Halo Infinite News

[p]Fog gathers. Fear stalks the land. Operation: Haloween II has risen from its dark slumber.[/p][p][/p][p]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.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][hr][/hr][h2]SURVIVE THE UNDEAD[/h2][p][/p][p]The gruesome gauntlet of Survive the Undead returns for a sequel—with a vengeance.[/p][p]Appearing in a dedicated playlist now through November 18, the legendary arcade mode now includes four terrifying maps forged by the incomparable Forge Falcons.[/p][h3]STRIVE TO SURVIVE[/h3][p]Missed the first evil incarnation of Survive the Undead? Here’s what awaits you:[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.)[/p][p]Get moving. The nightmare’s just begun.[/p][h3]QUOTH THE FALCONS[/h3][p]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.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]HALO 5: GUARDIANS TURNS 10[/h2][p]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.[/p][h3]COMING SOON: EXTERMINATION[/h3][p]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.[/p][p]Stay tuned for a dedicated Extermination playlist on October 28.[/p][h3]COMING SOON: ANNIVERSARY ARMOR[/h3][p][/p][p]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.[/p]

• [p]Hunter: Savvy Spartans choose HUNTER technology for its customizable interfaces, a puissant surveillance suite, and dependable maneuverability in hand-to-hand sparring.[/p]
• [p]Helljumper: Thanks to innovative field upgrades by Cascade Stronghold Technologies, testbed HELLJUMPER armor can reliably endure the atmospheric rigors expected of GEN3 Mjolnir.[/p]
• [p]Copperhead: When it comes to building interspecies alliances, COPPERHEAD armor has consistently proven its merits for both kinetic diplomacy and charm offensives.[/p]
• [p]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.[/p]

[p]Better start squirreling away those Spartan Points for later in the Fall Update![/p][hr][/hr][h2]SQUAD BATTLE REANIMATED[/h2][p]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:[/p]

• [p]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).[/p]
• [p]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.[/p]
• [p]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.[/p]
• [p]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![/p]

[p]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.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]OPERATION PASS[/h2][p]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…[/p][h3]FREE OPERATION PASS[/h3][p]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.[/p][p]Complete all 20 tiers of the free Operation Pass by November 18 to join your voice with the Dirgesinger’s timeless chorus.[/p][h3]PREMIUM OPERATION PASS[/h3][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]QUALITY-OF-AFTERLIFE UPDATE[/h2][p]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![/p][h3]Improved Mode Titles[/h3][p]Starting October 28, matchmaking modes will follow a more consistent title format for easier searching, bookmarking, and discovery.[/p][p]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 “\[MODE]: \[SIZE]\[VARIANT]” format.[/p][p]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.[/p][h3]Updated Forge Canvases[/h3][p]We’ve amended the set of Forge Objects that are available by default on Canvases to include support for all core mode variants.[/p][p]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.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]THE FALL UPDATE LIVES![/h2][p]As shadows recede, and warpaths turn astray, Operation: Haloween II descends to strike fear into the hearts of Spartans everywhere.[/p][p]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.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]WAYPOINT CHRONICLE[/h2][p]Coming this month are two new Waypoint Chronicles to celebrate the arrival of Haloween and the tenth anniversary of Halo 5: Guardians.[/p][p]ASCENSION ON ATROPOS / OCTOBER 8[/p][p]“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.”[/p][p]FIFTH CANTICLE / OCTOBER 27[/p][p]“2558. Amid the chaos of the Created uprising, five tales of truth, compromise, betrayal, purpose, and change unfold across the galaxy.[/p][p]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.”[/p][hr][/hr][h2]THE SHOP[/h2][p]
This spooky season, the resident necromancers at The Shop have raised a devious duo of armor bundles for the frightfully inclined.[/p][h3]ALL HALO’S EVE BUNDLE[/h3][p]‘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.[/p]

• [p]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.[/p]
• [p]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.[/p]
• [p]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.[/p]

