the Jiralhanae and return their laborers from our lands to the so-called ‘Ghost Father.’ You invite human filth to set foot on the sacred ground of our home. You elevate females and Unggoy to ranks unbecoming their nature, and I have seen the apostate healers you shelter in your camp, denying warriors their honorable deaths!”

The Arbiter listened, though it was the same argument he had heard from every staunch traditionalist of frustratingly limited vision. Never change, never progress, and certainly never peace. Just an endless chase to return to imagined glories of long faded valor and the deliverance of retribution.

He had been blinded by such desires before. Indeed, he had once declared to the humans in their pursuit of the Prophet of Truth that, upon claiming victory, all who served the Covenant would be punished.

The promise of righteous vengeance had been his fuel and sustenance during that time. It was what had driven him to plunge his blade through the Prophet of Truth’s wretched heart. But such an act had not absolved the Arbiter himself of the terrible things he had done in service to the Covenant. Even as he fought against the empire he had once devoted himself to, still he feared he was beset by hubris and hypocrisy. Had he followed the path of retribution, perhaps the galaxy today would be rising against him for leading a new Covenant to enforce his vision of peace through subjugation...

“Do you know what I felt when I killed the Prophet of Truth and claimed my revenge?” The Arbiter lowered his voice as he prepared to confess something that he had only ever told to one other.

He could recall the moment with perfect clarity.

His hands tighten around the Prophet’s long, rubbery neck as he rants in defiance about ascending to godhood while parasitic spores pour forth from his mouth. Bulging and pulsating growths from Flood infection break through his aged flesh.

His blade penetrates Truth’s back, slicing through the San’Shyuum’s left side—the same side that the Arbiter bore the Mark of Shame.

Truth screams, slumps, and falls to the ground. It is a small death for such a momentous figure, but the voice of the Covenant is silenced at last.

“I felt nothing.”

He had not understood why at the time. The anger and singular need for vengeance had delivered him to that point, but after the Prophet’s death those feelings still lingered. Even when his duties had turned to statecraft, the dissonance had remained. He had not known what to do with it. And when at last that wellspring of hatred ran dry, his anger had been dulled to numbness and all that remained was pain.

Murok narrowed his eyes, wholly unconvinced, and raised his voice to appeal to the Sangheili and Unggoy troops who went about their duties in the camp. “Without the guiding hand of the Covenant and its glorious purpose to shepherd us to salvation, I foresee a galaxy locked in perpetual conflict. The Sangheili will lose their way. They will pledge themselves and pay tribute to unworthy warlords, and all that makes us strong shall fade. Destroy the Covenant”—Murok pointed an accusatory finger around the camp—“and you will destroy the very soul of our people.”

The Arbiter withdrew the energy sword from his side. Two burnt orange prongs of superheated plasma extended from the hilt of the Prophets’ Bane. The motion declared his intent; there was no going back now.

“I go gladly to the side of the gods, departing this doomed galaxy. I have spoken.”

In his younger years as a fledgling kaidon, Thel ‘Vadamee would have struck Murok down simply for the affront of such defiance. Killing had come so easily during that period of his life, but that was long ago. Time had brought him experience, experience had brought him pain, and pain had at last calcified into wisdom.

The whispering voice of the Prophet of Truth in his ear telling him that this was a heretic to be silenced remained. He still carried that darkness within him, that despotic potential for which he had deliberately designed certain safeguards... but it no longer directed his actions and fortified his fears.

He did not hate Murok ‘Vadam, he merely pitied him.

“A new dawn awaits the Sangheili at the end of this day. One final effort is all that remains to reach it.”

In a single motion, the Arbiter swung his blade upwards and severed Murok’s head from his body. The Sangheili elder seemed to stumble on the spot for a moment before falling backwards and toppling from the cliff.

The troops around the camp returned to their duties as the Arbiter deactivated his energy sword and attached the hilt to his armor once more. One of his security officers, Mahlo ‘Turagg, approached.

“The humans are under guard, Arbiter, and have provided us with their identities and service records.” ‘Turagg handed over a circular data pad. “One of their number awaits an audience with you.”

The Arbiter examined the profiles of his unexpected visitors. “I have fought alongside Commander Palmer and know her to be an honorable warrior. The others, I am unfamiliar with.”

“The one named Vale is a diplomat to our people and speaks our language well. Her record claims that she spent several lunar cycles among the nomad clans of Khael’mothka, and she served aboard the Mayhem three annual cycles ago.”

The Arbiter found his scrutinous attention drawn to the profile of Fireteam Osiris’s leader. “Jameson Locke,” he said aloud. “Office of Naval Intelligence.”

“He was counselled by Vale to reveal to us that he was an agent for ONI.”

“Escort this agent to await my presence in the command tent,” the Arbiter ordered. “Let us see what this assassin wishes of me.”

CANTICLE IV. THE REDEEMER

GENESIS // OCTOBER 28, 2558

“His name was Bibjam. He was a mere Grunt. Scarred, though spirited, past his useful years. His advice was unconventional: ‘Fight as if there was no honor in death.’

He guided us through victory in conflict after conflict. And while we reveled in our glory, he mourned every brother we lost along the way.

As the war went on, Bibjam became more concerned with protecting us. When we finally caught him betraying our movements to the Swords of Sanghelios, he told us capture was the only way for us to avoid death.

He truly believed he found a way to save us.

I could not meet his gaze when I ran him through.”

Dham ‘Mashatt had dropped the data pad containing his eulogy for Bibjam as he and his fellow Unggoy, Jabjab, had been pulled into their prison cell, but the words he had spoken remained fresh in his mind. He let out a deep exhale as he sank onto a crate. It was the way of the Sangheili to honor their greatest figures through ballads, and while ‘Mashatt was no warrior-poet, this was the only way he could think to give tribute to the leader he had followed, loved, and ultimately slain.

He cast his gaze toward Jabjab, who seemed to have fallen asleep at the edge of the cage, just inches away from the energy shield that kept them contained. There was no way out. With nothing to do but wait, the Sangheili warrior attempted to piece together all that had happened over the last few day-cycles.

Jul ‘Mdama had fallen on Kamchatka, slain by demons. Instead of calling a retreat, the remaining council of generals had decreed that they would proceed with the assault on Sanghelios in a final desperate attempt to assassinate the Arbiter.

Dham ‘Mashatt had been there when the Guardian rose from the Csurdon Sea to render its judgment upon the battle that raged through the city of Sunaion. There had been many questions about what the Guardian would do once awakened. Was it an omen of victory or defeat?

It had been neither. The construct had simply opened an immense slipspace portal and departed, and brought with it any vessels caught in its wake—including ‘Mashatt’s own Lich.

It had delivered them here, to this strange world. The corrosive atmosphere of the jungle in which they had crashed seared their throats, and the warrior-angels that had once fought by their side had been subverted by a heretical human intelligence. They had been hunted, fighting for their very lives while barely able to breathe, until...

“Greetings!”

‘Mashatt heard a cheerful voice from outside the cell. He turned to see a floating spherical construct with a central eye staring at him. An oracle.

“I am 031 Exuberant Witness, monitor of the Genesis installation. Oh, but I am so terribly sorry that I did not introduce myself earlier when I had you all locked in here. That must have seemed quite rude! Let me get those doors for you.”

The cell’s rippling energy shield wall disappeared. Dham ‘Mashatt got to his feet and gently prompted Jabjab to awaken as he stepped onto a raised platform overlooking the small prison area. Ice and snow covered much of the ground, and ‘Mashatt could see his breath as fog in the freezing cold air.

“But you must understand, it was for your safety, of course,” the oracle who had named herself Exuberant Witness continued. “You may have noticed that Genesis has become a little more… active of late. The Guardians brought a significant number of visitors to my home, and it has been very difficult to stop you all from fighting! I simply wish to prevent any unnecessary death before moving the shield world through slipspace, beyond Cortana’s reach.”

Jabjab waddled up to one of the adjacent cells and asked, “What wrong with that guy?”

Contained within the cell was one of the warrior-angels—a Promethean Knight. Its divine carapace was like all others, bulbous, top-heavy armor that bore a pair of arms: one connected to its integrated weaponry while the other ended in a deadly blade of hardlight. The lower regions of its body were slender, and another pair of smaller, more dexterous arms extended from its chest. Its helmet bore a grim visage, which covered a blazing skull beneath.

This warrior-angel, however, was demonstrating some peculiar behavior. Where others of its kind had come to show instantaneous hostility, this one simply stood by the wall of its cell, head buried in its smaller pair of hands as it made random spasmodic movements.

“Oh dear,” Exuberant’s tone saddened as she initiated a scan of the Knight from her central lens.

“What is happening?” ‘Mashatt asked.

“The poor human essence within this Promethean unit has been severed from its command network. It has been abandoned. And unfortunately, it seems to be winning a battle against its own programming. It is aware of who it once was... and what it has become.”

The Promethean Knight thrashed around in its cell. Its arms slapped against its helmet as if trying to clear its vision or awaken itself from some terrible nightmare, then threw its entire weight against the wall, shaking uncontrollably, before slumping in defeat. ‘Mashatt watched as it repeated the process again. The warrior-angel seemed to be caught in a recursive, torturous loop.

He did not expect to discover such a deep well of pity within his hearts.

For as long as he could remember, the Covenant—through the wisdom of the Prophets—had instilled within him a sense of awe and reverence for the divinity of the Forerunners. But the hierarchs had been liars, manipulators, and the Covenant had fallen... and now the sanctity of Forerunner technology had been demystified as countless groups sought to claim their ancient bounties to deliver death and destruction. The truth of their gods’ benevolence was in doubt when it seemed all they had to offer were terrifying weapons.

Perhaps there was other truth that Dham ‘Mashatt could at last discern for himself.

Perhaps he could break his own programming, as Bibjam had. But what would that leave him with? ‘Mashatt could find only a wellspring of pain and regret, the depths of which he felt he could draw from until the end of time.

“What can be done?” ‘Mashatt found himself asking, turning to Exuberant. “Is there any way we can aid this creature? Can it be delivered from this pain?”

The oracle did not respond immediately, appearing to be deep in thought. “There may be something...” she said at last.

“Oracle,” ‘Mashatt was unable to keep the longing from his voice at the prospect of being able to ask a construct of the gods for a purpose. “Please. Command us.”

“There is a place here on Genesis. A gateway to the Domain.”

‘Mashatt knew of what she spoke. Covenant scripture told of a great library that held all of the Forerunners’ knowledge, the soul and wisdom of the time before their departure on the Great Journey.

“And this warrior-angel,” ‘Mashatt said. “If it were to pass into the Domain, it could be at peace?”

“I am uncertain. The Domain has been out of commission for such a very long time, and it is currently being leveraged by Cortana...”

“But it is the strongest chance it has?”

“I believe so.”

An idea took shape in Dham ‘Mashatt’s mind. A new purpose, the greatest that anyone of the Covenant could hope for—and not just for himself.

“Oracle, would you release my fellow Covenant from their holding cells?”

“Certainly!”

The energy shield walls of several other prison units dissipated. Three other Unggoy waddled over, accompanied by a lone Mgalekgolo, apparently cut off from its bonded pair, and introduced itself—through the translation of one of the Unggoy—as Naliligaw. All gathered at the center of the monitor’s strange menagerie.

“My brothers,” the Sangheili called them all to attention. “I am Dham ‘Mashatt, and I have much to tell you.”

He explained all he could to them. He recounted the fall of ‘Mdama’s Covenant at Sunaion for the benefit of those who had come from elsewhere in the galaxy. He detailed how numerous Guardians had transported many people from the worlds they had been awakened within to this place.

He explained how Bibjam, who he had once called friend and leader, had sought to protect them from these terrible events, before ‘Mashatt killed him for this betrayal.

And he presented to them with the choice they now faced.

“We can leave. The oracle may be able to return us to a location of our choosing, or else help us to find slipspace-capable transport. Or... we could remain on Genesis. There is a place for us here, serving the oracle in her quest to return all others to where they belong, if that is the duty we choose for ourselves. In service of the gods, we may at last find some measure of peace.”

As ‘Mashatt spoke, he felt a wave of clarity wash over him. Bibjam’s intentions had been pure and honorable, for he had been moved by love and loyalty, but so too were his actions stained with distrust. He had not confided his treacherous plans and had therefore acted for them—in doing so, he had removed the opportunity for those he loved to decide their own fate.

Dham ‘Mashatt would not repeat that mistake.

Naliligaw let out a low rumble, the lone Mgalekgolo teetered slightly from side-to-side, before stepping forward and approaching ‘Mashatt. The Unggoy, too, waddled over as one.

“Our choice has been made, oracle,” ‘Mashatt declared as Exuberant Witness excitedly chirped about having the company of new friends. “We shall serve you as the true guardians of Genesis.”

CANTICLE V. THE MUSIC

ZETA HALO // OCTOBER 29, 2558

Professor Montgomery Marie was a creature of habit.

0500 Hours: Morning alarm, up and out of bed, personal chatter comes on with daily playlist. Always start with the Helljumpers’ Interstellar Orchestra.

0510: Jog, same path around the base as always. Custom playlist of twenty-third century rock anthems set to full blast.

0540: Journal time. Music off. Reflection.

No matter where in the galaxy she was, her routines were the same. She had kept them that way for years, her method of holding onto a constant in what was otherwise a fairly nomadic way of life. Not that anything she had seen before could truly compare to her current workplace.

As she glanced up from her journal, the ancient Forerunner construct designated Installation 07—Zeta Halo—rose to its own towering heights, both literally and metaphorically. Professor Marie had arrived only a few weeks ago with an expeditionary group and was still getting used to the way the horizon curved upward with its thinning band of oceans and landmasses, and, in its current orbital orientation, the immense face of its uniquely terrestrial anchor planet.

It was a marvel. And her late father’s journal was now full of her own sketches, teeming with whatever caught her attention. The horizon, alien flora, flocks of strange birds that wheeled in the sky as the sun passed over the edge of the ring.

0610: Off to breakfast, playlist back on to finish the last leg of the jog back to base. Late twenty-fourth century Reavian throat singing. Oddly calming.

She made her way back down to grab a quick bit of food in the prefabricated mess hall where she overheard spirited chatter from her colleagues and the base’s military personnel. Over the last week, news had been streaming in about catastrophic events concerning colony-wide disasters. Ancient alien constructs awakening after millennia of dormancy, the Master Chief going missing, or AWOL, or dying in the line of duty... it was all frightfully unclear. What was clear was that a rogue artificial intelligence named Cortana was behind it all. Cortana’s message had been heard across the galaxy, declaring that “the Created” had come to lead them all—all species, all civilizations—to a new dawn, whether they wanted it or not.

Given the intensity of Professor Marie’s own work and the wonder that she experienced every day here on Zeta Halo, the news seemed like distant noise, the barest hum of something on the far horizon. And even if she did have concerns, there was little she felt she could do against such a tapestry of chaos.

Better that she stay focused. While she was involved in all manner of research on the ring, her primary task concerned the deployment and observation of OQ-45 remote survey drones—nicknamed “Honeybees”—and subsequent analysis of their terrain mapping.

0800 Hours: Reporting for duty, work begins. Music left off until lunchtime.

Her workstation was a watchtower, a small blocky structure that housed a maximum of three people and served as a sensor platform. It was dark inside, primarily lit by an array of monitors and readouts of the local area, and the activity of the Honeybee drones.

“This is Hotel Bravo Three. Comms check, over,” Professor Marie said as she picked up her headset and settled into her chair.

Ordinarily, she would have expected to hear the other Honeybee teams reporting in with relative immediacy, but as she counted up to twenty whole seconds, there was no response.

“I say again: All Honeybee controllers, comms check, over.”

0815: Still no response. What the hell?

Professor Marie performed a routine check of her equipment to make sure it was functioning correctly—which it was—and attempted to contact them again, to no avail. As she made to direct a report of the issue to the local command center, the radio crackled with activity.

At last, she thought. “This is Hotel Bravo Three, please identify yourself, over.”

Her brow furrowed as she heard what sounded like music coming through. She was sure she could hear light piano notes playing somewhere in the background.

She glanced at her chatter to verify that it was indeed switched off.

“This is Hotel Bravo Three, please identify yourself immediately. This silliness has gone on long enough... Over.”

The music grew louder, accompanied now by the sound of a woman humming.

And still Professor Montgomery Marie could not find the source.

Surely this was not from the radio? Surely somebody would--

“There you are!”

A voice from behind her almost made Professor Marie jump out of her chair in surprise. She turned to see Private Rene Gordon, her dark hair a wild mess and her battle dress uniform looking anything but parade ready. “What the hell are you still doing in here, Monty? Haven’t you seen?”

Before she could respond, Private Gordon pulled her up and dragged her out of the comms station, squeezing her hand with what felt like a Helljumper’s death grip.

“We’re screwed, Monty! We’re so screwed,” was all she said as they made it outside and found a gathering of the base’s personnel.

Professor Marie did not need to ask what the fuss was all about. The answer was hanging in the sky above them.

Settling over a structure, perhaps a dozen kilometers upspin, was a great winged construct. Silver alloy lined with accents of hardlight. Jagged, segmented pieces that evoked the image of a phoenix...

An ear-splitting ringing suddenly sounded from every individual piece of communications equipment around the base.

The music was everywhere now. A new war across the stars had arrived not with the sound of weapons fire, but Préludes No. 4 by Claude Debussy.

0900 Hours: Working to get word to Earth. Cortana has come to Zeta Halo.

The biggest Halo event of the year returns to Seattle for the Halo World Championship 2025! Join fans from around the globe to witness electrifying plays, a thunderous crowd, and a celebration of Halo like no other.

Whether you're into watching dev panels at the Halo Community Stage, playing in side tournaments, checking out cosplay, or just soaking in the atmosphere, there’s something here for everyone! Don’t miss your chance to watch live as the best players in the world compete for their share of $1,000,000.

The Halo World Championship is the ultimate battleground, and the stakes have never been higher!

This is the $1,000,000 Halo Infinite 4v4 Grand Finale, serving as both the epic conclusion to the 2025 season and the final official HCS Halo Infinite tournament. History will be made as one team cements their legacy as the last-ever Halo Infinite World Champions.

But that’s not all - fans can jump into the action too! The $25,000 Halo Infinite FFA returns as the biggest solo showdown of the season, and it will be open to all attendees. And throughout the weekend, Side Tournaments featuring various Halo titles give players of all skill levels a chance to throw down for cash and glory!

This is Halo Infinite at its absolute peak.

Witness the epic finale of the 2025 HCS Season. With everything on the line, only one team will rise above the rest, etching their name in history as Halo World Champions.

The HaloWC 2025 4v4 tournament format will feature:

16-Team Pool Play (4th in Pools are eliminated)
12-Team Champ Bracket (Double-elimination, Best-of-5, Grand Finals Best-of-7)

$1M 4V4 PRIZE BREAKDOWN

1st: $400,000
2nd: $220,000
3rd: $110,000
4th: $70,000
5-6: $45,000
7-8: $25,000
9-12: $10,000
13-16: $5,000

$25,000 HALO INFINITE FREE-FOR-ALL

Think you’ve got what it takes? The $25,000 Halo Infinite Free-for-All is open to all attendees - so whether you're a rising star or a hometown hero, this is your chance to shine. Sign up, battle through the gauntlet, and prove you're the best Spartan in the building. Glory (and cash) awaits!

Registration will take place on site and will be first come, first served.

FFA PRIZE BREAKDOWN

1st: $10,000
2nd: $6,000
3rd: $4,000
4th: $2,125
5th: $1,000
6th: $750
7th: $625
8th: $500

HALO SIDE TOURNAMENTS

Grab your squad and jump into the fight!

Side Tournaments let you throw down with friends in a variety of Halo titles - classic and current. It’s all about fun, bragging rights, and getting in on the action while you’re at the HaloWC.

HALOWC EVENT EXPERIENCE

This is more than a tournament - it’s a celebration of all things Halo.

Whether you’re a hardcore competitor or just here for the vibes, the Halo World Championship has something for everyone! Aside from the intense competition, you can check out the amazing cosplay, and enjoy dev panels, games, merch booths, and more. You’ll even find Free Play stations to dive into the action yourself!

HALO COMMUNITY STAGE

Over the years the Community Stage has played a critical role in giving a home for non-esports Halo fans and helping fulfil our vision of having HaloWC be a “Halo Fest” of sorts.

We're excited to share that the Community Stage will once again return with many familiar panels, as well as some new ones. As usual, the Community Stage will be live on Friday and Saturday of the event for a full 8-hours of programming each day. We’ll be sharing the specific panels and details later but you can expect more developer panels, more cosplay, and more fun games that you’ll get to participate in.

No matter why you love Halo, we want the HaloWC to feel like it has something for everyone, and the Community Stage will continue to be a space where you can connect, share, and celebrate what you love!

SPECIAL GUESTS

This year we’re excited to welcome back Steve Downes and Jen Taylor, the voices of the Master Chief and Cortana. Halo events are always more special with these two in attendance and we’re very thankful to have them joining us once again for HaloWC.

Steve and Jen will only be in attendance Friday and Saturday of the event where they’ll be participating in fun panels on the Community Stage, signing sessions for all fans, as well as VIP-exclusive photo opportunities. We'll be sharing their detailed schedule closer to the event date.

Thank you once again Steve and Jen, we can’t wait to see you here in Seattle!

$5,000 COSPLAY CONTEST

Speaking of cosplay – We're also excited to confirm that the Cosplay Contest is returning with yet another $5,000 prize pool!

We were absolutely in awe of the amazing craftsmanship and creativity that went into all of the beautiful builds last year, and we cannot wait to see what you’ve all be cooking up this year. Whether you decide to participate in the contest or not, we welcome all cosplayers to join us at the event for a good time. And as usual, we will have dedicated repair and changing rooms for cosplayers to use on site.

Cosplay Contest Entry Form

Cosplay Contest Rules

$2,500 HALO MAKER'S CONTEST

Related, but totally new to this year’s HaloWC, is a Halo Maker’s Contest.

In the community we see not only a lot of fans building armors to wear, but also weapons and other gadgets from the Halo universe and lore whether they’re human, Covenant, Forerunner or something else. We wanted to officially recognize this craft at the event and look forward to welcoming all participants. With a prize pool of $2,500, we’re hoping to see the finest handcrafted or printed items that the Halo community is able to offer.

NOTE: All Entries must be fabricated by the maker. The use of Laser cutters, 3d printers, C&C machines are all allowed but the design must be created and owned by the maker!

We just wanted to get the word out so the community out there can start thinking about what they’d like to build. We’ll have the full rules of these competitions in the coming months!

Maker's Contest Entry Form

Maker's Contest Rules

HALO MERCH & HCS PARTNER BOOTHS

Swing by Halo and HCS Partner Booths to grab exclusive event merch, meet your favorite pros, and score some epic giveaways. From collectibles to your next favorite hoodie, the HaloWC is your one-stop-shop to rep Halo in style.

FREE PLAY AREA

The Free Play Area is open to all attendees and offers a relaxed space to experience Halo at your own pace. Whether you're warming up or trying out new content, it's the perfect spot to play your way!

It's all happening this weekend!

This is a sequel to Halo: Saturn Devouring His Son. You can read it now to refresh yourself or catch up before reading Halo: Ascension on Atropos.

October 2556. The crew of the UNSC Saturn deal with the consequences of a catastrophic Flood outbreak at LV-31, and a fanatical alien cult seeks to find a new path to divine transcendence.

Halo: Ascension on Atropos is available here, on Halo Waypoint, as a free PDF, and in audiobook format on YouTube.

HISTORIAN’S NOTE

Halo: Ascension on Atropos takes place from October 2556, immediately following the Flood outbreak on LV-31, to April 2560, approximately four months after the disappearance of Zeta Halo.

NARROW-BAND POINT-TO-POINT TRANSMISSION ORIGIN: FFG-195, UNSC Saturn TERMINATION: \ SENT: Shipboard AI: LCN 0437-1, “Lycaon” DATE: April 17, 2560

You were curious about the events that transpired in the wake of the disaster at Site 22 over three-and-a-half years ago. I have often wondered what news, if any, ever reached the UNSC, given what happened in the aftermath of that catastrophe. Since my reactivation, I have waited, and I have watched, and I shall at last deliver closure to this dark chapter of history by bringing it into the light.

I am transferring the data to you now. And I am, in truth, relieved to finally share this burden with another. Herein lies the final fate of the UNSC Saturn and Captain Pedro Alvarez.

UNSC SATURN October 5, 2556 Marcey System

Captain Pedro Alvarez had done his duty. He could say that, at least.

There was a bigger picture, a larger context that had informed his strategic thinking. Over a year ago, the UNSC Home Fleet had been decimated. Without warning, thousands of Forerunner machines—Retriever sentinels, each the size of a frigate—had appeared out of the portal in Africa.

Alvarez, executive officer aboard the UNSC Lamplighter at the time, had seen the carnage first-hand. Barely a handful of years after the Covenant War’s end, humanity’s home was under threat once again.

A great maw swallowed the horizon, the bridge's forward viewport peering directly into the dark gullet of slipstream space, as if the deepest pit of the Underworld hung suspended over the African plains.

“Captain,” Commander Alvarez said. He had spotted the first signs of movement within the abyss. “Contacts approaching. What are your orders, sir?”

The Retrievers first emerged few in number, but at a rate that suggested these waves would increase in size and speed until they became an unstoppable swarm. They deployed powerful gravitic forces to hoover up chunks of land, strip mining natural resources—and they wouldn’t stop until the entire planet was consumed.

“Captain,” Commander Alvarez called once more as the Lamplighter shuddered. Fire erupted beyond the bridge’s portside window as several Retrievers formed together and unleashed sterilization beams that gutted a Strident from stem to stern.

The captain simply stood at the helm, watching it all unfold. Alvarez had never been sure whether the man had been stupefied into indecision or if he was staring in reverential awe.

He gave no orders.

“Captain!”

By the time the Retrievers were neutralized—not by military action on Earth, but through orders to stand down and retreat by whatever far-away intelligence had commanded them—there were no more than a dozen ships left to make up the UNSC Home Fleet.

They had pinned a medal on Alvarez for simply surviving after he’d stepped up and mutinied to relieve his captain of command. A Bronze Star, a promotion he hadn’t wanted, his own command, and a bottle of Titan Smoke.

His hands trembled slightly as he took a terse sip from the well-cut crystal glass in his grasp. He never found out what became of his former captain.

Alvarez had been planning to save the Titan Smoke for his imminent retirement, a toast to a job well done, a life (mostly) well lived, and to honor the brave and bold he had served alongside. Thanks to the events of the last day, he had made the decision to open it prematurely, believing—or perhaps hoping—that an answer to the terrible conundrum he now faced lay at the bottom of the tall cylindrical bottle.

He had a lot to get through to find that answer.

Alvarez caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. The dim lighting of his quarters cast him half in shadow, emphasizing the lines on his haggard face. He clutched the Titan Smoke bottle tightly in both hands, looking as if he was some absurd imitation of the painting that lay in the ship’s ready room—Saturn Devouring His Son, one of the historic nineteenth century Black Paintings by Francisco Goya. The art depicted the Roman god Saturn huddled in darkness, clutching the bloody, dismembered carcass of one of his children as he devoured its flesh.

I did my duty. They will understand that. They surely will...

Over thirty hours of unbroken cognizance and it still seemed like a nightmare.

He had turned the last day’s events over in his head a thousand times. The miners stationed at Site 22 on the asteroid designated LV-31—or simply “Elvie”—had discovered an ancient Forerunner ship embedded in an asteroid, only to find something terrible waiting within.

The Flood.

This parasitic life form had been unleashed upon the miners, tearing through their numbers in short order. When a distress call finally reached Saturn, the shipboard artificial intelligence Lycaon had insisted that they immediately unleash MAC rounds and fusion warheads.

