After a year-long wait, Forge has officially been released in Halo Infinite with a [BETA] label. No longer do you need to stare at Twitter for leaks of a cool ass Toy Story remake, a remake of locations from Zelda: Ocarina of Time, or a functioning arcade machine, you can finally make your own creations starting today.

Halo Infinite's Forge is a drastic upgrade from Halo 5: Guardians', introducing brand new features such as object scaling, surface retexturing, in-depth scripting (including AI mesh, so the multiplayer bots can function on your Forge maps) and of course... undo and re-do buttons, which has been a huge community request since 2007 with Halo 3.

343 Industries released a huge four-part video series breaking down the new and updated Forge mode. I'd highly recommend you check it out in your spare time.

A tl;dr for Forge

• New and updated controls

• SIX Forge canvases

• Arid - Desert themed

• Ecliptic - Space themed

• Institute - Grassy themed, location similar to Arena map Live Fire

• Mires - Marshy/wetland themed

• Seafloor - guess...

• Void - a completely blank canvas

• In-depth texture remapping

• Geometry creation

• Updated and revamped scripting, including the Node Graph feature

• Ability to place lighting and audio items

• Updated file sharing, and the addition of a content browser in-game and on Halo Waypoint

• So... much... more

More information can be found over on Halo Waypoint: https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-infinite-forge-fundamentals

Been waiting to continue Master Chief's story with your friends? Now is the time as Campaign Co-Op has finally arrived in Halo Infinite.

Campaign Network Co-operative Play means what it says on the tin - the ability to play co-op campaign with three more of your friends seamlessly. It is worth noting that split-screen co-operative for the Campaign is not being added in this update and has recently been shelved to work on other features.

A big item that 343 Industries has been reiterating with the introduction of co-operative play for the Campaign is that all your unlocks throughout the Campaign will remain, regardless of how far into the Campaign either players are. If you have unlocked various upgrades for your Grapple Hook or gathered some audio logs during your play session and decide to leave and play solo, or play co-op with a different set of players, you will retain your unlocks.

When joining a co-op game, the game will take into account how far into the story each player is and make the latest mission available to play, rather than allowing players to jump directly into the final mission when one player hasn't even started the game. So for example, if you one player had finished the Campaign's final mission - The Silent Auditorium, but another player joined who had yet to finish Outpost Tremonious, an early campaign mission in the game, the next available mission for all players in that session would be Outpost Tremonious.

Another big-ticket item being introduced with the Winter Update is the ability to replay missions and outposts in the Halo Infinite Campaign. This includes the option to replay every single Campaign mission on the fly, as well as the Banished Outposts, HVT's and Forward Operating Bases (FOBs).

There's not much to really say about this one. Want to replay each mission because you enjoyed them, or maybe you missed a few collectables during your initial run of the campaign last year? This one is for you.

With the addition of the Winter Update, Halo Infinite has added 24 NEW achievements, all revolved around Campaign Co-Op and Mission Replay.

• Mix Things Up – Get at least one kill with every available weapon and grenade on the Banished ship. (20G)

• Stick Around – Defeat Tremonius with the Skewer. (20G)

• Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly – Destroy both Phantoms before they leave Outpost Tremonius. (20G)

• Out with a Bang – Kill the Tower commander with a Plasma grenade. (20G)

• Workplace Safety Violation – Kill an enemy with the Banished mining laser. (20G)

• Conservation of Momentum – Complete the Conservatory in less than 15 minutes. (20G)

• It Really Does Beat Everything – Eliminate all enemies at the South Beacon with a Scorpion Tank. (20G)

• Vintage Fisticuffs – In the Nexus, kill the Hunter pair with melee final blows. (20G)

• Spire Stalker – Kill 40 enemies with the Stalker Rifle at the Command Spire. (20G)

• Turnabout is Fair Play – Kill one Chieftain and use his turret to kill another in the Repository. (20G)

• More Than He Bargained For – Defeat War Chief Escharum without ever fully losing your shields. (20G)

