Halo 2 fans are feasting. The game's 20th anniversary week is filled to the brim with nostalgic goodness, starting with a massive update that drops fan-favorite Halo 2 maps, armor, and more into Halo Infinite �?which just got a third-person mode.

There's really too much to include in such a short opening paragraph, so let's expand on things. Not only will Halo 2 fans be able to play on maps influenced by classics such as Lockout, but they'll at last experience the famed E3 2003 demo for themselves. The former comes as part of the Halo Infinite 2024 Winter Update, which adds Halo 2-inspired map?s, a playlist, and armor options f?or the store.

The Halo 2 celebrations and more begin with the 2024 Winter Update

The 2024 Winter Update marks the newest Operation for Halo Infinite, appropriately named Operation: Great Journey. A 20-tier Operation Pass, Great Journey lets you strap yourself in the time-appropriate amor including one mimicking an Elite. I guess that's a decent compromise over the option to choose an Elite body for multiplayer, which you could do back in the '04 game. It also introduces a sniper rifle inspired by the near-perfect Halo 2 design and the MA5K Avenger rifle held by the Spartan-IIIs who adorned the cover of the novel Halo: Ghosts of Onyx. My early 20s self is feeling all giddy?, and a bit old. And tired.

The new Halo 2-inspired playlist is Delta Arena, which takes you back to the past faster than Samurai Jack. Delta Arena is what you want to play if you're aching for those classic maps. But be warned: You will notice some major gameplay changes. For one, sprint is disabled along with the clamber ability. The floaty jump returns and all players start with the MA5K Avenger. Yes, you'll notice ho??w much slower the game feels, but that's how we liked it back then, dagnabbit.

The playlist features the seven maps Halo 2 fans will surely gush about. These seven Forge-made maps are modern takes on all-time classics such as Ascension and Beaver Creek. Some of the maps in Halo 2 were so good, that three of the ones you can play today in Halo Infinite made our list of 10 best Halo multiplayer maps ever.

Here are the maps and their original names:

• Ascension - Ascension
• Beaver Canyon - Beaver Creek
• Boulevard - Turf
• Canopy - Lockout
• Inquisitor - Midship
• Serenity - Sanctuary
• Conjurer - Warlock

The modes available for the playlist include:

• Legacy Slayer
• Legacy Capture the Flag
• Legacy King of the Hill
• Legacy Oddball

There are also shop bundles you can grab if you're feeling inclined. The Rocket Reclaimer bundle gives you the Mjolnir Mark VI armor worn by the Master Chief in Halo 2, a classic SPNKr weapon model, and coatings. The Arbitration bundle lets you cosplay as an Elite with Sangheili armor pieces and coatings. There's more, including armor based on those loveable Marines.

The third-person camera arrives at Halo

Halo Infinite gets a third-person mode with the 2024 Winter Update. The mode celebrates Halo before Halo: Combat Evolved, back when it was c??onceived as a third-person game. You can experience it in Firefight: King of the Hill, but the option is available in Custom Games options and for Forge creators.

All in all, Halo 2 fans will have a lot to enjoy this week. It's a big update, so be sure to check out the blog post for more. Remember that the Halo 2 E3 demo is also coming this week. You can play it as a Steam Workshop mod for Halo: The Master Chief Collection on November 9, 2024.

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If you want to experience free games on Steam, there's, thankfully, a lot that the store has to offer. You can gallivant with your friends on hostile planets in PlanetSide 2 or message your love interest friend in a pseudo-AOL Messenger in Emily is Away.

The best free games on Steam offer a ton of content and have as few restrictions as possible. These 20 titles certainly do that in spades. The monthly active users are based on Steam Charts' stats from the past 30 days.

Apex Legends

• Steam release date: November 4, 2020
• Publisher: EA
• Monthly active players: 104,039

One of the best battle royales in the market right now is Apex Legends. It provides the high-precision gunplay from Titanfall 2 and brings it into the competitive battle royale space. Sliding down hills and using each hero's powers is satisfying to perform in the game. There will be many intense moments as you contend against opposing teams, and the game provides many opportunities to fail or succeed. The free-to-play model is a little on the expensive side if you want cosmetics and more characters, but playing from the base roster is also entertaining to start Apex Legends with.

Brawlhalla

• Steam release date: October 17, 2017
• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Monthly active players: 10,369

If you're annoyed you can't play Super Smash Bros. on PC, check out Brawlhalla. It features a smooth platform fighter experience that plays great online. It also has a vibrant cast of characters to choose from. Many will be locked behind payments or in-game progression, but there is a regularly updated free rotation of characters to choose from. One of the game's unique strategic elements is switching two weapons available to each player. ?Each weapon's move set is radically different, and you'll need to decide which option best suits the situation.

The Finals

• Steam release date: December 3, 2023
• Publisher: Embark Studios
• Monthly active players: 14,242

Destructible environments, participating in a game show, a??nd great gunplay all combine into The Finals, one of the latest multiplayer hits on Steam. You’re taking a cash prize and trying to transport it to a capture area. On the way, you’ll have to fend off two other teams of three. With an exciting vertical el?ement to each map, The Finals manages to stand out among its FPS competition. Check ?this game out when you can! Oh, and it’s crossplay too! 

My Hero Ultra Rumble

• Steam release date: September 28, 2023
• Publisher: Bandai Namco
• Monthly active players: 1,494

Anime fans, rejoice! My Hero Ultra Rumble is a neat battle royale take on the belov??ed anime series. Each hero or villain has their own quirks that change the battle. Deku can pick up allies and run fast to get away from enemies. Meanwhile, Cementoss creates stone walls to protect his t?eam and keep the enemy team distracted. If you don’t want to shoot down enemies in Call of Duty Warzone or Fortnite, My Hero Ultra Rumble offers a refreshing take on the genre. 

Emily is Away

• Steam release date: November 20, 2015
• Publisher: Kyle Seeley
• Monthly active players: 11

Emily is Away is a nostalgic journey back into the Windows XP era of communication. There ?was no Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram. Instead, you used to chat on AOL Instant Messenger. This unique storytelling device isn't just a gimmick, however. There's a beautifully told narrative about two friends who have grown apart from each other since high school and are trying to reconnect. Despite there being no voice acting, all the emotional beats are there, as you await Emily's response. Try this one-hour game out when you can. It's one of the best free games on Steam.

Guild Wars 2

• Steam release date: August 23, 2022
• Publisher: NCSoft
• Monthly active players: 3,367

Can't afford Final Fantasy XIV Online or don't want to bother with the Battle.net client on PC for World of Warcraft? Guild Wars 2 is a good third option for an MMO. You can play the entirety of the engaging core campaign for free. However, there are restrictions you should keep in mind, like locked content until you reach a certain level. Despite that one fault, Guild Wars 2 offers a stunning world en??riched with entertainin??g MMORPG gameplay.

Farlight 84

• Steam release date: September 21, 2023
• Publisher: Farlight Games
• Monthly active players: 1,817

Tired of Fortnite and want something new? Farlight 84 may be your antidote. It blends the art style of Epic Games�?battle royale and mixes it with the ability-based system of Apex Legends. The result is a solid shooter that impresses new fans of the game and isn’t even out of Early Access yet. The weapons fe??el heavy and powerful, and the overall environments look pleasing to the eye. Just turn off the voice acting; it’s pretty bad!

Disney Speedstorm

• Steam release date: April 18, 2023
• Publisher: Gameloft
• Monthly active players: 262

Want a fun Mario Kart-like game without having to resort to emu?lation? Disney Speedstorm is a great free-to-play substitut??e. The tracks are immaculately designed and b??ased on the films we know and love like Lilo & Stitch, Aladdin, and Pirates of the Caribbean. You’ll be avoiding pillars of fire within the Cave of Wonders and giant tentacles from sea monsters in Port Royal. While the items are disappointingly generic for a Disney game like this, there is a neat alternate use for most of them by holding down the button. For example, with a boost (mushroom), you can hold it to get three smaller bursts of speed rather than just one.?? Read my review for more information.

Marvel Snap

• Steam release date: August 22, 2023
• Publisher: Nuverse
• Monthly active players: 4,723

Everyone knows and loves the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so a card game based on the property could be a cheap cash-in. Fortunately, Marvel Snap is a cherished title for fans of card games, and it's free to play. "At work and at home, I just can’t put it down," said CJ Andriessen in his review. "With its structure and speed, it doesn’t feel as tactical as some of the other card games I’ve played, but it finds a way to be satisfying in its brevity." Each match in Marvel Snap also only lasts for three or so minutes, as opposed to Hearthstone, making this quick and easy to play.

Path of Exile

• Steam release date: October 23, 2013
• Publisher: Grinding Gear Games
• Monthly active players: 23,219

Path of Exile, despite it being a free Steam game, is an excellent alternative to the Diablo series if you crave more ARPG goodness. It features a tonne of passives to unlock through the huge skill tree system. It also includes plenty of classes, including the Duelist, Marauder, Ranger, Scion, Shadow, Templar, and Witch. Path of Exile will offer hours upon hours of content for the low, low price of $0, and it also has PvP modes like tournamen??ts and Capture The Flag.