[p]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.[/p][h3]PROMETHEAN RAIDER[/h3][p]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.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]THE EXCHANGE[/h2][p]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.[/p][h2]PLAYER RESOURCES[/h2][p]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:[/p]

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

[p]New to Halo Infinite? Check out our New Player Guide for helpful tips.[/p][h2]SUPPORT[/h2][p]Run into a bug, glitch, or unexpected issue? Submit a ticket to Halo Support.[/p][p]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.[/p][h2]PRESS KIT[/h2][p]Download the Operation: Haloween II press kit.[/p]

[p]“2558. War journalist Benjamin Giraud pieces together stories of heroism and sacrifice from archives of recorded communications during the fall of Reach.”[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Halo: ‘Ghosts & Glass’ by B. Giraud is available here, on Halo Waypoint, as a free PDF, and in audiobook format on YouTube.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][hr][/hr][p]HISTORIAN’S NOTE[/p][p]Halo: ‘Ghosts & Glass’ by B. Giraud takes place in March 2558, over five years after the fall of Reach.[/p][hr][/hr][p]BRAVO 001: “Mayday, mayday! This is Bravo 001, en route to your position. Do you have a visual on my aircraft, over?”[/p][p]GOLDEN ARROW: “Bravo 001, this is Golden Arrow. I do believe you are steering that bird in the wrong direction, over.”[/p][p]BRAVO 001: “Negative. Bird’s electronics are fried, I’m flying blind! Just need you to point me in the direction of the LZ.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]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.”.[/p][p]BRAVO 001: “All right, Golden Arrow. If I can’t set her down, I’ll just drop these big Spartans on your head, out.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]BRAVO 001: “I’m gonna need that LZ cleared, Golden Arrow. I’ll be right on top of you in three mikes.”[/p][p]GOLDEN ARROW: “Hell, I’m gonna clear you a spot myself, Bravo. Look for the trooper with big-ass grin on his face.”[/p][p]BRAVO 001: “Roger that, I’ll see you. Out.”[/p][p]// \[end – next file] //[/p][p]RECON 43: “Gamma One Actual, this is Recon 43. We are in position, over.”[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Recon 43, this is Gamma One Actual. Gimme a radio check, over.”[/p][p]RECON 43: “Got eyes on three Ghosts and twenty-four infantry. Typical scout detachment, please advise.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]RECON 43: “Gamma One Actual, we do not read you, say again, we do not read you, over.”[/p][p]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!”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]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!”[/p][p]RECON 43: “Fire! That’s it, make ‘em count!”[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “What do we have that we can send to support them? Damn it!”[/p][p]RECON 43: “Pull back, move and shoot, move and shoot! Where the hell did all these hostiles come from?”[/p][p]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!”[/p][p]RECON 43: “Aw, damn! Tip of the spear, nothin’. It’s the whole godforsaken fleet! Fire, fire, fire!”[/p][p]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.”[/p][hr][/hr][p]What you just heard is the moment that the battle of Reach hit the point of no return.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]My name is Benjamin Giraud, and this is Ghosts & Glass. Join me as we explore the untold stories of the fall of Reach.[/p][p][/p][p]PVT. GOODMAN: “So, uh…”[/p][p]PVT. DEAKINS: “Come on, spit it out.”[/p][p]PVT. GOODMAN: “You, uh, got a zombie plan?”[/p][p]PVT. DEAKINS: “Hell yeah.”[/p][p]PVT. GOODMAN: “Yeah? Maybe we could exchange notes.”[/p][p]PVT. DEAKINS: “Well, uh, I dunno, man. Zombie plans are kinda… deeply personal thing with me.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]PVT. DEAKINS: “Yeah, makes sense.”[/p][p]PVT. GOODMAN: “Okay.”[/p][p]PVT. DEAKINS: “Alright. So, zombies can still hear and stuff, so that makes guns a weapon of last resort, right?”[/p][p]PVT. GOODMAN: “Yeah, yeah, solid so far. Ammo, too.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]PVT. GOODMAN: “Hold up. Now, see, this is workin’ already.”[/p][p]PVT. DEAKINS: “Huh?”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]PVT. DEAKINS: “Oh yeah, you’re right. Man, I hadn’t thought about that. Well, uh…”[/p][p]PVT. GOODMAN: “Ball-peen hammer.”