• What's Rightfully Ours – In co-op, capture all Forward Operating Bases on any difficulty. (10G)

• Wardens of Zeta – In co-op, complete all seven Banished outposts on any difficulty. (10G)

• First Responders – In co-op, answer all UNSC distress calls on any difficulty. (10G)

• Hunting Party – In co-op, eliminate all Banished High-Value Targets on any difficulty. (20G)

• Air Raid – In co-op, kill 100 enemies while all players are riding air vehicles. (10G)

• Cow Catcher – In co-op, splatter 50 enemies while riding in a vehicle with another player. (10G)

• Gruesome Twosome – In co-op, kill 50 enemies while riding a Mongoose with another player. (10G)

• Keep It Steady – Kill 5 enemies with a Sniper Rifle from a vehicle. All players aboard vehicle share progress. (10G)

• Rolling Thunder – Kill 5 enemies with a Gravity Hammer from a vehicle. All players aboard vehicle share progress. (10G)

• Inseparable – In co-op, kill a Hunter and its bond brother within three seconds of each other. (20G)

• You, Me, Same Page – In co-op, destroy all cooling towers at the Dig Site within 60 seconds of each other. (20G)

• Controlled Demolition – In co-op, destroy four Fuel Silos within five seconds at either Ransom Keep or the Forge of Teash. (20G)

• Wolves at the Doors – In co-op, lower all three gates within 15 seconds of each other at Riven Gate. (20G)

With the introduction of the Winter Update, and with Season 3 being delayed until March 2023, 343 Industries has released a new free and permanent Battle Pass to Halo Infinite, which includes CQB, CQC, Mark V and of course, all the Knife shoulders and attachments you could ever dream of. This also includes unlocking the Mark V Armor Core at Tier 1, for free, for everyone, to ensure you can use these items without the need to purchase the Season 1 Battle Pass, and before cross-core support has released in the future.

Here's a look at the items we probably think you're pretty excited for. There are still more items in the Battle Pass such as emblems, nameplates, additional armor items and everyone's favourite: XP Boosts and Challenge Swaps.

You can see a full breakdown of the Winter Update Battle Pass here.

Since launch, players have been asking for the ability to level up their Battle Pass by simply... playing the game. With the Winter Update, your requests have been answered. Going forward, players will finally be able to progress their Battle Passes without the use of the Challenge system.

In this new system, players will receive XP for the following:

• XP for completing matches

• Additional XP for your performance in the match (this accounts for things like being on the winning team, your end-of-match placement, and more)

With this addition, Challenges are also being modified to have less of a focus when it comes to Battle Pass progression, too. In fact, Challenges will be changed to being playlist agnostic, meaning you will no longer see challenges which require you to enter Tactical Slayer, or Rumble Pit, as an example and instead be replaced with more generic ones such as "Get X kills with Y weapon".

This change will only be for the core set of challenges initially. Event Challenges, such as the ones seen in Fracture: Tenrai and Fracture: Entrenched, will still require you to enter the Event playlist but in the future, this will also be changing.

Another change is the reduction of Challenges required to unlock the Weekly Ultimate Challenge and Item. Starting with the Winter Update, players will only have access to TEN Challenges per week. Once you've completed your final challenge, you will unlock the Weekly Ultimate Challenge. This previously required TWENTY Challenges.

While your overall XP gain from Challenges will be reduced with this change since you will have less per week, the introduction of Match XP will mean you're gaining more XP than ever, at a much faster rate.

Covert One Flag joins Halo Infinite as a unique variant of One Flag CTF. In this round-based mode, attackers and defenders swap sides as they battle for control of a single flag.

Asymmetric team loadouts equip attackers with Active Camo to help sneak their way past enemy defense while defenders possess Threat Sensors to help spot the intruders. The team who wins the majority of rounds wins the match

More information can be found here: https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-infinite-winter-update-maps-mode-preview

Argyle and Detachment are two new Forge maps being added to the game with the Winter Update. Created by the internal teams at 343 Industries, these will be joining the matchmaking map rotation, as well as being made available in Custom Games.