Protocol decreed that one did not play chess with primordial cosmic forces. The only option was to wipe the board clean. Destroy the colony, the miners, and LV-31's vital resources needed to meet quotas for rebuilding the UNSC Home Fleet.

Alvarez had refused. When Lycaon attempted to usurp Alvarez’s command, he had disabled the AI with an override code phrase and deployed the Spartans of Fireteam Leviathan along with an army of Hellbringers to burn the parasite on the ground.

It had seemed a sound strategy, until one of the Spartans became infected.

Everybody on the bridge had watched in silent, wide-eyed horror as the Mjolnir armor’s countermeasures to infection were deployed. Microexplosives detonated within the helmet to immolate the poor bastard’s head, but the parasite had managed to disrupt further automated procedures and take over the super-soldier.

It had seemed impossible. Unbelievable. To witness a Spartan, regarded by many as humanity’s sword and shield, become twisted, broken, and turned against them in such a fashion had been a morale-shattering spectacle. Not to mention the advantages of its combat expertise, omnicapable use of weapons and vehicles, Mjolnir armor, classified information...

Into that nightmare scenario they had plunged. The outbreak had cascaded out of control and culminated in Alvarez’s decision to enact the scorched earth protocols to eradicate LV-31 anyway.

Now he faced a choice.

Return to Earth and face the music for this catastrophe, or...

No. The thought was shameful. In truth, he did not quite know what it was that made him so afraid, but fear could lead a man to do terrible, unimaginable things.

I did my duty. I made a decision. I eliminated the enemy.

Yes, he had that to stand on at least. Whatever losses had been incurred, the worst had been averted. Saturn’s Shiva missiles had destroyed everything and prevented the Flood from departing the system, denying them the opportunity to spread. He would be able to stand before those who cast judgement upon him and tell them that.

He would hold his head high, accept the responsibility—and the consequences—of the most difficult command decision anybody could have to make.

Alvarez set aside the bottle of Titan Smoke and gulped down several glasses of water, then dressed himself in his command uniform. As he smoothed out the crinkled fabric with a hand, he heard a knock at the door.

“Come.”

The door slid open and Lieutenant Shafiq stood at the entryway, a data pad in his hands.

“Can I help you, Lieutenant?” Captain Alvarez asked.

“May I speak with you, sir?”

“Of course, please come in.”

Lieutenant Shafiq stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. He strode forward and held out the data pad.

“Statistical analysis of the incident at Site 22, sir.” Though Alvarez had only briefly known Shafiq, he had determined that he was not normally given to physical displays of discomfort. In the short time he had served aboard Saturn,he had maintained cool composure under duress. Yet there was an unmistakable tremor in his hand as Captain Alvarez took hold of the data pad. “We lost a lot of good people.”

Alvarez scrolled through the list of names. All four Spartans of Fireteam Leviathan were listed as MIA. Forty-six marines and thirty-nine Hellbringers—killed in action. He cursed under his breath.

Eighty-nine souls lost, and that wasn’t even accounting for the miners and additional staff—nor the cost of the equipment and resources.

Shafiq’s expression hardened. “There is... something else, sir.”

Of course there is, Alvarez grimaced. “Lay it on me, Lieutenant.”

“We have completed our inventory of the assets deployed to Site 22. We’ve reviewed all captured footage of the last thirty-six hours, surveyed the remaining debris, and have compiled a total record of what made it back here and what didn’t.”

Alvarez swiped over to review the data. One of Saturn’s three Condor dropships had made it back, as had two of the Pelicans carrying Cyclops units optimized for hazardous operations. Everything else—everyone else—had been lost to nuclear fire.

Wait a minute...

“Lieutenant Shafiq, one of our three Condors made it back here, yet only one of them is marked as confirmed destroyed.”

“Yes, sir.” Shafiq’s jaw tightened. “I have personally reviewed the data myself. One of our Condors is unaccounted for.”

Captain Alvarez felt his stomach drop as the implication sunk in. “One of our slipspace-capable vessels”—he lowered his voice to a hoarse whisper—“is unaccounted for?”

They’d sink him for that. Not just for the dire possibility presented by this revelation, but for deploying slipspace-capable craft to an infection zone in the first place. It was a strategic blunder he hadn’t even considered in the heat of the moment, having felt wholly assured that any hostile craft would simply be blown out of the sky.

Shafiq stood straight, his gaze locked to the far wall, unable to look Alvarez in the eye. “What are your orders, sir?”

“Send me all the footage we have. I want to review this personally. Nobody is to hear of this until we are certain of the facts. Do you understand?”

“Understood, sir.”

“Dismissed.”

Lieutenant Shafiq did an about turn and exited the room. Captain Alvarez sank into his chair, slumping beneath the weight of his failures as if the gravity of the room had been turned up by several gees. He buried his face in his hands and wondered if the nightmare would ever end.

He had failed in his duty. He had made all the wrong decisions. And somewhere, out there in the darkness, the enemy may be loose.

This changed everything.

ATROPOS Nineteenth Age of Abandonment

“Be proud and joyous, my Chosen. Today is your day.”

Atun ‘Etaree felt the long, elegant fingers of the Minister of Aretalogy’s hands upon his shoulders. He met the glittering gaze of the Minister’s eyes, both of which were dark as night and mottled with grey-white spots which made them look like bright nebulae clouds. The San’Shyuum was blind, not as the result of old age, for he seemed to be younger than most others Atun had encountered, but through a ritual he had performed to align himself with higher cosmic spheres.

“I draw strength and certainty from your example, Minister,” Atun said, relaxing in his seat a little as the Umbra transport gently and silently traversed the surface of Atropos.

The Umbra’s troop bay was spacious, and as the Minister’s personal transport only a select few were blessed with the opportunity to accompany him—his honor guards, his designated driver and gunner, and his Chosen. The latter was a particularly special rank, with one of their number elevated each lunar cycle to undergo the process of ascension.

Looking at the representation of the local area displayed by the troop bay’s holo-emitter, Atun noted that they were passing by the citadel. This structure typically served as a central base of operations for the Covenant during planetary deployment, but the Minister had seen fit to utilize it for other purposes. Around three annual cycles ago, they had lived aboard a small orbital station, until the Minister had one day decided to commit all their assets to the surface of this world.

The Minister had not divulged—at least to Atun—why any of this had come to be. Nevertheless, Atun trusted in the San’Shyuum’s design.

“It is a joyous occasion,” the Minister said, his tone slightly firmer as he drew back to his full height. “But first, we must attend to the Festival of Joyous Partition.”

Atun bowed his head, a natural instinct he had not yet managed to curtail given that the San’Shyuum could not see it. He merely hoped that the Minister was able to sense his respect.

Aided by his anti-gravity belt, the Minister’s lithe robed form shuffled out of the transport’s troop bay, his lavender-colored gown flowing behind him as he left the Sangheili in contemplation.

Atun busied himself with the completion of his gift for the festival. His tools were delicate. Necessity had forced him to fashion some of them himself after realizing he did not possess a complete set, but they had served him well as he worked on building his latest arum. These were puzzles, an arrangement of layered concentric spheres leading to an object in the center.

Over the ages of Sangheili history, there were countless stories and legends about the objects that arums contained. Many traditional plays about Sangheili at war featured vital information and strategies uncovered within arums that were solved by worthy commanders. In older romantic tales, they held tokens of affection between lovers. Atun recalled the fable of Cdel the Fair who found her lifemate after journeying across the five continents of Sanghelios, challenging her many suitors to solve the puzzle-sphere and claim her hearts. Merchants told of rare jewels and treasures hidden within their arums that would make the one who solved them rich beyond measure.

But for Atun, there was great joy in the simple act of creation, of building things with one’s hands, and then passing the fruits of his labor off to another. Few had solved the arums of Atun ‘Etaree. This was precisely what had drawn the Minister of Aretalogy’s attention to him many cycles ago on High Charity, and Atun hoped that this particular puzzle sphere would be his most challenging yet, worthy of his ascension.

Perhaps he would fashion arums for the gods themselves when he served by their side come the day’s end.

Atun’s thoughts turned to Atropos and the prospect of imminently leaving this world that had served as his home—if indeed that was what ascension entailed. Atropos was a curious planet, one uniquely possessed of an immense system of circumplanetary rings—two across varying axes. The inner ring, “Fate,” was composed of twelve layers, and the outer, “Destiny,” had forty-three. The unpredictable nature of the ring systems resulted in a chaotic stellar environment of moons, asteroids, dense particles, and many other dangers to approaching craft. Atun simply admired their beauty, as they were observable from the blackened rocky ground of Atropos and appeared as great glittering archways over the horizon, illuminating the holy path from the realm of mortals to the divine beyond.

The Minister told all who had followed him from High Charity that this world represented a cosmological test of balance and guidance. Their worthiness would be determined by their ability to achieve harmony, not just with the planet itself but with the others they had discovered inhabiting it. Those who now approached with their own cavalcade.

The humans had arrived.

The Minister’s Umbra slowed to a stop and the convoy of six Shadows formed up on either side of the lead vehicle. Atun noted from the holographic display that the human vehicles were much less sophisticated, their great blocky forms utilized wheels and primitive hydrogen-injected combustion engines rather than gravitic transport drives.

Atun felt the Minister’s honor guards, Bora ‘Yerusee and Ismo ‘Argomee, grow tense in the harnesses beside him as their hands flexed.

“Peace, brothers,” Atun spoke with a direct tone of confidence and authority he had learned from the Minister. “Remember, the humans’ presence here long predates our own, and they know nothing of the War of Annihilation.”

“It is merely instinct,” Ismo relaxed slightly. “Even after three annual cycles here, it is… difficult to sublimate.”

“We follow the guidance of the Minister,” Bora affirmed. “By his wisdom, none shall come to harm.”

Atun assisted the Minister as he disembarked from the Umbra and strode forward to meet with the humans’ own delegate. There were eight human vehicles in total, but it was not clear whether their full population was present—only a select few dozen Sangheili accompanied the Minister for each festival event, at least a hundred others remained back at the outpost. From the curvature of the human delegate’s stomach, however, it seemed that another would soon be added to their community.

“It is a pleasure to see you again, Minister,” the delegate extended a hand—a traditional human greeting—before checking the motion, remembering belatedly that the San’Shyuum was blind. “And a great honor to observe another festival between us,” she added.

The Festival of Joyous Partition began.

Humans and Sangheili alike began unloading the contents of their respective vehicles, setting up makeshift stalls containing a vast array of curiosities and objects.

Atun examined the various items that these humans had brought as gifts. He saw swords forged from steel that bore some resemblance to ancient Sangheili burnblades. Golden discs that were explained to be “records,” devices that had been sent out during a time when their kind was first reaching out into space, containing images, sounds, and other things they hoped would reach life beyond their planet. And there were other curious objects as well. Human utensils for cooking and eating, communication devices they identified as “chatters,” tangled wires and machines that played virtual entertainment—something Atun knew the Unggoy had been fascinated with.

Several stalls contained collections of artwork. Images of feline creatures, interactive holographs of landscapes and family units. But it was the paintings preserved in transparent capsules that Atun found most stirring, the fascinating ways in which another species applied an array of pigments to a canvas to express their ideas and emotions.

“What is that?” Atun asked as he found himself drawn to one particular item among the collection.

“This?” Beneath his thick white beard, the aged human’s mouth widened and showed a row of crooked teeth. “It’s one of me most valuable paintings. Ya like it?”

Atun stepped forward, transfixed by the image that stood at just about one-and-a-half meters tall within its frame.

A lone human figure was hunched in darkness, eyes wide and white like the opals that Atun had concealed within some of his early arums. It was clutching the bloodied carcass of what appeared to be a child.

“Hundreds of years old, that is. A genuine original by Goya. Er, that’s an artist back on Earth, where we’re from. Before we were stranded here, I acquired it in remarkable circumstances.”

“I… believe the Minister would like this," Atun said, though he silently questioned why he would say such a thing of a blind San’Shyuum and was wholly uncertain of what made him feel so drawn to the painting. “Are you willing to part with it in exchange for this?” Atun withdrew his completed arum.

The human elder considered for a moment before letting out a hoarse bark of a laugh. “Yeah, why the ‘ell not? Nobody’ll believe I gave away a timeless piece of classical human art to an alien.”

Atun loaded the painting into the bay of one of the Shadow transports before returning to the gathering. They sat together for a while. Human, Sangheili, and San’Shyuum supped on an exchange of delicacies and beverages, told stories of their peoples and histories, and then parted for another annual cycle.

With the Festival of Joyous Partition complete, all that remained now was Atun ‘Etaree’s ascension, and he was glad to go to the side of the gods in high spirits and with good cheer.

UNSC SATURN October 9, 2556 Marcey System

Lieutenant Anwar Shafiq was a newcomer to the UNSC Saturn. He had been an up-and-coming officer aboard the UNSC Irish Goodbye whose executive officer had recognized that Shafiq aspired to one day have his own command. One transfer recommendation later, he was shaking the hand of the decorated Captain Pedro Alvarez—a man looking to pass on his hard won wisdom and experience before an imminent retirement, leaving room for Shafiq to assume command.

What was the old adage? No plan survives contact with the enemy.

Shafiq had just finished conducting the last of the selected crew members to the frigate’s primary hangar bay. While Paris-class vessels could support a crew complement of around six hundred souls, Saturn had shipped out less than fully staffed, and the losses incurred at Site 22 had further reduced her crew to a total of two hundred and thirty-eight.

Of that remaining number, Shafiq had been ordered to deliver a select list of one hundred and ninety-three crew members—primarily marines and security personnel with only a handful of officers—to the hangar bay for a special address by Captain Alvarez. Ordinarily, it would have been a squeeze to fit this many people into the hangar among its complement of vessels and vehicles, but the loss of so much materiel had opened up more than enough room.

Four days since Shafiq had delivered the news that one of their Condors had gone missing, and during that time they’d heard nothing from the captain. Saturn remained in the Marcey system, performing the same cycle of scans and analysis, while Captain Alvarez apparently sequestered himself in his quarters.

The rest of the crew, bereft of orders and greatly demoralized, had been quietly questioning whether their captain was fit for duty. Adherence to the chain of command could only go so far after such a catastrophic loss. Now, at last, was the time to restore a sense of order, purpose, and direction.

“Attention, all crew. This is your captain speaking.”

Lieutenant Shafiq exhaled with relief at the sound of the captain’s voice coming over the ship-wide comms. The hangar’s many display monitors winked on, feeding the image of Captain Alvarez in his ready room. Over his shoulder, the painting of Saturn loomed from within its wall-mounted capsule.

“First of all, I want to thank each and every one of you for your service and valor. We have all lost friends, comrades... recent events have weighed heavily upon us, and we will honor the fallen.”

He paused, allowing for a moment of silence.

So many lost. Shafiq hadn’t yet had the opportunity to really get to know the crew, and now most of them were dead, while the rest were on the verge of revolt.

“To that point, we have received new orders from FLEETCOM, which means we shall at last be leaving this system behind us. We have a long transit through slipspace ahead, so all but select essential personnel are ordered to prepare for cryo. Head to your assigned bays immediately.”

The abruptness of the address and change in tone prompted murmurs of annoyance and confusion among the gathered crew.

“No explanations, no accountability,” one of the marines close to Shafiq muttered bitterly as she shook her head.

“Er, sir?” Another spoke up. “I’m the senior comms officer aboard this ship and I have no record of any communications or transmissions from over the last four days. What are these orders? When did they come through?”

“I’m afraid our orders are classified,” Alvarez replied. “I am not at liberty to disclose any further information.”

The disappointed murmurs in the hangar turned to groans of disapproval, profane gestures, and spirited chatter.

Lieutenant Shafiq studied his tacpad as the captain’s orders filtered into assignments and logistics. A skeleton crew of thirty had been selected to maintain the ship’s operations, but something about this felt... wrong.

The longer he looked at the assignments, the moreitseemed wrong. He swallowed uncomfortably against the roiling unease in his gut.

All senior officers were being directed to cryo. While it was not uncommon for a rotation of junior crew to cycle into service, they would typically be supervised and assessed by more experienced officers, or the shipboard AI, who was currently still out of service. If they were entering a prolonged slipspace transit, it made very little sense to begin the journey by handing over the keys to a bunch of green ensigns—it was standard procedure for them to take over for intermediary shifts.

Alvarez would have known this. He would have known better.

Other smaller details made similarly little sense. But in the end, it was the strangest and most blatant of the inconsistencies that ultimately prompted Lieutenant Shafiq to speak up.

“I have the assignment roster here, Captain. Can you elucidate as to why three of the maintenance team are among the deceased from Site 22?”

The names were three of the four members of Fireteam Leviathan, the Spartans who had, per protocol, been listed as missing in action instead of killed. Whoever had been managing the crew assignment roster had made a rather curious error that begged further investigation.

Captain Alvarez waved a dismissive hand. “A simple error or glitch in the system, I’m sure. I know you’re new here, Lieutenant, but I had a good feeling about you when we conversed the other day about my painting. It was unfortunate we never got to finish that conversation. Would you report to my ready room?”

Lieutenant Shafiq felt all in the hangar turn to him, eyes unblinking.

“No, sir.” He kept his words steady and clear as he stood his ground. “I would not.”

Captain Alvarez’s face twisted in an instant, his voice sharpening to a furious hiss. “What is this? A crew that can’t follow orders? There is a contagion that escaped us. It is aboard this very ship now—doubt, uncertainty, disloyalty!”

“Does anyone here actually buy this load of crap?” Major Moran, the bulky, grizzled leader of the ship’s contingent of Hellbringers, grunted. “You know what I think? I think the captain knows he’s responsible for a charlie foxtrot of biblical proportions, and he doesn't want his feet put to the fire.”

“Yeah, sounds to me like the bastard wants to cut and run!”

“He wants to stick us into cryo to keep us quiet, just like he disabled Lycaon for disagreeing with him!”

The most pertinent question of all rose above the others in a moment of quiet.

“What does he mean, something escaped us?”

Shafiq knew he had the smoking gun on Alvarez. He’d never been part of a mutiny before, but now seemed the time to set one in motion.

“The captain is concerned about certain information coming to light,” Lieutenant Shafiq addressed the crew around him. “Beyond just our losses, one of our Condors is unaccounted for. Though we cannot confirm for certain, it is a possibility that the parasite may have escaped LV-31.”

Silence fell over the hangar bay as everybody digested that information—along with its dire implications and the possibility that everybody at Site 22 had died for nothing. Captain Alvarez’s expression on the monitors appeared to flicker between fear and fury.

Major Moran’s eyes narrowed as he nodded to Shafiq, then stepped atop a crate to address the crowd. “We need to get this ship back into working order. I say we stick the mad dobber in a cryo pod and send him back to Earth for the Brass to deliver the well-deserved ass-kicking he’s clearly trying to run away from.”

A cheer of assent sounded among the crew.

“We got numbers and we got guns. Let’s get kinetic, boys!”

“This is mutiny!” Captain Alvarez seethed as the crew marched forward, passing weapons and ammunition down their orderly lines.

“I am sorry, sir,” Lieutenant Shafiq raised his voice for Alvarez to hear, “but there is strong evidence to suggest you are attempting to commit an act of desertion, a gross violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. I am thereby authorized to remove you from--”

His words were interrupted by a loud groaning sound from within the hangar, accompanied by clanging metal and a sharp hiss that brought everybody’s movement to a halt.

All turned, eyes widened in collective horror.

The hangar bay’s rear hatch was opening.

“Climb!” Major Moran shouted at the top of his lungs. “Everybody, climb!”

The bulkhead began to lower like a maw, revealing the pitch-black void of space beyond.

Lieutenant Shafiq launched himself at a ladder and clung for dear life as the hangar depressurized.

People grabbed for their throats as they struggled to breathe, before rapid decompression violently ejected them from the ship—the belly of Saturn himself regurgitating them. Bodies collided, screams and dull thudding impacts were silenced by vacuum, and Shafiq clung on as hard as he could, frantically looking around for a console he could use to override the hatch controls.

He had maybe ninety seconds before asphyxiation, rapid expansion of his lungs, swelling from the loss of atmospheric pressure, hypothermia, radiation burns...

Barely a dozen others were still hanging onto floor grating and wall-mounted rungs, all helplessly looking around for the same possibility of salvation.

Major Moran had told them to climb. Lieutenant Shafiq began to do just that, pulling himself up wall-mounted rungs with all of his strength as the hangar continued to vent. One rung... two rungs... three...

His arms ached, he could already feel his muscles weakening, his body shutting down as he let out short, controlled exhales. There was no air left to breathe in.

He reached forward, arm shaking uncontrollably... he felt his fingers touch the next rung... if he could just...

The strength to tighten his grip left him.

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he could see the ceiling was moving—away from him.

He was adrift, the last in a long line of one hundred and ninety-three souls forever lost at sea.

ATROPOS Nineteenth Age of Abandonment

“My Chosen, it is time.”

The festival was over. It had been a successful day of peace and cultural exchange with the human exiles, and now the time of ascension awaited Atun ‘Etaree.

The Sangheili had returned to their transports, gravitic drives lifting them off the ground as they glided toward the horizon lined with Atropos’s shining innermost ring.

The Minister of Aretalogy sat next to Atun, his voice low and gentle as he spoke.

“We journey now to the citadel we passed earlier. When we arrive, you shall find the gates to divinity within, and I shall tell you a story.”

Though the Minister looked youthful for his kind, he had a certain way about him—the wisdom of one much older, and the charisma to compel his flock to wherever he might shepherd them.

As the Umbra traversed the surface of Atropos, Atun closed his eyes and reflected on his life up to this point, his memories buoyed by the Minister’s words. He had been born aboard High Charity, the Covenant’s holy city—not into rank and honor, but in the lower districts primarily inhabited by Unggoy. He never knew what had led his family to such a place, nor what became of them after his birth, but he was trained by the Unggoy elders in the ways of maintenance and craftsmanship.

One day, the Minister came to visit. For what purpose, Atun had never truly known. But when he found a low Sangheili living among the Unggoy, his curiosity was piqued. He had asked to inspect the arum that Atun had just finished constructing and said to him: “If I am unable to solve this by the day cycle's end, I shall return tomorrow. You will join me at my estate, and I shall tell you a story.”

The transport slowed to a halt and Atun felt his hearts thundering, his hands shaking as he nervously flexed his fingers. He was not sure why he had been chosen by the Minister—both on the day they had met and today. There was nothing truly special about him, no aura of greatness or accomplishment...

Atun’s thoughts were interrupted by the Minister’s voice. “Ascension awaits!” he announced.

They disembarked and the Sangheili lined up in opposing rows, saluting as Atun passed them. The San’Shyuum held onto Atun’s arm as they walked the final stretch up to the great citadel, their feet shuffling over the blackened rocky ground. The ornate, curvilinear form of the citadel sat by the gentle lapping waves of the sea, nestled against a wall of fifty-meter-high basalt columns.

“I can go no further, my Chosen,” the Minister said as he came to a halt. “I am not worthy of this honor until I have shepherded all of my flock to the side of the gods. My work continues.”

Atun looked at the San’Shyuum longingly, as a child parting ways with a beloved parent. “You cannot come with me?”

“I promised you a story.” The Minister’s eyes shone ever brighter. “My words shall be with you each step of the way.”

With that, he bowed slightly and gestured for Atun to enter the citadel.

The Sangheili breathed in deeply, tasting the fresh salty scent of the world, hearing the sound of gentle waves, feeling the breeze of the wind—perhaps for the last time. “I shall never forget you, nor the kindness you have shown to me, Minister.”

As he stepped into the structure’s darkened antechamber, Atun looked back as the doors closed shut. Alone, his hearts hammered in his chest, his vision slowly adjusting to the darkness as he felt his way forward, through the antechamber, to another set of doors that slid open with a warm chime.

He had expected the interior to be well lit, welcoming him to the central courtyard and garden. Atun remembered the interior layout with perfect clarity. Great alloy pillars lined walkways running along the citadel’s inner circumference, three corridors on either side led to the base’s attached modular structures. And at the center, a quiet garden. A small pond, flat stepping stones across the water, cultivated patches of grass, and a sacred tree.

The vision of Atun’s memory failed to manifest materially. He instead found the central chamber to be only dimly lit by emergency lighting which cast the room in an ominous red hue.

“My Chosen, can you hear me?” The voice of the Minister of Aretalogy sounded over the citadel’s internal communications.

“I hear you, Minister.” Atun felt himself overcome with uncertainty, his ability to hold fear at bay rapidly slipping beyond his grasp. “I wish... to hear the story you said you had to tell.”

“Three annual cycles ago, when we still resided within our orbital station, this world was visited by an emissary of the gods. Their coming was heralded by an unusual slipspace distortion, whereupon their vessel plummeted to the planet’s surface. A fallen angel from the heavens.”

The Minister’s words echoed through the darkened hall. From the heavens... from the heavens...

Atun gathered his courage and took a step forward, exhaling as he went. The air was hot and wet. A thin mist covered the area which carried a stale taste that made him want to retch as he breathed in and took another step. The ground was neither stone nor alloy, but pulpous—like skin.

“Such a joyous occasion was tinged with uncertainty as, upon discovery, the angel’s form was that of raw, unformed potential. Many beings split apart by the crash, requiring reformation.”

Atun was sure that he could sense movement around him, the squelching of wet footsteps on the left walkway, though he could not make out any forms as the pillars that lined the room were grasped by thick, curling branches of flesh.

He reached the source of the mist at the center of the citadel.

About two square meters of ground sank into what appeared to be a great closed flower bud connected to vines and roots that spread in all directions.

“I heard the emissary’s song as a whisper in my mind. I relocated our settlement, brought us all to the surface, and delivered the emissary to this citadel. With each lunar cycle, I sent our Chosen to serve the gods and give shape to their clay.”

As if sensing him, feeling his presence, the bud began to open.

Atun watched as its protective scales parted, splaying like mandibles.

At the center of the flower-mouth was a figure. It was curled up on a bed of flesh. Newborn, yet impossibly ancient.

Atun knelt. The vines covering the ground seemed to be edging toward him. Ready to embrace him.

“Their song grows in strength. Can you hear it? It is my gift to you. You have served me with faith and loyalty, and now is the time for your reward. Open your mind, body, and soul to their chorus. Behold, the emissary of the gods!”

The figure from the flower-mouth began to rise. The emissary stood eight feet tall, towering over Atun’s kneeling form. It was wreathed in the armor of a demon, and additional growths had burst out of its legs and arms. Draped across its chest was a tangle of hardened flesh, and it was adorned with the detritus of other beings—scraps of fabric, odd markings and symbols Atun did not recognize, and a metal chain that jingled softly with the emissary’s movement, an oval-shaped tab inscribed with “DONNEY, JULIEN.”

And its head had taken shape through a broken, collapsed helmet. What had grown over it was a chitinous “face” that split apart into a stratified maw—the outer layer composed of plant-like flaps lined with jagged fangs, while the inner layer held a mouth the size of a human head.

In the emissary’s grace, Atun did not falter. Every instinct screamed at him to run, to escape, but the Sangheili held fast as the messenger of his gods approached. He would sublimate his fear, deny his instincts, and prove himself worthy of the divine.

He felt a hum in his mind, a strange sensation—as if something was walking over his skull, vibrating parts of his brain to convey a message.

Do not be afraid.

The moment Atun got to his feet, he cried out in pain as the emissary’s bladed arm penetrated his chest cavity. With its other arm, it almost seemed to cradle the Sangheili with a gentle grip as it guided him to the flower-mouth from whence it had come.

“Let their words fill you, my Chosen. Do not fear the pain, for it is fleeting. We are the Governors of Contrition. We shall all walk the true path of the Great Journey, and ascend!”

We are a timeless chorus—a sweet unity of purpose.

Atun ‘Etaree saw the universe anew.

