Through investment and acquisitions, Xbox Game Studios is now an enviable force in the industry. There are more upcoming Xbox Series X games in development than ever before – something that is unlikely to change anytime soon, particularly with Microsoft Gaming on the precipice of purchasing Activision Blizzard. 

While the $70 billion acquisition is yet to be finalised, there are still 23 of the industry’s leading game developers creating new Xbox exclusive games – each of which will be available in Xbox Game Pass from its day of release. 

Below you will find the full Xbox Game Studios list, a breakdown of what each developer is famous for, and some insight into what they are working on next. 

Xbox Game Studios list

Every Microsoft-owned, first-party studio and what they are working on:

• 343 Industries
• Alpha Dog Games
• Arkane Studios
• Bethesda Game Studios
• Bethesda Softworks
• Compulsion Games
• Double Fine Productions
• id Software
• Inxile Entertainment
• MachineGames
• Mojang Studios
• Ninja Theory
• Obsidian Entertainment
• Playground Games
• Rare
• Roundhouse Studios
• Tango Gameworks
• The Coalition
• The Initiative
• Turn 10 Studios
• Undead Labs
• World’s Edge
• Xbox Games Studios Publishing
• ZeniMax Online

343 Industries

• Notable releases: Halo 5: Guardians (Xbox One, 2015), Halo Infinite (Xbox Series X, 2021)
• Working on: Halo Infinite (live service)
• Founded in: 2007

343 Industries has stewardship over the Halo franchise. The studio most recently released Halo Infinite on 15 November, 2021 for Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC. The studio is set to continue working on Halo Infinite for the next decade, expanding Master Chief’s journey on Zeta Halo with campaign expansions, and continuing to maintain the Halo Infinite multiplayer live service experience with additional seasons of content. 

Alpha Dog Games

• Notable releases: Wraithborne (iOS, 2012), MonstroCity Rampage (iOS, 2017)
• Working on: TBC
• Acquired in: 2021

Alpha Dog Games is a mobile-focused developer that was actually acquired by Bethesda in late 2019 to support the publisher’s growing interest in the iOS and Android market. Given Microsoft’s investment in mobile and cloud gaming, it’s likely that Alpha Dog will continue working behind the scenes on the initiative.

Arkane Studios

• Notable releases: Dishonored (Multi, 2012), Prey (Multi, 2017)
• Working on: Redfall (Xbox Series X, 2023), Deathloop (Xbox Series X, TBC)
• Acquired in: 2021

Arkane Studios is known for building complex immersive sims, experiences that weave a reactive sense of choice and consequence right through the action. Arkane most recently released Deathloop as a timed-exclusive on PS5, and the studio is thought to be working on an Xbox Series X port now. Arkane is also developing Redfall, a co-op shooter which’ll let you and your friends hunt vampires across a sprawling open world – it’s expected to launch early 2023.

Bethesda Game Studios

• Notable releases: Fallout 3 (Multi, 2008), The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim (Multi, 2011)
• Working on: Starfield (Xbox Series X, 2023), The Elder Scrolls 6 (TBC)
• Acquired in: 2021

By acquiring Bethesda Game Studios, Microsoft has added one of the most successful and influential outfits in the industry to its arsenal. This is the studio responsible for overseeing the Fallout and The Elder Scrolls franchises, although it also has a brand new IP in the works called Starfield. Starfield is a sci-fi RPG that is expected to launch in early 2023.

Bethesda Softworks

• Notable releases: N/A
• Working on: N/A
• Acquired in: 2021

Microsoft didn’t just acquire eight development studios, it also brought ZeniMax Media’s publishing wing into the fold too. That means that ‘Bethesda’ as you traditionally know it will continue to exist, with Microsoft allowing it to work semi-autonomously where it will continue to publish the games that are born from its portfolio of partners. 

Compulsion Games

• Notable releases: Contrast (Multi, 2013), We Happy Few (Multi, 2018)
• Working on: TBC
• Acquired in: 2018

Compulsion Games has only released two games since its formation in 2009, Contrast and We Happy Few, which are polar opposites in terms or theme and genre, although they are connected by a shared value: an undeniable sense of style. Compulsion Games is yet to reveal what it is working on now.

Double Fine Productions

• Notable releases: Brutal Legend (PS3/Xbox 360, 2009), Psychonauts 2 (Multi, 2021)
• Working on: TBC
• Acquired in: 2019

Double Fine Productions creates cult-classics. Ever since its formation in 2000, Double Fine has always made games its own way, with an unwavering desire to provide windows into weird and wonderful worlds. Double Fine released Psychonauts 2 to rave reviews in 2021, and the studio is yet to announce what it is currently working on.

id Software

• Notable releases: Doom (Multi, 2016), Doom Eternal (Multi, 2020) 
• Working on: TBC
• Acquired in: 2020

They don’t come more legendary than id Software. This is the studio that essentially created the first-person shooter with Wolfenstein 3D in 1992, Doom in 1993, and Quake in 1996, and is known for having the industry’s greatest shotgun. id is yet to reveal what it is working on following the release of Doom Eternal. 

inXile Entertainment

• Notable releases: Tides of Numenera (Multi, 2017), Wasteland 3 (2020, Multi)
• Working on: TBC
• Acquired in: 2018

inXile is a studio with speciality in c-RPGs, founded by Brian Fargo – director of Wasteland and executive producer of the original Fallout. inXile hasn’t revealed its next project, although it’s rumored that the studio is is building a ‘AAA-RPG’ for Xbox Series X. Given that Wasteland 3 released two years ago, hopefully it won’t be long before the studio shows us what it has been up to.