[/p][p]PVT. DEAKINS: “But you’d have to get right up on top of the zombie to use it, man.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]PVT. GOODMAN: “What I tell ya? Reach ain’t no place for no self-respecting marine to spend any amount of time.”[/p][p]PVT. DEAKINS: “Hey, we ain’t in the Autumn yet, pal.”[/p][hr][/hr][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]Unsurprisingly, we’re going to have to reckon with that for a very long time.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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…[/p][p]Today’s episode of Ghosts & Glass is the story of Charlie Company and a Spartan team known as “Beta-Red.”[/p][p][/p][p]GAMMA FIVE: “Gamma One, Facility Alpha 412 is overrun, and I’m heading to your location with what’s left of Gamma Five, over.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]GAMMA FIVE: “Confirm. ODG-412 is slag. Lost all but fourteen able bodies. Making our way over in two ‘hogs and a radio van.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]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?”[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Gamma Five, say again? That was two divisions, over?”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Well, I hope you’re bringing extra ammo then, Gamma Five.”[/p][p]GAMMA FIVE: “All we could carry and then some. ETA twenty-five mikes, out.”[/p][hr][/hr][p]Let’s back up for a second.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]As the Spartans split up into splinter teams, their mission was to protect those generators. Hold the Covenant back, whatever the cost.[/p][p]This is what happened next.[/p][hr][/hr][p]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.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]BETA ROMEO ACTUAL: “I don’t doubt that, Gamma One Actual. Let’s hope we won’t need them to. Defensive perimeter online.[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: This is nuts. What in the hell are those autoturrets supposed to do against what they’re bringin’, over?[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Dammit, Red, I heard you Spartans were crazy. Gamma-Five: radio check, over.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Those Spartans are crazy, they’re gonna get us killed.”[/p][p]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!”[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “What are six Spartans gonna do against thirty thousand Covenant? They’re dead men.”[/p][p]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!”[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “That’s the signal! Let’s get the hell outta here.”[/p][p]// \[end – next file] //[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Unknown station, this is Gamma One Actual. Do you read, over?”[/p][p]IRON FIST: “Gamma One Actual, this is Iron Fist. We read you. What is the current status of Facility Alpha 331?”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]IRON FIST: “Negative, Gamma. We are en route to support Beta-Red. Any word on their status?”[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “None, over.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]IRON FIST: “Say again, Gamma, over?”[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “I said Beta-Red may be tough as hell but– oh, my god!”[/p][p]IRON FIST: “Gamma One Actual, we lost you. Say again, over?”[/p][p]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!”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Wait, you’re not planning on heading into that mess, are you?”[/p][p]IRON FIST: “Godspeed, and see you on the other side, Gamma. Out.”[/p][p]// \[end – next file] //[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]ALPHA TWO ZERO: “Acknowledged, Majestic. Stand by, we are waiting for the go, no-go on the shoot. Uploading telemetry on targets.”[/p][p]UNSC MAJESTIC: “Telemetry received, on standby.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]CENTCOM: “God help us… Go hot. Out.”[/p][p]ALPHA TWO ZERO: “Alpha Two Zero to UNSC Majestic.”[/p][p]UNSC MAJESTIC: “Copy, Alpha, requesting go for shoot.”[/p][p]ALPHA TWO ZERO: “Affirmative, we are go on the shoot. Over.”[/p][p]UNSC MAJESTIC: “Acknowledged. Shoot is a go, out. Six rounds, target number Kilo Tango two-zero-zero-five.”[/p][p]ALPHA TWO ZERO: “Copy, Majestic. Six rounds, target number Kilo Tango two-zero-zero-five.”[/p][p]UNSC MAJESTIC: “Shot, over.”[/p][p]ALPHA TWO ZERO: “Shot, out.”[/p][p]UNSC MAJESTIC: “Splash, over.”[/p][p]ALPHA TWO ZERO: “Splash, out.”[/p][p]UNSC MAJESTIC: “Rounds complete, over.