Operation: Great Journey | Winter Update
The Great Journey is nigh! As Halo 2 marks its twentieth birthday this month, Operation: Great Journey has arrived to bring the celebrations to Halo Infinite, kicking off the 2024 Winter Update.
New weapon and sandbox updates, new Halo 2-inspired playlist with a selection of fan-favorite maps (and Halo 2-style gameplay adjustments), new Operation Pass, Forge updates, and so much more. Let’s get you briefed on everything the Winter Update is bringing to Halo Infinite today!
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[hr][/hr]
[h2]Operation: Great Journey[/h2]
“Forward, warriors, and fear not pain or death!”
A new Operation means a free 20-tier Operation Pass. Earn progress with Match XP and you will unlock the Thremaleon armor set, inspired by the iconic and beloved Rtas ‘Half-Jaw” ‘Vadum—former Special Operations commander of the Covenant and current legendary shipmaster of Shadow of Intent.
Custom crafted by the Kolaar Manufactorum, this armor is given to Spartans that have been selected to serve alongside Swords of Sanghelios special forces.
Upgrade to the Premium Pass to secure the Veteran SRS99 weapon model, based on Halo 2’s sniper rifle, and Damascus Alchemy weapon coating. The Premium Pass comes with an additional Challenge Slot, bonus XP, and never expires.
[h2]MA5K Avenger[/h2]
I need a weapon.
Originally seen on the cover of Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, wielded by Spartan-III super-soldiers, the MA5K has come to Halo Infinite.
A fully automatic rifle with a high rate-of-fire and increased magazine size manufactured by Misriah Armory, the MA5K Avenger is highly effective at short range. It boasts a large, 60-round magazine size, and its ready-up and reload time is faster compared to other rifles in the game. If you’re looking to enhance a run-and-gun style of gameplay, the MA5K Avenger is the weapon for you.
Time to put it to good use, Spartans!
[hr][/hr]
[h2]Playlist Updates[/h2]
“Get tactical, Marines!”
[h3]Delta Arena[/h3]
A new dedicated Halo 2-inspired playlist has arrived, featuring classic maps and movement. Here are some of the settings that have been adjusted to recreate that old gameplay feel.
The Delta Arena playlist brings us back to beloved battlefields from the past which have been remade in Forge.
[h3]Ascension[/h3]
Credit: bullet2thehead9, DISTORTED JAKAL, MikRips
You miss those games of Tower of Power too, huh?
[h3]Beaver Canyon[/h3]
Credit: UneeQ, Mr Greencastle, Azwilko1997, MikRips
Playable beavers confirmed?
[h3]Boulevard[/h3]
Credits: UneeQ, Mr Greencastle, ArtNoob, MikRips
This is our turf!
[h3]Canopy[/h3]
Credits: UneeQ, Mr Greencastle, MikRips, ArtNoob
That old, familiar feeling…
[h3]Conjurer[/h3]
Credits: MikRips, bullet2thehead9, DISTORTED JAKAL
A wizard, warlock, and warlord walk into a bar…
[h3]Inquisitor[/h3]
Credits: UneeQ, Mr GreenCastle, MikRips, ArtNoob, WookieCookies
A place for the pious. There’s nothing “mid” about Midship!
[h3]Serenity[/h3]
Credits: UneeQ, Mr Greencastle, MikRips
A sanctuary of the ancients.
[h3]Third-Person Firefight[/h3]
Bip. Bap. Bam! Welcome back to Firefight: King of the Hill, things might look a little different to what you’re used to…
In a throwback to Halo’s pre-Xbox roots, jump into Firefight: King of the Hill and you will experience Halo from a rather different perspective: third-person.
Third-person gameplay has, of course, always been part of Halo by varying degrees—such as when operating vehicles, turrets, and certain heavy weapons—but it has never been part of the moment-to-moment gameplay.
Available in matchmaking today are the following modes:
The maps will be familiar territory, but seen from a new angle as you navigate and battle the Banished in third-person. For the full list, as well as additional details, check out our Playlist Overview.
[h3]Ranked Update[/h3]
Two new maps have also arrived in Ranked!