MachineGames

• Notable releases: Wolfenstein: The New Order (Multi, 2014), Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus (Multi, 2017)
• Working on: Indiana Jones (Xbox Series X, TBC)
• Acquired in: 2021

MachineGames was founded in 2009 by former members of Starbreeze Studios, before being handed the reins to the Wolfenstein series in 2010. The studio made a name for itself with its subversive and tightly-designed first-person shooters. It was recently announced that Bethesda will be collaborating with LucasFilm Games to create a brand new Indiana Jones game, with MachineGames handling development.

Mojang Studios

• Notable releases: Minecraft (Multi, 2011), Minecraft Dungeons (Multi, 2020)
• Working on: Minecraft (Multi, 2011)
• Acquired in: 2014

Mojang is the Minecraft company. Acquired by Microsoft in 2014 for 2.5 billion dollars, Mojang has been dutifully updating and evolving Minecraft across all of its supported platforms since. While the studio rarely operates outside of the core Minecraft experience, it did release a family-friendly dungeon-crawler in 2020 called Minecraft Dungeons. 

Ninja Theory

• Notable releases: DmC: Devil May Cry (Multi, 2013), Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (Multi, 2017)
• Working on: Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 (Xbox Series X, TBC), Project: Mara (Xbox Series X, TBC)
• Acquired in: 2018

Ninja Theory built its reputation creating beautiful, detailed action-adventure games like Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and DmC: Devil May Cry. Since its 2018 acquisition, Ninja Theory has invested heavily into state-of-the-art motion capture, Unreal Engine 5, and other new technology to help drive forward Xbox Series X fidelity. The studio is working on Hellblade 2, and a new experimental horror game codenamed Project Mara. 

Obsidian Entertainment

• Notable releases: Pillars of Eternity (PC, 2015),  The Outer Worlds (Multi, 2019)
• Working on: Grounded (Xbox One, 2022), Avowed (Xbox Series X, TBC), The Outer Worlds 2 (Xbox Series X, TBC)
• Acquired in: 2018

Obsidian Entertainment is a legendary developer of RPGs. Whether it’s action-heavy, like Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds, or leaning more heavily into the strategy-side with Pillars of Eternity, the name ‘Obsidian’ is a mark of quality. The studio currently has Grounded in early-access, which is working towards a 2022 release. The studio is also developing a new RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe named Avowed, and has begun early work on The Outer Worlds 2.

Playground Games

• Notable releases: Forza Horizon 4 (Xbox One, 2018), Forza Horizon 5 (Xbox Series X, 2021) 
• Working on: Fable 4 (Xbox Series X, TBC)
• Acquired in: 2018

Playground Games was given the keys to the Forza franchise back in 2010, with Forza Horizon developed in collaboration with series stalwarts Turn 10. Ever since, Playground has consistently delivered open-world racing games that go above and beyond that of the competition. Following the release of Forza Horizon 5 in 2021, the studio is now full focused on its reboot of an iconic Xbox RPG – Fable. 

Rare

• Notable releases: Viva Pinata (Xbox 360, 2006), Sea of Thieves (PC/Xbox One, 2018)
• Working on: Everwild (Xbox Series X, TBC)
• Acquired in: 2002

Rare is a legendary British studio. So much so, it’s difficult to know where to even begin. So let’s skip the history lesson and fast-forward to the present. Rare continues to support and update Sea of Thieves, one of the best multiplayer games out there right now, while it works on a brand-new co-op adventure called Everwild. 

Roundhouse Studios

• Notable releases: N/A
• Working on: TBC 
• Acquired in: 2021

Roundhouse Studios is an unknown quantity. This is a studio created by Bethesda in 2019, staffed by developers that were with Human Head Studios right to the bitter end. Given that staff has experience in everything from FPS to RPGs, it’s impossible to know what it is working on – but whatever it is, it’s bound to still be in the very early stages of pre-production. 

Tango Gameworks

• Notable releases: The Evil Within (Multi, 2014), The Evil Within 2 (Multi 2017)
• Working on: Ghostwire Tokyo (Xbox Series X, 2023)
• Acquired in: 2021

Tango Gameworks is Shinji Mikami’s studio, the famed creator of such classics as Resident Evil and Dino Crisis. Tango’s first two releases were confident, terrifying psychological horror games, although its latest is a little weirder. Ghostwire Tokyo launched as a timed-exclusive on PS5 in 2022, and the studio is expected to release an Xbox Series X port in 2023. Tango is yet to reveal what it is working on in the meantime. 