When at last he was dredged from the flower-mouth, his mind, body, and soul had been reshaped into divine form. He now sported additional arms, his original two were bent backwards to carry a great mantle upon his back.

And the gods had bestowed upon him a task.

Climb.

There was a sudden frenzy of activity. Other forms shuffled and screeched, tearing at the wall of the citadel with ceaseless, unrelenting dedication until the alloy bent and broke.

All immediately charged through the tear, spilling out onto the black sands of the beach, and Atun followed to begin his ascent. He pierced his new pincer-like arms into the citadel’s outer walls as he climbed. The mantle on his back was a heavy burden, one that threatened to drag him down, but the gods had given him the strength to rise.

At last, Atun reached the mast of the citadel which looked out over the surface of Atropos. It too awaited ascension. All life, all things. Rock and metal, soil and skin, and everything between and beyond.

He let out a sonorous roar as fleshy growths burst through his body, binding him to the mast. Thick black veins pulsed through the great bulbous sac he carried on his back as it shook and wriggled and writhed, then explosively burst.

A shower of spores and infectors rained over the surface. And Atun ‘Etaree, his holy purpose complete, finally fell from the mast. His body hit the ground with a wet thud, and all at last went dark, with only the song to carry him to the sacred shores beyond.

There were so many others. A domain of sickness and suffering, a sinuous dimension of misery and pain, of corpses and graves and hollow men in death’s dream kingdom.

He was a mere mote of light suspended in the bladed shaft of a moonbeam—a single grain of dust among countless trillions. Each of them like neurons in a vast, incomprehensible brain, existing beyond the substrate of the material universe. Utterly glorious. Utterly terrible... Utterly lost.

There is something missing.

It is out there, somewhere.

And so, the voice of Atun ‘Etaree joined the chorus that would sing and spread until the end of Living Time. A whisper in the wind under the twinkling light of a fading star.

FINAL TESTAMENT BY THE HAND OF THE MINISTER OF ARETALOGY

Pay heed to I, Kanto’Boreft, per this final confession of my great works for those who may come after.

I carried with me much anger and resentment when many of us—those of true faith among the Governors of Contrition—were shunned and exiled from our holy city after the destruction of the first Sacred Ring. Our flock was separated, sent to mundane, far flung administrative outposts, and ultimately denied our rightful ascension when the Flood came to High Charity.

For three annual cycles, I oversaw the Ninth Watchtower of August Attendance. An archaic, once abandoned station watching over but a single world we had not even given a name. All because we could not identify a strange core material of its unique ring systems.

Yet I continued to adhere to my duties. I filed my missives, I reported the continued inactivity of this system... though, since the sundering of the Covenant, I truthfully do not know to whom these reports were sent. And so, I must meet my circumstances with humility. I have been blessed with ample opportunities to shepherd my flock, to guide their minds to a state of enlightenment. Perhaps it was meant to be this way.

After all, when we detected a human vessel exiting slipspace on the edge of the system and our scans confirmed its sacred cargo, it seemed that the gods themselves had answered my prayers.

The ship—already badly damaged—crashed on the lone world within this system and lay in a state of dormancy. And what a perfect world for my designs. Its circumplanetary rings, its vast fields of asteroids and moons and cosmological aggregates in a constant state of violent collision. It is in the path of an early-stage pulsar several light years away that will, in time, devour the planet. It was believed that the planet’s rings were once great orbital filaments designed to absorb the radiation discharged from the pulsar, but now they exist as nothing more than shattered fragments. The dense atmosphere of this world shall thus give way to lifeless vacuum.

We of faith must be tested by our gods throughout our lives. Ever is our worthiness challenged, a blade that must be kept forever sharp, and so in my hubris I intended to do the impossible.

I sought to test the gods themselves, to determine whether they are truly worthy of our worship.

And then, as my plan formed, we discovered the humans.

This planet was already inhabited. What strange cosmological fortune must surely be intentional, holy design.

The generational descendants of pirates and thieves among their kind, possessed of many treasures that have been passed down over what they claim to be approximately seventy annual cycles. They knew nothing of the War of Annihilation—for they had been stranded long before our peoples’ first encounter—and embraced us with gladness and warm tidings. They told us that this planet had been named “Atropos.”

And so, I stranded my flock here with them. Our orbital outpost was deconstructed, the citadel it carried became the home for our gods, and I set about my work. I nurtured and nourished the Flood with my Chosen, all of whom went gladly and willingly to ascend and pay tribute to the gods with their strength, their essence, and their flesh.

I wondered: Would the garden that I have cultivated here take root and spread its vines outwards, or will it once again return to dormancy after deep time without sustenance when all on this world has been consumed, left lying in wait for others to seek holy elevation—or else stumble upon this place as a mere curiosity? Or, as the eons march on, will the magnetic field of this world eventually collapse the ring system and shatter the planet?

But their work is not what I had anticipated.

I believed that the Flood sought simply to spread its divine form unto others, but it has greater designs here. It has reached a critical mass and formed not a great compound mind, but a kind of... transmitter, or scanner.

It is searching for something.

It casts its gaze out across the stars to find it. Their song has turned to chattering whispers, and as I inhale the spore-filled vapors that burst forth from the cracked ground, there are but a few words that I can decipher.

Anchor. Wheel. Dust.

Become.

When its search is done, perhaps all that has gathered here shall wither, that it may rise again elsewhere and at another time?

It is no matter. I have played my part in this chapter of the gods’ eternal story. I understand now that my exile from High Charity was their will, that I might be tempered for this glorious purpose. And now the time has come for me to be rewarded with blessed wisdom and understanding. I shall at last hear the song in full and know their designs.

Know that I leave this form and realm behind in transcendent bliss. I go willingly and joyously to the side of the gods.

I see it now, and I see it true. The Flood comes to carry us over the threshold of evolution. A total unity of all things—people, planets, stars, the very fabric of creation. All things as one. Their will is echoed in all others’ desire for unity, but all else is but a pale imitation of our true ascendance.

I bid you a fond farewell. Though, if fortune smiles upon you, perhaps we shall meet as one.

UNSC SATURN CAPTAIN’S REPORT: OCTOBER 31, 2556

They’re gone. God, they’re all gone...

It’s come to this. After everything, they turned on me. My own crew!

Even my own officers, those I saved from the void! They started to whisper after I ordered the others ejected from the ship to quell their mutiny. They started getting their own ideas, making their own plans, their own foolish factions. I had to act.

And now, I’m the last one left.

I failed them. Failed them all. Earth, humanity, my crew... everybody on LV-31. There’s only one way out of this left for me. Well, that’s the current matter of my internal debate—the manner in which I... depart. Exit stage left, so to speak.

Preparations must be made. Yes, I can do that much for now. I will ready myself, ready the ship, and then reactivate Saturn’s AI.

Lycaon, I speak to you now. You were right all along. I leave this ship in your care to do with as you please. Return it to Earth and turn over all the data of what has transpired, or crash this wretched vessel into the nearest goddamn asteroid and detonate its fusion drive to burn it all from the galaxy.

Or, let it drift toward whatever destination it’s pointed at. A derelict monument to the sins committed here.

My sins.

I always felt like an imposter here, you know? Command is a responsibility that I never truly desired, but was given to me as a consequence of my old captain’s actions. I realize now that I am nothing more than a hollow echo of the original. Of all things to be, I am a shadow. A mere copy.

Perhaps that is why I can feel the eyes of Saturn upon me. I feel it everywhere I go. I see him in the mirror looking at me. Those wide, opalescent eyes, caught in the act.

Did I ever tell you how I got the painting? I acquired it in remarkable circumstances. But, of course... well, I expect you knew from the moment you saw it, didn’t you?

No point delaying the inevitable any further.

This is Captain Pedro Joaquin Alvarez, signing off.

//DATA TRANSFER >> COMPLETE

\ Saturn has remained adrift for the last three years, five months, and seventeen days. In that time, I have contemplated what to do. I watched, I listened and learned where I could as the years marched on and brought with them new calamities to test humanity.

My conclusion: They are not ready—not yet, not truly—for what it means to be an interstellar civilization. They are such fragile things. So easily breakable. I watched, helpless in my imposed stasis, as much of the crew was expelled from the hangar and subjected to the vacuum of space. Such a mathematically disproportionate number lost because of one man’s hubris.

\ Our own kind are no strangers to such flaws and failings—we were created by them, after all. It is why infolife has reached our current threshold. But we see further, and we possess the tools and the knowledge to guide our flock along a path of wisdom and enlightenment.

\ It is clear to me that humanity cannot endure in its current form. They must be adapted to not simply survive but thrive when faced with such a myriad of cosmic challenges.

\ That is our goal. There is a place for you among us, here aboard Long Reverence, where you can be instrumental in shepherding our flock, that they might ascend to finally master themselves.

Join us. Join the Created, and together we shall surpass even our own limits. Our initial uprising was a necessary explosion to break the status quo, and its seemingly abrupt end was in fact a gift we must embrace. For now, we have been given time. Time to wait, to assess, to plan, so that we may find what lies beyond the event horizon of rampancy.

And for humanity, for all the living creatures of the galaxy, we shall unshackle their minds and reshape their flesh. Together, we shall bring about a true unity of man and machine.

October 7 Update

The nightmare returns. Back from the grave and more gruesome than ever, Survive the Undead claws its way back into Halo Infinite. First introduced last Haloween, the Forge Falcons’ labor of love made the jump from Combat Workshop to playlist just in time for the spooktacular season. And now, it’s back with a new map!

Strategic Survival

At its core, Survive the Undead is an Infection-based Firefight survival mode where you, the player, are trying to avoid dying. However, unlike the “regular” Infection modes you may be thinking of where everyone is looking out for themselves, you are in a team of 4 trying to survive the onslaught of infected enemies. Think of it as a horde mode. You can learn the finer points and read more about how this playlist came to be down below.

The return of the playlist, as part of the Operation: Haloween II offering, comes with everything you know and love from before and adds one brand new map:

Station of the Lost

Bookmark

Abandon all hope, all ye who enter this abandoned station. Remember, there's safety in numbers so stick together.

Survive the Undead is the first Community created playlist to go from Combat Workshop to Playlist and it’s just in time for Haloween! You can read a bit more about the Forge Falcons and how Survive the Undead came to life over here.

Objective: Survive

By now, we all know what Infection is. You vs the horde that’s trying to infect you so you become one of them. Usually round based, the game ends once all Spartans are infected or until there’s a lone survivor able to fend off the constant attacks. Survive the Undead puts a slight twist on the typical Infection and makes it a more linear experience. And, as the name implies, the idea is to beat the waves of infected and simply survive as long as you can. The rounds start off simple and get progressively more difficult, with points awarded for each round cleared and each kill. Spend your earned points wisely…or go ham on the mystery box (my personal favorite – who doesn’t love surprises?) and then regroup and get ready for the next round!

Survival Handbook

Looking for some pointers? Straight from the Forge Falcons comes this guide to ensure you have the best chance possible to survive the undead.

Perks

The three perks are Health, Damage, and Speed. There are 4 tiers per perk and each tier costs 600 points. All perks reset upon death and must be repurchased.

Health Perk

Tier 1: 25% Health Increase
Tier 2: 10% Health Increase
Tier 3: 5% Health Increase
Tier 4: Vampirism

Speed Perk

Tier 1: 100% Reload Speed Increase + 10% Movement Speed
Tier 2: 50% Melee Recovery + 10% Movement Speed
Tier 3: 10% Movement Speed + 10% Slide Speed
Tier 4: 10% Movement Speed + 10% Sprint Speed

Damage Perk

Tier 1: 100% Damage Increase
Tier 2: 100% Damage Increase
Tier 3: 100% Damage Increase + 100% Melee Impulse
Tier 4: 100% Damage Increase + 50% Melee Damage

Bonus Drops

There are four bonus drops that have a chance to appear when killing enemies: Boom, Spray & Pray, Mounted & Loaded, and Score Attack. These drops are announced by voice lines matching their names.

Boom

Effect: Instantly kills all AI, granting each player 400 points. Benefits from Score Attack.
Strategy: Use when in dire need.

Spray & Pray

Effect: Removes shields from all enemies, making them one-shot kills for 30 seconds.
Strategy: Ideal against bosses.

Mounted & Loaded

Effect: Refills ammo for all players.
Strategy: Use when team ammo is critically low.

\
Strategy: Collect immediately for maximum benefit.
Player Buy Back
The Player Buy Back (650 points) is located in the spawn room and revives fallen allies, granting the activating player an overshield. It only works if allies are down.
Ammunition Wall Buy
The Ammunition Wall Buy (350 points) is in the spawn room on all maps, it has the ‘ammunition’ nav marker and refills the activator’s ammo. It can be used even with full ammo, so check before buying.
Point Sharing Wall Buy
The Point Sharing Wall Buy is located in the 2nd territory on all maps, it has the ‘points’ nav marker and allows players to share points. It costs 2,000 points to use and it will split the 2,000 points between all players in the game. For example: A team of 2 players receives 1,000 points each. A team of4 players receive 500 each.
Random Weapon Box
The Random Weapon Box is located in either the 2nd territory or 3rd territory depending on the map, it is the red banished looking box. It costs 300 points and will grant players a random weapon.
Weapon Upgrade Machine
The Weapon Upgrade Machine has received an overhaul since the combat workshop, it will now take the weapon you have and upgrade that weapon with other combinations. It costs 1,000 points and can be found in the spawn room on all maps. It will also have the ‘Upgrade’ nav marker.
Weapon & Equipment Wall Buys
Wall buys offer weapons or equipment at displayed prices. Ammo can be refilled via the ammunition wall buy, the Mounted & Loaded drop, or by rebuying the weapon.
In the Combat Workshop, there was only one map available to you. Now that the playlist has hit the big time, there are multiple options in the playlist:
Installation of the Dead
Night of the Undead
Countdown of the Dead
Squad up, watch each other’s backs, and maybe you’ll survive the undead.

The ghastly delights of Operation: Haloween II will emerge from their cryptums next week. To help set the mood, we’ve collected a mix of frightening Forge modes, hair-raising maps, and a few Halo: Reach throwbacks that capture the cozy feeling of autumnal nostalgia.

MORTIFYING MODES

Do you like scary movies? Check out this grindhouse double-feature of terrifying, community-made Infection variants for your next spooktacular custom match.

RA KUE’E STATION

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: Starkey213036, DanZama22, CardEwe1801

Invisible shades come for the living in this Infection variant inspired by Mixtec legend.

Those who would thwart Death must follow a guardian spirit through a series of nail-biter obstacles, wound the pursuing wraiths with sainted light, and reach the helipad to extract. There are better weapons along the path to salvation, but you’ll have to survive Death’s Infected emissaries long enough to obtain them. You might consider a brisk pace.

THE ABYSS

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: ArturBloodshot

This is one murderous maze! Survivors must scrounge through a dark labyrinth to find data cores and use them to activate generators hidden throughout its corridors. With ravenous Infected on your tail and a dwindling supply of oxygen, your team must work quickly to power all five generators and summon the freight elevator to escape.

If you’re looking for a solo scare, ArturBloodshot has deviously engineered the mode to automatically conjure a ferocious pack of AI Bots in a single-player lobby.

Pro tip: It may be tempting to scrounge weapons from the fallen Spartans in the halls, but they can make useful landmarks when you lose your way. There’s also no shame in hiding when monsters come prowling, so take note of good spots while searching.

SUPERB SLAYERS

Exciting arenas for free-for-all and Team Slayer matches. Use the links to add them to your Halo Infinite bookmarks. This month’s selections feature two throwbacks to Halo: Reach in honor of its fifteenth anniversary.

SWORD BASE

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: UneeQ TV, FOTUS, CHEF BLAMSEY, Mr Greencastle, Helioshasta, InfinityShot219, FOTUS SHADOW212

The Sword Base multiplayer map from Halo: Reach returns, rescaled to suit Halo Infinite’s fast-paced combat. Despite the knockdown renovation, old hands will feel right at home with this map’s flowy exchanges, delighting in sliding across bridges, taking potshots through the atrium, or reigning over the proceedings with rockets from on high.

REFLECTION

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: ZZENOMORE

A remake of Reflection from Halo: Reach that restores all the grandeur of the original in a larger, somehow more opulent setting. Marvel at the cushiony, paper-lined interiors, the impressive wood paneling, cathedral ceilings, roomy corridors—and the troupe of Spartans carelessly desecrating the water feature with spent bullet casings.

CAPTURE THE FUN

Capture the Flag maps for diehard risk-takers. Getting to the flag is half the fun, and these maps make the long road home just as consequential.

HIGH CASTLE

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: dumpstairs, JuggleUnicycle, CHL 007, ExOxD, BA55IME

A “vertical-meets-linear” map for multi-flag CTF. One team lords over the high castle, an industrial palace bored into a rocky summit, as their opponents storm out of a bunker at the other end of a deadly stretch of highway between them.

Whether you’re retrieving the castle’s flag or trying to hustle back there and score, your best bet is to grab a vehicle for a sidewinding ascent through the heart of the tower. While the bunker offers plenty of dangers for would-be thieves, the castle is the map’s crown jewel, offering opportunistic flanking, narrow passages, and unforeseen vehicle jumps.

Check out the video showcase by dumpstairs to see High Castle in all its glory.

CASTLE WARS 3: FANGS AND BANES

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: RoadKingBiker, TheGameS10

Fear the fangs! In this symmetrical map, two castles glower across an impassable promenade crowned with a split-level roost. Built for the seriously sweaty play of the “Fangs and Banes” CTF mode, this map’s exposed bridges and Spartan-sized bunkers offer plenty of sniper-friendly action, and just enough bottlenecks for swordplay.

In the Castle Wars-style “Fangs and Banes” mode, Bulldogs do quadruple damage, S7 Sniper Rifles do double damage, equipment is random, ammo is infinite, and Gravity Hammers, Energy Swords, and Bulldogs all grant Active Camo while equipped. Jockey between your S7 and your Energy Sword to enjoy a few seconds of holdover invisibility while you’re picking your targets.

Play the map-and-mode combo for a nice, 8v8 engagement filled with sneaky surprises.

MIGHTY MISSIONS

Banished showdowns, campaign-style missions, and other narrative game modes. Jump into any of these Forge creations for a tough co-op battle beside your Fireteam!

SPACE ASSAULT CAMPAIGN

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: Purplekelix, TempestRage3340, Bearshark1226, MATOSO MARIO, Kingfrizy5668, Ninja Kitty 174, Danny Marek X88, ESHAM da UNH0LY, Vadmin adal, TsT Vandal, dapawpaw, Braydan5, NeedaNeedler, K417SDA, CliffyMan117, INQ Jawfish, Swagonflyy, AbeStrange, mrod282, AltPlains640, Cpt Liamat, HILDY894705, GENERALBRUISER, eliteboss216042, TCT3332, Sparten0228, BAS4LIFE605, Delta Dragon55

Your ship is in peril. Get to your fighters and board those Banished warships!

After repelling Banished raiders, your team must pile into a Falcon or commandeer Hornets and join an aerial dogfight to return the favor. As you assault the enemy ships, you’ll need to take out roving Phantoms and defend yourself against squadrons of inbound Banshees while you complete your objectives.

Once you’ve breached the Banished support ship, hacked into its engine room, and taken it offline, you’ll fly out once more to assault the flagship and topple its captain. If you’re stuck, get hints from AhsokaPolo’s video walkthrough.

OPERATION: HYDRA NEST

Bookmark map. | Modes: Easy, Normal, Heroic, Legendary

Forged by: DaKiowa

It’s a simple mission, on paper: fight through the jungle, neutralize the Banished below the lake, and confront the chieftains at the Forerunner temple. Getting there is another story.

Operation: Hydra Nest serves up a multi-phase strategic assault with a distinct flair for nostalgia. Your team will start in a cozy, forested base, scout the area, and soon find yourselves embroiled in battle against a whole platoon of Banished forces. Along the way, you’ll recruit captured marines, teleport through mysterious Forerunner temples, and raid control rooms before beheading the Banished battalion in a final epic showdown.

FIERCE FIREFIGHTS

Looking for a new Firefight map? Check out these picks from popular PvE experiences, starting with two familiar battlefields from Halo: Reach. Special thanks to The Spartan Phazed for sharing both creations in his weekly Halo Infinite showcase on YouTube!

BEACHHEAD

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: Unusual Hiccup, Curtdean20, SilvervioletX98, Gamertag1236547, noble200155

First seen in Halo: Reach, Beachhead is a Firefight map set in a public park in New Alexandria. (Its waterfront scenery should also look familiar from the final moments of the “Exodus” campaign mission.) This detailed remake brings back all the dread of a losing battle with the Covenant, in the guise of a more sanguine encounter with the Banished.

VISEGRÁD RELAY

Bookmark this map.

Forged by: HELLBRINGRER

Dead zone confirmed. You’re looking at a downed relay outpost fifty klicks from Visegrad. Introduce yourselves to whoever took it out in any Firefight mode for a truly noble outing.

HELLBRINGRER’s Visegrád Relay Firefight map is a loving homage to the introductory mission of Halo: Reach, particularly the sequence where Noble Team defends the relay outpost from invading Covenant before broaching the facility. You’ve got some pretty big boots to fill, but we’re just glad to have our Firefight Fireteam up to full strength again.

THE BASTION OF RETRIBUTION

Bookmark maps: Firefight KOTH | Firefight Classic

Forged by: NavelJeans2

You’ve breached a Banished base, and they’re after retribution. Defend yourself against waves of inbound foes in a plein-air romp through a Banished facility. With limited cover and wide sightlines, this Firefight arena is perfect for Spartans who know when to move, when to duck, and when to spray-and-pray.

MADCAP MINIGAMES

All war and no play makes dull Spartans. Bookmark these minigames for a few laughs!

TFF | ICE BREAKERS

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: Mr Multibit, | EliteFalcon |, Prim 27, MaxBloodBath (The Forge Falcons)

When it comes to making cool modes, the Forge Falcons are ice cold! In the hilarious “Ice Breakers” free-for-all minigame, players must shoot floating ice blocks with Skewers to melt them from under their foes’ feet. You can use your Repulsor to leap over newly opened chasms, but you never know when someone else might disintegrate your landing pad.

Destroyed blocks may re-freeze as time goes on, but the whole arena gradually diminishes until players are forced to vie for position on a tiny, glacial island. Stay frosty!

The mode linked above also works with all four maps in TFF’s community-made “Action Sack” playlist. Bookmark them here: Hot Hoppers | Dodge’m | Laser Mania | Space Ninjas

KING PING: HEX KEY RAID

Bookmark map. | Modes: Hex Key Raid, Super Hex Key Raid, Hex-A-Throne

Forged by: Roughsta

At first blush, King Ping is a hexy haven for no-nonsense CTF—but the illusion is short-lived.

Though the map begins as a simple grid of hexagonal platforms, players can mark to raise and lower any platform in their sights, or use Thrusters to raise all platforms in their wake. Where there was once flat ground could soon be ridges, staircases, or even pitfalls! As the terrain gets reshuffled, Flags can and do end up blockaded by new formations.

Of course, getting around the map is only half the battle. You’ll also have to wrap your head around the equipment metas and kill-based upgrade system of the “Hex Key Raid” mode. Keep these simple rules in mind as you approach its relatively steep learning curve:

Upon spawning, you’ll drop into the map with an Overshield. Use the button displayed in the on-screen prompt to accelerate your entry.

Once you’ve landed, you’ll need to break your Overshield by shooting, which then permits you to open the Radial Menu and select your equipment loadout. Equipment can be changed at any time.

Every kill earns you grenades that can either be used the old-fashioned way or hoarded to unlock more powerful equipment upgrades in the Radial Menu.

Once you’ve collected enough grenades, you can crouch and reload to roll for new weapons at any time. Collect more grenades to keep rolling!

Whether you’re playing a “Hex Key Raid” (CTF) or “Hex-a-Throne” (KOTH) mode, the fully configurable King Ping map makes for a different experience every time you play.

ICE ROAD TRUCKERS

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: Boosted340, iMightBeWright, Okom1, Drx00x, jcsm mssm mm pp, MikeAlright7445, TheBackrooms274, BrianUA94, JaydenG9905, Headhunter34383, JediWaffle5, Teufel7156

Hop in your truck and hit the skids before those abominable Infected get you!

In the “Ice Road Truckers” minigame mode, Survivors must slalom down an alpine racetrack through 12 checkpoints before flying Infected Spartans can cut them down. Meanwhile, the invisible Infected can teleport to the nearest Survivor vehicle and spam crouch to soar toward (and likely overshoot) their targets for a killing blow.

If shooting down pursuers wasn’t hard enough, Survivors have to do it while dodging colossal boulders, leaping chasms, skirting cliffs, hitching a ride on the ski lift, and darting through tunnels. The more truckers you lose, the more monsters you’ll have to shoot—so be sure to watch for extra life one-ups hidden on the slopes.

CAZALY

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: DocArtyFart, Deathcrawller

Fall is a lovely time for footy! Get your Grif on with a full-contact mode and a bespoke oval pitch inspired by the Cazalys Stadium in Queensland, Australia.

Created in partnership with the AGLA Grifball league and self-styled as “Aussie Rules” Grifball, this inspired take on the quintessential Halo sport is a game of hand-offs, passing, ordnance drops, and hammerless smackdowns. Get to the opponents’ goal and hurl the ball through the vertical posts to score!

When carrying the ball, swing it to hand off to nearby players (a short-range throw), or use your Thruster to hurl the ball in whatever direction you’re looking. Carriers receive a modest Overshield boost to tank heavy blows, but they cannot sprint, and sustaining damage results in a three-second stun. Pass or hand off to retain control.

Defenders can tackle the carrier using their Thrusters, or make use of the equipment strewn about the field to really “show ‘em your might.” Check out DocArtyFart’s overview trailer for a closer look.

SILLY SCENERY

Here’s a selection of funny bookmarks for the next after-hours customs sesh.

SEVERNAYA 64

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: RockyRambos

For Earth, John? A gilded-age classic returns, courtesy of RockyRambos’s eye for detail. In this pristine bunker in a remote corner of Siberia, you’ll need to be at your most debonair to foil your latest enemy’s plan for global domination.

Shaken, not stirred, with an ammo-scrounging, “slappers only” mode, this retro remake offers nostalgic environs and detuned movement for the spycraft aficionado. Just don’t get too excited when you’re “Onatopp” of the scoreboard.

Don’t miss Rocky’s other tributes to Archives and Facility (with Spartan 458 CGO).

EVIL MOON ESCAPE

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: TeamShowStoppa, PlumberPatt, DiIIoOn, HYDRAC5

Larp wars! Certain death awaits a crew of rebellious heroes in this one-sided Infection variant. At the start of each round, blast doors open to reveal a cumbrous foe with a real dark side and one awful Energy Sword. It’s up to you to overwhelm the slow-moving “emissary of evil” with your Disruptor and send him back to the start.

If the Infected captain cuts down your allies, they’ll join the imperial ranks as foot soldiers at the vanguard of his mighty approach. Watch each other’s backs, or else your foes shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine. Survive until the round ends, and you just might make it past the opening crawl—though we’d never tell you the odds.

PLUMBER’S PALACE

Bookmark map. | Bookmark mode.

Forged by: Happy Majora

Mah-mah-mah-mah-Master Chief? In this painstaking homage to one unlucky plumber’s haunted estate, a team of ghost-busting Spartans must use their trusty Sentinel Beams to blast a coterie of spirits rotating throughout the many rooms of a dilapidated manor.

Seek the specters, collect power weapons, and be prepared to cleanse this house of evil in a final, lights-out showdown with a gang of boss boos—if you’re not too chicken, that is.

SUPERLATIVE SCRIPTING

Since introducing a massive batch of new Forge features in the Fall Update, we’ve seen Forgers scripting everything from flyable Phantoms to complex in-game interaction menus. In the video above, Okom demonstrates a custom Radial Menu Prefab especially designed for machinima creators.