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]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.”[/p][p]ALPHA TWO ZERO: “God willing. Out.”[/p][hr][/hr][p]The Covenant fleet had arrived in force. Three cruisers were inbound while thirty thousand enemy troops were converging on the orbital MAC generator…[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]And yet…[/p][hr][/hr][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Gamma Five, holy crap! Buckman, you see that?”[/p][p]GAMMA FIVE: “See it? Felt that in my damn chest. Whoever pulled the trigger wanted those sons-of-bitches dead.”[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Can’t believe we just walked outta that crater. We gotta be the two luckiest bastards on this whole planet.”[/p][p]GAMMA FIVE: “Luck ain’t got nothing to do with it, Jake.”[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Think anybody could have survived that?”[/p][p]GAMMA FIVE: “You mean Beta-Red? They say Spartans never die, but I don’t think anything lived through that.”[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Damn, whole lotta real estate burning down there. Won’t be much left once this is all said and done.”[/p][p]GAMMA FIVE: “Here we are, hightailing it to anywhere else. Doesn’t seem right.”[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “Well, pretty soon won’t be any place else to run to. What’s next, Earth?”[/p][p]GAMMA FIVE: “Jake, anyone tell you you talk too damn much?”[/p][p]GAMMA ONE ACTUAL: “All the time. What the hell else was there to do on Reach besides chase pioneer girls?”[/p][p]GAMMA FIVE: “Now there’s nothing, man. Now there’s nothing at all. Five out.”[/p][hr][/hr][p]Two marines climbed out of that damn foxhole![/p][p]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.[/p][p]And as for Beta-Red. As Buckman said, “Spartans never die.”[/p][p][/p][p]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:[/p][p]Boldly they rode and well,[/p][p]Into the jaws of Death,[/p][p]Into the mouth of hell.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]Remember Reach.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]Thank you for tuning in for our latest episode of Ghosts & Glass. This is Benjamin Giraud, signing off.[/p][p][/p][p]\[ONI SECTION TWO ARCHIVE // RECORDED CHATTER CONVERSATION // MARCH 10, 2558][/p][p]> “Benjamin Giraud, as I live and breathe!”[/p][p]>> “Hello? Who is this?”[/p][p]> “Name’s Sullivan. Michael Sullivan, Naval Intelligence. Senior Comms Director of Section Two. I’m a big fan of your work.”[/p][p]>> “Thank you, but I–”[/p][p]> “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.”[/p][p]>> “Sounds like you already have a story in mind?”[/p][p]> “I do, Ben. It’s really gonna be something. I’ll get a meeting on the books for us.”[/p][p]>> “I haven’t said yes yet.”[/p][p]> “Oh, but I know you will. Tell me, Ben… how d’you feel about doing a profile on the Master Chief?”[/p][p][/p][p]AUGUST 30, 2552 // REACH[/p][p]If Hell is real, it probably looks something like this.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]They have already taken the generator. They are just sticking around to finish the job.[/p][p]The chaos is so thick that it is almost too easy to miss the flash of lightning as it streaks through the sky.[/p][p]It’s not a warning. It is a sign of what has already arrived.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]Magnetic accelerator rounds are being turned on Reach itself.[/p][p]“Break ranks!” Somebody shouts. “Get out of here!”[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]The generator is lost. Reach has fallen.[/p][p]A decision is made.[/p][p]“All units,” Beta Romeo Actual says to any who can hear over their comms, “splash incoming. Get out of the blast zone!”[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]The fifth strikes the generator facility and all goes dark.[/p][p]Beta Romeo Actual does not hear the sixth.[/p][p]Time passes. The battle here is over—it has moved somewhere else.[/p][p]All has fallen quiet.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]“This is Beta Romeo Actual, does anybody read me? Over.”[/p][p]She waits a moment as her comms return only static.[/p][p]“I say again: This is Beta Romeo Actual, does anybody read me on this frequency? Over.”[/p][p]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.[/p][p]“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.”[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]Setting off toward the horizon, Naomi did not look back.[/p][p][/p]