The Coalition

• Notable releases: Gears of War 4 (Xbox One, 2016), Gears 5 (Xbox One, 2019)
• Working on: TBC
• Founded in: 2010

When Microsoft acquired the rights to Gears of War from Epic Games in 2014, it was handed off to The Coalition. The studio now leads production on the franchise, pushing the scope of the series with each new installment. The Coalition’s most recent release was Gears 5 in 2019, although it has since launched an updated version of the game for Xbox Series X. The studio is yet to confirm what it’s working on now, although it is known to be investing heavily in Unreal Engine 5.   

The Initiative

• Notable releases: N/A
• Working on: Perfect Dark (Xbox Series X, 2022)
• Founded in: 2018

The Initiative is a brand new video game developer, founded by former Crystal Dynamics studio head Darrell Gallagher. The studio is packed with talent from BioWare, Naughty Dog, Respawn Entertainment, and others, and is being touted as a key player in Xbox’s future. The Initiative is currently developing a reboot of the Perfect Dark series, which was revealed in 2020. Due to the scope of the project, Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics has been brought in to co-develop Joanna Dark’s long-awaited return.

Turn 10

• Notable releases: Forza Motorsport 7 (Xbox One, 2017)
• Working on: Forza Motorsport (Xbox Series X, TBC)
• Founded in: 2001

Ever since its formation, Turn 10 has been known for its meticulous attention-to-detail, working to create the most realistic and engaging racing sims imaginable. It’s currently building a next-generation Forza experience for Xbox Series X, although Microsoft is yet to give the project an official title or release window – let alone any details. Given the five year wait, Forza Motorsport is expected to return sooner rather than later. 

Undead Labs

• Notable releases: State of Decay (PC, 2013), State of Decay 2 (Xbox One, 2018)
• Working on: State of Decay 3 (Xbox Series X, 2022)
• Acquired in: 2018

Undead Labs has had its sights on delivering the ultimate zombie survival experience ever since its formation. The studio is currently working on State of Decay 3 for Xbox Series X, which will be its first release since becoming a first-party Xbox studio in 2018. The game is thought to still be early in development, so we’ll likely be waiting a little while before we see any more of it in action. 

World’s Edge

• Notable releases: Age of Empires 4 (PC, 2021)
• Working on: TBC
• Founded in: 2019

While World’s Edge isn’t directly responsible for making new games, it has been positioned as a caretaker for one of Microsoft’s biggest franchises. The studio coordinates development for Age of Empires, working to ensure external studios such as Relic Entertainment and Forgotten Empires are properly aligned. To that end, World’s End helped to ship Age of Empires 4 in 2021 for PC, and is yet to reveal what it’s working on next.

Xbox Game Studios Publishing

• Notable releases: N/A
• Working on: N/A
• Founded in: 2000

Xbox Game Studios Publishing is an internal group within the Xbox Game Studios group that supports external developers, and those under the wider first-party group. In the past, the global publishing team has worked with partners like Insomniac and Dontnod to bring Sunset Overdrive and Tell Me Why to the platform; it’s currently helping Avalanche Studios with its co-op smuggling game Contraband. 

ZeniMax Online Studios

• Notable releases: The Elder Scrolls Online (Multi, 2014), Fallout 76 (Multi, 2018)
• Working on: N/A
• Acquired in: 2021

ZeniMax Online Studios is responsible for creating and overseeing Bethesda’s online-focused games, such as The Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76. The studio isn’t known to have any brand new games in development, although it is continuing to support, develop, and grow Bethesda’s MMORPGs. ZeniMax Online Studios’ most recent release was the The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle expansion.

Extended Reading: What the Xbox acquisition of ZeniMax could mean for games like The Elder Scrolls 6, Starfield, and Deathloop? (opens in new tab)

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Halo Infinite ranks in order

Halo Infinite’s ranked playlist puts players into ranks depending on their skill and performance, then shuffles players up and down those ranks as they play better or worse. At time of writing, the ranks of Halo Infinite are arranged as follows, from least to best.

• Bronze
• Silver
• Gold
• Platinum
• Diamond
• Onyx

Your rank is set when you complete your first ten games of ranked competitive matches, then updates as you play from that point on. Your rank resets at the start of every season, so  you have until then to get as high as possible. The rewards for high ranks appear to be emblems and nameplates, as shown in the image above. If there’s any other perks to it, we haven’t found them.

How to improve your competitive tier ranking

The actual rubric for how your rank improves is… vague, to say the least. Infinite simply says it improves when you “perform better than expected”, which might suggest that multiple factors are being considered, such as wins, K/D ratio and general match score. We’ll update when we know more, but frankly – just do well. Win games, get kills, don’t die. 

Ranked competitive matching game rules

Ranked games in Halo Infinite have various game types, but with some additional rules added or changed to make things a little more tricky. Here’s some things to keep in mind.

• There’s no motion sensor/radar for anybody.
• Friendly fire is active.
• Grenades no longer show hitmarkers.
• Everybody starts with a BR75 (Battle Rifle) and no secondary weapon.