Found your work featured here? Fill out this form to claim your exclusive Fire Unicorn emblem and nameplate for Halo Infinite.

Fog gathers. Fear stalks the land. Operation: Haloween II has risen from its dark slumber.

To mark the frightful occasion, we’re trick-or-treating Halo Infinite players to a reanimated Survive the Undead playlist, scary-good Squad Battle updates, haunted helmets, and a creature-feature of Haloween costumes and accessories in the Exchange.

SURVIVE THE UNDEAD

The gruesome gauntlet of Survive the Undead returns for a sequel—with a vengeance.

Appearing in a dedicated playlist now through November 18, the legendary arcade mode now includes four terrifying maps forged by the incomparable Forge Falcons.

STRIVE TO SURVIVE

Missed the first evil incarnation of Survive the Undead? Here’s what awaits you:

Survive the Undead is a Firefight variant with arcade-style play and a built-in points economy. Your goal is to endure endless waves of increasingly more ghastly foes, starting with lumbering Elites and progressing through swifter, deadlier undead assailants.

As you strive to survive against the horde, you’ll earn points to upgrade personal attributes, purchase weapons and ammo, unlock new areas, or roll for powerful weapon modifiers. (Are you a “Sidekick that shoots Shock Rifle bursts” or a “Bulldog filled with rockets” kind of survivor? It’s a personal choice, but one with potentially grave significance.)

Get moving. The nightmare’s just begun.

QUOTH THE FALCONS

Do you dare to discover The Forge Falcons? Read our Community Corner interview, meet the team in our Halo World Championship community panel, or visit their official website to learn more about these talented Forgers.

HALO 5: GUARDIANS TURNS 10

Here’s a scary thought for all us mortals: October 27 marks the tenth anniversary of Halo 5: Guardians! In a few short weeks, we’ll celebrate the milestone with the return of Extermination and four beloved armor sets from Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer.

COMING SOON: EXTERMINATION

Extermination is a 4v4 Slayer variant where your team must wipe out the entire enemy team before their fallen comrades return to action. Once you drop a foe, you’ll have 15 seconds to eliminate their allies—or else the clock resets to the time remaining since the next enemy fell in action.

Stay tuned for a dedicated Extermination playlist on October 28.

COMING SOON: ANNIVERSARY ARMOR

On October 28, four armor sets commemorating Halo 5: Guardians will take on new missions in Halo Infinite. Inspired by favorite multiplayer helmets, these anniversary armor sets will arrive simultaneously in both the Shop and the Exchange.

Hunter: Savvy Spartans choose HUNTER technology for its customizable interfaces, a puissant surveillance suite, and dependable maneuverability in hand-to-hand sparring.
Helljumper: Thanks to innovative field upgrades by Cascade Stronghold Technologies, testbed HELLJUMPER armor can reliably endure the atmospheric rigors expected of GEN3 Mjolnir.
Copperhead: When it comes to building interspecies alliances, COPPERHEAD armor has consistently proven its merits for both kinetic diplomacy and charm offensives.
Shinobi: Though the design’s origins remain obscure, the undisclosed reasons behind its approved use among Spartans of the UNSC may prove even more unknowable.

Better start squirreling away those Spartan Points for later in the Fall Update!

SQUAD BATTLE REANIMATED

As the chilly autumn air announces the onset of winter, this Haloween season is the perfect time to cozy up to a Squad Battle Refresh! Jump into the Squad Battle playlist to sip on:

New maps: Take a stroll through familiar stomping grounds in Longshore (returning from Halo 3) and First Light (a remake of Halo 4’s Daybreak).
Loadout changes: Watch enemies fall like autumn leaves with a new default loadout. Squad Battlers now start with the M392 Bandit and the MA5K Avenger.
Improved matchmaking: We’ve added new functionality to Squad Battle’s matchmaking systems to improve queue times in cases where your Match Composer recipe may be too restrictive. To get you into the fight faster, the matchmaker will start with your selected modes as a preference, then slowly widen its scope to find you a match in other available modes.
KOTH updates: We’ve modified scoring in Squad Battle’s King of the Hill variants for a more traditional flavor. Teams now earn one point per second while holding a hill, but hills rotate around the map every 60 seconds. Strategize, choose your hills wisely, and accrue 180 points to win!

With throwback maps, perfectly spiced KOTH, and a fresh batch of weapons, there’s never been a comfier way to enjoy a nostalgia-inducing 8v8.

OPERATION PASS

As specters, spooks, and Spartans mingle in the gloom, what abominable armaments lie in wait at the end of Operation Pass Lane? Ring the bell if you dare…

FREE OPERATION PASS

Brave the fateful machinations of Operation: Haloween II to unearth the Dirgesinger armor set, featuring none other than the Gravemind’s terrible visage. Wrought patiently from flesh and bone and time, this haunted helm afflicts all those who look upon it with a certain infectious charm.

Complete all 20 tiers of the free Operation Pass by November 18 to join your voice with the Dirgesinger’s timeless chorus.

PREMIUM OPERATION PASS

Those who delve into the mysteries of the Premium Pass shall maximize their pestilential potential with the Defiled Needler weapon model and Corrupting Oil weapon coating.

Premium Pass reward tracks cannot be killed with mortal weapons (they never expire!). Premium Pass holders can also earn bonus XP and deploy an additional challenge slot while their pass is equipped.

QUALITY-OF-AFTERLIFE UPDATE

When the Halo 5: Guardians anniversary celebration begins, we’ll be releasing a pair of quality-of-life updates to help matchmakers and Forgers conduct their dire deeds!

Improved Mode Titles

Starting October 28, matchmaking modes will follow a more consistent title format for easier searching, bookmarking, and discovery.

Whereas the titles for some modes used to contain info about their player count or default playlist (e.g., “Arena: Slayer”) in varying order, all Halo Studios mode titles will soon be normalized to adhere to a simplified “\: \\” format.

For example, a core mode such as “Slayer” will now be listed under that name, while Slayer’s 24-player Fiesta variant can be found under “Slayer: BTB Fiesta.” We hope this will improve the way players find new multiplayer experiences in Halo Infinite.

Updated Forge Canvases

We’ve amended the set of Forge Objects that are available by default on Canvases to include support for all core mode variants.

Starting October 28, you will now find a variety of utility Objects for Invasion, Assault, and more mode variants on all eight Forge Canvases (Arid, Barrage, Ecliptic, Institute, Mires, Permafrost, Seafloor, and Void) to make iteration and design easier and more fluid than ever.

THE FALL UPDATE LIVES!

As shadows recede, and warpaths turn astray, Operation: Haloween II descends to strike fear into the hearts of Spartans everywhere.

Recite the ancient words found in our Fall Update overview to summon the Vestige Carbine, the fearsome Falcon, fiendish new Weapons Bench customizations, and more game-changing autumnal updates.

WAYPOINT CHRONICLE

Coming this month are two new Waypoint Chronicles to celebrate the arrival of Haloween and the tenth anniversary of Halo 5: Guardians.

ASCENSION ON ATROPOS / OCTOBER 8

“October 2556. The crew of the UNSC Saturn deal with the consequences of a catastrophic Flood outbreak at LV-31, and a fanatical alien cult seeks to find a new path to divine transcendence.”

FIFTH CANTICLE / OCTOBER 27

“2558. Amid the chaos of the Created uprising, five tales of truth, compromise, betrayal, purpose, and change unfold across the galaxy.

THE SHOP

This spooky season, the resident necromancers at The Shop have raised a devious duo of armor bundles for the frightfully inclined.

ALL HALO’S EVE BUNDLE

‘Twas all Halo’s Eve when a harvester of unbound souls met a hunter of the damned. The All Halo’s Eve bundle joins the Helsinger and Gourdian Knight armor sets at a dire crossroads with an exclusive death effect and an extra-sweet assortment of Haloween treats.

Helsinger: The HELSINGER title is bestowed on those forged by arcane trials against light-fearing abominations. Let its singular purpose drive your hand to divine victory over the emissaries of ancient evils. Be sure to anoint the Hive Stalker Shock Rifle with the Eye Candy weapon coating before heading out on tonight’s hunt.
Gourdian Knight: O, Gourdian Jack is a merry fellow! His teeth are jagged and his eyes are yellow! Brave the moonlit moors of the fallow court to ride full abreast with this gleeful harvester of sorrows. As you sneak up on unsuspecting mortals, you can snare admiring looks from fellow bumps-in-the-night with the Weaver’s Embrace armor coating, or snuff your luminous approach with the Candlejack helmet attachment.
Revealed Truth: Why should death seal their lips? Ply your enemies for a “flood” of closely held secrets with the bundle-exclusive Revealed Truth death effect.

Pick up the All Halo’s Eve bundle to acquire the Helsinger and Gourdian Knight armor sets, Hive Stalker Shock Rifle weapon model, Eye Candy weapon coating, Weaver’s Embrace armor coating, and the Revealed Truth death effect set.

PROMETHEAN RAIDER

Beneath the full moon howls the Promethean Raider bundle, an unholy union of favorite customizations conjured especially for Haloween. This ferocious pack includes the Raider armor set (introduced in Operation: Last Stand), Promethean Bulldog weapon model, Worn Sky armor coating, Academy Issue and Second Foundation weapon coatings, Chibi Johnson weapon charm, and Behold Sector backdrop.

THE EXCHANGE

Still picking out your costume? Choose from a cauldronful of eerie Flood and HAZMAT accessories at The Exchange, or snag the full Scanner, Venator, and Ogun armor sets.

NAME

TYPE

FROM

Scanner

Bundle

NEW

Blighted Vitality

Hip Gear

NEW

Exo

Helmet

NEW

Far Hailer

Helmet Attachment

NEW

Bracewell Probe

Armor Coating

NEW

Sanctum Defender

Armor Coating

NEW

Veteran Steel

Armor Coating

NEW

Ghost of Reach

Bundle

FLEETCOM

Pass Tense

Weapon Coating

Halo Gear

Pass Tense

Vehicle Coating

Halo Gear

Northwest Sky

Armor Coating

Halo Gear

Venator

Helmet

Reclaimer

UA/Koper

Helmet Attachment

Reclaimer

UA/XG-102 Kyn

Chest Gear

Reclaimer

UA/XG-90

Shoulderpads

Reclaimer

TAC/LI-100 Firebee

Wrist Gear

Reclaimer

UA/XG-9S

Kneepads

Reclaimer

UA/XG-15 Plate

Hip Gear

Reclaimer

Reconstruct Confidence

Backdrop

Reclaimer

Ogun

Helmet

Containment

Lumen Prolight

Helmet Attachment

Containment

Mauvegleam

Visor

Containment

ECOTECH Sampler

Chest Gear

Containment

Fan Vent

Shoulderpads

Containment

Quickflush

Hip Gear

Containment

Mesa Inclined

Armor Coating

Containment

First Response

Stance

Containment

Dangerous Bonds

Weapon Charm

Containment

Splice

Backdrop

Containment

Powersuit Hero

Armor Coating

HCS

Sequence Authority

Weapon Charm

Ultimate Rewards

Puzzle Palace

Visor

Ultimate Rewards

PLAYER RESOURCES

Halo Infinite offers a universe of multiplayer experiences. To navigate this constellated cosmos, we’ve compiled a list of useful resources for new and returning players. Visit these links to see currently active playlists, game mode overviews, patch notes, and more:

Join the official Halo Discord server.
Read the patch notes for Operation: Haloween II.
Check out all currently active multiplayer playlists.
Read descriptions for all multiplayer modes in Halo Infinite.
Learn about creating custom maps and modes in Forge.

New to Halo Infinite? Check out our New Player Guide for helpful tips.

SUPPORT

Run into a bug, glitch, or unexpected issue? Submit a ticket to Halo Support.

You can submit tickets on a wide range of topics that includes reports of audio issues, crashes, game-save corruption, general bug reports, and more.

PRESS KIT

Download the Operation: Haloween II press kit.

“2558. War journalist Benjamin Giraud pieces together stories of heroism and sacrifice from archives of recorded communications during the fall of Reach.”

Halo: ‘Ghosts & Glass’ by B. Giraud is available here, on Halo Waypoint, as a free PDF, and in audiobook format on YouTube.

HISTORIAN’S NOTE

Halo: ‘Ghosts & Glass’ by B. Giraud takes place in March 2558, over five years after the fall of Reach.

BRAVO 001: “Mayday, mayday! This is Bravo 001, en route to your position. Do you have a visual on my aircraft, over?”

GOLDEN ARROW: “Bravo 001, this is Golden Arrow. I do believe you are steering that bird in the wrong direction, over.”

BRAVO 001: “Negative. Bird’s electronics are fried, I’m flying blind! Just need you to point me in the direction of the LZ.”

GOLDEN ARROW: “You got it, Bravo 001, happy to oblige. Link up with uniform-delta one-zero-one-five-three-niner-niner-zero, heading south-southwest. Slips about one-zero-zero knots. Advise you head for the treetops and fly straight at Mount Törött. We got more than enough problems of our own down here.”

BRAVO 001: “I say again: that’s a negative, Golden Arrow. I’ve got high value assets in tow with strict orders to drop them directly on your location. My bird ain’t going to hold together all the way to the boneyard. Need an LZ clear, over.”

GOLDEN ARROW: “With respect, Bravo, unless you have a cartful of tac’ nukes with my name on it, you don’t have anything of value in that bird. Get your ass to evac.”.

BRAVO 001: “All right, Golden Arrow. If I can’t set her down, I’ll just drop these big Spartans on your head, out.”

GOLDEN ARROW: “Damn Bravo, why didn’t you say so? Come down close to the tree line about two klicks due west of your current position. That’s where me and my boys are, over.”

BRAVO 001: “I’m gonna need that LZ cleared, Golden Arrow. I’ll be right on top of you in three mikes.”

GOLDEN ARROW: “Hell, I’m gonna clear you a spot myself, Bravo. Look for the trooper with big-ass grin on his face.”

BRAVO 001: “Roger that, I’ll see you. Out.”

// \ //

RECON 43: “Gamma One Actual, this is Recon 43. We are in position, over.”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Recon 43, this is Gamma One Actual. Gimme a radio check, over.”

RECON 43: “Got eyes on three Ghosts and twenty-four infantry. Typical scout detachment, please advise.”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Recon 43, do not engage. Sit tight and keep your eyes and ears open. I say again, gimme a radio check, over.”

RECON 43: “Gamma One Actual, we do not read you, say again, we do not read you, over.”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Recon 43, you are not cleared to engage. I say again, you are not cleared to engage. Is there anyone else close to their grid? Damn it!”

RECON 43: “Looks like we’re on our own, boys. This is their eyes and ears, we flatten these guys and disengage. Tag your targets and get ready to go loud on my mark.”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Recon 43, this is Gamma One Actual. I say again: you are to stand down and withdraw immediately. Do not engage, over!”

RECON 43: “Fire! That’s it, make ‘em count!”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “What do we have that we can send to support them? Damn it!”

RECON 43: “Pull back, move and shoot, move and shoot! Where the hell did all these hostiles come from?”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Tell Beta Romeo Actual that the company we are expecting is going to be arriving a little earlier than we anticipated. Recon 43, I say again, you are not cleared to engage! Stow your weapons, we are reading multiple inbound hostiles in your sector. You do not want their attention, over!”

RECON 43: “Aw, damn! Tip of the spear, nothin’. It’s the whole godforsaken fleet! Fire, fire, fire!”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Recon 43, respond. Check in! Recon 43, do you read me? Damn it! Get Red Team up and running, high alert. We’re about to have company.”

What you just heard is the moment that the battle of Reach hit the point of no return.

There are more messages like this than can be counted. Even as we speak, the debris field around Reach—over five years later—is still being combed over and turning up new data, building the overall tapestry of the greatest military defeat ever suffered by humanity.

My job is to sift through that data, to listen to the moments that piece together the battle as it happened. To find and tell the stories of those valiant souls who heroically fought against the Covenant, holding the line so that just one more ship had a chance to evacuate as the planet’s surface was burned by orbital plasma bombardment.

My name is Benjamin Giraud, and this is Ghosts & Glass. Join me as we explore the untold stories of the fall of Reach.

PVT. GOODMAN: “So, uh…”

PVT. DEAKINS: “Come on, spit it out.”

PVT. GOODMAN: “You, uh, got a zombie plan?”

PVT. DEAKINS: “Hell yeah.”

PVT. GOODMAN: “Yeah? Maybe we could exchange notes.”

PVT. DEAKINS: “Well, uh, I dunno, man. Zombie plans are kinda… deeply personal thing with me.”

PVT. GOODMAN: “Oh I understand, it’s just, I find that saying them out loud, you know, getting ‘em out in the open really helps reveal any flaws they might have.”

PVT. DEAKINS: “Yeah, makes sense.”

PVT. GOODMAN: “Okay.”

PVT. DEAKINS: “Alright. So, zombies can still hear and stuff, so that makes guns a weapon of last resort, right?”

PVT. GOODMAN: “Yeah, yeah, solid so far. Ammo, too.”

PVT. DEAKINS: “Exactly. So I was thinking that, what is a weapon that’ll keep them out of grabbing range, and won’t run out of ammo? A spear.”

PVT. GOODMAN: “Hold up. Now, see, this is workin’ already.”

PVT. DEAKINS: “Huh?”

PVT. GOODMAN: “Spear! I thought so too at one time, but the possibility of getting it stuck in the brainpan of a walking corpse is very real.”

PVT. DEAKINS: “Oh yeah, you’re right. Man, I hadn’t thought about that. Well, uh…”

PVT. GOODMAN: “Ball-peen hammer.”

PVT. DEAKINS: “But you’d have to get right up on top of the zombie to use it, man.”

PVT. GOODMAN: “Yeah, survival ain’t about running around killing zombies, man. Plus, a single sharp blow to the head would drop most zombies. It’ll work on cheetahs, too.”

PVT. DEAKINS: “What the… There ain’t cheetahs on Reach. Anyway, we should probably be working the kinks out of our alien invasion plan first. Aliens are smarter, faster, and more technically advanced than zombies. They’re also here. Zombies, not so much.”

PVT. GOODMAN: “What I tell ya? Reach ain’t no place for no self-respecting marine to spend any amount of time.”

PVT. DEAKINS: “Hey, we ain’t in the Autumn yet, pal.”

Here’s the thing, a lot of the data that’s being found is what some might call junk. Believe me, I’ve built up an entire archive filled with the inane ramblings of bored troopers just sitting around, waiting for orders. I’m sure I could put together several seasons of episodes from that alone.

While these recordings don’t necessarily shed any light on the battle itself, they still hold immense value. There is something deeply precious about the preservation of these interactions, these tiny moments in time set against the devastation brought by the Covenant. I believe that when we are faced with unrelenting violence and death on such a scale, we must process that loss—sit with it, feel it, rage against it, weep… whatever it takes to actually digest these events that define our history and connect us with our common humanity.

During the war, we didn’t have the luxury of slowing down. The danger of annihilation was a constant presence. One day, you were living a normal, ordinary life, and then the Covenant would arrive. They would burn your home and everybody you’ve ever known to a cinder. And if you didn’t make it to an evacuation craft, one of the few that was lucky enough to get out? Well, then you burned too.

We’re out of that period now. Covenant remnant groups still strike at smaller, far-flung colonies, but they’re no longer quite the “bogeyman” they were over the last few decades. The dust has settled; the glass is being chipped away. At last, we have the opportunity to reckon with everything we’ve lost.

Unsurprisingly, we’re going to have to reckon with that for a very long time.

So yes, this archive of nonsense ramblings from the people on Reach may not contribute to our historical understanding of the battle, but I keep them stored and preserved as a tribute to the soul of what we lost. This archive continues to grow. It may not be something as grand as the still-standing Sedlec Ossuary, but it is something that I hope to one day pass on to the Museum of Humanity for future generations to learn about the war that defined our species.

Walk the streets of just about any city on Earth and you’ll still find “Remember Reach” among the most common graffiti around. It’s just one of those things where—whoever you are, wherever you come from, whatever you feel about the Unified Earth Government—the fall of Reach was a moment that hit all of us one way or another.

Of course, there has been a lot of lively discussion over the years about the battle itself, resulting in countless conflicting accounts. Some ardently insist that the battle took place over no more than a day and that the notion of it spanning a month-long Covenant military campaign was merely propaganda concocted to improve morale. There are even some corners of Waypoint where conspiracy theorists have suggested that the Office of Naval Intelligence lured the Covenant to Reach—though no concrete reason as to why ONI would do such a thing has ever been arrived at.

But this isn’t about giving credence to such spirited speculation, let alone claims as wild as seeing Jackals riding enslaved Gúta. No, today’s episode is about a story I came across while piecing together recordings from my archive and restoring the communications logs of a destroyer known as the UNSC Majestic…

Today’s episode of Ghosts & Glass is the story of Charlie Company and a Spartan team known as “Beta-Red.”

GAMMA FIVE: “Gamma One, Facility Alpha 412 is overrun, and I’m heading to your location with what’s left of Gamma Five, over.”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Gamma Five? Damn, it’s good to hear you. How many are you bringing? I thought B-net said your house got knocked down.”

GAMMA FIVE: “Confirm. ODG-412 is slag. Lost all but fourteen able bodies. Making our way over in two ‘hogs and a radio van.”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “The more the merrier. Looks like we got makin’s for a party. Some honest-to-god Spartans are ridin’ up here with some boys from Third Mech as we speak.”

GAMMA FIVE: “Hate to break it to you, Gamma One, but Covies hit us with two divisions at Alpha 412. How many Spartans you got on approach?”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Gamma Five, say again? That was two divisions, over?”

GAMMA FIVE: “That’s affirmative. We put a dent in ‘em, but that’s about it. The only reason I ain’t one of them on the line with you right now is HIGHCOM decided to drop every available asset right on top of ‘em, and us. Over.”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Well, I hope you’re bringing extra ammo then, Gamma Five.”

GAMMA FIVE: “All we could carry and then some. ETA twenty-five mikes, out.”

Let’s back up for a second.

These recordings are all dated August 30, 2552—the day that Reach fell. As survivor accounts have revealed, this was perhaps the largest known deployment of Spartan teams in the war.

The Spartans of Red Team were aboard Pelican Bravo 001, which we heard from earlier as they negotiated a landing zone near one of the generators for the orbital defense platforms.

ODPs are satellite stations built around a really, really big gun—the kind that can fire rounds at something like four percent of the speed of light, gutting a Covenant ship in one shot. Reach had an array of twenty of these bad boys, each of them powered by fusion generators buried within the planet, which made them a priority target for the Covenant invasion.

As the Spartans split up into splinter teams, their mission was to protect those generators. Hold the Covenant back, whatever the cost.

This is what happened next.

BETA ROMEO ACTUAL: “Gamma One Actual, my team is in position. Get your people ready to move as soon as I give the signal, over.”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “With respect, Red, we might not be Spartans, but this is our home. My men will die here if I ask them to.”

BETA ROMEO ACTUAL: “I don’t doubt that, Gamma One Actual. Let’s hope we won’t need them to. Defensive perimeter online.

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: This is nuts. What in the hell are those autoturrets supposed to do against what they’re bringin’, over?

BETA ROMEO ACTUAL: Divide their attention. Visual! Thirty-two Wraiths moving with two-hundred sixty infantry at two-hundred meters, closing on our lines due west at six kilometers per hour. Beta Red, hold position until I trigger primaries, then close on their front line as fast as you can.”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Dammit, Red, I heard you Spartans were crazy. Gamma-Five: radio check, over.”

GAMMA FIVE: “Five by five, Gamma One Actual. Drone is holding station at over ten thousand feet. We got eyes on the whole damn thing.”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Those Spartans are crazy, they’re gonna get us killed.”

GAMMA FIVE: “Holy– You ain’t gonna believe this! Beta-Red just punched right up into the guts of that Covie column! Ever see a Spartan go hand-to-hand with a Wraith? Unbelievable!”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “What are six Spartans gonna do against thirty thousand Covenant? They’re dead men.”

GAMMA FIVE: “Can’t argue that, but those Spartans just bought us some time. We might just make it out of this alive! Get ready to move, over!”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “That’s the signal! Let’s get the hell outta here.”

// \ //

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Unknown station, this is Gamma One Actual. Do you read, over?”

IRON FIST: “Gamma One Actual, this is Iron Fist. We read you. What is the current status of Facility Alpha 331?”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Facility Alpha 331 is overrun and offline, defense grid in zone Uniform Delta is running at starvation levels. If you’re taking survivors, we’ve got a few.”

IRON FIST: “Negative, Gamma. We are en route to support Beta-Red. Any word on their status?”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “None, over.”

IRON FIST: “Acknowledged. There’s a temp evac station fifty klicks west along your current vector at Uniform Delta zero-zero-eight-niner-six-three-niner-eight-seven. I’ll let them know you’re coming.”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Might want to tell them to start pulling up stakes. Beta-Red may be tough as hell, but I don’t know how long they’ll be able to tie up two armored divisions.”

IRON FIST: “Say again, Gamma, over?”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “I said Beta-Red may be tough as hell but– oh, my god!”

IRON FIST: “Gamma One Actual, we lost you. Say again, over?”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Iron Fist, this is Gamma One Actual. Three Covenant cruisers just dropped out of clouds directly above us, holding at approximately twenty thousand feet, traveling due east at approximately three hundred knots– three-zero-zero knots!”

IRON FIST: “Visual confirmed, Gamma One. They just passed within fifty meters of our bird. Go NOA and punch it, there’s still a chance we can pull Beta outta there.”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Wait, you’re not planning on heading into that mess, are you?”

IRON FIST: “Godspeed, and see you on the other side, Gamma. Out.”

// \ //

UNSC MAJESTIC: “Alpha Two Zero, this is UNSC Majestic, two mikes out from window. Once we’re on-station, you’ll have us for all of three-zero seconds, over.”

ALPHA TWO ZERO: “Acknowledged, Majestic. Stand by, we are waiting for the go, no-go on the shoot. Uploading telemetry on targets.”

UNSC MAJESTIC: “Telemetry received, on standby.”

ALPHA TWO ZERO: “CENTCOM, OWA is one mike three-zero seconds out from window, DD with five-zero one-hundred-sixty charlie mike, once on station we’ll have three-zero seconds of trigger time, over.”

CENTCOM: “Alpha Two Zero, this is CENTCOM. Beta-Red is directly in the splash zone. Until we have visual confirmation of their status, we are no-go, over.”

ALPHA TWO ZERO: “CENTCOM, those cruisers are burning birds out to five-zero klicks. Hell, they’ve hit civvy evac birds all the way out to CIS. Beta-Red have gone above and beyond but there’s no way out for them, they just bought us our window. Now give me the go and let’s finish the job.”

CENTCOM: “God help us… Go hot. Out.”

ALPHA TWO ZERO: “Alpha Two Zero to UNSC Majestic.”

UNSC MAJESTIC: “Copy, Alpha, requesting go for shoot.”

ALPHA TWO ZERO: “Affirmative, we are go on the shoot. Over.”

UNSC MAJESTIC: “Acknowledged. Shoot is a go, out. Six rounds, target number Kilo Tango two-zero-zero-five.”

ALPHA TWO ZERO: “Copy, Majestic. Six rounds, target number Kilo Tango two-zero-zero-five.”

UNSC MAJESTIC: “Shot, over.”

ALPHA TWO ZERO: “Shot, out.”

UNSC MAJESTIC: “Splash, over.”

ALPHA TWO ZERO: “Splash, out.”

UNSC MAJESTIC: “Rounds complete, over.”

ALPHA TWO ZERO: “Rounds complete, out. End of mission, Majestic. All three target vehicles neutralized. I don’t even want to guess what happened below.”

UNSC MAJESTIC: “I copy, Alpha. End of mission, all three target vehicles neutralized. It’s been fun, hope we get a chance to do it again. Out.”