These maps are made entirely out of Forge objects.

For more information on these maps, check out this blog: https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-infinite-winter-update-maps-mode-preview

The Winter Update also brings a whole suite of new sandbox changes to Halo Infinite's Multiplayer. We highly encourage you to read the blog post to get the full breakdown.

Plasma Pistol

• Increased base shot damage from 20 to 28

• Increased charge shot angular velocity from 20 to 35 degrees per second

• Increased charged shot guided angular velocity at rest from 50 to 70 degrees per second

Pulse Carbine

• Increased guided angular velocity at rest from 25 to 35 degrees per second

• Decreased angular velocity from 50 to 30 degrees per second

• Increased targeted leading fraction from 0.35 to 1

• Increased guided projectile error radius from 0.2 to 0.22 degrees

VK78 Commando

• Increased Headshot Prioritization Angle from 0 to 0.1 degrees

• Increased Bullet Magnetism Angle from 1.25 to 1.3 degrees

• Increased Aim Assist Angle from 5 to 6.25 degrees

• Decreased minimum error angle max from 0.8 to 0.6 degrees

BR75

• Headshot Prioritization Angle reduced from 0.25 to 0.2 degrees

• Bullet Magnetism Angle reduced from 2.4 to 2.2 degrees

• Bullet Magnetism Range reduced from 20wus to 18wus

• Bullet Magnetism Falloff Range reduced from 12wus to 10wus

Disruptor

• Increased magazine ammo count from 10 to 12

Frag Grenade

• Increased detonation timer by 0.2 seconds

Snap Sliding

• Fixed a physics bug that allowed “snap sliding”

For more information on these sandbox changes, including upcoming tweaks, visit the Waypoint blog.

Here's a basic rundown of what's going on with this one:

• Local Region Matchmaking will make its debut (the option to choose "LOCAL" or "EXPANDED" in Settings, to force connection to local servers)

• Improved logic for Competitive Skill Rank (CSR) progression

• Improved rules for quitting with uneven teams

• Matchmaking will now feature ONE Social rotational playlist, and ONE Ranked rotational playlist, with each one changing every two weeks.

For more information on the Matchmaking and Ranked Improvements, click here. For more information on how Playlist Rotation and the 2022 schedule, click here.

Since the Winter Update is being treated as its own mini-season, there will also be a couple of new events happening, too.

Winter Contingency II

Starting on December 20th, this event will introduce some more Reach-themed cosmetics to the game. Not much more is currently known about this event. Stay tuned for more information.

Joint Fire

Starting in January, this event will allow players to earn the JFO Helmet, alongside some more Reach-themed cosmetics. Not much more is currently known about this event. Stay tuned for more information.

Last but not least, the Winter Update introduces a Content Browser to Halo Infinite which will be available both in-game and on Halo Waypoint. The Content Browser will allow players to download, share and easily access all of the custom community created content for both Forge and Custom Games.

Check out the Waypoint blog here for more information.

Why is Forge a beta?

For the most part, the Beta label means that we still want to apply more polish and bug fixing to some aspects of the experience in addition to seeing what new issues and opportunities may arise as we release Forge into the wild at massive scale. Forge is an incredibly robust and ambitious feature, and while the team has spent years developing and iterating on it, nothing can truly equal the level of feedback and data we’ll get from players around the world.

More information can be found here: https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-infinite-forge-beta-faq

Why is Match XP a beta?

The reason we are calling this the Match XP “Beta” is because we are going to be monitoring the values for each reward category, adjusting them as we move forwards with this new model. This means that the values when the Winter Update launches will not be final, and you can expect to see them tuned up or down to provide an enhanced earn rate.

More information can be found here: https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/match-xp-beta-progression-winter-update

When the Forge Beta ends, will I lose my maps?

No.