The first is Inquisitor, the remake of Midship shown above. That’s right, one of the most iconic maps in Halo history has returned—an all-timer from Halo 2 which provides a perfect balance for close-quarters and mid-range combat.
As for the other, say hello to Fortress.
[h3]Fortress[/h3]
Credits: MikRips, Ethan Hibbs
This brand-new symmetrical map offers fast-paced action and rewards deadly precision, with two snipers up for grabs, and an opportunity to play offensively with an Overshield to help secure your lead or make a daring comeback.
[hr][/hr]
[h2]Forge Updates[/h2]
The Winter Update brings with it a series of additions and improvements as the result of feedback from the community, as folks look to further expand their range of options to create on an increasingly granular level in Forge.
[h3]Third-Person Camera[/h3]
The ability to change between first- and third-person perspectives will be available at a mode level in Custom Games options and as a scripting node in Forge.
Go hands-on with this in matchmaking with the Third-Person Firefight playlist, helping you to get a feel for how Halo plays with this new perspective.
[h3]Improved Forger Attribution[/h3]
To increase the visibility of Forgers who have created the maps and modes you’re enjoying, we have updated multiple areas of the game to highlight the gamertags and more easily allow players to bookmark their creations.
You will be able to see these updates on the following screens:
Additionally, we have added the ability to bookmark maps and modes on several of these screens as well.
[h3]Commander Agryna Voice Lines[/h3]
Spartan Commander Laurette Agryna—head of the Avery J. Johnson Academy—serves as one of the multiplayer announcers in Halo Infinite, and Forgers will be able to utilize her voiceover in the same fashion as when we added Jeff Steitzer’s voice lines to Forge.
To allow maximum control with this new feature, you can also ensure that only the intended players or team will hear each line set up in Forge’s nodegraph.
[h3]...And More![/h3]
That’s just the tip of the iceberg! We’ve added further improvements to the Global Lifepool systems, nav markers, music in Forge controls, Generic Zone progress nodes, and minigame mode labels.
For a detailed look into these enhanced elements, read our Forge Overview.
[hr][/hr]
[h2]Sandbox Updates[/h2]
When you jump into the game, you will find that there have been a number of changes made to Halo Infinite’s sandbox as well, further addressing player feedback. Here’s a look at the highlights.
[h3]VK78 Commando[/h3]
We wanted to help improve the bloom properties of the VK78 Commando. Previously, at maximum spread, the VK78’s bullets were trending only to the outer edges of the bloomed reticle. To give the weapon a more consistent feel, we’ve adjusted the bloom properties to allow the bullet to land anywhere within the bounds of the bloomed reticle. To balance the now more accurate VK78, the bloom will reach maximum spread slightly quicker than previously.
[h3]MK50 Sidekick[/h3]
The Mk50 Sidekick has become one of the most reliable weapons in the sandbox. With that in mind, we wanted to keep that consistent feeling for the weapon by touching up some of its bloom properties. Additionally, a common point of fan feedback has been that the Mk50 can be used very efficiently from extended ranges, and we have pulled that slightly back to incentivize scavenging for other long-ranged weapon options.
[h3]Active Camo[/h3]
The “sneaky beaver” flag runs are a staple of Capture the Flag that provides exciting and creative gameplay experiences. With that in mind, we’ve seen players on the offensive utilize the camo flag run with very high efficiency. To give the team whose flag has been taken a better fighting chance to stop the camo flag runner, the camo flag runner’s Spartan will remain camouflaged, but the flag itself will be visible.
[h3]Thruster[/h3]
Thruster is seen as an item of equipment with high reward and little risk when used during combat. Combining quick movement with your weapon always ready to fire was something we wanted to address. We have added in two functional changes that will very briefly disable weapon usage and hide your reticle during the Thruster movement. This should provide some counterplay potential to those battling against an opponent with the Thruster equipment while still maintaining the equipment user’s advantage.
For a more extensive breakdown of these changes, head over to our Sandbox Overview.
[hr][/hr]
[h2]Shop[/h2]
[h3]Rocket Reclaimer[/h3]
“Your new suit’s a Mark VI, just came up from Seongnam this morning.”
The Rocket Reclaimer bundle includes:
Step into the iconic Mjolnir Mark VI armor of the Master Chief in Halo 2 and prepare to finish the fight.