These rules clearly make things a little more dangerous and hardcore – the Battle Rifle is more deadly and precise than either the usual starting Pistol or Assault Rife, friendly fire means you now have to be wary of allies, lack of grenade hitmarkers means you can’t scout ahead with explosives, and the loss of radar is a game changer that makes ambushes and stealth much more viable.

There’s also one more thing to keep in mind – if a player leaves the game, either for connection issues, crashes or just voluntarily quitting, the game keeps going but nobody will fill their place, putting that team at a permanent disadvantage with one less hired goon. That being said, Halo Infinite does penalise those players – quitting Ranked too often in a row places a temporary ban on playing that game mode for a short time.

Ranked game modes

Ranked mode has four game modes available at time of writing with a total of six maps in circulation (though not all maps can support all game modes. We’ve listed the available ones below, just keep in mind that they’re all subject to the altered ranked game rules mentioned above.

• Oddball: Streets, Recharge, Live Fire
• Strongholds: Streets, Recharge, Live Fire
• CTF (Capture the Flag): Behemoth, Bazaar, Aquarius
• Slayer: Streets, Recharge, Live Fire, Bazaar, Aquarius

Halo Infinite weapons | Halo Infinite equipment | Halo Infinite error codes | How to level up fast in Halo Infinite | Halo Infinite Season 1 Battle Pass | Halo Infinite controller settings | Halo Infinite KD tracker and player records | Halo Infinite Fiesta matches | Halo Infinite killing spree | Halo Infinite crashing on PC | Halo Infinite User is Banned | When do Halo Infinite challenges reset?

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Whether that’s shooting off rockets in the Oregon desert or giving a pug some delicious treats and recording the results, there’s nothing 343 won’t try in the sound design process – and that’s one of the reasons Halo Infinite sounds so damn good. We sat down for an exclusive chat with lead sound designer Kyle Fraser and senior sound designers Jomo Kangethe and Robbie Elias to learn a bit more about it.

Sketchy sounds 

If you had no context for 343’s past audio work on Halo titles, you might be a bit confused if you saw one of its Audio Field Recordings on YouTube. Rockets firing in the middle of an open field, dry ice being dragged across a grand piano, the assembly of an Xbox controller – it seems like a random amalgamation of sounds, or some kind of bizarre ASMR supercut. The team, admittedly, did some “sketchy” things in order to record sounds for Halo Infinite.

That includes attempting to strap down a rocket and setting it off to see if it made a cool stationary sound. Ultimately, it “wasn’t as interesting as actually launching the rockets, or having the rockets pass by us in a very sketchy and dangerous way,” admits Elias. The idea of trying to stifle the trajectory of a launched rocket for the sake of a sound bite isn’t all that radical for 343 – after all, this is the same team that shot at a container filled with a highly combustible chemical compound called Tannerite. 

“So thermite or Tannerite?” Fraser interrupts as the trio discusses their most surprising sound effect tests. “Tannerite,” Kangethe confirms. “Funny that you got confused by Tannerite and thermite. Because we’ve done both sketchy things,” Elias laughs. “We’ve still got like, thirty pounds of that we need to get rid of,” Fraser says, trailing off as if he’s imagining what the team can do with thirty pounds worth of explosives. 

Knowing 343, there’s a lot they can and will do. After all, the sound team has been working this way for a while, and its bizarre process has become something of its own hype machine. “Since Halo 4, we’ve always documented and videotaped everything we’ve done. And that does have a ripple effect, where it creates buzz and excitement around it,” explains Elias. “Over the years that has allowed us to build trust, to allow [the higher-ups at 343] to have faith that we’re not just doing this because it’s silly and fun. But we’re doing it for a reason. It’s deliberate.”

Iconic noises 

Whether it’s the roar of a Warthog engine or the shatter of Needler fire, the sounds of the Halo franchise are iconic. 343 knows the expectations of such an iconic soundscape going into the production of Halo Infinite, and wrestled with balancing old school sounds with new school technology. “I think that’s always one of the biggest challenges we have. Because you really kind of want to respect the legacy, and you really want to respect the fan base as much as possible. And you want to be able to bring in those elements that people are very familiar with so it’s not too jarring,” says Fraser. “But at the same time, we always want to try to push the envelope and kind of take it to the next level. It’s a balancing act.”

Halo fans are quick to point out when something doesn’t sound right – especially when it comes to classic franchise sounds. There are countless videos of sound breakdowns, whether it’s comparing the Halo: Combat Evolved Needler to the Halo Infinite Needler (opens in new tab), or just comparing sound changes made between the first and second Halo Infinite technical previews (opens in new tab). While this certainly puts a lot of pressure on the dev team, it’s also helped them fine-tune their work. 

“Halo fans are super vocal about what they like and it’s taught us a lot of stuff,” says Elias. “I’ve worked on several Halo games now and I think I really learned more about the design aspect of sound design, where you’re not just creating a cool sound but you created a cool sound that fits a specific style. And I learned a lot just by taking feedback from what [fans] liked and what they didn’t like, and adapting to fit that style.” 