[p]Phase 1: Squad up [/p][p]Phase 2: Have fun [/p][p]Phase 3: Unlock Unicorn of Ice rewards by matching us 🦄 [/p][p][/p][p]Join us for an Operation: Warpath Invasion Community Playdate tomorrow at 11am PT. [/p][p][/p][p]🟣 Twitch[/p][p]🔴 YouTube[/p][p][/p]

[p]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![/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]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.[/p][h2]OBJECTIVE OVERDRIVE[/h2][p]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: [/p]

• [p]Capture the Zone[/p]
  • [p]As the name implies, this is a zone control style mode and your goal is to capture it before time runs out[/p]
• [p]Assault[/p]
  • [p]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[/p]
• [p]Core Delivery[/p]
  • [p]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[/p]
• [p]Deliver the Payload[/p]
  • [p]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.[/p]
    • [p]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.[/p]

[h2]LOADOUT LOGIC[/h2][p]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.[/p][h2]Spartan Setups[/h2][p]Phase 1, UNSC Scout[/p]

• [p]MA5K Avenger[/p]
• [p]Frag Grenades[/p]
• [p]Threat Seeker[/p]

[p]Phase 1, UNSC Sentry[/p]

• [p]MK50 Sidekick[/p]
• [p]Frag Grenades[/p]
• [p]Drop Wall[/p]

[p]Phase 2, UNSC Warrior[/p]

• [p]MA40 Assault Rifle[/p]
• [p]MK50 Sidekick[/p]
• [p]Frag Grenades[/p]
• [p]Drop Wall[/p]

[p]Phase 2, UNSC Operator[/p]

• [p]CQS48 Bulldog[/p]
• [p]Frag Grenades[/p]
• [p]Quantum Translocator[/p]

[p]Phase 2, UNSC Skirmisher[/p]

• [p]VK78 Commando[/p]
• [p]MA5K Avenger[/p]
• [p]Frag Grenades[/p]
• [p]Thruster[/p]

[p]Phase 3, UNSC Headhunter[/p]

• [p]BR75[/p]
• [p]VK78 Commando[/p]
• [p]Frag Grenades[/p]
• [p]Shroud Screen[/p]

[p]Phase 3, UNSC Healer[/p]

• [p]CQS48 Bulldog[/p]
• [p]MK50 Sidekick[/p]
• [p]Frag Grenades[/p]
• [p]Repair Field[/p]

[p]Phase 3, UNSC Marksman[/p]

• [p]Bandit Evo[/p]
• [p]MA40 Assault Rifle[/p]
• [p]Frag Grenades[/p]
• [p]Grappleshot[/p]

[p]Phase 3, UNSC Sentinel[/p]

• [p]VK78 Commando[/p]
• [p]MA5K Avenger[/p]
• [p]Frag Grenades[/p]
• [p]Thruster[/p]

[p]Phase 3, UNSC Heavy[/p]

• [p]MLRS-2 Hydra[/p]
• [p]MA40 Assault Rifle[/p]
• [p]Frag Grenades[/p]
• [p]Overshield[/p]

[h2]Banished Battle Kits[/h2][p]Just like the UNSC side, the Banished side also has loadout options that update each phase.[/p][p]Phase 1, Banished Sentry[/p]

• [p]Mangler[/p]
• [p]Spike Grenades[/p]
• [p]Thruster[/p]

[p]Phase 1, Banished Scout[/p]

• [p]Needler[/p]
• [p]Plasma Grenades[/p]
• [p]Active Camo[/p]

[p]Phase 2, Banished Marksman[/p]

• [p]Vestige Carbine[/p]
• [p]Plasma Pistol[/p]
• [p]Spike Grenades[/p]
• [p]Repulsor[/p]