[h3]Helioskrill[/h3]
Created by a Sangheili prodigy, an artisan-armorer inspired to test her skill against the best that humanity could muster, the Helioskrill armor was regarded as a work of art in both form and function for Spartan super-soldiers.
The Arbitration bundle contains:
This armor suits you!
[h3]Delta Forged[/h3]
Love the look of all of the above? You can get it all in the Delta Forged bundle, compiling both the Rocket Reclaimer and Arbitration bundles, and as a bonus the Delta Forged bundle contains:
[h3]Wartime Requisition[/h3]
Even prototype Marine Corps helmet designs have been snapped up for use by active-duty Spartans.
Based on the design of the UNSC Marines’ battle dress uniforms, particularly those seen in Halo 2: Anniversary, the Wartime Requisition bundle offers a fitting look for the frontlines. This bundle contains:
[h2]The Exchange[/h2]
With the arrival of Operation: Great Journey is a refresh of The Exchange, where you can acquire various customization items with Spartan Points earned by playing matches and completing certain Challenges.
Notably, the fan-favorite Mark V Zeta helmet and Scorpion Punch armor coating make a (re)appearance, becoming available to players for the first time since the Tac Ops event all the way back in 2022. If you missed these back then, be sure to secure ‘em now!
[h2]Waypoint Chronicle[/h2]
In celebration of Halo 2’s twentieth birthday and the launch of Operation: Great Journey, we’ve got a new short story releasing as part of the festivities.
Halo: Age of Retribution will release on November 8, available to read here on Halo Waypoint, as a free PDF, and in audiobook format on YouTube.
November 3, 2552. After the Prophet of Regret is assassinated by the Master Chief, the Covenant is shaken to its foundations as the feud between Brutes and Elites reaches a violent turning point.
[hr][/hr]
[h2]Halo Support[/h2]
Today’s update delivers many updates and fixes that the team have been working on to improve the Halo Infinite experience. Head over to the Halo Support site to check out the full list of patch notes.
Run into a bug, glitch, or other unexpected issue? Submit a ticket and notify the team on the Halo Support site.
You can submit tickets on a wide range of topics that include reports of Audio Issues, Crashes, Game Save Corruption, Report a Player, General Bug Reports, and more.
[hr][/hr]
That brings this launch blog to a conclusion. Get your hands on the MA5K Avenger and lay waste to your opponents in the Delta Arena playlist, try out some third-person Firefight: King of the Hill, progress your Operation Pass so your Spartan can cosplay as a certain legendary shipmaster, play around with all the new elements of this latest Forge update, and stay tuned for the upcoming Waypoint Chronicle!
Jump into Halo Infinite and party like it’s 2004!
[hr][/hr]
[h2]Press Kit[/h2]
Download the Operation: Great Journey press kit here!
New weapon and sandbox updates, new Halo 2-inspired playlist with a selection of fan-favorite maps (and Halo 2-style gameplay adjustments), new Operation Pass, Forge updates, and so much more. Let’s get you briefed on everything the Winter Update is bringing to Halo Infinite today!
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[hr][/hr]
[h2]Operation: Great Journey[/h2]
“Forward, warriors, and fear not pain or death!”
A new Operation means a free 20-tier Operation Pass. Earn progress with Match XP and you will unlock the Thremaleon armor set, inspired by the iconic and beloved Rtas ‘Half-Jaw” ‘Vadum—former Special Operations commander of the Covenant and current legendary shipmaster of Shadow of Intent.
Custom crafted by the Kolaar Manufactorum, this armor is given to Spartans that have been selected to serve alongside Swords of Sanghelios special forces.
Upgrade to the Premium Pass to secure the Veteran SRS99 weapon model, based on Halo 2’s sniper rifle, and Damascus Alchemy weapon coating. The Premium Pass comes with an additional Challenge Slot, bonus XP, and never expires.
- 500 credits will make the Operation Pass durable (it will not expire), offers bonus XP during the Operation’s live window, an extra Challenge slot while your pass is equipped, and comes with an exclusive customization item
- 2,000 credits instantly unlocks all 20 tiers of the Operation Pass at purchase and includes the exclusive bonus customization item
[h2]MA5K Avenger[/h2]
I need a weapon.