Team Fortress 2

• Steam release date: October 10, 2007
• Publisher: Valve
• Monthly active players: 52,155

A cherished multiplayer game for many Team Fortress 2 is an absolute classic. This team-based shooter has you playing different roles. One can be the Heavy, dealing a lot of damage with his mini-gun. Another player can send out Sentries and Teleporters throughout the map as the Engineer. There are many options available, so you can find the right playstyl?e. Despite the game being over a decade old, it still holds up visually with a car?toony art style. Give it a go if you haven't already.

The Sims 4

• Steam release date: September 2, 2014
• Publisher: EA
• Monthly active players: 26,585

Living out your dreams as a Sim doesn't necessarily sound fun, but The Sims 4 somehow sucks you in for many hours at a time. You're building your own house, family, and wealth in the game which will feel rewarding. You also grow relationships with other sims by hanging out with them and performing a variety of activities in the community. All of this is now free to play on Steam, so go ahead and download The Sims 4, if you want a chill simulation game to play.

Warframe

• Steam release date: March 25, 2013
• Publisher: Digital Extremes
• Monthly active players: 45,873

It's been a decade, but Warframe still pulls in players today. This game is extremely fast with powerful guns and delightful swordplay. It's been supported thoroughly by developer Digital E?xtremes. The game added an open world, and there is spaceship warfare to be had. The art style is also unabashedly strange as it embellishes its sci-fi genre with pride.

Omega Strikers

• Steam release date: September 16, 2022
• Publisher: Odyssey Interactive
• Monthly active players: 375

The precision of the MOBA gameplay of League mixed with the sport of soccer doesn’t sound like a great m?ix, but Omega Strikers certainly p??roved me wrong. Each character has their own skills to master while you’re trying to score a goal. You can even take out your foes with your abilities by striking them out of the arena. The graphics are gorgeous, the concept really comes through, and the head-bump-worthy music will keep your heart r??acing. Check this game out!

Splitgate

• Steam release date: May 24, 2019
• Publisher: 1047 Games
• Monthly active players: 212

If you thought Halo Infinite’s multiplayer was disappointing, give Splitgate a go. This arena shoot?er offers cool weapons to control and a unique mechanic that lets you use portals to shoot through or teleport wi??th. In my opinion, the maps are far more interesting than their Xbox-published counterpart. There are many modes to choose from as well, and you can create Custom Lobbies with all manner of rules available, including Big-Head mode.

DC Universe Online

• Steam release date: November 2, 2011
• Publisher: Daybreak Game Company
• Monthly active players: 361

We've all wanted to step into the shoes of Batman and Superman, and you can get that power fantasy by creating your own hero or villain in DC Universe Online. Behind it is over a decade of content with plenty of DC stories and experiences to encounter in this free-to-play MMO. Some of the quests are written by DC comic legends Geoff Johns and Marv Wolfman. Unlike others of its genre, the combat's fast and revolves around your choice of superpower. The game might be 13 years old, but it's still getting Very Positive reviews on Steam to this day.

PlanetSide 2

• Steam release date: November 20, 2012
• Publisher: Daybreak Game Company
• Monthly active players: 667

PlanetSide 2 is a massive FPS that spans across wide environments and many players against each other. It's not just about capturing points on a map like the Battlefield series. Instead, Daybreak Game Studios says "The core gameplay of PlanetSide 2 is about holding crucial territories and controlling resources." It also says you'll have to work "strategically as a team to secure tactical positions has long-lasting effects that can shift the tide of battle." There are six different classes to master as well as you go to war in PlanetSide 2.

Super Animal Royale

• Steam release date: August 26, 2021
• Publisher: Pixile
• Monthly active players: 578

Want a fresh spin on the battle royale genre? Well, you can play this cute take on it as you play as animals picking up weapons and trying to be the last remaining. Super Animal Royale features unique 2D bird's eye view angle on the action. The action gets wild with bombs of different types, grenades, and dart guns, in addition to the regular guns you'd expect like a shotgun or SMG. You have a fun, slightly less intense night with Super Animal Royale than the likes of Apex Legends, which needs precision in a r?eflex-based first person-shooter.

Dark & Darker

• Steam release date: June 7, 2024
• Publisher: IRONMACE
• Monthly active players: 17,458

Those who like sickeningly hard games will find comfort in Dark & Darker. In a D&D-like dungeon, you’re exploring an ancient citadel thwart with many dangers. You’ll be taking on tough monsters and making your way through the depths of this citadel to get the treasure you’re seeing. You can play as a barbarian, a ranger, and a bard in a three-person squad as you turn off lights to get away from enemy detection and utilize magic to gain the upper hand. The game is currently in early access, but it has a Mostly Positive score on Steam right now.

MultiVersus

• Steam release date: July 19, 2022
• Publisher: WB Games
• Monthly active players: 1,735

After disappearing for almost a year, MultiVersus has returned stronger than ever with new characters like The Powerpuff Girls and Beetlejuice taking on the likes of Bugs Bunny and Superman. The Smash-like platform fighter is thrilling with spectac?ular special moves, funny voice lines, and an overall polished product. Some of the new stages like the Warner Bros Water Tower are also bright, beautiful, and fun to play on. All of the action is cross-play between all of its available systems, so you can play with your pals on consoles.

Previous entries:

• Smite
• Halo Infinite multiplayer
• The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog
• Goose Goose Duck
• DOTA 2
• Star Wars: The Old Republic

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343 Industries is no more (sort of). Prior to the grand final of the Halo World Championship 2024 eSports tournament, the developer confirmed that it has rebranded to Halo ??Studi??os, turning a new page for the legendary franchise.

It also revealed that Halo Studios will move to Unreal Engine 5 for all?? future projects, of which several are in development. This marks a move away from its proprietary game engine, the Slipspace Engine, making i??t easier for new developers to come in and hit the ground running.

Halo is making the jump to Unreal Engine 5

Halo Studios revealed the news with an impressive UE5 video showcase titled Project Foundry, hitting all the classic Halo notes: Mast?er Chief, Elites, Energy Swords, and even the Flood.

Nothing was officially confirmed, but given what was shown, it looked suspiciously like the Halo: Combat Evolved remaster that was rumored back in June. Are they teasing it right in front of our eyes? Only time will tell. Regardless, it looks stunning, with mind-blowing environments that look closer to Blur Studios' Halo 2: Anniversary ?cutscenes than any real-time gam??eplay seen before in the series.

As 343 Industries, the studio has developed three mainline Halo games since being founded in 2007: 4, 5: Guardians, and Infinite. Each title had positives and negatives, although it's generally agreed that the series hasn't quite reached the dizzying heights of its Bungie days. Can this rebrand and move to Unreal Engine 5 help secure a brighter future for Halo? I sure hope so.

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File this under "news no one expected." 343 Industries has confirmed that Halo Infinite is getting a th??ird-person mode, and it's coming sooner than you think, with a release date penned in for November.

Halo historians will know that Combat Evolved was a third-person shooter at one point in its development. Now, well over two decades later, that idea is set to become a reality in Halo Infinite.

Halo Infinite third-person mode confirmed

343 Industries confirmed the addition of third-person mode to Halo Infinite in a video on Twitter. It's an announcement that wouldn't feel out of place on April Fools' Day. Halo? Third-person?! I assure you, it's real, and frankly, i?t looks like a l?ot of fun.

The clips from the gameplay were mar??ked as a work in progress, but a couple of interesting tidbits can be garnered from what has been shown so ??far.

One moment shows the player transiti?oning from first to third-person, indicating that you're not locked into one view for the entire match. It remains to be seen if the new third-person view is onl??y available in specific modes. PvE combat was also shown, confirming Firefight will be getting the third-person treatment. Count me in.

Interestingly, the footage features one moment involving the player struggling to see while entering a Shroud Screen??. This shows the drawback of adding ?third-person to a game not initially designed for it, so it'll be interesting to see how 343 Industries handles things like this in the full release.

Even if third-person mode doesn't become the de-facto way to play Halo Infinite going forward, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't intri??gued to try it out. It's currently set for a November release, with no specific date nailed down at the moment.

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Halo Infinite's sandbox lives and dies by its weapons. If the gunplay isn't solid and the weapons don't feel fun, then little else matters. It's something that the series has nailed over the years, and luckily, Infinite is no different.

In Halo Infinite, multiple old favorites return. You can find classic weapons like the Energy Sword and Gravity Hammer, helping the game feel familiar to long-time series fans. However, it also introduces several new weapons such as the Mangler and the Cindershot, which keep the sandbox fresh, even for Halo veterans.

Halo Infinite Weapons Tier List

Halo Infinite has 23 weapons in total across its campaign and multiplayer. This is more than enough to give you a ton of variety, because not all of the weapons will appear on every Halo Infinite map. Frankly, this is for the best. We couldn't cope with every player on the server having power weapons all at the same - that might be a little too chaotic.

When ranking Halo Infinite's weapons into a definitive Tier List, there are a few things to consider. First of all - fun. We're asking the question, "Do these weapons feel fun to use?" After all, it's Halo, a series known for its iconic armory of weapons, so the best of Infinite's offerings will l?ikely be the ones that are the most fun to use.