[p]Phase 2, Banished Hunter[/p]

• [p]Heatwave[/p]
• [p]Spike Grenades[/p]
• [p]Drop Wall[/p]

[p]Phase 2, Banished Sapper[/p]

• [p]Ravager[/p]
• [p]Needler[/p]
• [p]Plasma Grenades[/p]
• [p]Thruster[/p]

[p]Phase 3, Banished Headhunter[/p]

• [p]Bandit Evo[/p]
• [p]Pulse Carbine[/p]
• [p]Spike Grenade[/p]
• [p]Grappleshot[/p]

[p]Phase 3, Banished Warrior[/p]

• [p]CQS48 Bulldog[/p]
• [p]Mangler[/p]
• [p]Spike Grenade[/p]
• [p]Threat Sensor[/p]

[p]Phase 3, Banished Sentinel[/p]

• [p]Sentinel Beam[/p]
• [p]Vestige Carbine[/p]
• [p]Spike Grenade[/p]
• [p]Repulsor[/p]

[p]Phase 3, Banished Medic[/p]

• [p]Pulse Carbine[/p]
• [p]MA40 Assault Rifle[/p]
• [p]Spike Grenade[/p]
• [p]Repair Field[/p]

[p]Phase 3, Banished Dark Assassin[/p]

• [p]Duelist Energy Sword[/p]
• [p]Disruptor[/p]
• [p]Plasma Grenades[/p]
• [p]Active Camo[/p]

[h2]SAFE SPAWNING[/h2][p]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:[/p]

• [p]Buddies are reciprocal (If they are your buddy, you are theirs)[/p]
• [p]Your Buddy must be alive to spawn on them[/p]
• [p]They must have been alive for at least five seconds to spawn on them[/p]
• [p]They must have full health and shields to spawn on them[/p]
• [p]They must be clear of engagements or have no enemies nearby to spawn on them[/p]
• [p]If your Buddy is in a vehicle, there must be an empty seat to spawn on them[/p]
• [p]When you spawn on your Buddy, you will be facing the way they are facing[/p]

[p]If you don’t want to spawn on your buddy, you can choose to spawn at the other zones: Left, Middle, or Right spawns.[/p][h2]VICTORY VARIABLES[/h2][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][h2]IMPRESSIVE INTSALLATIONS[/h2][p]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![/p][p]Breakpoint Bookmark
Credits: Okom1, Virus11010, Scrubulba, Mr Kwatz, Igrizhar, spartan blood 1, JoValiant, Mr IncrediJON, THE SLAMMERSS[/p][p][/p][p]A classic returns from Halo: Reach. Don’t let it push you to your breaking point.[/p][p]Crashout Bookmark[/p][p][/p][p]They said it was a crash. We called it a tactical arrival.[/p][p]Exhumed Bookmark Credits: Mr IncrediJON, Scrubulba, spartan blood 1, Virus11010, Mr Kwatz, Igrizhar, JoValiant[/p][p][/p][p]You came looking for glory but you found a grave.[/p][p]Last Road Bookmark
Credits: Mr Kwatz, MikRips, Scrubulba[/p][p][/p][p]Last Road: where the only traffic is incoming fire.[/p][p]Recovery
Bookmark
Credits: Okom1, Virus11010, Scrubulba, D0ctorSmurf, spartan blood 1, Mr IncrediJON, Mr Kwatz, Cousin Tim, JoValiant[/p][p][/p][p]They terraformed Reach, now it’s your turn to reshape the battlefield.[/p][p]Wavelength Bookmark[/p][p][/p][p]Broadcasting live from the edge of chaos.[/p][h2]EXIT ENGAGEMENTS[/h2][p]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![/p]