There’s a reason why Halo sounds are so memorable and why fans pay such close attention to perceived changes. This is a beloved universe made with love by a developer unafraid of experimentation, whether that’s firing an automatic rifle into a pond or overfeeding a wheezy pug. Whatever 343 Industries does next, you know it’s going to sound good. 

Halo Infinite highlights the need for clear live service roadmaps.

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How to unlock the Halo Infinite Clippy items

Unfortunately, both the Halo Infinite Clippy weapon charm and ‘Clipster’ nameplate are unavailable and cannot be unlocked at the moment. This is despite the fact that both are visible in the Armory and Spartan ID customization sections respectively, although they’re both noted as being ‘currently unavailable’. Based on other cosmetic items with similar messaging that were released previously, it’s pretty safe to assume that these Clippy-themed items will be exclusive to the Halo Infinite store, which means you’ll have to fork out some real money to pay for Credits and then the Clippy items.

Because the store updates parts of its stock daily, and others weekly, there’s no definite way to say when the Halo Infinite Clippy charm and nameplate will be available or for how long. Check in with the store and even on social media regularly to see if the items have made their way onto the storefront. We also reckon that these items will at least come as part of a Clippy bundle, so you won’t have to look for both items separately. With this in mind, it’s likely to be one of the cheaper store items, so you won’t have to spend lots on virtual, paper-holding assistants.

Halo Infinite Season 2 Battle Pass

The Halo Infinite Season 2 Battle Pass is available now

If you’ve recently gone into Halo Infinite to check out Season 2, you’ve probably also noticed the new Halo Infinite Eaglestrike armor and core, which gives your Spartan an early 20th century, industrial look. This set also isn’t available right away, but you’ll be able to unlock it and new pieces of armor through the latest Fracture event, Entrenched. There’s also new battle pass to work through, which is a substantial improvement over the last one. You can unlock armor for the new Rakshasa Armor Core, and get plenty of free armor for your Mark VII core.

Halo Infinite weapons | Halo Infinite equipment | Halo Infinite error codes | How to level up fast in Halo Infinite | Halo Infinite Season 1 Battle Pass | Halo Infinite ranks in order | Halo Infinite controller settings | Halo Infinite KD tracker and player records | Halo Infinite Fiesta matches | Halo Infinite killing spree | Halo Infinite crashing on PC | Halo Infinite User is Banned | When do Halo Infinite challenges reset? 

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A week ago I wrote that Halo Infinite Season 2 was a make or break moment, and while it’s imperative that we don’t ask 343 Industries to crunch to give us more content, there’s definitely cause for concern. For players who have felt frustrated by the content pipeline and by the developer’s comms surrounding it, the latest Halo Infinite news feels like more of the same. 

Communication is key 

Swapping from a traditional release cadence to a live-service model is no easy feat, so it’s understandable that 343 Industries would run into some difficulties out of the gate. The latest Halo Infinite update (opens in new tab) made it clear that the company’s “priority zero” is the health of its dev team and “getting ourselves into a sustainable development rhythm so that we can deliver great experiences to all of you while maintaining a healthy work/life balance.” In an industry far too often plagued by crunch and unhealthy work conditions, this is an admirable stance, and one that many can get behind. It’s the conversation and communication around the content pipeline that’s the issue.

The roadmap 343 Industries provided on April 22 was initially set to release back in January. On February 1, after weeks of players asking for that roadmap, Joseph Staten promised an update (opens in new tab) “as soon as we can,” citing a need for “more time to finalize our plans so what we share is something you can rely on.” While the roadmap may be something players can technically rely on, the vagueness of much of its promised content feels a bit like we’re being strung along. 

Currently, the Halo Infinite roadmap states Season 2 will run for another six months (which was never made clear until the moment the roadmap was released), that two “narrative events” are coming (which we only know will “place your personal Spartan in the center of an evolving Seasonal storyline”), that campaign network co-op is targeted for late August (and split-screen co-op is TBD), and quality of life improvements are on the way. Confusingly, the roadmap promises a Forge open beta coming in September, but also has a Forge open beta listed under Season 3, which won’t start until November 8. 

A few months back, I wrote about live service game fatigue and how developers can combat it. Chet Faliszek, CEO and co-founder of Bombay Stray, the studio behind co-op shooter The Anacrusis, spoke about the importance of communication. “I think one of the missing parts is the communication part with the community. It’s hard. But often players do not feel they are being listened to or that the only way to communicate is in negative ways, so we work hard at trying to communicate clearly and really listen to the feedback,” he said. “Players are understanding if you are honest and clear with them.” For Halo Infinite players, the lack of clarity may be more frustrating than the lack of content.

How to fix it 

When it comes to shifting the optics around Halo Infinite and its content roadmap, the upcoming community livestream is a promising start. The stream is promising a deep dive into the Season 2 Battle Pass, rewards, events, game modes, and more, as well as more details on the roadmap itself. This should help placate players who are feeling less-than-enthusiastic about a long-awaited roadmap with both vague and conflicting information, and it’ll give 343 Industries a chance to speak directly to the community.