Originally seen on the cover of Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, wielded by Spartan-III super-soldiers, the MA5K has come to Halo Infinite.
A fully automatic rifle with a high rate-of-fire and increased magazine size manufactured by Misriah Armory, the MA5K Avenger is highly effective at short range. It boasts a large, 60-round magazine size, and its ready-up and reload time is faster compared to other rifles in the game. If you’re looking to enhance a run-and-gun style of gameplay, the MA5K Avenger is the weapon for you.
Time to put it to good use, Spartans!
[hr][/hr]
[h2]Playlist Updates[/h2]
“Get tactical, Marines!”
[h3]Delta Arena[/h3]
A new dedicated Halo 2-inspired playlist has arrived, featuring classic maps and movement. Here are some of the settings that have been adjusted to recreate that old gameplay feel.
- Sprint: Disabled
- Clamber: Disabled
- Jump Height: 120%
- Starting Weapon: MA5K Avenger
- Secondary Weapon: None
- Friendly Player Collision: On
The Delta Arena playlist brings us back to beloved battlefields from the past which have been remade in Forge.
[h3]Ascension[/h3]
Credit: bullet2thehead9, DISTORTED JAKAL, MikRips
You miss those games of Tower of Power too, huh?
[h3]Beaver Canyon[/h3]
Credit: UneeQ, Mr Greencastle, Azwilko1997, MikRips
Playable beavers confirmed?
[h3]Boulevard[/h3]
Credits: UneeQ, Mr Greencastle, ArtNoob, MikRips
This is our turf!
[h3]Canopy[/h3]
Credits: UneeQ, Mr Greencastle, MikRips, ArtNoob
That old, familiar feeling…
[h3]Conjurer[/h3]
Credits: MikRips, bullet2thehead9, DISTORTED JAKAL
A wizard, warlock, and warlord walk into a bar…
[h3]Inquisitor[/h3]
Credits: UneeQ, Mr GreenCastle, MikRips, ArtNoob, WookieCookies
A place for the pious. There’s nothing “mid” about Midship!
[h3]Serenity[/h3]
Credits: UneeQ, Mr Greencastle, MikRips
A sanctuary of the ancients.
[h3]Third-Person Firefight[/h3]
Bip. Bap. Bam! Welcome back to Firefight: King of the Hill, things might look a little different to what you’re used to…
In a throwback to Halo’s pre-Xbox roots, jump into Firefight: King of the Hill and you will experience Halo from a rather different perspective: third-person.
Third-person gameplay has, of course, always been part of Halo by varying degrees—such as when operating vehicles, turrets, and certain heavy weapons—but it has never been part of the moment-to-moment gameplay.
Available in matchmaking today are the following modes:
- Firefight: King of the Hill
- Fiestafight: King of the Hill
- Gruntpocalypse: King of the Hill
- Gruntpocalypse Fiesta: King of the Hill
The maps will be familiar territory, but seen from a new angle as you navigate and battle the Banished in third-person. For the full list, as well as additional details, check out our Playlist Overview.
[h3]Ranked Update[/h3]
Two new maps have also arrived in Ranked!
The first is Inquisitor, the remake of Midship shown above. That’s right, one of the most iconic maps in Halo history has returned—an all-timer from Halo 2 which provides a perfect balance for close-quarters and mid-range combat.
As for the other, say hello to Fortress.
[h3]Fortress[/h3]
Credits: MikRips, Ethan Hibbs
This brand-new symmetrical map offers fast-paced action and rewards deadly precision, with two snipers up for grabs, and an opportunity to play offensively with an Overshield to help secure your lead or make a daring comeback.
[hr][/hr]
[h2]Forge Updates[/h2]
The Winter Update brings with it a series of additions and improvements as the result of feedback from the community, as folks look to further expand their range of options to create on an increasingly granular level in Forge.
[h3]Third-Person Camera[/h3]
The ability to change between first- and third-person perspectives will be available at a mode level in Custom Games options and as a scripting node in Forge.
Go hands-on with this in matchmaking with the Third-Person Firefight playlist, helping you to get a feel for how Halo plays with this new perspective.