It's important that we consider weapon efficiency, too. Sure, a weapon can feel fun, but it's hardly any use if you can't actually kill anyone with it. Pick up the weapons near the top of our Tier ??List to ensure you're at the top of the leaderboard in every multiplayer match.

S Tier

• BR75 (Battle Rifle)
• Energy Sword
• Gravity Hammer
• M41 SPNKR (Rocket Launcher)
• S7 Sniper Rifle
• VK78 Commando

A Tier

• M392 Bandit
• M50 Sidekick
• MA40 AR (Assault Rifle)
• Needler
• Sentinel Beam
• Shock Rifle
• Skewer

B Tier

• Cindershot
• CQS48 Bulldog
• Heatwave
• Hydra
• Plasma Pistol
• Ravager
• Stalker Rifle

C Tier

• Disruptor
• Mangler
• Pulse Carbine

The fact that so many of Halo Infinite's weapons are in the S and A tiers here is a compliment to 343 Industries'? balancing. Overall, the studio did a solid job making sure the game's armory feels fun and powerful, yet rarely overpowered. This isn't to say that weapons in the B and C tiers can't be well-utilized by skilled players. Still, the average gamer will likely have a tougher time trying to dominate multiplayer lobbies while using them.

With Halo Infinite still receiving updates years after its launch, even more weapons may be added in the future. The M392 Bandit is the most recent addition to th??e game, arriving in early 2023.

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Halo Infinite's campaign is arguably the best in years. Plenty would have it down as 343 Industries' best effort to date. It was the game that took the franchise's single-player in a bold new direction, embracing an open-world campaign for the first time. It was an interesting experiment, one that makes Halo Infinite one of the most unique games in the series.

In this open worl??d set on Installation 07, players can still complete a series of traditional campaign missions. These are separated by area, so once you've finished one location, you must move to the next to unlock the next set of missions.

Halo Infinite Campaign Missions Tier List

Halo Infinite features a total of 16 campaign missions spread across seven different areas. Despite the big change in approach, this still very much feels like a Halo campaign. You've got Master Chief facing hordes of Covenant (now the Banished) - what more could you want? Halo Infinite's campaign missions feel like a love letter to the franchise. You have levels like The Road, which feels like a vehicle mission pulled straight from the previous games in the series. Then, there are missions like Pelican D??own, which creates a sense of urgency unlike anything else.

Most importantly, Halo Infinite doesn't forget to make its campaign missions fun. You can hit the right notes to recreate that classic Halo feeling all you want, but if it isn't actually fun to play, then it doesn't matter. Our Tier List here considers the fun factor above all else. S Tier missions are the cream of the crop, the levels you can replay 10 times over and have a blast. Moving down, C Tier levels are the ones you finish begrudgingly during repeat playthroughs, sighing deeply as you wait for the good stuff. Luckily, Halo Infinite doesn't have too much of that kind of thing.

S Tier

• House of Reckoning
• Pelican Down
• The Road
• The Tower

A Tier

• Conservatory
• Repository
• Silent Auditorium
• The Command Spire
• Warship Gbraakon

B Tier

• Excavation Site
• Foundation
• Nexus
• Outpost Tremonius
• The Sequence

C Tier

• Recovery
• Spire

Halo Infinite Campaign Side Missions Tier List

With Halo Infinite taking a more open-world approach, 343 Industries?? was able to add side missions to the franchise's mainline games for the first time ever. Love or hate these side missions, you can't deny they were a fun change of pac??e from the main campaign.

All of the seven side missions in Halo Infinite involve liberating some Banished outposts, although the objectives change each time. It's got a hint of the Ubisoft formula about it, but it works well in Infinite's sandbox. The game is at its best when chaos reigns, and these side missions provi??de that in spades.

S Tier

• Forge of Teash
• Ransom Keep

A Tier

• Annex Ridge
• Armory of Reckoning
• Redoubt of Sundering

B Tier

• Horn of Abolition

C Tier

• Riven Gate

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Blood Gulch. Lockout. Guardian. All standout maps that you might remember from the Halo series in years gone by. The franchise has a deep history of producing iconic multiplayer battlegrounds, and Halo Infinite is no different.

37 multiplayer maps populate Halo Infinite's multiplayer offerings, and our Tier List aims to rank them one by one. Arena maps, Big Team Battle maps,?? and Forge canvases each have their own Tier List, as they're too different to compare against one another.

Halo Infinite Arena Maps Tier List

Arena maps are Halo Infinite's bread and butter. 4v4 gameplay across modes like Slayer, King of the Hill, and Capture the Flag. This is Halo's DNA, the reason players return over two decades since the franchise made its debut. Luckily, Infinite has some great a??rena maps that ar??e an absolute blast to play.

Our ranking of Halo Infinite's arena maps is largely based on how fun they are. Ultimately, that's why you play the game, right? We've also slightly considered aesthetics, too. When you think back to legendary Halo maps from previous titles, each one has a strong visual style that's easy to rem?emb?er. It's a small consideration, but an important one.

S Tier

• Bazaar
• Empyrean
• Live Fire
• Recharge

A Tier

• Aquarius
• Behemoth
• Chasm
• Forest
• House of Reckoning
• Prism
• Streets

B Tier

• Catalyst
• Elevation
• Forbidden
• Illusion
• Interference
• Launch Site
• Solitude

C Tier

• Argyle
• Cliffhanger
• Corrosion
• Detachment
• Dredge

Halo Infinite Big Team Battle Maps Tier List

Halo Infinite features six maps made exclusively for the Big Team Battle game mode. These maps are made for 12v12 action, featuring vehicle-heavy gameplay. Jump in a Warthog with some friends and cause mayhem - that's what Halo is al?l about, and that's what Big Team Battle provides.

When ranking Halo Infinite's Big Team Battle maps, we're not just considering how fun it is to play. We're also considering how well they fit the game mode. After all, what good is? Big Team Battle if you can't cause a bit of vehicular chaos?

S Tier

• Oasis

A Tier

• Fragmentation
• Scarr

B Tier

• Deadlock
• Highpower

C Tier

• Breaker

Halo Infinite Forge Canvas Maps Tier List

Halo Infinite's Forge mode is the most powerful version of the iconic map creator to date. It's hard to believe how far it has come since the Halo 3 days. From requiring the use of glitches to make items float bac?k in the day, to in-depth scripting in the most recent iteration of the game mode.

Eight Halo Infinite maps exist entirely as Forge mode canvases. While not fun by themselves, they serve as a way to create completely new maps, with each hav?ing its own unique theme. Since we can't rank by fun factor, we're going purely by aesthetics and versatility here.

S Tier

• Permafrost
• Void

A Tier

• Barrage
• Ecliptic

B Tier

• Institute
• Mires

C Tier

• Arid
• Seafloor

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Halo Infinite launched to critical acclaim only to end up faltering as its post-launch content plan went further along, but that's not to say it's been a total wash. The upgraded Forge mode, for example, is pretty darn good, and it's getting better still wi?th the new audio update.

There's a lot of goodness packed into Halo Infinite's next big Forge Mode update, but the most notable highlight of it all is most certainly the fact that the update includes over one thousand voice lines created by the legendary Halo announcer Jeff Steitzer. Other highlights include the availability of Halo Infinite's campaign music in Forge Mode, as well as the overhaul of the UI? navigational markers.

Halo Forge is getting a massive audio update soon

The titular audio update (and the new Operation) are both slated to launch on July 30, as per the latest Halo Waypoint blog post, and the general theme of it is that it's supposed to add even more value, customization, and functionality to what is already an incredibly powerful custom content mode. Since Steitzer himself has been a huge part of the core Halo multiplayer experience from day one, having over a thousand of his lines ready to go at a moment's notice is going to be a huge deal for the Forge's audio roster, and should allow talented content creators to leverage them in previo??usly impossible ways.

"Implementing [Jeff Steitzer's lines] these into your modes and experiences will add just that extra layer of authenticity, immersing you further into custom experiences that will feel like they’re dev-made—or perhaps you just want to have fun with these lines being at your disposal and go for maximum silliness," says the blog post. Some examples include the wacky out-of-place entries, like "Extra crispy!" and ??"Unfrigginbelieveable!," which are really neat.

The new audio is really just the tip of the iceberg, though, as the July 30th update is all about empowering content creators in every way that matters: from new visual armor effects to custom mini-game variants, Forge Mode is bound to be a way more customizable playground tha?n it's ever been before after the update is out. Steitzer's lines are just there to spice things up as we go, really.

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After a long PvE content lull, Halo Infinite is getting an injection of some much-needed Firefight-esque action. Courtesy of the Forge Falcons, a community-led group of Forge gurus who focus on creating unique experiences using the robust toolset found in game, players are being treated to two weeks of, essentially, Halo: Zombies, called Survive the Undead.

A blog post over on Halo Waypoint details the new experience as a battle of attrition with a simple objective: survive. If that sounds familiar, you're probably the target audience for this sort of thing. Players will earn points by slaying "zombies," which can then be spent in typical Call of Duty: Zombies fashion on upgrades, perks, or a "mystery box." It could contain anythi??ng, even upgrades or perks!