Sometimes it feels like 343 Industries is picking the wrong battles when it comes to communication. A lengthy blog post (opens in new tab) from March went into great detail about the Halo Infinite ranked rework, but failed to mention any plans to adjust MMR, a feature that drastically affects how ranked matchmaking works and one that is often exploited by players. When Halo Infinite ranks were reset, players’ MMR remained the same, and there wasn’t a whisper about it from anyone at 343. 

For what it’s worth, 343 seems aware of players’ frustrations with both the perceived lack of content and the developers’ communication thus far. Back in March, 343 Industries’ community manager Brian Jarrard took to Reddit (opens in new tab) to assure players Season 2 news would be coming, but acknowledged the frustration at a lack of regular updates. “We understand the community is simply out of patience and frankly, I think understandably tired of words. We just need some time for the team to get the details sorted and then we can certainly share as much as we can,” Jarrad wrote. 

While concrete release dates have the potential to cause even more frustration if those dates have to be pushed to avoid crunch, more transparency and clarity about what’s going on behind the scenes of Halo Infinite would help placate players. Is there a lack of adequate staffing resulting in slower dev times? Would repurposing old maps act as a temporary salve? (Halo Infinite is, I believe, the only modern Halo title to not bring back classic Halo maps) What the hell is Halo 4 Forge and map co-developer Certain Affinity working on for Infinite? While the dynamics between a game and its community can often be dicey (to say the least), clearer lines of communication from 343 to its players will only help calm the unruly base. Here’s hoping the upcoming livestream is the start of that.

Halo Infinite’s co-op delay is a blow, but it deserves to be done right

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In the final moments of Halo episode 5, after the Covenant appear and attack Master Chief and the UNSC, a Brute drops down to the planet. It’s the first one we’ve seen in the series, and we only catch a brief glimpse of him before he’s beamed up to the Covenant ship, with the artifact Master Chief was supposed to be protecting in hand.

It looks like that Brute may very well be Atriox, the villain from Halo Wars 2 and Halo Infinite. David J. Peterson (opens in new tab), the conlanger (or language creator) for the Halo TV series shared a script of the Sangheli dialogue he wrote for Halo episode 5 (opens in new tab). While much of the Sangheli is subtitled in English so we can understand what the Covenant are saying to Makee, a human who the Covenant considers their “Blessed One”, much of the dialogue in the fight scene isn’t given on-screen translations. Peterson provides this however, and towards the end of the script he refers to the Brute as Atriox.

So, according to this link, the Brute we saw at the end of episode 5 is indeed Atriox! It’s not official yet, but I KNEW it had to be him given how similar his face is. Before complaining guys, remember: new timeline, new rules. https://t.co/UE4mYc07Yr pic.twitter.com/fEmlAlND77April 22, 2022

See more

Naturally, fans began comparing the Brute’s design to Atriox as he appears in both Halo Wars 2 and Halo Infinite. This version of Atriox would naturally be younger, as the events of Halo: Combat Evolved haven’t taken place yet, so the shorter, darker beard on this Brute would make sense. His Gravity Hammer also bears a resemblance to the one Atriox wields – it even has a curved handle like his, which is a detail that seems intentional.

The one line this Brute utters is very on-brand for Atriox, especially since we know he kicked Chief’s ass in Halo Infinite. “Hardly worth the sport,” he says after swinging his hammer at Master Chief. He’s then whisked away into a Covenant ship.

The rest of Peterson’s translation also contains some hilarious little Easter eggs for fans of the series, like a line from one of the Grunts that implies the little goofball doesn’t know how to drive the Warthog he commandeers.

We reached out to Peterson for details on the Brute in Halo episode 5, but have yet to hear back at the time of publication. We’ll update this story accordingly.

When we wrote that the Halo TV show is braver than the games, we had no idea just how brave it would get.

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As first reported by Eurogamer (opens in new tab), Halo Infinite‘s total player count on PC dropped down to 7842 earlier this week. Unfortunately, that means 343’s latest shooter actually dipped below the player count of The Master Chief Collection, which rose to 9123 concurrent players at the same time.

It’s a shame to see Halo Infinite’s player base decline, but it hasn’t happened overnight. Players of 343’s latest game have constantly been speaking out about the lack of new content for the shooter since earlier this year, and a development lead at 343 even acknowledged earlier this month that players were “out of patience.”

However, there might be a reason The Master Chief Collection’s player count has seen a recent increase. A few days ago, 343 released the latest update for the collection across PC and Xbox platforms, introducing Halo 3 and ODST co-op cross-play, as well as the Flood into the game’s Firefight mode. It could be that The Master Chief Collection’s concurrent player count has eclipsed that of Halo Infinite because of this new update.