[p]UNSC cadets are taught to imitate—and thereby venerate—the martial actions of humanity’s time-honored heroes.[/p][p][/p][p]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.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]Harken ye to the drums of war. Operation: Warpath sallies forth![/p][hr][/hr][h2]Last Chance: HAYABUSA[/h2][p][/p][p][/p][p]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.[/p][p]Acquire the HAYABUSA ZOKUHEN bundle from The Exchange now through October 7, before it vanishes into legend forever.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]NEW MODE: INVASION[/h2][p][/p][p]The enemy is at the gates. You must thwart their advances, or relinquish sacred ground.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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![/p][h3]WINNING ROUNDS[/h3][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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![/p][h3]WHERE TO PLAY[/h3][p]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.[/p][p]At the conclusion of Operation: Warpath, Invasion will join the Squad Battle playlist.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]REMEMBER REACH[/h2][p]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.[/p][p]In Operation: Warpath, we’re also bringing back the beloved Invasion mode that first debuted in the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta.[/p][p]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![/p][h3]6 NEW MAPS[/h3][p][/p][p]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.[/p][p]Check out all the Invasion maps in our official playlist overview.[/p][h3]NEW OBJECTIVE[/h3][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][h3]OBJECTIVE UPDATES[/h3][p]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.[/p][p]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!”)[/p][h3]LOADOUT SYMMETRY[/h3][p]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.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]RANKED LEGACY[/h2][p]Live the legend. The new Ranked Legacy playlist brings iconic Halo multiplayer combat to Halo Infinite’s ranked experience.[/p][p][/p][p]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.[/p][h3]COMPETITION SETTINGS[/h3][p]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.[/p][p]All match settings:[/p]

• [p]Sprint: Off[/p]
• [p]Clamber: Off[/p]
• [p]Starting Weapon: Battle Rifle[/p]
• [p]Secondary Weapon: None[/p]
• [p]Friendly Player Collision: On[/p]
• [p]Motion Tracker: Disabled[/p]
• [p]Respawn Delay: 8 Seconds[/p]

[p]Honor demands that you vouchsafe impenitent foes with a cruel display of thine mighty reflexes. Get ye to the tournament grounds of Ranked Legacy![/p][hr][/hr][h2]OPERATION PASS[/h2][p][/p][p]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.[/p][h3]FREE OPERATION PASS[/h3][p]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.[/p][p]Let no indecorous cur look upon thee unadorned thusly (‘twould be a pox upon thy name).[/p][h3]PREMIUM OPERATION PASS[/h3][p][/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]FALL UPDATE NOW LIVE[/h2][p]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!).[/p][p][/p][p]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![/p][hr][/hr][h2]THE SHOP[/h2][p][/p][p]Prithee, gather around The Shop to peruse the new and unrivaled wares of the galaxy’s most renowned smithies.[/p][h3]ANCESTRAL INSPIRATION[/h3][p]Take mortal guidance from the Ancestral Inspiration bundle, containing the Hearthguard and Tribune armor sets and a dragon’s horde of Spartan customizations.[/p][p][/p]

• [p]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.[/p]
• [p]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.[/p]
• [p]Niflheim Fragmentation: Send their wanton souls for a proper Norse reckoning with the Niflheim Fragmentation death effect set.[/p]

[p]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.[/p][h3]SCANNER[/h3][p][/p][p]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.[/p][p]This bundle is also available in The Exchange to redeem with Spartan Points![/p][h3]EVA TEST SERIES[/h3][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][h2]THE EXCHANGE[/h2][p][/p][p]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.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]PLAYER RESOURCES[/h2][p]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:[/p]

• [p]Join the official Halo Discord server.[/p]
• [p]Read the patch notes for Operation: Warpath.[/p]
• [p]Check out all currently active multiplayer playlists.[/p]
• [p]Read descriptions for all multiplayer modes in Halo Infinite.[/p]
• [p]Learn about creating custom maps and modes in Forge.[/p]

[p]New to Halo Infinite? Check out our New Player Guide for helpful tips.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]SUPPORT[/h2][p]Run into a bug, glitch, or unexpected issue? Submit a ticket to Halo Support.[/p][p]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.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]PRESS KIT[/h2][p]Download the Operation: Warpath press kit.[/p]