It should be noted that while this mode will appear in matchmaking through the Combat Workshop for two weeks (from now? until June 4), it isn't an official game type, but rather a 343-sanctioned community Forge mode. What I mean by this is, expect some quirks, like the blog post's warning that "while waiting to respawn, make sure you wiggle your sticks to keep from getting kicked from inactivity."

Still, the Forge Falcons have been cooking up unique Halo: Infinite experiences for quite a while, including their own twist on a Battle Royale, so it's nice to see 343 giving them some well-deserved time in the spotlight. As for what this will do for Halo: Infinite's steady but somewhat languishing player count remains to be seen, but hopefully it'll spark more interest in additional PvE experiences. Since King of the Hill Fi?refight launched last December, we haven't seen so much as a whiff of another game type of its kind from the developers themselves.

The post Halo Infinite get??s a Zom?bies-style mode, courtesy of Forge creators appeared first on Destructoid.

Xbox Game Pass is like walking into ??a candy store. There are so many different? options to choose from when it comes to its game selection, and some of the best games on Xbox Game Pass can be hard to spot. Every month more quality titles are added and at the end of the day the service has quickly become one of the best value subscriptions in video games.

Some need acquired tastes like liquorice (Dordogne), while many others will enjoy a beloved, comfortable chocolate bar (Minecraft). However, there's a good chance yo?u'll find something to sate your palette in Microsoft's roll??ing digital library. Here are the 13 best games on Xbox Game Pass right now.

[Updated: November 2024]

Best Xbox Game Pass Games on Xbox and PC

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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Dead Island 2 - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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Stellaris - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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Inscryption - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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Age of Mythology: Retold - PC, Xbox Series X|S

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Octopath Traveler 2 - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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No Man's Sky - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

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Tales of Arise - PC, Xbox Series X|S

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Those seeking adventure should look towards The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This (take a deep breath) 12-year-old game (breathe out) still has a fervent fanbase, and is still played to this day for good reason. There are many weapons, armor, spells, and even dragon shouts?? to find across the open world. There are also branching side quests that in and of themselves have deep, fascinating stories and character?s behind them. You should take an arrow in the knee in this game and explore the grand landscapes of Skyrim with Xbox Game Pass. The Special Edition also comes with all of the DLC.

Halo Infinite - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

In my opinion, Halo Infinite gets way too much flak. This entry was my first step into the series, and I was floored by this sci-fi experience. Each weapon in Master Chief's arsenal feels powerful, but in the frantic first-person shooter levels, you're scrounging for whatever you can find, adding to the? tension of b??attle. Finding improved weapons from the tough bosses you kill in the open world is gratifying, and the world itself truly grabbed me. The storyline with Master Chief saving the UNSC and the world on the brink is also thrilling to experience. The multiplayer, to me, feels dated with tired map design and modes, but the single-player campaign is the main attraction.

Hi-Fi Rush - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Hi-Fi Rush is one of the best Xbox exclusives in years. It combines thrilling action combat with engaging music rhythm gameplay to create a unique melee-focused experience. You play as a unique, clumsy protagonist, trying to save the day from Vandelay Technologies' evil leader. The slapstick is on point, and the script is laugh-out-loud hilarious. The action is also fantastic as you switch between the powers of your allies and string together combos on your foes.  You also can't forget the stand-out music selection in Hi-Fi Rush with ro??ck hits from Nine Inch Nails, The Prodigy, an??d The Black Keys.

Minecraft - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

There's not much else to be said about Minecraft but I'll try my best. It's a worldwide phenomenon for a reason as it allows players to build their own structures, craft their own items, and explore a randomly generated world. Building with your friends is a lot of fun, and many players have created amazing buildings throughout the years like Hogwarts from Harry Potter. Someone even made a working 3D graphing calculator. This game is great for kids, as it lets them show their creative side and figure out how to build materials in the game. Despite existing for over a decade, the game is still getting updates and DLC based on Mega Man X and SpongeBob SquarePants. 

Monster Hunter Rise - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

After many years of struggling to get into the series, Monster Hunter Rise finally ??got me on the saddle. Alongside your friends, you're taking down monstrous beasts, collecting their materials, fur, etc, and then crafting incredible gear for your player. It's a rewarding game loop that keeps you playing for hours ??on end.

There's a strategy to each battle, and you need to keep your wits about you to survive in some of these encounters. Ultimately, it's Monster Hunter's new maneuverability of the wirebugs that lets you zip fr??om place to place like Indiana Jones' whip that really made it click for me. You can also mount your pet palamute, letting you get to the battle quicker. It's one of the best games on Xbox Game Pass because of how gratifying coll?ecting resources and physically seeing your character getting stronger is.

Persona 3 Reload - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Atlus' Persona 3 Reload is a fantastic way to get into the series or continue your love for the JRPG franchise. It's a complete remake of the PS2 gem that some fans argue is the best Persona game. Expect engaging turn-based combat revolving around collecting shadows, a provoking, dark story, and plenty of wonderful characters to meet along the way. The visual improvements are a stand-out with stunning UI and a complete uplift on the same level as Persona 5 Royal.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has?? been out for almost five years now, and I'm still surprised when anyone tells me that they've finished it.

This game’s absolutely massive, taking place in a stunning Greek-inspired open world. You can tell Ubisoft did its research with the spectacular architecture and intriguing culture to be found in the game. Kassandra (one of the two possible playable characters) is one of the best protagonists in the series; she has spunk, charming humor, and an overall badassery that few other Assassin’s Creed heroes can match. The story also takes twists and turns you’ll find fascinating. Oh, and the combat’s thrilling wit??h a deep custo??mization system alongside it.

Dordogne - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

If you’re fatigued from the intense FPS gameplay of most triple-A games, Dordogne is a fantastic palett?e cleanser. This game features a beautiful watercolor-like art style and a compelling narrative that tells the story of a woman’s childhood. It’s charming and adorable, but there’s an element of drama in the backgr??ound that continues to grow as the game proceeds.

You’ll also inter?act with the environment in unique ways. Don’t miss out o??n this French indie game!

Celeste - PC, Xbox One

It's not often that a game truly moves me, but by the end of Celeste, I wept like a baby. Celeste was completely out of my comfort zone. It's a punishing platformer that tests your skills, and typically I don't have? the patience for something like this. However, the challenging gameplay comes hand-in-hand with the storyline. As Madeline, you're trying to overcome your anxiety, and as you climb the mountain, she's pushing herself.

With anxiety and depression myself, this game strongly connected with me like no other did. Also, it will help others understand a foundation of what it's like to deal with symptoms like this daily. You also can't forget about Lena Raine's extraordinary soundtrack for Celeste.

Forza Horizon 5 - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

One of the best driving games available on Xbox Game Pass is Forza Horizon 5. Variety is the spice of life and this is what you get with this Forza title. You're exploring volcanoes, the desert, beaches, Mexican towns, and even wintry mountain landscapes within Forza Horizon 5. There are also many cars to unlock as you complete challenges, earn cash, and get the best times around the open world. If you love outstanding graphics to test on your Xbox Series X or PC, Forza Horizon 5 is a gra?nd tour-de-force to show off your lovely 4K TV.

Best Xbox Game Pass PC Exclusive Games

StarCraft Remastered and StarCraft 2 Campaign - PC Only

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Against the Storm - PC Only

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The post Top 20 best games on Xbox Game Pass right now appeared first on Destructoid.

For those who enjoyed Paramount Plus' Halo series, you're in luck. You can watch all eight episodes of its first season for free on YouTube. Furthermore, the date for the next season might have leaked a bit ?early.

Yeah, you read that correctly. A supposed flagship title for the streaming service, the 2022 series based on Xbox's golden goose is now up on YouTube. There wasn't any official announcement as to why Halo is available.

However, in the description of the e??pisode?s, Paramount might have let the release date for Season 2 slip: February 8. The date was removed, but eagle-eyed viewers like myself found it before it was scrubbed.

Released last year, Halo is a military-action series that loosely adapts the games. I say that since the show, in its first episode, did the unthinkable: they made?? Master Chief take off his helmet. No other media entry has shown John-117's face, so seeing who's underneath was shocking, to say the least.

It took the world by surprise, leading to record numbers for the service for the first episode. Though, a later episode had all of Master Chief's armor taken off for... adult purposes. While it was hit or miss with critics and fans, the show did well enough to be greenlit for a second season. And, as previously mentioned, ??fans won't have to wait that long for its release.

Release the Chief

The timing for the date slip seems a bit convenient given The Game Awards being next week. The ceremony, while focused on games, has had its fair share of adaptation reveals and news. In years past, trailers and clips for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and The Super Mario Bros. Movie came out. Heck, even the first trailer for the show was revealed at the event.

So it wouldn't be surprising to see Halo Season 2 get its trailer debut next Thursday. The show is expected to appear at this weekend's CCXP convention in Brazil, so we may get ?something th??ere. However, the date won't be as big a surprise as they hoped. Still, if the show got a second season, it's clear the team has something special left to show.

The franchise has seen better days, to be frank. Halo Infinite wasn't as big as the team hoped, as delays and multiplayer troubles lessened the game's popularity and impact. It would be cool to see a resurgence of the series and video game adaptations have been great recently if their rival PlayStation's The Last of Us is anything to go by.