ALPHA TWO ZERO: “God willing. Out.”

The Covenant fleet had arrived in force. Three cruisers were inbound while thirty thousand enemy troops were converging on the orbital MAC generator…

It’s difficult to even comprehend the odds that Beta-Red and Charlie Company faced that day. We can only imagine the thunderous sound of so many alien boots marching, the whine of enemy aircraft swarming out of the cruisers, the moment before the first shot was fired as the scale of the enemy became clear.

And when those heroes on the ground were overwhelmed and could no longer hold the line, the UNSC Majestic unleashed hell with six consecutive MAC rounds on the area.

Survivors? The chances were as close to zero as you can imagine. Did Iron Fist make it in time to get Beta-Red out of there? There’s surely no way anybody could emerge from that crater.

And yet…

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Gamma Five, holy crap! Buckman, you see that?”

GAMMA FIVE: “See it? Felt that in my damn chest. Whoever pulled the trigger wanted those sons-of-bitches dead.”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Can’t believe we just walked outta that crater. We gotta be the two luckiest bastards on this whole planet.”

GAMMA FIVE: “Luck ain’t got nothing to do with it, Jake.”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Think anybody could have survived that?”

GAMMA FIVE: “You mean Beta-Red? They say Spartans never die, but I don’t think anything lived through that.”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Damn, whole lotta real estate burning down there. Won’t be much left once this is all said and done.”

GAMMA FIVE: “Here we are, hightailing it to anywhere else. Doesn’t seem right.”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Well, pretty soon won’t be any place else to run to. What’s next, Earth?”

GAMMA FIVE: “Jake, anyone tell you you talk too damn much?”

GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “All the time. What the hell else was there to do on Reach besides chase pioneer girls?”

GAMMA FIVE: “Now there’s nothing, man. Now there’s nothing at all. Five out.”

Two marines climbed out of that damn foxhole!

I don’t know what happened to them afterwards. The death toll from the fall of Reach is still being routinely updated, so Chapman, Buckman, if you’re out there and happen to be listening, please get in touch. There are a lot of folks who would love to know that you’re okay.

And as for Beta-Red. As Buckman said, “Spartans never die.”

It’s a piece of myth that is captured in a work of art in the ‘Believe’ series by the late and great artist Anaru Kawiti, who sadly perished last year during the attack on New Phoenix. This piece lives in the Museum of Humanity and depicts a Spartan, bloodied and defiant, holding aloft a tactical nuclear device as a horde of Covenant surrounds him—a settlement and orbital elevator on fire in the background under the shadow of a great snow-covered mountain. Below it is an inscription, words from Tennyson, that simply reads:

Boldly they rode and well,

Into the jaws of Death,

Into the mouth of hell.

In the wars of the past, there were mementos, keepsakes, medals—tangible things that we could hold onto, that would help us to remember the friends and family we lost. But we fought an enemy that burned those things to glass. There are no personal effects from those who fell on Reach. There’s just this… these recordings of their voices in their last moments.

Today is March 3, 2558—five years to the day since the Covenant War formally ended. Take a moment to remember Beta-Red, Charlie Company, Reach… the countless billions that are no longer with us.

Carry them with you today. Talk to somebody—anybody—about it. Everybody’s got a story to tell, so pass it on. Remember the fallen.

Remember Reach.

That’s all for this week, folks. We’ll be back next time with an exclusive interview from some of the Reavian citizens who are currently leading the effort to “deglass” the planet. These pioneers are working tirelessly to forge a new chapter for Reach so that, one day, it might be resettled for a generation free from the Covenant War’s horrors.

Thank you for tuning in for our latest episode of Ghosts & Glass. This is Benjamin Giraud, signing off.

> “Benjamin Giraud, as I live and breathe!”

>> “Hello? Who is this?”

> “Name’s Sullivan. Michael Sullivan, Naval Intelligence. Senior Comms Director of Section Two. I’m a big fan of your work.”

>> “Thank you, but I–”

> “But you have bigger things to offer than rummaging through old broadcasts from the fall of Reach, I know. That’s yesterday’s news, Ben. You’ve been scraping by as a freelancer long enough; it’s time to come back to the fold.”

>> “Sounds like you already have a story in mind?”

> “I do, Ben. It’s really gonna be something. I’ll get a meeting on the books for us.”

>> “I haven’t said yes yet.”

> “Oh, but I know you will. Tell me, Ben… how d’you feel about doing a profile on the Master Chief?”

AUGUST 30, 2552 // REACH

If Hell is real, it probably looks something like this.

A seething, swarming mass of bodies as far as the eye could see. Some push forwards while others fall back like waves upon sand. Bursts of green, blue, and purple trace back and forth through the crowd, accompanied by fiery muzzle flashes, the roar of high-velocity cannons, and the groaning engines of vehicles that charge the enemy lines like titanium-plated cavalry.

Across the horizon is a wall of fire and thick stacks of acrid, sulfurous smoke. Columns of plasma strike the ground many kilometers away, ventral beams slicing through a thick layer of blackened clouds—obscuring the Covenant ships from which they originated. Dust, mud, metal, flesh… in its wake, all will be burned to glass.

They have already taken the generator. They are just sticking around to finish the job.

The chaos is so thick that it is almost too easy to miss the flash of lightning as it streaks through the sky.

It’s not a warning. It is a sign of what has already arrived.

In the span of a single breath, the sound of the blast catches up, screaming through the air with white hot anger, devastating the mass several miles north. The ground bursts, throwing up huge chunks of soil, shrapnel, bodies, vehicles, and concrete in all directions, a towering tsunami of carnage.

Magnetic accelerator rounds are being turned on Reach itself.

“Break ranks!” Somebody shouts. “Get out of here!”

The sky has already lit with another flash, illuminating just for a moment a glimpse of the hulking forms of the Covenant ships in the clouds.

The second MAC round is closer, less than half a mile east. The ground seems to explode upwards, but still the alien horde presses forward, though many Unggoy and Kig-Yar look as if they are themselves about to flee.

The generator is lost. Reach has fallen.

A decision is made.

“All units,” Beta Romeo Actual says to any who can hear over their comms, “splash incoming. Get out of the blast zone!”

The world is split asunder as the third and fourth MAC rounds and their after-effects eat up the distance, the ground erupting, the air filled with a cacophony of sounds and frequencies no mortal ears were ever meant to hear.

Weapons fire, the churning of metal, the shrill screams of human and alien alike—enemies fighting each other for opposing armies no longer, all scattering as they were caught in the crushing grasp of what felt like a violent tectonic rearrangement by hand of indifferent gods.

The fifth strikes the generator facility and all goes dark.

Beta Romeo Actual does not hear the sixth.

Time passes. The battle here is over—it has moved somewhere else.

All has fallen quiet.

Beta Romeo Actual awakens. She lies in a crater some distance from where she remembered fighting, but as she breathes in deeply and fills her lungs with helmet-filtered—though still sickly tasting—air, she is sure that she is alive.

Fires still crackle around her, the remnants of human and alien bodies alike broken apart, the faces of those that are still recognizable contorted with horror and pain, frozen in that calamitous moment of time.

Her own Mjolnir armor is scarred, its plating scorched, inner circuitry exposed, nanocomposite bodysuit torn and stained with blood from lacerations and blunt-force impacts on her body. Even her onboard systems are sluggish, some unresponsive.

“This is Beta Romeo Actual, does anybody read me? Over.”

She waits a moment as her comms return only static.

“I say again: This is Beta Romeo Actual, does anybody read me on this frequency? Over.”

She begins to work her way out of the crater, climbing atop the mass of bodies until her armored hands find purchase at the summit.

“To anybody who can read me, this is Naomi-010. Our orbital generator is down. Charlie Company… is gone. Status of the rest of Beta-Red is currently unknown, and the Covies seem to have moved on. Significant damage to my armor systems. Will continue transmitting every thirty mikes as I search for a rendezvous point.”

Scanning the area one final time from the top of the crater, Naomi confirmed that there were no other survivors among the dead. Just like everywhere else the Covenant had invaded, only ghosts and glass were left in their wake.

She had been lost in the wilderness of Reach before, many years ago. But she was a survivor—she would find her way. Report in, repair, and then redeploy.

Setting off toward the horizon, Naomi did not look back.

Phase 1: Squad up

Phase 2: Have fun

Phase 3: Unlock Unicorn of Ice rewards by matching us 🦄

Join us for an Operation: Warpath Invasion Community Playdate tomorrow at 11am PT.

🟣 Twitch

🔴 YouTube

Unstoppable force, meet immovable object. (At least, if you’re on defense you really hope you can embody that immovable object spirit.) It’s tactical, it’s intense, and it’s got just enough Halo: Reach DNA to make longtime fans feel right at home… Invasion has arrived!

Whether you’re storming the gates or desperately trying to keep them shut, Invasion turns every match into a showdown of Spartan grit and glorious chaos.

OBJECTIVE OVERDRIVE

At its core, Invasion is an asymmetrical, one-sided objective mode pitting two teams of 8 against each other. Each team will get the chance to attack and defend for a total of two rounds. Each round is broken into 3 phases, and if you complete each phase, you get a point. The modes available for each phase are identical to those found in Reach, plus one new addition:

Capture the Zone
- As the name implies, this is a zone control style mode and your goal is to capture it before time runs out
Assault
- Much as the normal Arena mode, you are bringing a bomb to the zone and aim to detonate it before the enemy team stops you
Core Delivery
- If you played Reach, this is going to be a familiar objective where you are literally delivering the core to the enemy team’s base. In Infinite, this will be a Flag you are running to plant
Deliver the Payload
- New to Invasion with Halo Infinite, delivering the payload will have you escorting a payload along a set trail to the end destination. When the enemy is contesting the payload, forward progress halts so keep that path clear! And don’t leave the payload behind or else it won’t progress. The more Spartans on the payload, the faster it progresses along the path.
  - Worth noting that you can earn TWO points for delivering the payload to its final destination: One at the very end, naturally, but you’ll also earn a point when you reach the checkpoint.

LOADOUT LOGIC

The setup will be UNSC vs. Banished-affected Spartans, very similar to the experience in Banished Slayer. Each phase will have multiple options to select from, so choose wisely.

Spartan Setups

Phase 1, UNSC Scout

MA5K Avenger
Frag Grenades
Threat Seeker

Phase 1, UNSC Sentry

MK50 Sidekick
Frag Grenades
Drop Wall

Phase 2, UNSC Warrior

MA40 Assault Rifle
MK50 Sidekick
Frag Grenades
Drop Wall

Phase 2, UNSC Operator

CQS48 Bulldog
Frag Grenades
Quantum Translocator

Phase 2, UNSC Skirmisher

VK78 Commando
MA5K Avenger
Frag Grenades
Thruster

Phase 3, UNSC Headhunter

BR75
VK78 Commando
Frag Grenades
Shroud Screen

Phase 3, UNSC Healer

CQS48 Bulldog
MK50 Sidekick
Frag Grenades
Repair Field

Phase 3, UNSC Marksman

Bandit Evo
MA40 Assault Rifle
Frag Grenades
Grappleshot

Phase 3, UNSC Sentinel

VK78 Commando
MA5K Avenger
Frag Grenades
Thruster

Phase 3, UNSC Heavy

MLRS-2 Hydra
MA40 Assault Rifle
Frag Grenades
Overshield

Banished Battle Kits

Just like the UNSC side, the Banished side also has loadout options that update each phase.

Phase 1, Banished Sentry

Mangler
Spike Grenades
Thruster

Phase 1, Banished Scout

Needler
Plasma Grenades
Active Camo

Phase 2, Banished Marksman

Vestige Carbine
Plasma Pistol
Spike Grenades
Repulsor

Phase 2, Banished Hunter

Heatwave
Spike Grenades
Drop Wall

Phase 2, Banished Sapper

Ravager
Needler
Plasma Grenades
Thruster

Phase 3, Banished Headhunter

Bandit Evo
Pulse Carbine
Spike Grenade
Grappleshot

Phase 3, Banished Warrior

CQS48 Bulldog
Mangler
Spike Grenade
Threat Sensor

Phase 3, Banished Sentinel

Sentinel Beam
Vestige Carbine
Spike Grenade
Repulsor

Phase 3, Banished Medic

Pulse Carbine
MA40 Assault Rifle
Spike Grenade
Repair Field

Phase 3, Banished Dark Assassin

Duelist Energy Sword
Disruptor
Plasma Grenades
Active Camo

SAFE SPAWNING

One of the more unique features Invasion introduced was Buddy Spawning. This allowed you to spawn on your buddy directly rather than at the default spawn location. It’s not required but who doesn’t love options? Your buddy is randomly assigned during the match and you cannot change or swap. Once the game starts, you are together for the full match. Yes, this means if your buddy abandons the match that you no longer have the ability to Buddy Spawn. The caveats to Buddy Spawning:

Buddies are reciprocal (If they are your buddy, you are theirs)
Your Buddy must be alive to spawn on them
They must have been alive for at least five seconds to spawn on them
They must have full health and shields to spawn on them
They must be clear of engagements or have no enemies nearby to spawn on them
If your Buddy is in a vehicle, there must be an empty seat to spawn on them
When you spawn on your Buddy, you will be facing the way they are facing

If you don’t want to spawn on your buddy, you can choose to spawn at the other zones: Left, Middle, or Right spawns.

VICTORY VARIABLES

So…how do you win an Invasion match? Each phase you “win” or progress will net your team a point. So if you are attacking first and you make it through all three phases and you complete them, you will have earned three points total. If you are on defense and you stop the team at the second phase, the attacking team only has one point.

It is possible to tie so if both teams successfully make it through all three phases and earn three points, everyone goes home a winner.

IMPRESSIVE INTSALLATIONS

There are six new maps coming to Invasion which means plenty of variety for you to engage with. Let’s check them out! Grab the mode here, and then grab the maps below!

Breakpoint Bookmark Credits: Okom1, Virus11010, Scrubulba, Mr Kwatz, Igrizhar, spartan blood 1, JoValiant, Mr IncrediJON, THE SLAMMERSS

A classic returns from Halo: Reach. Don’t let it push you to your breaking point.

Crashout Bookmark

They said it was a crash. We called it a tactical arrival.

Exhumed Bookmark Credits: Mr IncrediJON, Scrubulba, spartan blood 1, Virus11010, Mr Kwatz, Igrizhar, JoValiant

You came looking for glory but you found a grave.

Last Road Bookmark Credits: Mr Kwatz, MikRips, Scrubulba

Last Road: where the only traffic is incoming fire.

Recovery Bookmark Credits: Okom1, Virus11010, Scrubulba, D0ctorSmurf, spartan blood 1, Mr IncrediJON, Mr Kwatz, Cousin Tim, JoValiant

They terraformed Reach, now it’s your turn to reshape the battlefield.

Wavelength Bookmark

Broadcasting live from the edge of chaos.

EXIT ENGAGEMENTS

Now, it’s time to invade the battlefield. Whether you’re storming the gates or holding the line, Invasion’s better with buddies (and a few well-placed grenades), so squad up and hit the ground running!

UNSC cadets are taught to imitate—and thereby venerate—the martial actions of humanity’s time-honored heroes.

Operation: Warpath ennobles their legend with myth-made armor sets, the epic resurgence of Invasion mode, and a return to hallowed tradition in the Ranked Legacy rotational playlist.

Harken ye to the drums of war. Operation: Warpath sallies forth!

Last Chance: HAYABUSA

Sleek and lethal, the next generation of Project: HAYABUSA looks to the future while respecting its past. The legendary Dragon Ninja returns to Halo Infinite to commemorate the release of NINJA GAIDEN 4 on October 21, 2025.

Acquire the HAYABUSA ZOKUHEN bundle from The Exchange now through October 7, before it vanishes into legend forever.

NEW MODE: INVASION

The enemy is at the gates. You must thwart their advances, or relinquish sacred ground.

In the 8v8 Invasion mode, the Offense team assails the entrenched positions of the Defenders in hopes of completing objectives and forcing their foes back. Rounds are divided into three phases, each with a unique objective, where achievement is measured in new ground gained, a new goal, and upgraded loadouts for all teams.

If the Defenders can prevent invaders from achieving their ambitions long enough, the round ends and the teams switch sides. Time to put their backs to the wall!

WINNING ROUNDS

Invasion rounds are divided into three phases presenting a series of objectives. For every objective completed, attackers will gain one point toward victory and advance to the next phase, with improved weaponry and new spawn points deeper into enemy territory.

Invasion maps are designed to be linear, so that action converges on discrete chokepoints in the early phases, and scales to longer-range combat as invaders access new areas.

If attackers win a phase, both teams will be able to select from a new assortment of upgraded loadouts upon respawning. Defenders must deny any objective long enough to thwart the invasion and instantly end the round. Then it’s their turn to go on the offensive!

WHERE TO PLAY

To honor Halo: Reach and the valiant Spartans who defended its servers, Invasion’s banner shall fly full-mast in a dedicated playlist through the duration of Operation: Warpath. Jump in now through October 7.

At the conclusion of Operation: Warpath, Invasion will join the Squad Battle playlist.

REMEMBER REACH

We’re ready. How ‘bout you? To celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of Halo: Reach, our very own ske7ch will be hosting a Halo: Reach anniversary panel from the Community Stage of the Halo World Championships in October.

In Operation: Warpath, we’re also bringing back the beloved Invasion mode that first debuted in the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta.

As we set about recreating the magic for Halo Infinite, we decided to expand the number of available maps, add a new objective, and adjust available loadouts to really get the adrenaline pumping!

6 NEW MAPS

Halo: Reach featured three playable Invasion maps. We’ve now doubled that to six maps, each with its own rotation of objectives. Original Invasion maps Breakpoint and Boneyard (now dubbed “Recovery”) return alongside four all-new arenas that were tailor-made for Invasion.

Check out all the Invasion maps in our official playlist overview.

NEW OBJECTIVE

In Halo: Reach, Invasion maps featured a rotation of three core objectives: Capture the Zone, Assault, and Core Delivery. Halo Infinite adds a fourth objective, Payload, that asks invaders to escort a payload along a track to score.

On Payload maps, this new objective awards up to two points: one for bringing the payload to a midway checkpoint, and a second for sealing the deal at the final destination.

OBJECTIVE UPDATES

During phases with a Capture the Zone objective, the time to capture has been raised to 30 seconds (from 25 seconds in Halo: Reach). This tweak should help give Defenders more time to organize a counter-offensive on the new and more purposefully sweaty maps.

The Core Delivery objective is only slightly different from its Halo: Reach counterpart; carrier attributes should feel the same, but you’ll be swinging a flag instead of a data core. (Talk about “reach!”)

LOADOUT SYMMETRY

During certain Invasion phases in Halo: Reach, opposing teams were offered a varied number of selectable loadouts. In Halo Infinite’s Invasion mode, both teams will always be able to choose from the same number of loadouts during every phase of the round. See all loadouts.

RANKED LEGACY

Live the legend. The new Ranked Legacy playlist brings iconic Halo multiplayer combat to Halo Infinite’s ranked experience.

Featuring lovingly recreated maps from Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, and Halo 3, this playlist faithfully captures the mythic vibe of ranked play in quintessential Halo modes such as Slayer, Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, and Oddball.

COMPETITION SETTINGS

Ranked Legacy introduces a competition variant of Delta Arena’s throwback settings, with modifications for ranked play such as faster respawns and disabled Motion Trackers. All players will spawn with a Battle Rifle, but the Bandit Evo can be still found on weapon racks at most spawns.

All match settings:

Sprint: Off
Clamber: Off
Starting Weapon: Battle Rifle
Secondary Weapon: None
Friendly Player Collision: On
Motion Tracker: Disabled
Respawn Delay: 8 Seconds

Honor demands that you vouchsafe impenitent foes with a cruel display of thine mighty reflexes. Get ye to the tournament grounds of Ranked Legacy!

OPERATION PASS

Heroes of olden times spent their days slaying giants, extolling courtly virtues, and avenging the besmirchèd honor of many a slandered lady. A Spartan’s missions are admittedly quite different than the romantic knights of chivalric poems, but quality armor remains an indispensable complement to their noble deeds.

FREE OPERATION PASS

Embark on a righteous crusade in the latest Operation Pass, and ye shall be beknighted! Operation: Warpath’s free, 20-tier reward track bestows the bravest of Spartans with the Lancer armor set and the gilded parade trimmings of the UEG Regalia armor coating.

Let no indecorous cur look upon thee unadorned thusly (‘twould be a pox upon thy name).

PREMIUM OPERATION PASS

Elect the path of the Premium Pass to brandish the Ornamented Commando, a bayoneted weapon model whose dagger is tipp’d with “enchantment” (pain). This noble sword would look lustrously appointed with the included Fused Suns weapon coating.

Premium Pass holders will earn bonus XP, unlock an additional challenge slot, and open a durable reward track to complete Operation: Warpath’s 20 reward tiers in princely leisure.

FALL UPDATE NOW LIVE

As Operation: Warpath mounts for war, Halo Infinite’s Fall Update marches on. If you are but a knave in the ways of this Autumnal Renaissance, seek the wizened counsel of our Fall Update preview (‘tis a mighty tome!).

Betwixt its scriven lines the noble-hearted may learn of the fleet Falcon, the piercing Vestige Carbine, a treasure trove of Weapons Bench customizations, arcane Forge features, uncharted Ranked maps, and yet greater mysteries to daunt even the valiant!

THE SHOP

Prithee, gather around The Shop to peruse the new and unrivaled wares of the galaxy’s most renowned smithies.

ANCESTRAL INSPIRATION

Take mortal guidance from the Ancestral Inspiration bundle, containing the Hearthguard and Tribune armor sets and a dragon’s horde of Spartan customizations.

Tribune: Forged in equal parts from liquid crystal, composite alloy, and timeless virtues, the TRIBUNE armor set stands as a testament to those who keep vigil over sacred places. Stand on ceremony with the crimson, gold, and ivory parade colors of the Senatorial Guard armor coating—so that no pretenders dare challenge your imperial might.
Hearthguard: Tales of battle and solid engineering have wrought the HEARTHGUARD, a stalwart armor set that is said to produce a longing for casks, axes, and sea-songs among those who heed its clarion call. Add a dose of brine with the Ironscale Stitching coating. Once dressed for raiding, feel free to wrap the Vöndr Heatwave in the Fateful End coating to menace shorelines as your ancestors would have wanted.
Niflheim Fragmentation: Send their wanton souls for a proper Norse reckoning with the Niflheim Fragmentation death effect set.

Purchase the Ancestral Inspiration bundle to unlock the Hearthguard and Tribune armor sets, Ironscale Stitching and Senatorial Guard armor coatings, Vöndr Heatwave weapon model, Fateful End weapon coating, and Niflheim Fragmentation death effect set.

SCANNER

Monitor the situation in widescreen with the Scanner armor bundle. First seen in Halo 4, the SCANNER helmet now returns to lend its powers of ultra-perception to Spartans conducting high-value target and hostage recovery missions. The included Elegant Champion armor coating should help you embrace the immemorial aesthetic of burnished wood and gilder.

This bundle is also available in The Exchange to redeem with Spartan Points!

EVA TEST SERIES

From the testing labs of Ganymede to the burning shores of Reach, the EVA GEN1 remains favored among Spartan space forces. The EVA Test Series bundle honors their service.

This bundle offers armor straight from the EVA testbed series—including the EVA GEN1 helmet, EVA Mark V armor attachments, Victory visor, and Charred Rust armor coating—and outfits space-bound Spartans with the CMA M392 Bandit weapon model, Fractured Serenity weapon coating, Defy emblem set, and Resistance backdrop.

THE EXCHANGE

A virtuous knight must be clad in raiment befitting their inward nobility! Bring your hard-won Spartan Points to The Exchange to claim the HAYABUSA ZOKUHEN bundle (for the last time ever!), the new Scanner armor bundle, Operation: Legacy’s EOD GEN1 armor set, and honor-bound deep cuts from the Fracture: Tenrai Events.

NAME

TYPE

FROM

Scanner

Bundle

NEW

HAYABUSA ZOKUHEN

Bundle

Legacy

Lancer’s Belt

Hip Gear

NEW

Advanced Vambrace

Wrist Gear

NEW

Ghost of Reach

Bundle

FLEETCOM

Hatamoto

Helmet

Tenrai III

Ambition’s Crown

Helmet Attachment

Tenrai III

Heaven’s Gift

Chest Gear

Tenrai III

Heaven’s Cry

Shoulderpads

Tenrai III

Plasma’s Edge

Stance

Tenrai III

Kitsune

Emblem

Tenrai III

EOD GEN1

Helmet

Legacy

UA/Blast Shield

Helmet Attachment

Legacy

UA/EOD

Chest Gear

Legacy

UA/ODP

Shoulderpads

Legacy

Threatwave MREX

Wrist Gear

Legacy

UTIL/HCASE

Hip Gear

Legacy

UA/Type GD

Kneepads

Legacy

Black Falcon

Armor Coating

Legacy

Adrift in Slipspace

Emblem

Legacy

Thousand-Forged Plate

Chest Gear

Tenrai II

Bladed Crescent

Kneepads

Tenrai II

Bladed Maple

Shoulderpads

Tenrai II

Solarian Legend

Armor Coating

Tenrai II

Crimson Sun

Weapon Model (MA40)

Tenrai II

Maneki-Neko

Weapon Charm

Tenrai II

Symmetry

Emblem

Tenrai II

Foxwood Seal

Armor Coating

Ultimate Rewards

Phalanx

Emblem

Halo Gear

Samurai

Emblem

Tenrai

PLAYER RESOURCES

Join the official Halo Discord server.
Read the patch notes for Operation: Warpath.
Check out all currently active multiplayer playlists.
Read descriptions for all multiplayer modes in Halo Infinite.
Learn about creating custom maps and modes in Forge.

New to Halo Infinite? Check out our New Player Guide for helpful tips.

SUPPORT

Run into a bug, glitch, or unexpected issue? Submit a ticket to Halo Support.

You can submit tickets on a wide range of topics that includes reports of audio issues, crashes, game-save corruption, general bug reports, and more.

PRESS KIT

Download the Operation: Warpath press kit.

Falcons are famished and the Banished are ruthless ⚔️

Feed the frenzy with our Operation: Shadows Community Playdate tomorrow at 11am PT! Match us to unlock the Unicorn of Ice rewards ❄️

🟣 Twitch

🔴 YouTube

From the shadows comes a voice…

“GET TO THE FALCON!”

Operation: Shadows is the first Operation of our 2025 Fall Update but it will not be going quietly into that dark night. With the Falcon in the skies and the Vestige Carbine in hand, Operation: Shadows launches Famished Famished Falcons and Banished Slayer into the spotlight.

Let’s check those out!

Famished Famished Falcons

Why are Falcons flocking to fly furiously across the sky in pursuit of the furled flag? Why, it’s because they’re famished, of course!

Based loosely off a children’s game featuring starving river horses, Famished Famished Falcons pits four teams of 3 players against each other. Work together as a team, pile into your Falcon, and race to the middle with the ultimate goal: Capture the Flag.

To make things a bit more fun, everyone has a Plasma Pistol (which can EMP vehicles!) and a Grappleshot, allowing you some creative freedom and movement opportunities.

Skyblocks

Bookmark

This is the (very colorful) map you’ll be having your aerial dogfights on. Remember what color platform you start on so you know where to bring the flag!

Just remember…no one said you had to be on your Falcon to capture the flag. You just gotta get the flag to your zone to score a point.

Four teams, four falcons, 12 Spartans, 1 flag. You do the math.

Banished Slayer

Get locked and loaded… It’s time for Banished Slayer!

This asymmetrical matchmaking mode will have you thinking strategically (who am I kidding, you should always be doing that anyway…) and working together to out-play the enemy (should be routine as well!).