[h3]Improved Forger Attribution[/h3]
To increase the visibility of Forgers who have created the maps and modes you’re enjoying, we have updated multiple areas of the game to highlight the gamertags and more easily allow players to bookmark their creations.
You will be able to see these updates on the following screens:
- Match intro camera
- Pause menu
- Scoreboard
- Post-game carnage report
Additionally, we have added the ability to bookmark maps and modes on several of these screens as well.
[h3]Commander Agryna Voice Lines[/h3]
Spartan Commander Laurette Agryna—head of the Avery J. Johnson Academy—serves as one of the multiplayer announcers in Halo Infinite, and Forgers will be able to utilize her voiceover in the same fashion as when we added Jeff Steitzer’s voice lines to Forge.
To allow maximum control with this new feature, you can also ensure that only the intended players or team will hear each line set up in Forge’s nodegraph.
[h3]...And More![/h3]
That’s just the tip of the iceberg! We’ve added further improvements to the Global Lifepool systems, nav markers, music in Forge controls, Generic Zone progress nodes, and minigame mode labels.
For a detailed look into these enhanced elements, read our Forge Overview.
[hr][/hr]
[h2]Sandbox Updates[/h2]
When you jump into the game, you will find that there have been a number of changes made to Halo Infinite’s sandbox as well, further addressing player feedback. Here’s a look at the highlights.
[h3]VK78 Commando[/h3]
- Increased maximum bullet spread
- Removed “donut bloom”
- Faster bloom expansion
We wanted to help improve the bloom properties of the VK78 Commando. Previously, at maximum spread, the VK78’s bullets were trending only to the outer edges of the bloomed reticle. To give the weapon a more consistent feel, we’ve adjusted the bloom properties to allow the bullet to land anywhere within the bounds of the bloomed reticle. To balance the now more accurate VK78, the bloom will reach maximum spread slightly quicker than previously.
[h3]MK50 Sidekick[/h3]
- Removed “donut bloom”
- Increased base bullet spread
The Mk50 Sidekick has become one of the most reliable weapons in the sandbox. With that in mind, we wanted to keep that consistent feeling for the weapon by touching up some of its bloom properties. Additionally, a common point of fan feedback has been that the Mk50 can be used very efficiently from extended ranges, and we have pulled that slightly back to incentivize scavenging for other long-ranged weapon options.
[h3]Active Camo[/h3]
- When holding a flag with Active Camo, the flag object will now remain visible while it’s being carried
The “sneaky beaver” flag runs are a staple of Capture the Flag that provides exciting and creative gameplay experiences. With that in mind, we’ve seen players on the offensive utilize the camo flag run with very high efficiency. To give the team whose flag has been taken a better fighting chance to stop the camo flag runner, the camo flag runner’s Spartan will remain camouflaged, but the flag itself will be visible.
[h3]Thruster[/h3]
- When Thrust is activated by a player, they will no longer be able to shoot at the same time
Thruster is seen as an item of equipment with high reward and little risk when used during combat. Combining quick movement with your weapon always ready to fire was something we wanted to address. We have added in two functional changes that will very briefly disable weapon usage and hide your reticle during the Thruster movement. This should provide some counterplay potential to those battling against an opponent with the Thruster equipment while still maintaining the equipment user’s advantage.
For a more extensive breakdown of these changes, head over to our Sandbox Overview.
[hr][/hr]
[h2]Shop[/h2]
[h3]Rocket Reclaimer[/h3]
“Your new suit’s a Mark VI, just came up from Seongnam this morning.”
The Rocket Reclaimer bundle includes:
- Master Chief Mark VI armor kit
- Green Man armor coating
- Veteran SPNKr weapon model
- Veteran Metal weapon coating
Step into the iconic Mjolnir Mark VI armor of the Master Chief in Halo 2 and prepare to finish the fight.
[h3]Helioskrill[/h3]
Created by a Sangheili prodigy, an artisan-armorer inspired to test her skill against the best that humanity could muster, the Helioskrill armor was regarded as a work of art in both form and function for Spartan super-soldiers.