Halo stars Pablo Schreiber (Narcos) as Master Chief/John-117 and Jen Taylor (Halo: Combat Evolved) as Cortana, who we got to speak to last year. The supporting cast boasts the likes of Charlie Murphy (Happy Valley), Natascha McElhone (The Truman Show), and Bokeem Woodbine (Spider-Man: Homecoming), just to name a few. So, if you have time to kill, you can watch all the episodes free of charge via this playlist and finish the fight before February 8.

The post Halo Season 1 is?? free to stream on YouTube right now appeared first on Destructoid.

As loyal Halo Infinite multiplayer players have already noticed, there ha??ve been some? big changes made with Season 5.

Though many are positive, such as the ability to mix and match cosmetic items, it's not all milk and honey, as all microtransaction prices have been made more expensive, to boot. This problem has been highlighted by Halo fan and streamer XLR8 over on Twitter, where they expressed their disappointment with how 343 Industrie??s has been handling this particular issue.

"Even as a frequent spender," they said, "lots of stuff simply isn't worth the price [anymore]." For example, the featured Flood-themed Transgressor cosmetics bundle costs the equivalent of $20 for a single set of armor and a universal color scheme. In the seasons prior, $20 would net players two full sets of armor with additional cosmet?ics, several color schemes, and some weapon skins on top of all tha??t.

While Season 5 of multiplayer content may have delivered some key wins for 343 early on, the fact that the studio is bumping up MTX purchase prices is an obvious point of contention for the community, to the point that Halo Infinite's community manager, Brian Jarrard, had to chime in, r?esponding to the issue with ??a direct retort to XLR8.

Why is Halo Infinite increasing shop prices?

According to Jarrard, the reason 343 Industries has chosen to increase microtransaction prices across the board is to reflect the new multi-core customization feature. As players can now mix and match their cosme??tics across different armor cores, 343 believes each disparate cosmetic item is worth more th??an it previously would've been.

"With Season 5, many previously released coatings and all helmets in the game ??were updated to wo??????????????????????????rk on all cores," said Jarrard, explaining that "and those shop offers were adjusted to reflect these changes."

Jarrard also added that players should expect the price increase to be active across the board in due time: "While many S1-S4 offers have been adjusted, I want to be transparent that as more multi-core ??coatings come to bear, there are going to be more past offers that weren't included with the initial S5 adjustments?? that will see updates in the future."

Naturally, anyone who owns any of the affect??ed items from before will be able to continue using them normally in the future, though this entire problem obviously doesn't apply to those players in the first place.

"I understand this isn't necessarily what everyone wants to hear, but I hope this at least helps explain?? what did change and why," concluded Jarrard.

Any discrepancies in item prices, especially those that might now be on sale for amounts of currency that don't make sense considering their previous pricing, are due to these changes. With that in mind, and co?nsidering Jarrard's explanations, it doesn't seem like 343?? Industries will budge on its valuation of MTX items anytime soon.

The post Halo Infi??nite community director exp??lains microtransaction price hike appeared first on Destructoid.

Team will focus on in-game features and fixes

Bad news for Halo lore fans, as developer 343 Industries has confirmed that it will no longer be producing narrative cutscenes for Halo Infinite?? �?The cinematics, which generally drop with each and every new season, will no longer be a part of the update?s from Season 4 onwards.

Speaking on Twitter, 343 community director Brian Jarrard explain?s the decision.

"As we've refined our top priorities and shifted resources internally this year, we had to make the decision to forego seasonal narrative cutscenes to make room for the team to continue focusing on highly requested features, content, and improvements for Halo Infinite," writes Jarrard.

//twitter.com/ske7ch/status/?1??670926893078691841?s=20

"These trade-offs are never easy to make, and we truly appreciate your support as the team works to make Halo Infinite the best experience possible. While the job is far from over, Season 4 marks another big step forward and we remain committed to this journey with the Halo community."

Of course, 343 Industries was one of the Microsoft subsidiaries that was hit by layoffs at the start of the year, which forces the dedicated Halo team to prioritize its manpower and talent on the core elements of the sci-fi shooter. The studio has recently spoken of its aim to improve many areas of Halo Infinite's gameplay, with incoming additions such as a new career rank??ing system and the return of I?nfection Mode, both of which launched this week as part of Season 4's content.

Halo Infinite is available now on Xbox and PC platforms.

The post Narrative cutscene??s to be axed from future Halo Infinite seasons appeared first on Destructoid.

343 just published a blog on the new flavor of the fan-favorite mode

I've experienced many joys throughout my life, but playing Halo in high school and making my own LAN cable is a top 10 moment. When Infection (humans vs. zombies) was introduced to the series, it came close. Now it's coming back in Halo Infinite, and the development team over at 343 Industries has given us a lot of info to chew on while we wait for its return.

What is Infection mode in Halo?

Introduced in Halo 2 and carried on throughout the series (well, until the launch of Infinite), Infection is a two-team mo??de that pits humans against a team of zombies. This quick summation from 343 does a great job of explaining why it was such a hit:

"Everyone starts on one side, as a survivor. Everyone but the single Alpha Infected, that is. If you get killed by the Alpha Infected, you switch sides and become an Infected. It boils down to this: can the survivors survive until the end of the round, as they get whittled down by the Infected? It leads to some awesome, last man standing ‘Get to the chopper�?style moments.�?/p>

It came out near the start of the zombie resurgence in the 2000s, and was a massive hit for the community. Its popularity never truly waned, and it remained a staple of Halo for over a decade.

How and why did it return?

343 notes that a lot of people on the development team "cut their teeth" on the mode as part of the community, and grew up to become Halo developers, so they knew what it meant to Halo fans as a whole. Because of t?hat, some members of the team made it?? a priority to

Curiously, ?there's a narrative aspect ?at play with this new iteration of Infection:

"In t??his iteration of Infection there’s a narrative reason why the Spartans are turning on each other. The Season 3 story left off with the Banished AI Iratus infiltrating the Spartan training simulation and exerting his will to take control. This will be reflected in the appearance of Infected players, as well as new VO reflecting the altered reality."

Ha! I'm getting Mega Man X series Maverick flashbacks here. I really like the idea of leaning heavily into the return of Infection from a lore standpoint, rather than dumping it on playlists and calling it a day. Mechanically things will be a bit different, as weapons spawn "on the b??odies of dead Spartans around the map," wh??ich adds another layer to the moment-to-moment gameplay as you attempt to scavenge your fallen allies.

There will also be nine remixed maps that add little touches to the Infection theme, which include barricades and "new sections" (one example was adding new tunnels to Behemoth).

When does Infection come out for Halo Infinite?

Infection will release at the start of Season 4 on June 20.

Season 4 ??will also introduce more maps, extra equipment, and a career rank syst??em.

The post Here’s how Infection is returning in Halo Infinite appeared first on Destructoid.

It'll be part of Season 4

I remember the very first time I played Infection in Halo 3. Zombies were making a comeback in popular media, and we were just a few years away from The Walking Dead arriving on TV and changing the entire creature-feature landscape for the next decade or so. In case you haven't played it before the concept is simple, and you may have even enjoyed it on the schoolyard playground: there are two teams, one human and one zombie, and the zombies need to infect everyone they can. With a group of friends via lo?cal play, it's complete chaos; and leads to some ?really intense moments and satisfying wins.

But like several aspects of Halo Infinite, it was conspicuously absent both at its December 2021 launch and in the subsequent months since. Well, that changes this summer. Here's the full statement from the official Halo Twitter account, which was accompanied by concept art for the mode:

"Infection returns in Sea?son 4 ☣️ The fight to survive starts on? June 20."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SWLEPaTx4c

The latest episode of the "Spartan Chatter" podcast talks briefly about the mode 52:30 in, noting: "The fan-favorite absolutely sick and terrifying mode of Infection will be launching with Season 4. Yes, Infection is also going live??, it's a signature mode for Season 4...we're super excited for that, expect a full deep dive on that later."

Vague to be sure, but that's ??really all you need. The mode's aim is really easy to convey, and fans know exactly what to expect.

The post Long-awaited Infection mode comes to Halo I??nfinite on June 20 appeared first on Destructoid.

No indication's been given on what's next for the former Halo head

Former Halo Infinite head of creative Joseph Staten is leaving Microsoft. The Halo series veteran is headed for a new adventure, both he? and the comp??any have confirmed.

The news broke via IGN, which reported that the former head of creative would be leaving Microsoft. A Microsoft spokesperson told IGN: "We’re grateful for Jo?seph’s contributions to the Halo franchise and Xbox a??s a whole. We wish him all the best in his new adventure."

Staten took to social media to comment on the report. "Hey folks, I am indeed leaving Microsoft," Staten writes. "I'll have more info t?o share soon, but for now, I'd just like to thank all my [Xbox] colleagues for all their understandin?g and support as I embark on a new adventure."

//twitter.?com/joestaten/status/1644501906126176257

Staten has worked on a considerable chunk of the Halo series. He worked as cinematic director for the first three Halo games, and also worked as lead writer for Destiny at Bungie.

He eventually returned to Microsoft as a senior creative director, eventually taking on a role with 343 Industries. Reports indicated that he had returned to the Xbox publishing side earlier this year, around the same time as major layoffs happened at Microsoft.