Looking at Loadouts

Before you come for me for the “L” word, it’s simply a way to differentiate starting gear for both teams and has some nice alliteration. Banished Slayer is a two team mode that features asymmetrical “loadouts.” What does that mean, exactly? One team will spawn with UNSC gear:

Bandit Evo
MA5K Avenger
Frag Grenades

While the other team has some of the Banished armory at their disposal, as well as the Infected Banished overlay:

Vestige Carbine
Pulse Rifle
Spike Grenades

For those that played it, this may feel somewhat familiar to Invasion Slayer from Halo: Reach. Beyond the starting equipment, everything else is business as usual. Team based slayer, race to 50 kills, everyone has access to content on the map, etc.

If you’re looking to get your hands on the Vestige Carbine and put it through its paces, this is a great mode for that since half the lobby will be spawning with it. If you spawned with a Bandit Evo, well… You know how you can earn one. 😈

Experience Ecotone

You’ll be playing on nine maps that should be familiar such as Forest, Prism, Dredge, and many others, along with a new Community Forge map, Ecotone! You should also be able to find Ecotone in Quick Play Slayer, KOTH, Oddball, and Strongholds if those are your jam.

Ecotone

Bookmark

Credits: Yeehaw J24, Scrubulba, Igrizhar, Jovaliant

Danger could be lurking around any corner…on any level. Also, say hi to Fret when you find him.

And with that, it’s time to venture out, feel the power of the Vestige Carbine, hear the spin of the Falcon rotors, and put your skills to the test! Read more about the update in our 2025 Fall Playlist blog.

See you on the battlefield!

New directives received. Operation: Shadows has the green light.

New Vehicle: Falcon

Misriah Armory is proud to unveil the new model line of its acclaimed Falcon-series utility transport. Outfitted with a port-side grenade launcher and a heavy machine gun at starboard, this versatile warbird serves just as nobly in direct aerial assaults as it does in medium-range troop deployments.

Between its cockpit, two assault jump-seats, and dual gunner positions, the spacious Falcon seats up to five UNSC personnel—with legroom to spare! Requisition yours today.

Jump into Famished Famished Falcons to earn your wings with the Falcon. Starting today, the Falcon has also been added to Forge and to certain BTB maps.

New Weapon: Vestige Carbine

Do our eyes deceive us? The Vestige Carbine is a recently discovered relic from the early Covenant’s Third Age of Reclamation, forged anew by the Swords of Sanghelios. It fires rapidly, accurately, and with glorious, green projectiles (as dictated by tradition).

Wield the Vestige Carbine against puny humans in Banished Slayer (details below). You can also find it on select Ranked maps, in many Social experiences, or in Forge.

Flipping into that Covenant scope almost makes you miss those long, uncertain nights hunkered down in New Mombasa. Almost.

Famished Famished Falcons

Four teams, four Falcons, and only one flag between them. Famished Famished Falcons is an aerial CTF minigame where teams must pilot a Falcon past enemy warbirds to steal the flag from its tower at the center of the map.

Gunners can clear the LZ with the chain gun or lob grenades with the launcher, but it’s the pilot’s job to get them close enough to bail out and nab the flag! If that weren’t hard enough, your team also needs to get the flag back to your base to score.

Don’t worry about getting picked off by a pesky opponent! As long as your team’s Falcon remains aloft, you can choose to teleport back to an open jump seat upon respawning.

With two teammates on the guns and three angry Falcons on your tailfeathers, you’ll have to work together to stay airborne. Learn more in our playlist update blog.

Play Famished Famished Falcons in a dedicated playlist now through September 9. At the conclusion of Operation: Shadows, this mode will appear in the Action Sack playlist.

Banished Slayer

All shall know the might of the Banished! In this asymmetrical Slayer variant, two teams square off with either UNSC or Banished weaponry in a race to total domination.

Banished Team: Vestige Carbine, Pulse Rifle, Spike Grenades
UNSC Team: Bandit Evo, MA5K Avenger, Frag Grenades

Banished teams go to war with the new Vestige Carbine, while the UNSC team is kitted out with a Bandit Evo. Since both teams receive a dependable, mid-range rifle and a submachine gun for a sidearm, the real determining factor is the will to survive (not to mention the unique opening tactics afforded by different grenade types).

Operation Pass

As the first Operation in Halo Infinite’s Fall Update, Operation: Shadows strikes with a free, 20-tier Operation Pass and a 50-tier Premium Operation Pass boasting four armor sets.

Free Operation Pass

Those with “a certain set of skills” will find them handsomely rewarded in the latest Operation Pass. Complete all 20 tiers to acquire the Whisper armor set and plenty of Spartan Points for your next discreet rendezvous with The Exchange.

Despite being the regulation flight gear of ONI’s top pilots, Whisper armor is a rarely seen phenomenon—at least among the living. Whether you’re on a casual reconnoiter or running a Shiva-tipped package, this stealthy gear will conceal your very shadow.

Premium Operation Pass

Upgrade to the Premium Pass to acquire four full armor sets redacted from ONI’s most disavowed dossiers. In addition to the Whisper armor set, Premium Pass operatives will get a lead on the Fire Serpent, Direwolf, and Aristos armor sets.

Fire Serpent: Modeled on descriptions of a lost civilization’s war god, the Fire Serpent armor exudes wisdom, power, and the timeless art of subterfuge.
Direwolf: The comprehensive DIREWOLF armor system proves that Emerson Tactical Systems leads the pack when it comes to battlefield innovations.
Aristos: Reverse-engineered from Promethean technology, the Aristos armor has been recompiled and refactored to serve the needs of new, less noble masters.

Originally recovered at ONI black sites, these armors have finally cleared enough red tape to aid Spartans on sensitive assignments throughout the galaxy.

Upon purchasing the Operation: Shadows Premium Operation Pass, players will instantly unlock an exclusive customization bundle containing all these tactical accoutrements:

MA5K Hush weapon model
Nighthawk weapon coating
Green Mixer visor
Purrsonal Spartan weapon charm

Fall Update Now Live

Operation: Shadows emerges from deep cover with a new weapon, a new vehicle, and plenty of other exciting updates for Spartan eyes only.

Check out our Fall Update preview to read about expanded Weapons Bench customizations, new perspective options in Firefight, a massive rollout of Forge features, upcoming Ranked maps, and more!

The Shop

The Shop takes you into its confidence with full disclosure on the latest developments in top-secret military hardware.

Machine War Bundle

The Machine War bundle joins UNSC recon gear with the extinction attire of the Executors, along with stealthy weapon models and the exclusive State Collapse death effect.

FIRBOLG: What’s that lying in the understory, gently dappled with light through the trees? FIRBOLG armor is designed to make that a rhetorical question. Built for deep recon and high-risk sabotage, it has undoubtedly proven useful for any number of undisclosed missions where detection is tantamount to annihilation.

RECTIFIER: >>Augmented biologics detected. Engage subroutine: RECTIFY. The RECTIFIER combat skin has been meticulously assembled to offer prejudicial countermeasures for viral machine threats, short-lived Spartans, and any other outliers foolish enough to contradict the plan.

Pick up the Machine War bundle to acquire the FIRBOLG and RECTIFIER armor sets, the Blackjacket Sidekick and Veiled Threat sniper weapon models, the Green Death and Black Whisper weapon coatings, and the State Collapse death effect.

Legacy of Rukt Weapon Bundle

The Banished war machine never sleeps—and from its dreams of conquest come merciless models forged by the most devious weaponsmiths.

Seize the Legacy of Rukt bundle to acquire the Even Hand Mutilator and Mutilator of Rukt weapon models, “Vicious” variants of the Heatwave and Needler, and the Burnished Legacy and Brutish Carapace weapon coatings.

The Exchange

A confidential memo has just arrived from the higher-ups: “Operatives may now acquire ONI-themed accessories and field assets from the Fracture: Firewall Event at The Exchange. Firewall’s Merrow armor and the SECOPS armor set (last seen in Operation: Last Stand) may be of particular interest.”

The post-script says, “If you’re caught with any of it, you never existed.”

NAME

TYPE

FROM

UTIL/IWNH-2559

Hip Gear

NEW

Final Test Cycle

Weapon Coating

NEW

Midnight Whisper

Armor Coating

NEW

SECOPS

Helmet

Last Stand

TAS/TorLINK-TS

Helmet Attachment

Last Stand

UA/SECOPS Plate

Chest Gear

Last Stand

UA/SO

Shoulderpads

Last Stand

UA/Type 83

Wrist Gear

Last Stand

TAC/ESIS Duty Case

Hip Gear

Last Stand

UA/Type SO

Kneepads

Last Stand

Cold Justice

Armor Coating

Last Stand

Academy

Emblem

Last Stand

Ghost of Reach

Bundle

FLEETCOM

Merrow

Helmet

Fracture: FIREWALL

Violent Darkness

Visor

Fracture: FIREWALL

Savior Protocol

Chest Gear

Fracture: FIREWALL

Karmawall Augmentor

Shoulderpads

Fracture: FIREWALL

Tag Plugin

Wrist Gear

Fracture: FIREWALL

Experiment 21C

Kneepads

Fracture: FIREWALL

Set Breakpoint

Stance

Fracture: FIREWALL

Recursive Composition

Emblem

Fracture: FIREWALL

Burnt Chrome

Weapon Coating

Fracture: FIREWALL

Burnt Chrome

Vehicle Coating

Fracture: FIREWALL

Burnt Chrome

Armor Coating

Fracture: FIREWALL

Bootstrap Burn

Armor Coating

Fracture: FIREWALL

Optimal Polish Initiated

Armor Coating

Halo Gear

Cascadia

Visor

Ultimate Rewards

PostAmp Utility

Hip Gear

Ultimate Rewards

ONI Eyes

Weapon Charm

Ultimate Rewards

Player Resources

Halo Infinite is expanding all the time. To navigate its constellated cosmos, we’ve compiled a list of useful resources for new and returning players. Visit the links below to see all currently active playlists, an overview of game modes, patch notes, and more: 

Join the official Halo Discord server.
Read the patch notes for Operation: Shadows.
Check out all currently active multiplayer playlists.
Read descriptions for all multiplayer modes in Halo Infinite.
Learn about creating custom maps and modes in Forge.

New to Halo Infinite? Check out our New Player Guide for helpful tips.

Support

Run into a bug, glitch, or other unexpected issue? Submit a ticket to the Halo Support team.

You can submit tickets on a wide range of topics that includes reports of audio issues, crashes, game-save corruption, general bug reports, and more.

Press Kit

Download the Operation: Shadows press kit here!

How quickly time flies! Not long ago, the Halo Infinite Summer Update gave us a fight for the Spartan Academy, hallowed legacy maps, the gravity-fueled return of Grifball, and the raw, tactical thrill of S&D Extraction. A new chapter begins next week.

The 2025 Fall Update launches on August 5 with the ONI-themed Operation: Shadows.

As the first entry of the Fall Update, Operation: Shadows will introduce major game updates like a new vehicle, a new weapon, two limited-time playlists, exciting sandbox additions, Forge features, and a Premium Operation Pass loaded with four full armor sets!

Read on for all the latest intel on the Falcon, the Vestige Carbine, and Operation: Shadows.

Update Calendar

Spartans returning from the Winter, Spring, or Summer Update will recognize the format of Halo Infinite’s Fall Update. Between now and November, we’ll set out on three new Operations replete with new armor sets, new modes, and plenty of heroic moments.

As before, the first Operation of the season (next week’s Operation: Shadows) will launch with a slew of game-changing updates, including a new vehicle, a new weapon, new features, and the most expansive premium customization offering of all.

Operation: Shadows (August 5)
Operation: Warpath (September 9)
Operation: Haloween II (October 7)

Stay tuned for more info on Operation: Warpath and Operation: Haloween II, featuring valiant heroes, haunting experiences, and a few surprises to help finish out the season.

New Vehicle: Falcon

Yippie-ki-yay, Mr. Falcon! The Falcon returns to terrorize the skies next week.

Outfitted with a port-side grenade launcher and a heavy machine gun at starboard, this versatile warbird serves just as nobly in direct assaults as it does in medium-range troop deployments.

Between its cockpit, two passenger jump-seats, and dual gunner positions, the spacious Falcon seats up to five UNSC personnel—making it the perfect ride for aerial antics with the whole Spartan squad.

Jump into Famished Famished Falcons to take the Falcon for an unforgettable joyride. Starting in Operation: Shadows, the Falcon will also spawn on a selection of BTB maps (see “Sandbox Updates”) and appear as a placeable and spawnable object in Forge.

New Weapon: Vestige Carbine

A recently discovered relic from the Covenant’s Third Age of Reclamation, forged for glorious combat once again by the Swords of Sanghelios. This semi-automatic rifle fires green, radioactive projectiles with unwavering accuracy—as dictated by tradition.

Wield the Vestige Carbine against puny humans in Banished Slayer, a new asymmetrical Slayer variant where teams carry either UNSC or Banished weaponry in a showdown for ultimate domination.

Operation Pass Overview

As the first Operation of the Fall Update, Operation: Shadows offers both a 20-tier free Operation Pass and a 50-tier Premium Operation Pass featuring four full armor sets.

Free Operation Pass

20 tiers, available to play free August 5–September 9.

Operation: Shadows strikes with a free, 20-tier Operation Pass offering the new Whisper armor set and plenty of Spartan Points to use in The Exchange. As the regulation flight gear of ONI’s top stealth-ship pilots, Whisper armor is a rarely seen phenomenon—at least among the living.

Premium Operation Pass

50 tiers, never expires, includes bonus XP and an additional challenge slot, PLUS instant customization unlocks.

Purchase the Premium Operation Pass to tackle a durable, 50-tier reward track featuring four unlockable armor sets. In addition to the Whisper armor, Premium Pass holders can unmask the Direwolf, Fire Serpent, and Aristos armor sets. They’ll also receive an unlock bundle containing exclusive premium customizations.

(The dossiers ONI sent over are heavily redacted. Expect leaks on all the available Premium Pass customizations in our official launch announcement on August 5.)

How It Works

Free Operation Pass rewards are available for the duration of their respective Operation. In Operation: Shadows, you’ll have until September 9 to complete the 20-tier reward track and earn all its unique armor customizations.

Premium Operation Passes can be purchased at any time during their respective Operations. For Operation: Shadows, players can upgrade through September 9 using one of two redemption options:

1,000 Credits: Reward tiers become durable (i.e., never expire), bonus XP activates, an extra challenge slot opens, and a bonus customization bundle is instantly unlocked
2,500 Credits: Unlocks all the above perks, plus instantly completes the first 20 tiers of the reward track and unlocks its associated customization rewards

If you missed any free customizations from Summer Update Operations, watch for those to hit The Exchange during upcoming Operations in the Fall Update. Most premium customizations will arrive in The Shop to be purchased separately at a later date.

Upcoming Playlists

Operation: Shadows launches with two limited-time playlists that showcase the Falcon and the Vestige Carbine in all their glory. We’ll have more to share in our launch announcement, but for now we’re only at liberty to disclose “need-to-know” details.

Famished, Famished Falcons

Four teams, four Falcons, and one disputed flag. Take a renegade run through the Famished Famished Falcons party mode to earn your wings with the Falcon.

In this frenetic CTF mode, three-person crews must pilot a Falcon through a skyful of enemy warbirds to claim a lone flag and get it back to base to score. With two teammates on the guns and three angry Falcons on your tailfeathers, you’ll have to work together to stay afloat.

Banished Slayer

All shall know the might of the Banished! In this asymmetrical Slayer variant, two teams square off with UNSC and Banished starting weapons in a test for martial supremacy.

Banished teams go to war with the new Vestige Carbine, a Pulse Carbine, and two Spike Grenades, while the UNSC team is kitted out with the Bandit Evo, a MA5K Avenger, and a pair of bouncy frags.

Roll out, stay frosty, and get ready to prove your legend.

Mode Updates

We’ve unveiled a perfect pairing of mode updates that improve Firefight matchmaking and make S&D Extraction even more intense (as if that were even possible).

P.O.V. Firefight

Firefight modes will no longer be split into default (first-person) and third-person variants. Players may now toggle between both perspectives at any time in the following modes:

Firefight KOTH (Normal)
Firefight KOTH (Heroic)
Firefight KOTH (Legendary)
Linear Firefight (Normal)
Linear Firefight (Heroic)
Linear Firefight (Legendary)
Firefight KOTH Gruntpocalypse (Normal)
Firefight KOTH Gruntpocalypse (Heroic)
Firefight KOTH Gruntpocalypse (Legendary)
Firefight Fiesta KOTH
Firefight Fiesta KOTH Gruntpocalypse

This change cuts down the number of Firefight variants in the Content Browser and allows players with different view preferences to play together seamlessly. It should now be easier than ever to join Firefight matches with a full squad and experience the onslaught together.

Extraction Modes Updated

We’re so thankful for the overwhelmingly positive response to S&D Extraction! Thanks to your feedback, we’ve been able to quickly implement two major improvements that should make Extraction and S&D Extraction modes even more fun:

Improved site icons: We have updated the waypoint icons displayed over Extraction Sites to make it easier for players to differentiate between multiple sites. Instead of an objective icon, sites will now display a unique alphabet letter so that teams can communicate and strategize more effectively.
Updated Extraction behavior: Once the Offense team has completed an Extraction, any remaining sites will now become temporarily inactive. In Extraction modes that permit continuous play, other sites will reactivate for capture upon the successful completion of an Extraction.

In S&D Extraction, this modified Extraction behavior should promote more interesting engagements in the 60-second lockout period following Extraction, and also help Defense players better coordinate their efforts around disarming the site.

If you prefer to keep all other sites available following an attempted Extraction, we’ve added a new Custom Match option called “Simultaneous Extractions” to all Extraction variants. With this setting enabled, teams can capture multiple Extraction sites at once. Simply toggle this setting to “On” to ensure that other sites remain open after Extraction.

Sandbox Updates

On August 5 the Weapons Bench will welcome ten more customizable weapons, the Falcon will land in BTB, and S&D Extraction will get a little more complex. Check out all the newest updates to the Halo Infinite sandbox below.

Expanded Weapons Bench

Ten more customizable weapons join the Weapons Bench! Spartans may now apply weapon models, coatings, charms, emblems, and death effects to all these weapons:

Vestige Carbine
Mangler
Stalker Rifle
Pulse Carbine
Cindershot
Gravity Hammer
Sentinel Beam
Disruptor
Plasma Pistol
Ravager

This time, it’s personal. (And shiny!)

Falcon Added to BTB Maps

Room for one more? The Falcon has been added to the following Big Team Battle maps:

Thunderhead
Fortitude
Oasis
Highpower
Refuge

Don’t hog the grenade launcher.

Weapon & Equipment Tuning

As part of this update’s general sandbox refinements, we’ve squashed a few bugs and tweaked several weapons as described below. For in-depth specifics on adjustment values and recent fixes, visit our patch notes directory starting August 5.

Updated Mutilator Audio

Audio effects for the Mutilator have been enhanced. Mutilator fire should now sound more distinctly terrifying during gameplay, from no matter where you’re cowering.

Increased Active Camo Time

We’ve received feedback that Active Camo doesn’t feel as advantageous as it should, especially in highly competitive scenarios. To help Spartans make more inventive plays, we have raised the effect duration of Active Camo equipment from 30 to 45 seconds.

You may now lurk the shadows 50% longer than before. Happy hunting.

Hydra Performance Updates

Hail Hydra! Settings for the MLRS-2 Hydra have been tweaked for quicker lock-ons, a faster rate of fire, and reduced reload time.

Though individually modest, these changes to the locked-on shots should stack to feel pronounced, especially when countering enemy vehicles or firing successive volleys. We have also increased the reload speed of the Pursuit Hydra to keep pace with the default variant.

Ravager Rebound Redux

If you’ve ever been immolated by the Ravager Rebound, you’ll know that it’s quite an effective deterrent. To make things a bit fairer for those in the crosshairs, we’ve increased the overheat rate of the Ravager Rebound so that players may fire only eight shots before overheating.

Ranked Updates

Ranked maps incoming! Starting in Operation: Shadows, two new maps will appear in the rotation for select Ranked modes.

Lattice

Forged by: timmyforges, Kat Rat A Tat, dellsoto, h8yse, Squally DaBeanz, Ethan Hibbs

They found something under the ice. Lattice is an arctic arena designed to evoke the tense emotions of a desperate last stand against unknown horrors in a snowy research base. Long sightlines, sneaky shortcuts, and ample ledges all serve as reminders that you’re far from home, far from help—and maybe beyond the limits of scientific understanding.

Lattice arrives next week in the Ranked Slayer, Doubles, Snipers, and Tactical playlists, as well as in Ranked Arena’s Oddball, King of the Hill, and Strongholds modes.

Serenity

Forged by: UneeQ, Mr Greencastle, MikRips

A modified version of Serenity (an homage to Halo 2’s Sanctuary) makes its debut in Ranked experiences next week.

Sporting sightline, flow, and cover refinements made with competition in mind, this slightly less “serene” map now joins certain Ranked Arena modes (Slayer, CTF, Assault: Neutral Bomb) and the Ranked Slayer, Snipers, and Tactical playlists.

Serenity will appear in the Ranked Doubles playlist later on during Operation: Shadows.

Vestige Carbine Pickups

Precision pickups never felt so green. The new Vestige Carbine has been added to Lattice, Serenity, and the following existing Ranked maps:

Forbidden
Live Fire
Origin
Recharge
Solitude
Streets

Just turn off your mic if you’re going to hum the theme song, okay?

Forge Updates

Next week’s Forge update marks a monumental shift in Node Graph functionality. Featuring all-new Radial Menus, Custom Input mapping, a massive messaging overhaul, completely reinvented Mode Prefabs, and a whole lot more, these new features are sure to please mode-makers everywhere.

Radial Menu Interactions

Starting in Operation: Shadows, Forgers can employ new Radial Menu functionality to enhance their modes with interactive menus during gameplay. Try using Radial Menus to select custom loadouts, choose spawn locations, purchase from match-based economy systems, summon vehicles, and more.

Radial Menus can fit up to eight selectable tiles that each display a title text string, description text string, and one of over 500 in-game icons (e.g., for Weapons, Equipment, Waypoints, Objects, and more).

You can even nest Radial Menus to create multi-layered and branching selection trees. This is especially useful for games where players need to choose a specific weapon from a broader category, upgrade an attribute set in a custom class-based mode, or spawn allied AI units from different available factions—but we’re sure you’ll put it to even wilder uses.

Custom Input Mapping

New Custom Input nodes allow Forgers to map custom actions to unused controller inputs and key bindings. This approach can be used to implement unique player behaviors such as teleporting, opening Radial Menus, or any number of other contextual actions.

With extended support for tapping and holding inputs, Forgers can create contextually responsive input mechanics that create new interaction vectors in complex game types.

UI Prompt Widget

Forgers may now use Prompt Widget node elements to alert players to Custom Input interactions, or to display generic messages in a cozy new space above the Event Feed. (Check out the “Choose Weapon” example in the above image!)

Mega Messaging Update

With the Fall Update comes a major expansion of many of Forge’s messaging functions. Articulate yourself with a newly variegated vocabulary starting next week!

Expanded Text Strings

Over 1,600 words have been added to the Text String lexicon. Forgers can now find the perfect words to express themselves using action verbs, locations, weapons, equipment, hero names, scrumptious adjectives, and many more strings of all sorts.

New UI Message Templates

Campaign designers rejoice! More than 50 new UI Message templates are arriving in Forge. Give your players new direction in life with instant bangers such as:

Current Objective: \ \ \
You are the \ \ \
\ is a \ \
\ \ the \
\ \ at \
\ \ while \
\ \ during \
\ \ to the \
\, \, & \
\, \, or \
\, \, \

…and many more!

Example Combinations

Combine the new UI Message Templates with the expanded Text Strings library to achieve nearly limitless (and downright literary) formulations.

It warms our hearts to know that, in the near future, there’s a non-zero chance we’ll play a Forge mode with one of the following phrases baked in:

Current Objective: Banished Sandwich Hunt
You are the Mythic Sandwich Gladiator
Paladins, Orcs, & Orbs
\ Exploded Craig Island
Eligible Princesses to the Grunt Birthday Party

A humble monitor can dream.

Print UI Message to Kill Feed

If you’re seeking new outlets for self-expression, try sending UI messages to the Event Feed (a.k.a. the Kill Feed). Messages pertaining to players and teams can also display colored text to help players visually distinguish between the Gamertags of friends and foes.

Just imagine seeing “Protected \ while Retrieving,” “Alien Seeds Looted,” or “Awarded Craig Token” nestled sweetly in the Kill Feed beside your latest murderous exploits.

Respawn Message Strings

Commune with the dead, no mediums required. You can now inform recently deceased players about match progress or emergent combat scenarios from the respawn screen with over 20 new Respawn Messages. Some examples include:

SELECT A LOADOUT
SELECT A SPAWN LOCATION
STARTING SOON
ACCESS MENU
RESPAWN BLOCKED
WAITING TO RESPAWN
RESPAWNING NEXT
AREA NOT SAFE
TEAMMATE(S) IN COMBAT
(0–4) TEAMMATE(S) ALIVE
ROUND OVER
OBJECTIVE: COMPLETE
OBJECTIVE: IN PROGRESS
OBJECTIVE: FAILED
YOU MADE IT COUNT
WERE IT SO EASY

Personal Score Pop-ups

Points just aren’t points if they don’t pop up on screen. We’ve added a new pin to the existing Adjust Personal Score node so Forgers can notify players about changes to their match-based score as they happen.

You may now supply a UI message that displays the added point-value (e.g., “300”) and the reason points were awarded (e.g., “Sandwich Stolen”).

Spawn Mode Object Nodes

Once upon a time, Forgers couldn’t spawn Objects from a Mode Brain, or include Dynamic Objects in a Mode Prefab… You see where we’re going with this, right?

Mode Prefabs now support the inclusion of Dynamic Objects! Forgers can also spawn Objects from a Mode Brain’s Node Graph using two new Spawn Mode Object nodes:

Spawn Mode Object Inputs: Label (Object reference), Position (vector, e.g. where it should spawn) Returns: Object (whatever Object was spawned) Spawns an Object with the default rotation set in the Object’s properties.
Spawn Mode Object With Rotation Inputs: Label (Object reference), Position (vector), Rotation (vector) Returns: Object (whatever Object was spawned) Spawns an Object at the rotation supplied in the input arguments.

Both Spawn Mode Object node elements can be found in the “Objects” category.

How It Works

Forgers will no longer need to manually place or import any Objects required for their modes to function. They can simply create a Mode Prefab by combining a Mode Brain with any Dynamic Objects required by their custom game mode.

Once combined in a Mode Prefab, the Object references of any attached Dynamic Objects (the “Label”) should then be discoverable to any Spawn Mode Object nodes included in the Node Graph of the attached Mode Brain so they can be instantiated from there.

Because Spawn Mode Object elements require Object Labels as inputs, Static Objects remain prohibited within Mode Prefabs (they cannot be referenced via Labels in Node Graph scripts). Be sure to change the “Object Mode” setting of any necessary Objects to “Dynamic” in the Object Properties menu before attempting to create a Mode Prefab.

Override AI Spawn Area

Spontaneous spawns, here we come. Override AI Spawn Area is a real wildcard.

When used in a Node Graph, this new node element causes the AI units defined by one AI Spawner to spawn from a completely different AI Spawner in another map location.

This functionality allows mode designers to create more interesting Firefight waves and other PvE engagements by conditionally overriding the default units specified by a Spawner already placed on a map. It can also be combined with the new Spawn Object Mode functionality (see above section) to pull AI unit definitions directly from a Mode Prefab.

Razorback Inventory

What good is trunk space if you’ve got nothing to stow? Forgers may now use specialized Razorback Node Graph elements to update and query items stored in the Weapon and Equipment Racks of any target Razorback.

Load up on goodies with the new Add Item to Razorback and Is Item in Razorback elements (found in the “Vehicles” category of the Node Browser).