Flood Firefight. Halo 3 and ODST co-op crossplay. Full custom game browser support. And, that’s just for starters. The latest update for Halo: The Master Chief Collection has officially arrived.🔥 https://t.co/CSJuE0U4rD pic.twitter.com/PA7I2YGHN3April 11, 2022

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Meanwhile, 343 finally announced concrete details on Halo Infinite’s Season 2 last week. Season 2: Lone Wolves will launch early next month in May, as 343 commits to player-driven changes, including more customization content and better rewards in the season’s Battle Pass. While Halo Infinite could be in for something of a comeback with its new content, it’s still not a great look for it to have slipped behind a predecessor that’s been out on PC for three years already.

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Halo Infinite error codes

• There was a problem with the dedicated server
• There was an issue with the Halo Infinite servers
• Error Code 0x80070424
• Error Code 0x00000001
• Error Code 0x8007003
• Error Code 0x80070005

There was a problem with the dedicated server

If this message comes up in the wake of clicking on Halo Infinite multiplayer, it probably means that the fault isn’t at your end. When the “problem with the dedicated server” message pops up, it’s usually meant that the Halo servers themselves are currently non-functional. Reassuring for your own copy of the game, but it also means there’s probably no fix you can implement to resolve the problem, which is frustrating. To make sure that your connections are valid, restart the game and check your own internet connection, but if that doesn’t help, check with any of the official Twitter accounts to see if the devs have commented on it.

There was an issue with the Halo Infinite servers

Halo Infinite crashing on PC

Halo Infinite crashing on PC can be a frustrating problem, so here’s how you might be able to fix it.

This one is a simple one – when you click on multiplayer game modes there’ll be a message that arises that says “There was an issue with the halo infinite servers”, and prevent you from selecting the actual option to play the matchmaking game. 

The vast majority of the time, this is simply because you don’t have the most updated version of Halo Infinite and the servers don’t run on whatever outdated version you’re playing. That’s easy to resolve – close the game, check for an update, and make sure it’s downloaded and installed. At that point there shouldn’t be any further issues.

Error Code 0x80070424

This one seems to affect mainly PC gamers, and seems, from what we understand, to be an issue with the installation of the game via the Xbox App or similar. It’s not clear exactly what’s gone wrong here, but the most successful approach as we understand it is to do the following:

1. Ensure all relevant apps are updated to their most current build via the Microsoft Store, including those you launch them through.
2. If still no success, right click on them in the Start Menu and choose to Terminate, Repair and Reset each one. 
3. After that, search for Powershell app, run it as an administrator, and enter the following command: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers| Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”} 
4. Try to install Halo Infinite again.

If that doesn’t work, the only thing we can suggest is to contact customer support for Microsoft and get their two cents on the issue. In fact, that’s generally a good back-up plan for any of these fixes not immediately working.

Error Code 0x00000001

Another issue that seems to be affecting installation of the game, this one actually broadly affects any game downloaded on PC from the Xbox lineup. In this case it usually means that when you try to open the game, you’re instead sent to the Gaming Services page on the Microsoft Store. 

This one is a bit simpler and usually just means that you need to update something fundamental – usually Gaming Services, the Xbox App, or even your Windows OS. Make sure each of these are up to date as much as possible and try again.

Error Code 0x8007003

This error seems to be fairly similar to 0x80070424 (catchy names, aren’t they?), and we’ve seen some record of the same fix for that working here. However, if that doesn’t work there’s also this fix that seems to have helped some people:

• Open your computer’s Settings app
• Select Accounts, then Sign-in options, then scroll down to the Privacy section
• Turn off “Use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up my device after an update or restart.”
• Restart your computer.

Error Code 0x80070005

This one seems to prevent players from installing the game beyond a certain point, usually about 49%. There’s a few potential problems here, with a few potential fixes.

• Make sure that you have space on your PC to download the game. Make sure you have at least 10GB more than you think you need, just to be certain.
• It’s possible that firewalls and anti-virus software are preventing it from being downloaded. Turn off Real-time protection in Windows Security, or the equivalent software you use.
• Run Disk Cleanup on your computer to get rid of any conflicting files.
• If the game is downloaded and installed but you’re still getting this message, it may be because an error means your account isn’t viewed as having permission to play it. Try playing offline, or contacting customer support.

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Plenty of Halo classics, like the Battle Rifle, Sniper Rifle, and SPNKR Rocket Launcher, are present in Halo Infinite, although there are a few notable omissions. An arsenal of tools for the Banished, including the Mangler, Stalker Rifle, and Skewer, and a refreshed set of high-tech Forerunner weapons are also available for players to pick up on different maps. While some iconic Halo weapons, such as the Magnum pistol and tactical shotgun, aren’t currently in the game, there is a possibility that they could be added later.