I don't know why you say goodbye, I say Halo

Staten's departure is a notable one for Microsoft, especially following other reports around 343 Industries. The future of the franchise can hopefully start to look up at some point, but right now, Halo's in a weird spot.

The rest of Xbox, meanwhile, is gearing up for the summer. A dual showcase, spotlighting both Xbox Games Studios and a Direct specifically for Starfield, is scheduled for June 11. It will be interesting to see what Xbox has p?lanned for the months ahead.

The post Halo veteran Joseph Staten is leaving Microsoft appeared first on Destructoid.

One console, two players

Pretty recently, a new expansion for Powerwash Simulator came out. I liked Powerwash Simulator well enough when I played it back in 2021, but this was the first time I was tempted to dip back in for more. That's because the latest update features locales from Final Fantasy VII, and the game added co-op a little while back. My girlfriend finished the original Final Fantasy VII not too long ago, so I figured this wou??ld be a fun way to spend a few ??hours.

Until I took to Google and discovered that Powerwash Simulator's co-op is online only.

Lately, I've watched this play out with a number of AAA games. Games like Gotham Knights and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were total slogs, not just because of their poor technical optimization and bizarre design choices, but because I knew that I could have had more fun if I shelled out an extra $300-600 to play them with my partner. Both of those games heavily touted their co-op offerings in marketing, but neither of them offered anything for folks in the same room. Halo Infinite, a game I loved, would have been that much better if I could've roped in a friend wi??thout telling them to burn money on a new console? or PC.

Where did the couch go?

I've always been a local multiplayer kind of person. My earliest exposure to video games was a Wii my parents bought to force family bonding. Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart are good online, but I'll usually only break them out when I have people over. I don't have anything against online gaming (it got me through lockdown, and any friend of mine will tell you how often I pester them about playing Final Fantasy XIV with me), but I love local multiplayer.

[caption id="attachment_361397" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

I especially adore local co-op. If I'm working with someone else towards a goal, I want to be with that person physically. Having the option for onli??ne play is always welcome, but if I can conceivably play the same game as my companion, in the same room and on the same screen, I'll always take that option. I recognize that games are constantly getting bigger, and it's getting harder and harder to justify rendering the same things twice at the same time just to satisfy an increasingly small group that cares about this kind of thing.

But for me, there's simply no energy quite like the energy shared between two (or more) people in one room sharing an experience. It's the difference between calling a friend and goin??g out for dinner—sure, you'll find out what they've been up to either way, but sometimes you want to be in that space, sharing that expe?rience together.

So as franchises like Halo, which was once known for its split-screen co-op, shy aw??ay from the couch-sharing experience, I can't help but feel a little sad.

Quiet revival

Blessedly, local multiplayer is down but not out. It's becoming more and more sparse in the AAA space, but indies have kept the dream alive admirably. Spelunky 2 retained the local mayhem found in the 2013 not-quite-original, and the Overcooked series has built its identity around intense, frantic same-screen sessions. It Takes Two recently became the only indie game in the history of?? the Game Awards to take home the GOTY prize, in large part because of its local co-op offerings.

[caption id="attachment_365200" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

There are also still a few studios in the AAA space preserving the local multiplayer experience. Nintendo has been ruthlessly committed to keeping local co-op offerings available on the Nintendo Switch, a platform that initially sold itself, at least in part, on its two in-built controllers. Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an absolutely perfect local experience, and the more recent Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe bumps the player count from two to four. Outside of Nintendo, Diablo 4 is slated to follow in its immediate predecessor's footsteps with a couch co-op mode. The most recent crop of Borderlands games offers loc?al play on consoles as well.?? The scene isn't thriving, necessarily, but it is surviving.

All of these games also have online offerings, and that's a great thing. Not everybody lives near the people they want to spelunk with, and I will always advocate for better online options. But all of these games also recognize that there is a good reason for players to want to be near each other physically. Video games can be an isolating hobby, but they also have the capacity, as a medium, to force people together. I wish more games took advantage of that inherent strength ?of the format, but for now, I'm simply glad that there's still space for that kind of game somewhere.

The post I love you, couch co-op appeared first on Destructoid.

Halo head of live performance says the team is going to be more consistent

A big new update for Halo Infinite is out today as Season 3: Echoes Within is now live. The latest Season for Halo h?as maps, a new mode, a new weapon and piece of equipment, and of course, a?? new seasonal pass.

First off for Season 3: Echoes Within in Halo Infinite is the new map drop. Two new arena maps, Chasm and Cliffhanger, have been added to the pool. Cliffhanger has a cross-map man cannon, letting you live your most daring lives as a multiplayer Spartan, while Chasm is a smaller space with lots of Forerunner a?rchitecture.

Over on the Big Team Battle front is a third new map, dubbed Oasis. In an interview on the Xbox Wire, Halo Infinite head of live performance Sean Baron draws a comparison to Halo 3's Standoff. It's a big map with lanes fo?r vehicle combat, but als??o indoor space.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3K-SCCkWBQ

That escalated quickly

Halo Infinite also gets its version of the classic "gun game" mode, dubbed Escalation Slayer. Everyone starts with the SPNKR and ends with the Oddball, but in-between, there are 11 total levels of weapons to work through. Whichever team gets the Oddball kill wins. Additionally, the secon??dary and equipment options change up every time.

On the equipment side, Spartans can use the Shroud Screen, a new piece of equipment that's like a space-age smoke bomb. And then there's the M392 Bandit Rifle, a new semi-automatic kinetic weapon. Baron says the team wanted to create something akin to Halo 5's Magnum, in terms of timing and damage.

A new Battle Pass and two new Armor Cores are live as well, so there's more content to complete. It does seem like those sticking with Halo Infinite sho?uld find some new goals to chase he??re, including two free narrative events.

//twitter.com/Halo/status/1633196212907302914

Consistency

The update cadence for Halo Infinite has been somewhat staggered, as 343 Industries has responded to both shifts in development priorities and personnel shake-ups. With that in mind, the Xbox Wire interview with Baron closes on a note look??ing forward, specifically i??n regards to what he calls "seasonality," or consistency.

"To me, seasonality is really about consistency �?we need to be consistent in everything," Baron said. "I feel very confident with where we’ve gone with Season 3, and I have very strong confidence that we’re going to be able to keep improving that consistency, and avoid, completel?y, the long seasons of the past. We’re going to be more consistent. We’re going to continue to evolve the game in close partnership with our players. We’re focused on shipping Season 3 and then, as Chief said, we’re ‘[r]eady to get back to work.'"

With recent reports of Halo Infinite development shifting gears again, I'm interested to see what this consistency looks like. Despite the rocky road, I still boot Infinite up every once in a bl??ue moon for some BTB or SWAT, and those mu??ltiplayer nights have me hopeful 343 can turn the conversation around.

The post ??Halo Infinite Season 3 is live now, wit??h new maps and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Halo studio reportedly heavily affected by Microsoft layoffs

Halo Infinite developer 343 Industries looks set to stay working on the Halo franchise. But a new report details some big internal shifts at the company, including layoffs and a change in engine. All the while, the studio seems to not be actively working on any new story content for Infinite itself.

Bloomberg reports that 343 Industries will continue to work on Halo. This is in line with a statement from studio head Pierre Hintze, which said 343 will develop Halo now and in the future.

But while the franchise is staying with the studio, Bloomberg's article suggests that at least 95 people at 343 Industries lost their jobs as part of the recent Microsoft layoffs. This list, according to a spreadsheet seen by the o??utlet, contained names of staff ve?terans and contractors alike.

Internally, Bloomberg reports that the head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty assured 343 that, even as it works with partners and outsourcing houses, the studio will stay in charge. But shifts seem to be on the way for Halo, too, as the report suggests that 343 made the decision to pivot away from its Slip??space engine and towards Unreal Engine last year, after Hintze took ove?r.

The engine switch will reportedly take hold with a game code named Tatanka, in development with Certain Affinity. This project apparently started as a battle royale but may evolve elsewhere, according to Bloomberg's sources. 343 is also apparently not actively working on new? story content.

The future of Halo

343 Industries was already reported to be amon??????????????????????????g those Xbox studios affected by the Microsoft layoffs, alongside Bethesda and The Coalition, but seeing an actual number puts the situation in stark relief.

A switch to Unreal, as Bloomberg's report indicates, raises hopes that development will be easier on future projects. Still, with several major shifts all happening, 343 Industries sounds like it's starting back from square one. For Halo fans, hopefully, the studio rallies from it.

The post 343 Industries reportedly isn’t working on more story content for Halo Infinite appeared first on Destructoid.

Double-stuffed with cosmetics

A ne??w crossover is bringing some Oreos flavor to games. Xbox and Oreos are teaming up for a special-edition cookie design, with both a change in the cookie and some in-game cosmetics for several Xbox games.

The promotion is taking place in 22 countries, which Xbox specifies as Europe only. Sorry to any North American fans or other regions looking to get the special co??okies.

These specific cookies will feature the Xbox logo and the A, B, X, Y button layout, as well as a directional arrow. By scanning the cookies and cracking the combination, players can unlock prizes for games. Entering the symbols in the correct sequence will unlock special, exclusive Oreo-themed content for games like Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, and Sea of Thieves.