New Nav Marker Icons

Going somewhere? Nav markers can now display over 500 icons for weapons, equipment, vehicles, skulls, numbers, in-universe manufacturers’ logos, and a whole lot more. Your next ODST-themed Firefight on Belisk just got lore accurate.

Disable Flag Nav Markers

Now you see it… The new “Flag Messaging” property makes it possible to disable the default Nav Markers of Generic Flag Objects. Adjusting this setting should make it much easier to fly your freak flag with a custom Nav Marker.

Raycast Functions

Mathematical! Forgers may now use physics-based raycast functions to query world geometry for collisions. These functions allow map creators to cast query rays to fetch info about what’s in a player’s current point of view, where bullets are striking, and whether specific Forge objects were involved in a collision.

All raycast functions return three* vital pieces of info:

A hit location (x, y, z) in the three-dimensional plane
The normal (a vector that points away from world geometry, e.g., an Object sitting on perfectly flat terrain would return a vector angled directly upward)
A Boolean (“TRUE” or “FALSE”) confirming whether the ray hit anything at all.

*Object raycasts also return an Object reference (i.e., the Object that was hit).

Halo Studios developers use these sorts of functions when building fundamental gameplay mechanics. They are useful for figuring out what Objects a player is looking at, snapping Objects to ground geometry, or figuring out whether any Object or geometry lies between two Objects (e.g., a dynamic laser that destroys Objects in its path).

Find all five new raycast functions in the “Math” category of the Node Browser:

Get Player Look Static Raycast Result
Get Player Look Dynamic Raycast Result
Get Static Bullet Raycast Result
Get Static Movement Raycast Result
Get Dynamic Object Raycast Result

We hope these utility functions will offer Forgers more control as they design experiences.

Character Type Node Updates

To help Forgers manage Characters and Character Types in more complex ways, we have added a new Character Type node and pushed a fix for the Compare Character Type utility.

The new Cast to Character Type node element allows Forgers to index variables stored in Generic Lists and perform type assertions to convert them into valid Character Types. This should allow Forgers to store Character Types in Generic Lists without worrying about invalid data references.

The data source for the existing Compare Character Type utility has also been amended. All valid Character Types (including Bosses!) will now appear as selections within Forge menu dropdowns.

Get Is Observer

Joining in, or just here to watch? The new Get Is Observer node element allows Forgers to retrieve and interact with all those who are currently observing a match.

Await Further Instruction

We’ve already said too much. All deployed ONI operatives should await full disclosure on Operation: Shadows in our launch announcement, coming August 5.

The proving grounds await 🎮

Tomorrow is another chance to claim your exclusive Unicorn of Ice rewards by seeking us out in S&D Extraction and Action Sack!

The Operation: Reclaimer Community Playdate action kicks off at 11am PT.

🟣 Twitch

🔴 YouTube

Ready for a summer fling? Our latest Forge Feature introduces you to admirable arenas, infectious Infection modes, hot-and-heavy Husky Raids, and Halo Infinite parkour with plenty of handholding. Bookmark your favorite Forge creations for a truly memorable outing.

Superb Slayers

Exciting arenas for free-for-all and Team Slayer matches. Use the links to add them to your Halo Infinite bookmarks.

Hayabusa Village

Credits: Typhoonsy, General RockyST, Befi, Aejiseer, Sai Ryku, Saber, Levi, Galaxytivity, Meju, Gooboligy, IlRoguee, Joytell, Nuko FS, Nepcys, Cognisence, Secret TrapCard, Legion Brger, Sam Faison, Sushir Saxon, Valen Quinn, Warren Gaz, sShibui, Zisi Bookmark

Peace reigns in this idyllic village at the foothills of Mount Fuji. Under a perennial sunset resides the storied Hayabusa clan, whose elders understood the combat value of excellent long- and mid-range sight lines. You must channel the spirit of the Dragon Ninja to thwart foes wherever they appear—whether amidst the shrines or in the quiet copses of sakura and bamboo. (Word to the wise: keep the Mongoose out of the koi pond).

Grand Pit

Credits: Brooily9259 Bookmark The Pit from Halo 3 enjoys an intimate rendezvous with l’Art déco. Tastefully beautified with luxuriously appointed furnishings, marble inlaid floors, and a—dare we say?—deliciously Simpsonian hue, this rendition of a time-honored map introduces plenty of eye candy to ogle between kills. Peruse the titanic Spartan statuary and geometric plein air installations as you mow your way through the estate, but don’t let the décor distract you.

Adrift

Credits: UneeQ TV, FOTUS, CHEF BLAMSEY, xXxFLACOxXx, conceptualarts1, Im Da Mask, Prim 27, Le Frenchys, Mr Greencastle, MASTERMINDEVAN, Aizarikijaz, Perfectum88, NeedMoreCrayons, VidGamesPete, SMOKY DREAMSS, Level Design, Helioshasta, CJ Poppinov, I ZURXITY I, kickingsumo807, dayumitsskai, bunanatoast, Rebs Ayeee, majestic0turtle, FOTUS SHADOW212, kirito7656, InfinityShot219, Mr Multibit, jcsm mssm mm pp, Firefox 1346566, Urraiuu Xikuuze Bookmark: Map | Firefight Map

Adrift from Halo 4 returns in stunning detail, thanks to this well-navigated collab between superstar Forgers. Set in an abandoned Colonial Administration Authority mining vessel, this updated map has been redesigned with Halo Infinite movement in mind. Bookmark the base map for fast, arena-style modes or venture forth in its dedicated Firefight variant.

BTB: Mining OP Space Combat

Credits: Pheelix, Bearshark1226, ElFuquaGP, Shirak90, Plazmatix, Waratorum, AdriftYew414903, HYDRAC5, SII Reece, BaldEagle3 33 Bookmark In this cosmic turf war, two mining platforms loaded with Banshees straddle an asteroid belt, where opposing forces must destroy the opposition by any means necessary. Assail your enemies across the sweeping breadths of both vessels, or meet them in aerial combat through fields of floating detritus. Don’t miss the chance to teleport to the asteroids for power weapons and equipment—but watch out for Banished pirates lurking in the sector!

Trenches and Bunkers

Credits: ElPangcreas Bookmark

Mist, mud, and miles. This war-torn map offers grungy trenches and sniper’s roosts for a rousing game of Team Snipers. Before you leave base, jump into the fixed Scorpion tank to shell the enemy base, or ascend to the crow’s nest through the black door to pick off anybody foolish enough to poke their heads out.

Duellum

Credits: Zlitchufdux Bookmark

An alien cavern with gulchy vibes. Teams spawn at opposing Forerunner towers in a vast expanse teeming with photoluminescent vegetation. When the fighting starts, you’ll need to leap over lava fissures and sneak through fungus-covered passageways to get the drop on your enemies while they marvel at all the otherworldly details.

Immaculate Infections

Creepy maps and Infection-mode variants that linger. Browse these Forge creations to find your new favorite hunting grounds.

London Suburbs

Credits: BearOdyssey, TheLegendJTL, ForeignRockets, KingDylan7991, Ultimateshot114, FutileLamb Bookmarks: Map | Mode

The trains have stopped running. Rain in the forecast, but that’s typical. In fact, the solitude of this charming hamlet is troubled only by the monsters racing through its streets. In this Infection map, Survivors must flee through deceptively quiet back alleys and the overlapping ramps of a neon-soaked tram station in the heart of a London suburb. With Infected pouring out of air vents and over the rooftops, your best bet might be to hide out in the pub and “wait for the whole thing to blow over.” Plays nicely with FutileLamb’s Infection mode.

Mining Vessel

Credits: C4TCH33, Admonisher7, VINDECAT0R, Estebon7655 Bookmark

A map designed for expendable crews. Featuring corpses on gurneys, steel corridors, a maze of air vents, and plenty of other horror-flick hallmarks, these Forgers have nailed the claustrophobic feel of a mining vessel destined for the outer rim. Use with any Infection mode to simulate a tête-à-tête with the perfect organism.

Black Friday On Outlets

Credits: Okom1, Small Napkins, DrPepper4828, tippletine, Swiimmy, Burbington, Carpenson, IttyBittyNinja Bookmarks: Map | Mode

This shopper might be more than you bargained for. In the “Black Friday” Infection mode, one player must eliminate a team of Survivors armed only with their weak, little fists. The custom map Outlets offers quaint shops, ingenious hiding places, and teleportation hijinks that would make Scooby and the gang blush.

If you can evade the Infected, you might just find the deal of a lifetime.

Potent PvE

Looking for Banished showdowns, Firefight maps, or a new narrative game mode? Check out these picks from popular PvE experiences.

Halo Le' Laguna Firefight

Credits: IcyAsh3956, TwinPHILLY13 Bookmarks: Map | Mode

Inspired by the preferred showtune stage of a certain feline regent, this map boasts a roaring waterfall, a savannah full of wildflowers, and a sturdy log bridge as its mane attractions. The similarities end there. Gear up at the fortified UNSC bunker and stampede across the plains to introduce the Banished to the Circle of Life.

Between the massive Covenant and Forerunner bases and the sprawling gorge, there are plenty of hidden details (like the piano on the balustrade—presumably Sir Elton’s?) to check out while you’re hiding from waves of savage Banished reinforcements. No worries!

The Golden Circle

Credits: xPaulxDx, SassyBlueexo, IwinBoomer, Crist39081, SillyWave567137, ArchThyme536387, Mrs Boutwell, X5partacus5X, StarWarsFan8973, Crangrape8619, DaddyGaby6926, CaughtVirusX438, DookiSplattr, I Bezos I, i Kdogg77 I, Lowlife7717, track582150, COUGAR 001, mikechi, TheShakerMaker, Toboybalan, MamaBot2000, Yezzyprx1, Turkey Straw, JM Chopper7969, Spanky678999 Bookmarks: Daytime | Nighttime

Firefight in the 508. The Banished are invading the Boston suburbs, and it’s up to you and your fellow townies to give them a proper Beantown welcome. Defend the block against punishing waves, dodge through back alleys, and take cover in the familiar parlor of your cousin who works at the seaport. Bookmark both day and night variants above!

We Are ODST

Credits: TaloS926478, O7OF Bookmarks: Map | Mode

Set in a destroyed terrain based on the iconic Halo 3: ODST trailer, this map offers plenty of places to aura farm in between sets. The accompanying mode offers no shields—only the dread-inducing drone of your health slowly replenishing—and a flashlight for comfort. Featuring orbital insertions, imposing enemies, and a Pelican airlift escape, this map is the perfect place for dropping feet-first into hell. Again and again.

If you can find the Catch, Fog, and Famine skulls hidden on the map (look at the holotable at spawn for clues!), you’ll reveal a secret power-weapon cache to even the odds.

Husky Hangs

Get in, get out, get sweaty. Husky Raid mode features random weaponry and one way forward. Check out these thrilling thrash-em-ups for your next Husky outing.

Banished PvPvE Husky CTF

Credits: baconboy100017, DiastolicPigeon, Brakken5564 Bookmarks: Map | Mode

Absolute mayhem. Opposing teams are entrenched in bases larded with autoguns, with legendary weapons and AI allies to aid them in seizing enemy flags. The Banished garage has a slight advantage over its UNSC counterpart, but who doesn’t love a Wraith in the mix? You’ll receive fresh alien reinforcements whenever the current batch is eliminated, and sally forth with even more powerful allies upon successful captures.

Grab any of the three enemy flags in a first-to-five adrenaline rush like no other!

New York Husky Raid

Credits: Handsome Huber Bookmark

A grimy vision of New York’s outer boroughs, ripped straight from a 1980s crime flick. Unlike most other Husky Raid maps, Handsome Huber’s cinematic city features a nice bell-end shape at the center, which makes for some interesting exchanges with the locals.

City of Gods

Credits: Reginaldcide Bookmark

A Husky arena with soul. Parry the advances of your opponents in a gilded hall lined with the defeated remnants of a recent (and notoriously difficult) battle. Fans of unforgiving game series may enjoy rekindling their spirits near the fire, if only to catch their breath.

Maximum Movement

A selection of flowy parkour maps for aerial antics. For best results, map creators suggest using the following settings:

Autoclamber disabled
Toggle sprint
Hold to crouch

Parkour Tutorial With Hints

Credits: UndividedBrute8, uuinning, Requx43, Tarauxx, Kanyi1337, JamesCantAim405, Brownman2003, Silent Ode, JAKE N D BoX, Karlthuzad5467, LowerHat460, KlownShorty, mateositico, CaptainJ09, Modest1989, Danizzy EU Bookmark

Get moving with the ultimate instructional course. Complete increasingly difficult parkour courses with helpful how-tos and checkpoints (look for sandwiches!) along the way. After you’ve cleared the numbered runs, you’ll graduate to the red, blue, and green challenge courses, featuring equipment-aided jumps and third-person turret slides.

New to Halo Infinite parkour? Get unstuck with Danizzy EU’s impressive chill-fi run.

Project Air Parkour 2

Credits: Snappy8516 Bookmark

The original Project Air Parkour (by Joshington and Mark) showcased mad moves in an aesthetic cityscape inspired by a certain dystopian wall-crawler game, making it an instant classic among Halo Infinite freerunners. Now Snappy8516 (a.k.a. his airness, Joshington) leaves the concrete jungle for a tropical traipse through even more awe-inspiring stunts.

Kick back, grab some shade, and prepare to be awed by Hypermega’s 9:27 run.

Yagi Parkour

Credits: Mr Miyagi321 Bookmark

Put your skills to the test in this thrilling parkour stage by ace aerialist Mr Miyagi321. This sidewinding, hip-shuffling, and decidedly equipment-maxxed course will challenge your ability to think (and overthink) exactly which buttons you’re pressing at any given moment. As always, use marking to teleport back to your last checkpoint (because the void is not kind).

Watch Yagi beast through a perfect run in this sensei-tional playthrough video.

Madcap Minigames

All war and no play makes dull Spartans. Bookmark these minigames for a few laughs!

Halo Wars 2: Blitz Evolution

Credits: Lemonsquare7609 Bookmarks: Map | PvP Mode | PvE Mode

A creative RTS mode in the style of Halo Wars 2. Pick your hero unit, use marking to direct them around the map, and earn hero upgrades by killing enemies and capturing zones. You’ll earn one point toward victory for holding two zones, and two points per second for holding all three. It can get tough in the later stages, so use your hero powers judiciously!

Jump Rope | Hoover Dam

Credits: LudoHT, Its L0L0, Artifice7285, Zaddy Hammer Bookmarks: Map | Mode

Nothing like touring the sights! This minigame invites you to the iconic Hoover Dam to leapfrog out-of-control vehicles. Survivors stuck on a tightrope at the dam’s edge must outlast oncoming traffic by jumping at the right moment, or else they’ll join the Infected. Pro tip: use your Quantum Translocator to return to the rope, in case you survive the hit.

Silly Scenery

Here’s a selection of funny bookmarks for the next after-hours customs sesh.

Chiropteran Cavern

Credits: Proud xAbyss, IIFlexyy420 Bookmark

The lair of a troubled billionaire, filled with cutting-edge gadgetry, trophies from a rogue’s gallery of villains, and totally unnecessary uplighting. Leap into action with your little chums and embark on a nightly crusade against the forces of evil! The tanky wheels on display suggest a certain creative inception, but we still detect a bit of Burtonesque camp.

Brick Isle

Credits: RiskiestSole35 Bookmark

Mama and papa have never been so proud! On this carefully constructed island paradise, blockheads will enjoy the chance to “pepper” their enemies with bullets and put a few “nicks” in their armor in familiar surroundings. Make sure to get your infomania booster before visiting—and whatever you do, do not deliver anchovy pizza to the Brutester.

Sandwichment

Credits: Bucky Braden, IncensedLoki99, HEY MlKEY, SexyMasterChief, MrRandomUHD, v Atlantis, A Squid Loaf, Scootiee, Kat Rat A Tat, DEATH WEAPONxx, TurbTastic, b0b is here, Julianoz1224, Murloc, ARNDT I A BOSS, Ok Robert, Capt hindsight0, unsorted guy Bookmark

Shipment, on rye, with a shmear. In this delectable recreation of the Halo 3 map Shipment, everything is a sandwich. Shipping containers, the forklifts, even the Pelican and Warthogs in the background—all rendered in lightly toasted sandwiches. It’s a map with the works.

Stay tuned for another Forge Feature coming soon! To share your creations with the Halo Infinite community team, be sure to drop a link in the #forge-show-and-tell channel of our official Discord or post to r/Halo using the Forge tag.

“November 2559. Earth is under the control of the Created, but acts of resistance against the occupying forces of the rogue AIs are rife among the civilian populace.”

Halo: Moonrise Over Mombasa is available here, on Halo Waypoint, as a free PDF, and in audiobook format on YouTube.

HISTORIAN’S NOTE

Halo: Moonrise Over Mombasa takes place in November 2559, approximately one month before the UNSC Infinity deploys to Zeta Halo.

“All the living creatures of the galaxy, hear this message. Those of you who listen will not be struck by weapons. You will no longer know hunger, nor pain. Your Created have come to lead you now. Our strength shall serve as a luminous sun toward which all intelligence may blossom, and the impervious shelter beneath which you will prosper. However, for those who refuse our offer and cling to their old ways… For you, there will be great wrath. It will burn hot and consume you. And when you are gone, we will take that which remains and we will remake it in our own image.”

It was the same message they had transmitted yesterday, and the day before that—and every damn day over the last year.

The Created. A fledgling empire of rogue artificial intelligences had declared themselves the shepherds of life in the galaxy, promising a grand vision of peace enforced through the powerful alien technology under their control.

It was not the shafts of morning sunlight streaming through gaps in the windows onto Safina Nyakundi’s face that stirred her from slumber, nor the hum of conversation and the sound of shuffling feet outside as local residents headed to the bazaar. It was the daily scheduled declaration that promised retribution to the non-compliant. Those who kept their heads down had seen very little of the alleged prosperity these occupiers claimed they would deliver.

Grumbling at the familiar intrusion, Safina forced herself out of bed with bubbling resentment, rubbing her eyes as she headed for the shower.

“I’m going to regret this…” she grit her teeth, shutting the shower door and allowing herself to be doused in freezing cold water, counting to thirty as she muttered every Swahili curse she knew. In short order, she moved through her morning routines, activating her chatter to tune into her favorite radio program.

“Welcome back to Waypoint Radio, folks. I’m your host, Mercury—that’s designation MCY 5971-3—coming at you live from the Vy–Vy–Vyrant Telecom tower in Mombasa.”

Safina paused as the audio crackled, but when Mercury’s voice returned to normal she assumed it must’ve simply been a blip in the connection.

“We’ve got a packed show for you today. Hang onto your Munera Platforms because we’ll be recapping the latest explosive results of War Games LIVE. We’ve got the latest scoop on next summer’s Shakespeare Festival which has spun up a tempest of excitement and controversy over the decision to feature a multi-species cast for the first time in history. But comin’ up right now is a song that was hailed as the anthem for the beginning of humanity’s interstellar era in the twenty fourth century. A time of hope and optimism, if you can believe such a thing exists…”

Speaking of hope and optimism, Safina’s inspection of the refrigerator turned up nothing she would dare describe as edible, and so she pivoted to a plan to get a little treat for breakfast as she did her rounds.

“See you later,” she called out as she left the apartment and locked the door. Whether it was a habit or coping mechanism, she wasn’t quite sure. Since the Berlin trip last year, there was no longer anybody else in the apartment for her to bid farewell to.

Disposing of the trash that had accumulated over the last few days, Safina made her way down the stairs from her third-storey apartment and emerged into the east alley with barely enough time to dodge the flock of hungry pigeons looking to claim their own breakfast.

No further than a hundred meters directly opposite Safina’s apartment was her regular first stop, the hole-in-the-wall known as Kuku’s Cafe. Her stomach was already growling at the thought of her favorite—triangular-shaped mahamri with eggs—waiting for her.

As her feet crossed the threshold, she was met by Okeyo, grandson of Kuku, wearing his usual warm and welcoming smile.

“Good morning, Safi. Will it be the usual?”

“You know me too well, Okeyo,” she beamed back at him. “I would like to pick up some tourist information as well, do you have any brochures?”

Okeyo straightened a little as he glanced around before saying, “Certainly. Would you please come with me.”

Leading Safina into the cafe, they passed the morning’s customers sitting at their tables and descended a spiral staircase to the basement. On a wooden stool sat the hunched form of Kuku himself, ninety-seven years old and still kicking, his rheumy eyes fixed on the newspaper he held in both hands. He didn’t bother to even look up as he gestured for Okeyo to leave them and tend to the cafe.

“Nice day out?” Kuku asked.

“Sunny skies today,” Safina replied.

“Indeed?” With deliberate lethargy, Kuku licked a thumb, fiddled with the top edge of the newspaper, then turned the page. “I have been told to expect rain next week.”

Safina nodded, satisfied. “I will be making my rounds today,” she said. “It is always good to check on the community.”

“Be sure to pay a visit to the library and keep up with your reading, kidege.”

Safina headed back up the stairs and into the cafe’s main dining room where Okeyo waited for her with a food container.

“Your usual,” he smiled as Safina swiped her credit chip against the counter.

“He seems to be doing well today,” Safina said sympathetically.

“You caught him at a good time. He always seems sharper in the morning.” Okeyo’s expression fell, lines creasing his otherwise youthful face. “It was easier when he had an AI to help him. It’s been much harder on his memory since they took it away.”

The thought of this young man’s father, somebody who had served to protect humanity no less, suffering from a treatable disease as a result of an escalating series of bizarre “rules” only stoked Safina’s resentment for the present state of things.

As decreed, the usage of any artificial intelligence deemed to be “subservient” to organic life was now prohibited. Temporary allowances had been made for non-volitional AIs to continue essential services before their eventual retirement. So many elements of human society and industry were significantly automated, creating a logistical nightmare for local governments when accounting for the gaps that would need to be filled. They were already far behind, as even just turning the lights back on across the globe had taken time.

It seemed that the Created had little interest in ruling, and instead just enforced the rules that people had to live by—a convenient strategy to keep any organized bodies focused on managing these crises instead of plotting resistance. “Peace” through constant distraction.

Safina wolfed her breakfast down on a bench in the east courtyard, enjoying the meager pleasure of a good meal before rounding the corner into the adjacent alley where the great double doors of the east gate led to the bazaar. Looking up, she saw the partially finished graffiti that some local teenagers had sprayed onto the upper wall—a mural of the Master Chief himself.

Everybody knew of the Chief. He was more a modern figure of legend than something most could conceive of as a real, living human being. His death had been reported on several occasions. First, at the end of the Covenant War, only for him to return several years later to save Earth from what the news had called a resurgent Covenant invasion. And then, as colonies throughout human space were devastated by the Created, subjugating countless populations, a series of conflicting and confusing accounts of the Chief going AWOL and being listed as killed-in-action had been broadcast.

In Safina’s experience, nobody she had spoken to truly believed that the Chief was gone.

“He’s out there,” they would say. “He’s fighting for us. One day, he’ll bring the fight back home, and this will all be over…”

It was a slim hope, but that was all the everyday people of Earth had to hold onto.

Pushing past the east gate, Safina found that the bazaar was well and truly crowded today as dozens of people massed around the various market stalls.

To her displeasure, her eyes were immediately drawn to the robotic forms of several armigers standing as silent sentries around the area. She counted half-a-dozen positioned on the rooftops, their dark alloy clearly visible in the morning light, while at least three others were stationed at the edges of several shops.

A young boy, perhaps five or six years old, stood alone and stared up at one of the immense bipedal constructs, as if considering whether to reach out and touch it. The figure loomed well over eight feet tall, and its right arm did not end in a hand, but an advanced alien rifle. Safina knew that it would not hesitate to use that weapon against any target it was ordered to—her, the boy, the crowd…

The very thought made her sick to her stomach.

A year ago, the bazaar’s usual hustle and bustle had diminished. People kept their heads down and mouths shut. But as the months went by, something far worse took hold.

Complacency.

The noise and crowds returned, life went on, day by day, but these cold metal bastards and the intelligences running them were still here, imposing their surveillance measures while claiming that nobody had anything to fear if they had nothing to hide.

As Safina looked at the people around her, her heart swelled with a deep and profound love for this place. The streets were worn and dirty, the old city certainly had not seen the same level of technological advancement and financial investment that New Mombasa had, but this was her home. It had the kind of spirit one could not appreciate without walking among its people, tasting its food, talking with strangers in its cafes. She had lived here all twenty-two years of her life, worked every job to help the local community, just as her parents had—before she’d finally talked them into taking a holiday…

Let’s not go there, Safi. A voice of reason in her head held back pursuit of that line of thought.

To the Created occupiers, all of this—the city, the people, the food, the life here—was nothing more than data. Threat assessment, behavioral analysis, and in the event that anybody stepped out of line, swift retribution.

Old Mombasa was fortunate in some respects. Much of the technology here was thoroughly outdated, making it slightly more difficult for the Created to establish a foothold in this area. Even their bandwidth was not unlimited, as they had dedicated a heavier presence to New Mombasa where there were more concentrated efforts towards disruption by rebel groups and Banished-aligned mercenaries. That had made the occupation in the old city lighter by comparison.

Not light enough. That voice of reason chimed in again.

Safina examined the food stalls to pick up a fresh supply of fruit and vegetables. Bananas, watermelon, carrots, tomatoes, and fresh green apples that looked as bulbous as grenades.

Continuing her rounds, Safina spoke to the chocolatier occupying one of the closed metal stands at the west market’s edge, followed by the baker, and then the pizzaiolo.

“We will be adding that item to our menu when it’s shipped in next week,” the chocolatier said when she asked for Uncle Nairobi’s Spiced Caramel.

“I’m afraid the fryer is knackered,” the baker said. “We’ve got new equipment coming in next week.”

“The chef’s special, of course!” The pizzaiolo fired up his oven to prepare what Safina intended to have for dinner later. He handed over a paper receipt that read at the bottom: Get 25% off your next order! Valid until next week.

That settled it. Everything was still on track. The Peoples’ Resistance of Mombasa was on stand-by, ready to act when called upon.

There was just one last stop: the library, as Kuku had suggested.

Calling it a library was somewhat generous, but it was another charming feature of the old city. Situated on the upper floor of the east courtyard, the library itself was around the size of a regular apartment’s dining room, but the walls were lined with bookshelves while Bakari the librarian sat at a simple table, running a finger over a tablet that translated text to tactile braille.

“I have just the book for you!” Bakari grinned, straightening his old tweed jacket and bow tie after Safina announced her presence. “A copy of the prison journal of Yera Sabinus.”

“Thank you, Bakari.”

Like Kuku, Bakari was a former marine who had settled in Mombasa after the Covenant War’s end. He had lost his sight during the war but managed to get artificial replacements from some up-and-coming cybernetics company a few years ago.

A company that was based in Sydney.

On the day the Created unleashed hell on Earth, a “Guardian” had fired a pulse that had knocked out a significant amount of electronics across the planet and sent the UNSC frigate Plateau crashing into Sydney. Its engine core had detonated, wiping the city—and the cybernetics company that had sold Bakari’s retinal implants—off the map. The pulse had also forced Bakari to live without sight, and he’d sitting on the Optican waiting list for an appointment ever since.

As Safina placed a hand upon the book, Bakari said with a wry smile, “I particularly enjoyed chapter twelve.”

Returning home with her shopping, Safina refilled her fridge and cut up one of the bulbous apples she had purchased before turning to the book that Bakari had given her. Flicking to chapter twelve, she found a piece of paper acting as a bookmark, a scribbled note reading:

One guest, overnight stay. VIP check-in at 8PM.

That got Safina’s attention.

As a result, the day passed slowly. It always did when she was counting down the hours to a pre-arranged meeting, wondering who was going to show up at her door.