Now that Forge has released, it will grow and continue to evolve over the lifespan of Halo Infinite. Once the Beta tag is removed in the future, all your maps and content will continue to work as expected.

I can't play campaign co-op with my friend on split-screen, it isn't working!

Split-screen support for Campaign Co-Op is not officially supported in Halo Infinite and this hasn't changed with the Winter Update. Work on this feature was paused and shelved while the teams at 343 Industries worked on other aspects of the game. There is no timeframe on official split-screen support for Campaign.

Where's The Pit?

343 Industries has confirmed that developer-forged map remake of The Pit will be making its way to Halo Infinite before the end of the year. It will not be available on November 8th with the Winter Update.

Where did Bot Bootcamp, Big Team Social, Team Doubles and Rumble Pit go? Those were my favourite playlists.

These playlists were removed alongside the Winter Update patch.

• Big Team Social is currently scheduled to return on December 13th, 2022 for two weeks as it enters the Social Rotational slot.

• Ranked Doubles will return on December 20th, 2022 for two weeks as it enters the Ranked Rotational slot.

• Ranked Lone Wolves (Rumble Pit) will return on December 6th for two weeks as it enters the Ranked Rotational slot.

More information can be found here: https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/playlist-schedule-winter-update

Is this Season 3? Why is it called the Winter Update? Where's the new 100-tier Battle Pass?

This is not Season 3. Season 3: Echoes Within is currently set to launch on March 7th, 2023 and will run for three months. Season 3: Echoes Within will include two new developer made maps (one BTB, one Arena), a new weapon: M392 Bandit, the new Shroud Screen equipment, a new 100-tier Battle Pass and more.

Think of the Winter Update as "Season 2.5", as a holdover while work continues on Season 3: Echoes Within.

Where is the Custom Game Browser?

The Custom Game Browser is currently scheduled to launch alongside Season 3: Echoes Within on March 7th, 2023. It is not included in the Winter Update.

I heard that PC is getting the red reticle enabled, how do I do that?

343 Industries has confirmed that "red" reticle (aka, reticle turning a different colour when aiming at an enemy in aim assist range) is coming to Halo Infinite, but it has not been added with the Winter Update and will be coming in a future update.

Is "desync" fixed yet?

The jist of it is no, "desync" has not been fixed yet. "Desync" has become an all encompassing term in the Halo community for a plethora of network related issues that Halo Infinite has. All of these issues are actively being worked on. You can read more about the status update of these fixes here: https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/sandbox-balance-updates-winter-update

Is there a Progression System yet, similar to Halo 3/Halo 4/Halo: Reach/Halo 5: Guardians/Halo: The Master Chief Collection?

No. Work is still underway on a Career Progression System. There is no timeframe on when this will release but we do know that the Match XP Beta is setting the groundwork for its eventual release.

What happened to Drop Pods? Are they still happening?

Yes, Drop Pods are still happening and aren't going anywhere. Drop Pods are listed on the roadmap for the duration of the Winter Update (November 8th to March 7th) and Season 3: Echoes Within (March 7th to June 27th).

There is currently a Drop Pod scheduled to go live before the end of the year.

Did Ray Tracing come out yet?

Ray Tracing is currently scheduled to release next year in Season 3: Echoes Within.

Why can't I progress the Season 2: Lone Wolves Battle Pass anymore? It's saying I need to pay?

When a Season ends, that seasons Battle Pass is no longer free. In order to access the content previously on the Free tiers, you have to purchase the Battle Pass.

This happened for Season 1: Heroes of Reach, too. The Winter Update Battle Pass will remain free forever, however, since it was never paid in any form.

• Winter Update Patch Notes - TBD

• Matchmaking & Ranked Improvements

• Sandbox Balance Updates

• Match XP Beta & Progression

• Playlist Schedule

• Forge Beta FAQ

• Battle Pass Preview

• Campaign Co-Op and Mission Replay Achievements

• Halo Waypoint Content Browser

• Halo Waypoint Support Site

• r/halo Discord Server

• Official Halo Discord Server