[caption id="attachment_357256" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Xbox[/caption]

The codes are meant to be inspired by cheat codes hidden in games throughout history. That does make me curious if a Konami code input is hiding somewhere in all those Oreo cookies.

The special cookies are expected to be available in participating regions this month, and available while stocks last. If you want to participate, you can visit the Oreo site and check here to see if your country is taking p??art. (Reminder, this is a Europe-only event.)

Funnily enough, Oreos have tied into video games before now in some fun ways. The Pokemon limited edition Oreos bore the likenesses of some of the series' most well-remembered Pokemon. But this one, letting?? you discern special cheat codes from the cookies thems??elves? Well, that's pretty neat. At least until you eat the cookies before remembering to check the symbols.

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A movie star, a priest, and Master Chief walk into a bar...

The year is coming to a close, and so it's time to look back at what 2022 held, particularly for Xbox fans. Microsoft had a seemingly quiet y??ear, but this year's nomine?es for Destructoid's best-in-class Xbox games spoke volumes.

As a reminder, our awards season here at Destructoid runs December-to-December. So while Halo Infinite wasn't eligible last year, it is this year, and it's likely better off for it. While 343 Industries' FPS struggled right out of the gate, a series of updates have been gradually turning the narrative around. The recent Forge beta and quality-of-life improvements are starting to make Infinite feel a bit more like what folk??s might have hoped for at launch, and so it's wo?rth noting that.

Obsidian wound up being the standard-bearer for Microsoft's first-party efforts in 2022, with not one but two games making our nominations. The first, Grounded, launched out of Early Access, and those at the site who checked it out really dug Obsidian's take on co-op survival in a backyard world. Pentiment, meanwhile, is a passion project with some stellar art, direction, and writing. It captures life in the 16th century through a thrilling, emotional tale of art and legacy.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyMlV5_HRWk

Of course, Xbox these days isn't just about the first-party offerings. Xbox Game Pass had some stellar games arrive on the service, and the rest of our list shows that, as they've all been on Xbox Game Pass this year. We start with Nobody Saves the World, an early 2022 hit from Guacamelee developer Drinkb?ox that we dug and didn't want to see fall out of our collective recollection come GOTY season. It's colorful, inventive, and its transformations are a blast to mix and match.

Tunic barely needs an introduction, as it seemed to capture many hearts and minds over the last few years. Underneath a cute action game was a FEZ-li??ke puzzle waiting to be solved. I also just like a game that has a manual in it, okay?

The latest from Sam Barlow and the Half Mermaid crew, Immortality, is one of the more innovative games on this list. The way it turned racking and reeling footage, like ?you were using an old film machine, to tell a spooky and resonant story about creation and art has stuck with me, months after I rolled credits. It's also, in my humble opinion, a game you ab??solutely have to play using a controller.

The many, many rodents of A Plague Tale: Requiem close out our Xbox ballot. It's a gorgeous, emotional adventure, and as our review details, it shows how Asobo Studio has found a strong beat in this tale of two beleaguered siblings. Check out the official ballot below, and come back later this m??onth to see who takes the top?? prize.

Here are the nominees for Destructoid’s Best Xbox Game of 2022:

• Grounded
• Halo Infinite
• Nobody Saves the World
• Pentiment
• Tunic
• Immortality
• A Plague Tale: Requiem

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Browse custom games like it's the early aughts

The Halo Infinite December update is out now, and 343 Industries has added quite a bit. Alongside some shifts to cosmetics and the return of a map, Halo Infinite now also has a custom game browser.

The latest update allows players to flip through available custom games, looking for one they might want to hop into and play. The Halo Infinite browse??r has filters for different options, incl??uding the base map and mode being used.

And as the trailer advertises, there are already some solid custom game creations out there. They range from recreations to some pretty neat ideas ?like Paintball, and the browser should hopefully make them easier to find.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTjL_AMaWns

Falling back into The Pit

Some other additions arrive in the December Update, too. All armor cores and cadet coatings are now free. And Halo 3's The Pit returns as Empyrean, which is less fun as a name in my opinion, but still looks li??ke the same ol' Pit I've played plenty of matches on.

The custom game browser is really the major addition here though, as it really builds out the Forge component of Halo Infinite. Forge hit beta in November, and now discoverability for those modes is th??at much easier.

I frequently get very nostalgic about the days of custom game browsing. Whether it was Halo or something like Warcraft, the server browser was a place where I discovered a lot of cool, fun, inventive ways to reimagine a game ?I enjoy.

Hopefully, this custom game browser gives Halo Infinite a good boost headed into the new year. With the Forge filling out and network campaign co-op finally in, Halo Infinite may start to look more like some fan?s hoped it would.

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Network campaign co-op and campaign mission replays are among what's added

I enjoyed Halo Infinite at launch, but there was a lot that was promised that needed to eventually make it in. It seems as if this November update is going to make due on a lot of prior delays.

Here are the main sticking points of the Halo Infinite 2022 November Patch:

• Network campaign co-op (four player co-op in the campaign)
• Campaign mission replay (this seems like a launch type feature, but it's here now)
• More campaign achievements (420 additional Gamerscore)
• Forge mode (in beta form)
• Season pass progression updates (more of a focus on match XP)
• A 30-tier winter battle pass is live

Studio 343 explains that you can play the "entire Halo Infinite campaign together" with up to four players in total, so it doesn't seem like a half-measure. As for the Forge, 343 stresses that it's in beta form: "Halo Infinite Forge mode is currently in a beta state, meaning that additional improvements are planned. The Forge Beta will support canvas maps and not developer-made maps (such as Live Fire, Recharge, Fragmentation,?? etc.). Support for developer-made maps will be implemented in a future update."

Weirdly, 343 still hasn't figured out battle pass progression yet, and will be implementing a "match XP beta"? (what?) on top of the challenge system.

Here's a brief look at the changes to Halo Infinite's XP progression system:

• Arena Match Complete: 150 XP
• Big Team Battle (BTB) Match Complete: 250 XP
• Featured Match Complete: 200 XP
• Winning Team: 50 XP
• Match MVP: 50 XP
• Top 50% of Team: 50 XP
• Free-For-All placement
  • 1st: 150 XP
  • 2nd: 100 XP
  • 3rd: 50 XP
  • 4th: 50 XP
  • 5th: 50 XP

If you can believe it, pr??ogression systems in live service games that have been in operation for nearly a year need bet?as.

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The longtime Halo lead is leaving due to a family medical issue

343 Industries founder and lead Bonnie Ross is leaving the Halo Infinite studi??o. After 15 years leading 343 at Microsoft, Ross has officially confir??med her departure.

The studio head has said she will be leaving the company to attend to a family medical issu?e.

Here's the statement in full, via social media:

While I had hoped to stay with Halo until we released the Winter Update, I am letting you know I will be leaving? 343 and attending to a family medical issue.

I am incredibly proud of the work everyone at 343 Industries has done with Halo Infinite, the Master Chief Collection, the Halo television series and so much more. It has been an honor to serve alongside the team?? for the last 15 years and to be a part of a universe I love.

Thank you to everyone in the Halo community for your support. Halo's future is bright. I cannot wait for all of you to experience what we have in store - and to cheer alongside you, as a fan, at the Halo World Championship in October!

Axios,

Bonnie Ross

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyMlV5_HRWk

The Halo rolls on

Ross has a long legacy at Microsoft, having worked on a number of franchises over the years leading up to 343 Industries. She helped found the new studio 343 Industries in 2007. Under her leadership, 343 released The Master Chief Collection, an initially rough launch that managed to right the ship and become quite a ??stellar collection.

With Halo Infinite experiencing similar pains now, it will be interesting to see how 343 forges ahead. According to a statement via Windows Central, Pierre Hintze will immediately step in ?as studio hea??d. Bryan Koski will take on the role of GM of Franchise. Elizabeth Van Wyck steps in to oversee business and operations.

With a Winter Update coming soon and more on the horizon, there's still more to do for Halo Infinite.

_{Lead image via Xbox}

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343 Industries is shifting the roadmap for Halo Infinite ahead

Halo Infinite developer 343 Industries has released a new roadmap update today, outlining the roadmap ahead for the latest Halo. While features like Forge are coming into focus, others are falling behin???d.

The next major update for Halo Infinite will arrive on November 8. Dubbed the Winter Update, this will include the campaign network co-op and mission replay previously targeted for late August. It will also include a beta version of the Forge, Halo's map creation tool.

The Winter Update will also include a shorter, 30-tier Battle Pass and two new maps, Detachment and Argyle. A new beta for Match XP will roll out, the Covert One Flag mode will be added, and events will be hosted in December?? and January. This season will run thr?ough March 7, which is when Season 3 will debut.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ramqlt7vxJ8

In today's Dev Update video, 343 head of creative Joseph Staten and head of Halo Infinite live service Sean Baron discuss the plans ahead for the FPS. And as the team focuses on other areas, one aspect is being taken off the table. While network campaign co-op is set to arrive in November, 343 has decided to not ship split-screen campaign co-op for Infinite.