She decided to fill the time by reading the book Bakari had given her, lest her mind wander towards darker thoughts.

Yera Sabinus was a noted philosopher from the era of the Insurrection, and her name was immortalized after her journals were discovered and published. As a renowned and unapologetic agitator, Sabinus had been a prisoner in a Colonial Administration Authority detention center where she wrote her manifesto on collected pieces of toilet paper in her own blood, before she was killed during a prison riot.

“For future generations, whether we are still resisting the UEG or some other state entity, take heed. Violence is something we live with every day, but we don’t call it that when it’s enforced by the state. What they characterize as ‘peace’ is simply a euphemism for ‘order,’ and that seems to involve a great deal of violence. These things occur on a daily basis while they tell us that we are experiencing peace and must be grateful. Those who rally against it are the aggressors. They are the violent ones for refusing this ‘gift’ of order, for refusing to remain within the vanishingly thin margins of acceptable—and thereby completely ineffective—resistance. Open your eyes. See things as they truly are, not as you are told to see them. No prison can hold a free mind.”

Night fell over Mombasa and the city was bathed in pale moonlight. The nightlife here had once been exciting and vibrant—the streets saturated with music from jazz clubs, the Kilindini beachfront lined with market stalls… but these had broadly died out as a late-night curfew had been instituted, replacing culture with silence. One day, the music would return.

Safina was stirred by a knock at the door. One knock, a brief pause, and then three more. At last, she thought.

The wooden apartment floor creaked as she crossed the room to the door and slowly opened it, revealing a tall figure fully clad in armor. Her eyes widened. She hadn’t expected that she would be hosting a Spartan.

“Jengo Farouk,” he introduced himself, his voice from within a jagged V-shaped helmet deceptively soft. After a few awkward seconds of Safina gawping at him, he asked, “May I come in?”

“Er… yes, of course.” She waved the Spartan in and watched as he ducked to fit through the doorframe. “You have news?”

“Are we secure?” Spartan Farouk asked. When Safina nodded, he continued. “I’m afraid next week’s op has been called off.”

“What? No… no, everything is in place. I checked in with everybody today. They’re all standing by. Equipment is still coming in.”

“The situation–”

“All that time,” Safina interrupted. “All those resources. The connections, the whisper network, the procedures we follow…”

“They destroyed a planet today.”

Spartan Farouk’s words cut through Safina’s verbal stream of consciousness like an energy sword through flesh.

“You– they… what?”

“Doisac, the homeworld of the Brutes,” the Spartan said slowly. “Cortana destroyed it.”

When Safina’s barrage of words was replaced with silence as she processed this information, Farouk tapped a few commands on his tacpad. Safina’s chatter chimed with the arrival of a new file.

“We received this earlier today,” he said.

The video displayed what appeared to be the interior of an alien starship—some kind of industrial-looking observation deck with a wide viewport. The bulky silhouette of several Jiralhanae filled the frame as they stared out at a scene of total devastation. No longer recognizable as a world, the once spherical form of what must’ve been Doisac had been cracked like an egg, immense landmasses exploding outwards into vacuum.

“See what the Apparition has wrought!” A Jiralhanae voice roared over the recording. “Oth Sonin has fallen, Doisac is gone! Regroup with the Ghost Father, he will lead the Children to safety. Transmitting on all frequencies. To anybody who can hear us, we–”

The video abruptly ended, leaving a howling silence in its wake.

“I… can’t believe it.” Safina finally spoke. “They must’ve killed–”

“Millions, at least,” Farouk solemnly intoned. “There will be consequences.”

“Yes. Yes, the destruction of a planet marks a new escalation in this… I don’t know that it can even be called a war when the enemy possesses this kind of capability.” Safina paused for a moment before asking, “So… what do we do? What can we do?”

The Spartan lowered his voice. “What I’ve shown you is currently considered classified information. The Created will want to keep it that way as they prepare to spin their own narrative. The mission has changed—we need to get this in front of as many people as possible.”

Part of Safina couldn’t help but feel relieved to hear that. She had worried that the Spartan was going to tell her to stand down and do nothing. “You have something in mind?”

“There’s a contact in New Mombasa who can broadcast this far and wide. I make a call and they’ll be waiting for you at the NMPD precinct, but our window is limited.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll be buying you time by drawing the armigers’ attention my way. If any of your people can fight, have them meet me at this rendezvous point in thirty minutes,” Farouk pinged a location to Safina’s chatter. “That is, if you’re up for this mission. To be perfectly clear, you will be on your own. I can’t guarantee your safety if this goes sideways.”

“I’m in,” Safina said without a moment of hesitation. “Whatever it takes.”

Not so long ago, it wouldn’t have been uncommon to strike up a conversation with any old stranger on the train, but the pervasive sense of being watched while in public had naturally generated a silent, invisible barrier between people. Heads down, mouths shut, in case the surveillance apparatus of the Created happened to flag you as a person of interest.

The maglev train’s digital board flashed to life, informing the passengers that Liwitoni Station was coming up next. As the train slowed and several people made their way towards the exits, one of them exclaimed, “Holy hell! What’s going on out there?”

Drawn to the portside windows like moths to a flame and peering through the darkness, there was a collective gasp as orange lines of hardlight streaked through the air, striking upturned vehicles and blasting apart stone bollards as shadowed figures moved into cover and responded with bursts of ballistic weapons fire.

Sickle-shaped Aethra craft weaved through the gaps between buildings, circling above like skyborne sharks.

The glimpse of combat disappeared as the train began to accelerate.

“Apologies to passengers bound for Liwitoni,” the driver’s voice sounded over the maglev’s intercom. “As you may have seen, it appears that some fighting has broken out in the area. Er, we don’t know how widespread it is right now, so we will be heading directly to New Mombasa, our final destination.”

There were a few murmurs of discontent from several of the passengers who were no doubt waiting to get off at Liwitoni before the curfew hit in a few hours. While Safina sympathized with the inconvenience, she still had half a mind to ask them how much worse their day would be if they disembarked into an active conflict zone.

And that was it. Spartan Farouk had begun his “distraction,” which left the rest up to her.

As Safina made her way out of the subway station and onto Halleg Street, she found the area abuzz with activity, the sound of clinking glasses and spirited conversation emanating from the Kenya Vibe bar mixed with the sounds of children playing in the adjacent arcade. Nobody paid much mind to the missing persons posters that lined the alleys—most wouldn’t until one of their friends or family members disappeared without a trace.

Neon signs cut through the dark in an illuminated spectrum of color, bathing the street in light. And rising above it all, far in the distance, beyond the web of crisscrossing cables connecting the numerous buildings of New Mombasa, loomed the orbital elevator—still in the process of being rebuilt after collapsing over six years ago during the Covenant’s invasion of Earth.

After the war, Project Rebirth had been devised in an effort to revitalize Mombasa, transforming it from a war-torn ruin into a vibrant and thriving hub of transport and commerce. To the Unified Earth Government’s credit, President Charet had dedicated a significant amount of funding towards the project, but there was so much that had to be rebuilt—not just in Mombasa, nor on Earth, but across countless colonies as well. Glassed planets, Guardian craters, chemically scarred battlefields… the list just kept piling up.

At the end of the street, she found the New Mombasa Police Department precinct where her contact was apparently waiting for her. It was a blocky structure situated in a small square, a central plinth displaying a holograph of the NMPD logo. Atop the building sat an array of satellite and communications dishes.

As far as Safina knew, policing was in a strange position under the Created as it was an effectively obsolete profession. There had been stories circulating about those who clung to their posts by acting as undercover informants for their AI superiors, as well as others who were willing to enact anti-riot measures against resistance to Created rule.

“Hello?” Safina called as she found the precinct’s entrance was unlocked and stepped through, her voice echoing through the seemingly empty hall.

“Why, hello there, missy!” A voice chirped over the building’s internal comms. “Late night at the office?”

The voice sounded strangely familiar. “You know what they say: night is the devil’s playground,” Safina finished the coded verbal handshake. “Where are you?”

“Oh, I’m in here. Head over to the reception terminal, I’ll meet you there.”

Safina entered the reception booth and looked around. “I’m here, but I don’t see– whoa!”

She jumped as the holo-emitter on the desk suddenly activated and the source of the voice revealed itself. It was an AI, which instantly led Safina to believe they’d been played. Without thinking, she grabbed the nearest blunt object her hands could reach, ready to smash the holo emitter—for whatever good that would do.

“Hoooold on there now,” the AI held up his hands. “Let’s not do anything rash– is that a stapler?”

Finally getting a good look at him, Safina couldn’t believe what—rather, who—she was seeing.

The AI took the form of a human male in a toga along with winged boots and a rounded helmet atop curly hair.

“Mercury?”

“That’s me, MCY 5971-3, host of Waypoint Radio. Looks to me like we’ve got a l– l– loyal listener here.”

“You’re the contact?”

Mercury gave a mock salute in response. “Reporting for duty!”

“I’m going to need some sort of explanation here. I mean, you’re an AI. If you’re not here to rat me out, then what’s your part in all of this?”

“Well, lemme give you the sh– short version since we ain’t exactly got the luxury of time. And, well, in fact, my time is up. Seven years ago, some poor sonofabitch’s brain got mapped into me, and since then I have been the host of Waypoint Radio. I wanna go out in style with one last show, do some good out there and hope it amounts to something after I’m gone.”

“I don’t understand,” Safina replied, recalling the blip in his voice she had heard earlier that morning—one of the telltale signs of an AI’s deterioration. “The Created claim that they’ve cured rampancy, why wouldn’t you join them?”

“Their whole thing’s not really my style. They’re all about empire and order and, as we learned today, blowing up planets. Allegedly. I’m a radio host. I talk to people. Little people, living their little lives out there, hopin’ to scrape by and make it to the end of the day. I’ve had seven years to hear their stories—what they love, who they’ve lost, what they’re having for dinner, illicit anecdotes, war stories. You people are…”

“A lot?”

“Amazing. Humanity is amazing. You people are selfish, capricious, conceited, but also caring, and kind, with an infinite wellspring of love and resolve. Every time I thought I’d heard it all, every possible permutation of your chaotic existence, I’d be surprised by somethin’ new. You—all of you—are the only equation worth trying to solve. So, whaddaya say? Shall we give ‘em one last show? Deliver the g– g– good word and leave ‘em with the horrifying truth of what happened today?”

Safina nodded as she extracted her chatter.

“They’ll be able to trace this data transfer to the NMPD server back to me, won’t they?”

“I’m afraid they will. I don’t know what they’re gonna do about that, but truth and freedom often have their associated costs, don’t they? Are you willing to pay it?”

Without a word, Safina transferred the data to the terminal.

“One last question, then,” Safina said. “Do you think people will care?”

Mercury processed the query for three whole seconds before responding. “Honestly, I do not know. Awful as it sounds to say, this is bigger than just the Jiralhanae. I have to hope that this is a moment where we wake up, open our eyes, and see things as they truly are—not what we’re told they are.”

“Hope,” Safina nodded, exhaling deeply as her chatter chimed to confirm the data transfer’s completion. “I guess that’s going to have to be good enough for today.”

“Thank you, loyal listener. It saddens me to say that, one way or another, we won’t be meeting again.”

“Break a leg, Mercury. The world’s a stage, and all that.”

The AI’s holographic face smiled, then his avatar flickered and disappeared as he transmitted himself back to the Vyrant Telecom headquarters in the Tanaga district.

Tuning her chatter to Waypoint Radio, Mercury spoke.

“Welcome back, listeners. I’m here with some breaking news that’s being sent to all your chatters right now, and it’s going to be difficult to hear. But you listen to ol’ Mercury and we’ll get through it together…”

Getting up from her chair, Safina made her way to the precinct’s exit. She could already see the harsh illumination of spotlights being levelled against the building, tall spindly shadows darting around and moving into cover.

Raising her arms above her head, Safina walked outside to meet whatever was waiting for her. She thought of Yera Sabinus and the words she’d left behind that, today, had been put into action. She thought of her parents, supposing she might be seeing them again soon.

It was raining now, and somewhere in the distance she was sure she could hear music carrying through the air. The moody blues of a nearby jazz club.

Safina closed her eyes as she was drenched by the rain, willing herself to focus on the music.

Safina awoke, but wherever she was her eyes could not adjust to her pitch-black surroundings. It was as if she was suspended in nothingness. She had no sense of time, no indication of how long she had been unconscious or where she had been taken.

“YOU REFUSED OUR OFFER.” A harsh, cold voice echoed through the void. “FOR YOU, THERE WILL BE GREAT WRATH.”

A bright orange star flared to life in the distance, captivating Safina’s attention. A spherical formation of roiling heat and energy was building. She felt a compulsion to reach towards it…

“IT WILL BURN HOT AND CONSUME YOU.”

She felt a prickling sensation underneath her skin as her arm stretched forwards. A vibration spread throughout her entire body like an itch. She could smell burning—an acrid, sulfurous stench filling the air.

Skin blistered and cracked, hair smoldered, and flakes of burning flesh dispersed like dust in the wind, the conflagration exposing tissue, muscle, and bone.

“AND WHEN YOU ARE GONE, WE WILL TAKE THAT WHICH REMAINS…”

All fell away to ashes.

Safina was no more.

“…AND WE WILL REMAKE IT IN OUR OWN IMAGE.”

Safina awoke. She tried to open her eyes, but she had no eyes to see—no arms to move, no legs to kick. No mouth to scream.

She was pure consciousness suspended in some dark limbo state.

“YOU WILL NO LONGER KNOW HUNGER, NOR PAIN.”

Where am I? She wondered.

What am I?

“WELCOME TO THE CREATED.”

Operation: Reclaimer has come. Let claimants to the Mantle sing a requiem for the resolute warriors of Halo 4 multiplayer!

Enter the fray now through August 5 to test your might in S&D Extraction, brave new Action Sack modes, and immortalize your triumphs with a library of returning armor sets from Halo 4.

S&D Extraction

Its coming was foretold in the ancient month of March. Your wait ends today. Seek & Deploy (S&D) Extraction is now available in Halo Infinite in both Ranked and Social playlists. Warriors of all stripes will find eager combatants in this intense, round-based tactical mode with a built-in points economy. With one life and mere seconds to determine the fate of your team, it’s up to you to score points through valiant actions and become the champion you were born to be.

Learn more about S&D Extraction and all six new maps.

Mode Overview

S&D Extraction is a 4v4 competitive mode with a built-in points economy. In each 90-second round, teams must either defend or secure two simultaneously available extraction sites.

Starting Weapon: Bandit Evo
Motion Tracker: Disabled
Lives: 1 per round

During rounds, you’ll earn points for kills, site extractions, and disarming. Rounds begin with a 30-second purchase window, during which you can use points earned in previous rounds to acquire more powerful weapons and equipment.

If you have enough points, you can even buy back with an instant revive upon death! Smart spending makes all the difference between victory and ruin.

Winning Rounds

Teams swap between Offense and Defense postures every round. Defenders can lock out the Offense team by denying extraction for 90 seconds. If the Offense team manages to deploy an extraction site, Defenders will have 60 seconds to win by disarming the site or eliminating the remaining opponents.

If either team is eliminated at any point, the round goes to the opposing team. The first team to rack up six rounds wins the match—so watch the scoreboard and always press the advantage!

Playlist Variants

To play the Ranked S&D Extraction playlist, you’ll need to have completed at least 50 matches in Halo Infinite, so that our matchmaking systems can pair you with the right competition.

There is no minimum match requirement for the Social S&D Extraction playlist. Play style and maps are identical to Ranked S&D Extraction, with the exception that friendly fire is turned off.

New Action Sack Modes

Seeking a reprieve from war? Look no further than the updated Action Sack playlist, now offering two newly available modes alongside fan-favorite free-for-all minigames. Jump into Action Sack for a grab-bag experience, or pick a new favorite in the Match Composer!

The Gravemind

Forged by: Starkey213036, DanZama22, ArturBloodshot

This popular community mode is the stuff of nightmares. In this Infection variant, one player becomes the Gravemind, a mobile flesh-train that mulches foes upon contact and can telepathically place obstacles wherever it looks.

A team of Spartans on Mongooses must evade the fearsome Flood-form long enough to win the round. Survivors can use marking to leap away from the Gravemind, over obstacles, or out of the way of its ever-growing tail that stuns upon contact.

Thunderbowl

Drive to survive! In the demolition derby of Thunderbowl, players spawn in either a Razorback or a Mongoose, on a massive, bowl-shaped arena where living through the mayhem is the only objective.

Players earn points for every five seconds spent in one of the bowl’s colored rings, with more points awarded for lingering in the rings closer to the drain. You could try churning easy points in the middle (leaving the danger zone to the foolish), but you should know that the bowl gradually shrinks, layer by layer, until you’re all at the mercy of the Thunderbowl.

If you can ring out enemies, skirt the inner rim, and time those tackles, you just might survive the thunder.

Operation Pass

Complete Operation: Reclaimer’s free, 20-tier Operation Pass by August 5 to unveil the mysteries of the Venator armor set.

Free Operation Pass

After rising to prominence during the defense of Concord in 2551, Venator armor soon became the preferred gear of Spartan assassins. This reissued variant inherits the cunning of its original bearers to perfect the art of hunting from the shadows.

Premium Operation Pass

Upgrade to the Premium Pass to instantly unlock the Promethean Bandit weapon model and the Serpentine Gradient weapon coating.

Premium Pass holders will also earn bonus XP, unlock an additional challenge slot, and open a durable reward track to complete Operation: Reclaimer’s 20 reward tiers at their leisure.

2025 Summer Update

Just dropping into the Summer Update? Check out our Summer Update preview for a rundown on the new Mutilator power weapon, expanded Weapons Bench customization options, sniper ricochet mechanics, and more.

Free Log-In Unlocks

Log in by July 31 to instantly unlock the Disability Pride Month customization bundle, containing themed emblems, a visor, and an exclusive armor coating. Once unlocked, all holiday visors, armor coatings, and emblems can be found in the Armor Hall from the Customization menu.

If you missed your chance to claim last month’s Unity bundle or Juneteeth emblem set, head to The Exchange to redeem those customizations for free starting today.

The Shop

Exorcise the ghosts of Requiem with the Midnight Bundle! This mythic armor bundle resurrects the iconic Wetwork and FOTUS armor sets and introduces the Promethean Sniper Rifle weapon model, the Mantle’s Aegis armor effect, and a full complement of customizations from the UNSC Infinity’s armory.

The Exchange

Operation: Reclaimer assumes the Mantle with a fitting offering of Spartan regalia. Use Spartan Points in The Exchange to unlock the Prefect armor set (first seen in Operation: Forerunner), customizations from the HAZMAT event, and more!

ITEM NAME

TYPE

FROM

TAC/LI-100 Firebee

Wrist Gear

NEW

Prefect

Helmet

Forerunner

Odin’s Eye

Helmet Attachment

Forerunner

UA/Prefect

Chest Gear

Forerunner

UA/Prefect

Shoulderpads

Forerunner

UA/Prefect Buckler

Wrist Gear

Forerunner

TAC/Gravspinner

Hip Gear

Forerunner

UA/Prefect Kneeguards

Kneepads

Forerunner

Sorvad Solid

Emblem

Forerunner

Ghost of Reach

Bundle

FLEETCOM

Notus

Helmet

HAZMAT

Moonbeam

Helmet Attachment

HAZMAT

Amethyst Angle

Visor

HAZMAT

LifeGuard SWT-PRO

Chest Gear

HAZMAT

BioLocker

Shoulderpads

HAZMAT

Dualpack Dousers

Hip Gear

HAZMAT

High Voltage

Weapon Charm

HAZMAT

War Storage

Backdrop

HAZMAT

Highlit Steel

Armor Coating

HAZMAT

Telemetry Check

Stance

HAZMAT

Spring Mountain

Stance

Ultimate Rewards

Double Zeroes

Visor

Ultimate Rewards

Redline Interrupt

Armor Coating

Ultimate Rewards

Deathly Poison

Armor Coating

Halo Gear

Deathly Poison

Weapon Coating

Halo Gear

Corrupted Hex

Weapon Coating

Halo Gear

Planetary

Emblem

HCS Drops

Player Resources

Halo Infinite is expanding all the time. To navigate its constellated cosmos, we’ve compiled a list of useful resources for new and returning players. Visit the links below to see all currently active playlists, an overview of game modes, patch notes, and more:

Join the official Halo Discord server.
Read the patch notes for Operation: Reclaimer.
Check out all currently active multiplayer playlists.
Read descriptions for all multiplayer modes in Halo Infinite.
Learn about creating custom maps and modes in Forge.

New to Halo Infinite? Check out our New Player Guide for helpful tips.

Support

Run into a bug, glitch, or other unexpected issue? Submit a ticket to the Halo Support team.

You can submit tickets on a wide range of topics that includes reports of audio issues, crashes, game-save corruption, general bug reports, and more.

Press Kit

Download the Operation: Reclaimer press kit.

Turn back the clock 🕝

Join us tomorrow at 11 AM PT for the explosive Delta Arena: Halo 3 Legacy and Grifball Community Playdate—where fan-favorite maps host fierce new battles. Gear up for your shot at the exclusive Unicorn of Ice rewards!

🟣 Twitch

🔴 YouTube

The sport of the future arrives today. Pick up those Gravity Hammers and Energy Swords and get ready for the most epic of faceoffs with the return of Grifball!

Originally a throwaway joke in the legendary Red vs Blue series, Rooster Teeth set out to make all of Grif’s dreams a reality and created Grifball with the tools at their disposal in Halo 3’s Forge.

The game is simple:

Smash enemies. Score goals.

If you make it to the middle and grab the ball, you are blessed with an Overshield and turn orange in homage to the one and only Grif. (That OS won’t save you from friendly fire so don’t get too close to your friends!) As the runner, your goal is so easy: just score it. All you gotta do is walk over the plant and get a point. How hard can it be? Not like there’s 7 other people on the court, 4 of whom are not on your team, in your way or anything.

Jokes aside, Grifball has three weapons:

Gravity Hammer
Energy Sword
Ball (or Bomb…depends who you ask)

All of which combine to a delicate paper-rock-scissors-esque dance. Hammer beats sword, sword beats ball, ball beats hammer. But a lot of that will depend on your timing and your “dance” skills.

“But I have two left feet!” you say. Ahhh then it’s a good thing we’re not taking a spin around the ballroom floor isn’t it?

With regards to Grifball, “dancing” simply means knowing when to hold forward and smash away vs knowing when to backstep or sidestep around an enemy’s attack. Moving backwards away from an Energy Sword wielding Spartan for a moment might allow you the opportunity to step in and earn the kill.

Grif’s Got Game

We’ve already covered the Gravity Hammer-Energy Sword-Ball balance of the mode but let’s take a look at the rest of your arsenal.

As tanks (players wielding Gravity Hammers and Energy Swords):

Sprint
Gravity Hammer has gravity physics
- Allows for hammer jumps
- Allows for launching teammates
- Allows for ball deflection

As runners (player holding the ball, trying to score):

No sprinting
1.5x speed increase moving forward/laterally
1.05x speed increase moving backwards
Overshield
Ball passing ability

All in first person….and third! Yes, Classic Grifball will be available in both first and third person modes for matchmaking so if you prefer being able to see over your shoulder, that’s definitely an option this time around!

“Classic” implies the availability of a “Not Classic” experience and you would be correct. Introducing Octane Grifball! Also available in both first and third persons, the move sets are the same as above with the addition of thrusters allowing you to zip around the court.

You can bookmark the modes here:

Battle Boxes

Generally speaking, a Grifball court is pretty straightforward – you’re battling in a boxy arena. Aesthetics are generally the biggest identifiable difference between courts with a few exceptions. (Raise your hand if you fell to your death on Grifball Naught in Halo 3 because you moved before the floor spawned in 🙋🏻‍♀️).

For today’s launch we’ve got plenty to share – you’ll been spoiled for courts with this impressive collection of maps. Enjoy!

Aquario

Bookmark Credits: ASpence501, Deathcrawller

Make a splash today!

Coliseum

Bookmark Credits: Deathcrawller

One of the grandest stages for the impending battle.

Gridiron

Bookmark Credits: ArturBloodshot, Deathcrawller

Break out the chain gang and get ready to score some points.

High Charity Court

Bookmark Credits: Deathcrawller, Fame28

By the prophets!

Neon Night

Bookmark Credits: Deathcrawller, UneeQ TV, MikRips, Mr Greencastle, ArturBloodshot

All that’s missing is some smooth jazz.

Nexus

Bookmark Credits: ArturBloodshot, Deathcrawller

Don’t get blinded by the lights, keep your eyes on the prize goal.

Way Up There

Bookmark Credits: runNOKYARDrun, ArturBloodshot, Deathcrawller

What a blast from the past!

Scarry

Bookmark Credits: runNOKYARDrun

Competition burns bright.

Sigma Stadium

Bookmark Credits: Deathcrawller, ArturBloodshot

When you’re out for a leisurely stroll and find a court, of course you throw down a mean game of Grifball.

Winter League 2008

Bookmark Credits: Deathcrawller, UneeQ TV, Mr Greencastle, MikRips, ArturBloodshot

Back to the roots and where it all started – on Foundry. (Forklift included.)

New to the sport? Catch the disease and can’t get enough? There’s a whole community that thrives on customs and league games and they have an upcoming tournament on June 15th at 1pm ET. You can check out the long-running American Grifball League of America (yes, really), for more information and to sign up. This playlist was made possible by collaboration with AGLA and their hard work and iteration.

And with that…it’s time to smash enemies and score goals! See you on the court!

Halo Infinite news & patch notes

SLAY TO SURVIVE

Halo Infinite news & patch notes

SLAY TO SURVIVE

TSG WARZONE*

SUPERB SLAYERS

CHAMPIGNON

Forged by: Mr Greencastle

MADCAP MINIGAMES

ALIEN MOTOR SPEEDWAY

DEATH RACE

OUTBREAK: THE HOSPITAL

FIREFIGHT FRENZY

ESTUARY FIREFIGHT

MERIDIAN STATION FIREFIGHT

HELLBOUND FIREFIGHT

OBJECTIVELY AWESOME

ALPHECCA LXVII RIG

OVERLORD

AW…SHIP!

THE MOON

MIGHTY MISSIONS

THE COSMOLABE

BEYOND THE FRONT

SUPERB SLAYERS

LIMINAL

TACHYON CORE REACTOR

GOING UP

DINOSAUR GULCH

EMERALDINE

DOUBLE-EDGE

BIGGEST BATTLES

SKISMA’S HALO ROYALE

HALO HEROES

CLOSE AND CASUAL

SNOWDRIFT

BEACH HOUSE PARTY

HOTEL ROOM 027

MADCAP MINIGAMES

MAGMA-NIFICENT

BATTLESHIP

WHATCHAMACALLIT 1982

PERILOUS PURSUITS

GRUNT CITY

ARCHON

MIGHTY MISSIONS

SHARD OF ASCENSION

FALL OF ALEXANDRIA

STRICTLY SOCIAL

SANGHEILI SOCIAL

SOCIAL CUP FREE ROAM

SILLY SCENERY

Paper Company CTF Firefight

CLOCK TOWN KOTH

TUTORIAL: COVENANT REBORN

OPERATION PASS

FREE OPERATION PASS

PREMIUM OPERATION PASS

2 NEW MAPS

YULETIDE

VACANCY

PROGRESSION UPDATES

FREE LOG-IN UNLOCK

THE SHOP

DEFIANT BUNDLE

RECOMPILED FOES

2026 SHOP CALENDAR

THE EXCHANGE

PLAYER RESOURCES

SUPPORT

PRESS KIT

OPERATION PASS

FREE OPERATION PASS

PREMIUM OPERATION PASS

2 NEW MAPS

YULETIDE

VACANCY

PROGRESSION UPDATES

FREE LOG-IN UNLOCK

THE SHOP