The Arbitration bundle contains:
- Helioskrill helmet
- Stormclaw Mask helmet attachment
- Helioskrill Pauldrons
- Helioskrill Harness chest attachment
- Helioskrill Cuisse hip gear
- Helioskrill Poleyn kneepads
- Risk Explorer armor coating
- Reclaimed Wings armor effects set
This armor suits you!
[h3]Delta Forged[/h3]
Love the look of all of the above? You can get it all in the Delta Forged bundle, compiling both the Rocket Reclaimer and Arbitration bundles, and as a bonus the Delta Forged bundle contains:
- Oracle Augmentor shoulders
- Oracle Protocol chest attachment
[h3]Wartime Requisition[/h3]
Even prototype Marine Corps helmet designs have been snapped up for use by active-duty Spartans.
Based on the design of the UNSC Marines’ battle dress uniforms, particularly those seen in Halo 2: Anniversary, the Wartime Requisition bundle offers a fitting look for the frontlines. This bundle contains:
- XM55 ACH helmet
- HUL-I/UPTIK helmet attachment
- UA/Model 48 shoulder pads
- UA/M532 Plate chest attachment
- UA/ULAP hip gear
- UA/Type MI kneepads
- Pixel Camouflage armor coating
- Podium Finish stance
[h2]The Exchange[/h2]
With the arrival of Operation: Great Journey is a refresh of The Exchange, where you can acquire various customization items with Spartan Points earned by playing matches and completing certain Challenges.
Notably, the fan-favorite Mark V Zeta helmet and Scorpion Punch armor coating make a (re)appearance, becoming available to players for the first time since the Tac Ops event all the way back in 2022. If you missed these back then, be sure to secure ‘em now!
- Arbitration – Emblem (Twitch Drops)
- Phalanx – Visor (Tactical Ops)
- Tigris – Gloves (Tactical Ops)
- UA/MAUROS – Helmet Attachment (Tactical Ops)
- TAC/AHD TYPE 3ZY – Chest Attachment (Tactical Ops)
- MAT-2559/Grenade Pack – Hip Attachment (Tactical Ops)
- Have S’Moa – Weapon Charm (Ultimate Reward)
- Wort – Weapon Charm (Ultimate Reward)
- Claw Patrol – Stance (Tactical Ops)
- Holy Flare – Weapon Charm (Twitch Drops)
- HUL-I/LIGHTSPIKE – Helmet Attachment (NEW)
- Scorpion Punch – Armor Coating (Tactical Ops)
- Covenant Frontline – Armor Coating (Twitch Drops)
- Death Hex – Weapon Coating (Twitch Drops)
- Ember Hex – Weapon Coating (Twitch Drops)
- Thremaleon Cuisse – Hip Attachment (NEW)
- Mark V Zeta – Helmet (Tactical Ops)
- War Hero – Weapon Charm (NEW)
[h2]Waypoint Chronicle[/h2]
In celebration of Halo 2’s twentieth birthday and the launch of Operation: Great Journey, we’ve got a new short story releasing as part of the festivities.
Halo: Age of Retribution will release on November 8, available to read here on Halo Waypoint, as a free PDF, and in audiobook format on YouTube.
November 3, 2552. After the Prophet of Regret is assassinated by the Master Chief, the Covenant is shaken to its foundations as the feud between Brutes and Elites reaches a violent turning point.
[hr][/hr]
[h2]Halo Support[/h2]
Today’s update delivers many updates and fixes that the team have been working on to improve the Halo Infinite experience. Head over to the Halo Support site to check out the full list of patch notes.
Run into a bug, glitch, or other unexpected issue? Submit a ticket and notify the team on the Halo Support site.
You can submit tickets on a wide range of topics that include reports of Audio Issues, Crashes, Game Save Corruption, Report a Player, General Bug Reports, and more.
[hr][/hr]
That brings this launch blog to a conclusion. Get your hands on the MA5K Avenger and lay waste to your opponents in the Delta Arena playlist, try out some third-person Firefight: King of the Hill, progress your Operation Pass so your Spartan can cosplay as a certain legendary shipmaster, play around with all the new elements of this latest Forge update, and stay tuned for the upcoming Waypoint Chronicle!
Jump into Halo Infinite and party like it’s 2004!
[hr][/hr]
[h2]Press Kit[/h2]
Download the Operation: Great Journey press kit here!