Infinite horizon

Season 3, meant to arrive on March 7, will?? include a full 100-tier Battle Pass, a new weapon and equipment, and new maps for Arena and Big Team Battle. In-game reporting, VIP and Escalation modes, a custom game browser, and a new narrative event are all set for that season as well.

Campaign co-op has been an elusive addition for Halo Infinite. The feature has been delayed several times over, as has Forge. And while the networked version will finally be arriving soon, seeing the split-screen version get cut is a bummer. It's how, I'm sure, many folks first played co-op Halo. But hopefully the shift in resources helps Halo Infinite get on a better release track overall.

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You can finally play the campaign together again

The campaign co-op network test for Halo Infinite is right around the corner. 343 Industries confirms today that a test period for online campaign co-op in Halo Infinite will run from July 11 through 22.

Previously announced as arriving this month, 343 confirms the test will run for that period of time for Ins?iders. There's another fea??ture on the way, too.

In a Halo Waypoint blog, the studio also confirms Mission Replay will arrive alongside the network campaign co-op update. This will let players replay old missions right from the Tac-Map. Halo Infinite lead world designer John Mulkey cites the open nature of Infinite causing problems for this initially, but the update will let Solo or Co-Op players select any completed mission, alongside difficulty and Skulls. Spartan?? Cores will also carry over.

If you want to participate in the flighting, you'll need to head over and sign up to be a Halo Insider on 343's site. Otherwise, you'll just need to make sure you own Halo Infinite (or have an active Game Pass sub), and have the Xbox Insider app downloaded if you're on Xbox. Steam players will get a unique key via the Halo Insider?? team. Crossplay is supported, too.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyMlV5_HRWk

Ain't no party like a party full of Master Chiefs

The Halo Infinite also answers a few more burning questions about the network campaign co-op test, like what each player will look like. In previous Halo games, co-op had different players appear as different Spartans, or even Covenant Elites. In others, you are all Master Chiefs or Arbiters. Mulkey says that in Halo Infinite, everyone is Chief while playing Campaign Co-Op.

Part of the flight program means that players will need to start from scratch, though. You won't be able to carry save data from a regular version of Halo Infinite into or out of the test. All progress in the campaign will carry over though, so you can keep all of it intact. There is also an Area-Of-Operations limit, so play?ers can split up and tackle missions from diff?erent angles, but not necessarily run to opposite ends of the Zeta Halo.

Campaign co-op has been a long sought-after feature for Halo Infinite s??ince its launch last year, so to see it finally start to roll out is nice. Finally, we'll get to see what four Master Chiefs grappling and blasting across the open-world can look like. The flight starts on July 11.

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You could help test the long-awaited online campaign co-op

Halo fans who have been waiting for Infinite to get some campaign co-op might not have to wait much longer. 343 Industries announced its going to test out online Halo Infinite campaign co-op in July.

The test flight will be for Halo insiders, 343's program for experimenting and getting feedback on Halo games. These public flights offer a chance to test things out, stress?? them a bit, and provide some fee??dback to the team.

If you're hoping to get some network co-op in, you're able to sign up for the program here on the Halo Waypoint.

//twitter.com/Halo/status/1534233991972257792

Keep in mind, this is just the insider test that's rolling out in July. 343 Industries is still targeting later this year for the official launch?? of campaign co-op. And note that that's network campaign co-op, too, so no split-sc??reen just yet.

Carrying on the fight

Campaign co-op has been an elusive addition for Halo Infinite. First it slipped the launch window, then was pushed into 2022, and now it seems to be aiming for an August launch.

The Forge, Halo's extensive custom map and content creation tool, has also been pushed back a fe??w times as well. At least with test flighting on the way for c??o-op, odds seem good that 343 Industries is closing in on a launch.

That might help 343 set a better tone for Halo Infinite moving forward too. The post-launch rollout has had some bumps, with the team acknowledging a "bumpy start" to Halo Infinite Season 2 last month.

Campaign co-op and the Halo series are synonymous for me, so it's safe to say that the full launch of online campaign co-op would definitely get me to boot Infinite back up. The latest Halo has been something I enjoy going back to every couple of months for a few quick matches of Team Slayer and Big Team Battle, but I'd love to see 343 finally roll out the heavy hitte?rs it's been working on.

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The second season of Halo Infinite has had some stumbles out of the gate

The newest season of Halo Infinite multiplayer is having a rough start. And in response to already mounting feedback, the Halo Infinite devs say they're reviewing options int??ernally to address the issues players have with Season 2.

Season 2, dubbed "Lone Wolves," adds some new maps, modes, playlists, and more to the lineup for Halo Infinite. There's also a new battle pass which, adhering to Halo Infinite's structure,?? is permanen?tly open for unlocks and progression.

The launch didn't go smoothly, though. Last Spartan Standing, a new game mode, is a pretty neat idea, but challenges weren't accurately tracking. An unintentional glitch was causing weapons to "jam," an issue they're working on now. And players have had issues with both multiplayer movement tech and single-player speedrun tactics getting patched.

Joseph Staten, the head of creative at 343 Industries, addressed the feedback on Twitter:

"Hey Spartans, this week has been bumpy. That definitely wasn't our goal. We are indeed taking your feedback to heart, especially?? regarding map jumps and speedrunning. We're reviewing options and will have more news to come."

Sr. Community Manager John Junyszek, meanwhile, addressed some of the specifics. Last Spartan Standing should be tracking more accurately for the Interference event, and anyone who logs in during the event will get five XP Boosts and five Challenge Swaps. The difficulty of some Event Challenges are also being lowered next week, and completing them will earn two levels on the Event Pass. Junyszek also addresses the issues with multiplayer jumps and spe??edrun strategies, saying they're taking feedbac?k seriously and internally reviewing options.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=o69uckS2jlU

Lone wolves

The second season of Halo Infinite has, much like its preceding season, struggled to get off on the right foot, it seems. Though I've seen some folks happy with new maps and modes, lingering frustrations with the aforementioned systems ??still exist.

Halo Infinite is still due to receive a co-op campaign mode and Forge somewhere down the line. To 343's credit, they're at least working to right the ship still. Hopefully it'?s sooner rather than later.

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As previously confirmed, it won't arrive with season 2

Halo Infinite campaign co-op will be arriving in August, a new 343 Industries blog update has fully??? confirmed.

The news comes directly following the? acknowledgment that the gametype ??would not make it in for season 2's launch, but now we have a more clear window in mind. Interestingly, the developer didn't elaborate too much on the exact details of co-op play, other than s?aying "it's being worked on.??"

The soft August confirmation was mostly done by a 2022 roadmap image actually, and it's a "late August target" at that. Breaking it down, that's "end of August, possibly September" we're looking at, which is a "target." That target can still move! Maybe we'll get Halo Infinite campaign co-op in time for Christmas/??winter break. That includes the "campaign mission replay" mechanic too, also slated for "late August," followed by a Forge mode open beta in September (all targets).

In the near future, the new Catalyst (Arena) and Breaker (big team battle) maps are coming when season 2 arrives on May 3, with the interference alpha pack arrive?? twice throughout the season as a "narrative event." The new 100-tier battle pass will trigger during season 2, and the "Fracture: Entrenched" even runs from May 24 through May 30.

Season 2 will run t??hrough November 7, so those aforementioned targets can actu??ally fall that far back and still technically allow 343 to launch co-op in "season 2."

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Gimme a Break(er)

Halo Infinite Season 2 arrives on May 3, and with it, two new maps for multiplayer. T??oday, 343 Industries put out a trailer showing off the sights and sounds of the two maps arriving this season: Breaker and Catalyst.

The first one is Catalyst, an abandoned Forerunner edifice. This feels pretty classic Halo to me, with plenty of sightlines and elevations to play around with. Power weapons are sitting in the open, so they're a calculated risk. And it has all the metallic sheen and glowing blue bridges that make a Halo map feel very Halo.

While Catalyst is the Arena map, Big Team Battle fans will be headed to Breaker. This Banished shipbreaking yard looks pretty open for chaos, given the giant laser moving around in the middle. The jump ramps seem perfectly poised for the comical Warthog leap right into the hull-slicing beam. Of the two maps arriving with Halo Infinite Season 2, I'm definitely into Breaker—but then again, I'm al?so a Big Team Battle player.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD88v-0IKJ0

Lone Wolves

This second season of Halo Infinite, set for May 3, is dubb?ed Lone Wolves. Alongside adding Breaker and Catalyst to the map pool, the new season will also have a new battle pass. That means plenty of new cosmetics to earn and, due to how 343 is handling battle passes, no time limits on when you get them.

While new content is good, there is a downside. 343 Industries has also confirmed that campaign co-op will not be arriving with the launch of Halo Infinite Season 2. The team has said it's aiming to deliver campaign co-op via network play later in the season, while split-screen co-op is still up in the air. The Forge for Halo Infinite, meanwhile, is still due to arrive with Halo Infinite Season 3.

The seasonal updates for Halo Infinite have led to a mixed reception so far. The updates make for good excuses to come back, but big Halo features like co-op and Forge moving back with updates has made it tough for Infinite to stick with me like other Halo games have.

We'll see what the Lone Wolves can do for Halo Infinite when Season 2 launches on May 3.

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