Halo Infinite weapons list

• Assault Rifle
• Battle Rifle
• Commando
• Sidekick
• Bulldog
• Sniper Rifle
• Rocket Launcher
• Hydra
• Pulse Carbine
• Needler
• Plasma Pistol
• Energy Sword
• Gravity Hammer
• Disruptor
• Mangler
• Stalker Rifle
• Shock Rifle
• Ravager
• Skewer
• Heatwave
• Sentinel Beam
• Cindershot

Best Halo Infinite multiplayer weapons

Halo Infinite best multiplayer weapons

Halo Infinite Equipment

Make sure you also know how Halo Infinite equipment works

The weapon sandbox in Halo Infinite feels incredibly varied and refined, with each weapon having its own place. Of course, certain weapons are going to be great for certain situations, but there are definitely some that excel overall or are excellent for their specific purposes. You should definitely pick up these six weapons whenever you spot them on the battlefield in Halo Infinite multiplayer, in no particular order:

1. Battle Rifle – For the best precision weapon that isn’t the Sniper Rifle, the Battle Rifle is what you need. This weapon really rewards accuracy, and players that can control its recoil and stay on target will get rapid four-burst kills at medium range with the Battle Rifle. We advise learning where it can spawn on every map.
2. Mangler – This hand cannon is proving to be a real menace in Halo Infinite’s multiplayer at the moment. Landing three headshots results in rapid kills even at range and landing one shot followed up by a quick melee leads to even quicker close-quarters kills. Keep an eye on weapon racks for it.
3. Rocket Launcher – The Rocket Launcher is great for getting multikills in Quicklplay arena matches, and works well against vehicles in Big Team Battle. It’s an all-round destructive powerhouse, but make sure you don’t blow yourself up.
4. Skewer – This weapon is the ultimate vehicle-killer with the ability to one-shot small and fragile vehicles and seriously damage bigger ones. It is also always a one-hit kill on enemy Spartans and doubles up as a heavy sniper rifle with very limited ammo, so don’t miss!
5. Heatwave – For any close-range fights, the Heatwave is a great weapon to have ready. It can reliably kill enemy Spartans in two shots using the vertical shot pattern, and some lucky ricochets might help you out. Switch to the horizontal pattern for clusters of enemies.
6. Cindershot – The Cindershot is a great anti-Spartan grenade launcher that takes a bit of skill to get used to but can be deadly in the right hands. Getting used to its projectile velocity, bouncing, and guidance will allow you to consistently land two direct hits and clean up entire teams in Quickplay.
7. Honorable mention: Assault Rifle – The best part about the Assault Rifle is that you don’t even need to pick it up as everyone starts with it. Halo Infinite’s iteration of the classic weapon is actually pretty good, and you should consider holding on to it, particularly for smaller maps, as it’s a solid all-rounder for close and medium range fights.

Halo Infinite UNSC weapons

Halo Infinite Assault Rifle

A modern Halo game wouldn’t be complete without the timeless Assault Rifle. This Halo Infinite iteration of the Assault Rifle, the MA40, features a high rate of fire, a 36-round magazine, and decent handling, making it a versatile close-range weapon. With its smart-link sights returning from Halo 5: Guardians, Halo Infinite’s version of the Assault Rifle can be effective up to medium ranges, so long as the player has good recoil control. However, beyond that, the Assault Rifle is going to get outclassed by any of the precision weapons, such as the Battle Rifle, as it is simply not accurate enough and does not deal enough damage.

Halo Infinite Battle Rifle

Featuring as one of the top precision weapons in Halo Infinite, the three-round burst Battle Rifle returns. The BR75 version of the Battle Rifle seen in Halo Infinite brings back the original Bungie-era appearance complete with the mounted scope to offer accurate aiming at longer ranges. In Halo Infinite you’ll be able to defeat an enemy Spartan in just four bursts, provided every bullet hits your opponent’s head. With a slightly slower fire rate compared to the Halo 5: Guardians Battle Rifle and more vertical recoil, the Halo Infinite BR75 is much less effective at closer ranges unless you’re able to get those crucial headshots.

Halo Infinite Commando

Making its Halo Infinite debut is the VK47 Commando. It’s a completely new UNSC weapon that sits between the Assault Rifle and Battle Rifle as a precision tactical rifle. Like the Assault Rifle, it’s fully automatic, but comes with a 3x tactical optic and has a much slower rate of fire, high recoil, and a comparatively small 20-round magazine. The Commando has is meant for accurate fire at medium range that outclasses the Assault Rifle but can go toe-to-toe with the Battle Rifle. Using the Commando like the Battle Rifle with short, controlled bursts means you won’t suffer so much from the miniscule aim assist and massive crosshair bloom, making it almost feel like a like a mini DMR.

Halo Infinite Sidekick

The MK50 Sidekick is Halo Infinite’s answer to the UNSC pistol. It’s not quite the classic Magnum, but it’s got a 12-round magazine and a high fire rate for a semi-automatic gun. Landing seven headshots against an enemy Spartan will take them down easily at close-range, but the Sidekick’s high crosshair bloom makes it harder, but not impossible, to use at longer ranges. As with most first-person shooters, switching to your pistol is always faster than reloading, so this Halo Infinite weapon makes for a great assistant for weapons like the Commando, Pulse Carbine, and Assault Rifle if an enemy gets too close.

Halo Infinite Bulldog

Another Halo Infinite weapon that builds on a classic one, the CQS48 Bulldog functions quite differently to the traditional tactical shotgun of Halo’s past. The Bulldog still has the pump action but it’s fully automatic, fires much faster, and sports a seven-round drum magazine that makes reloading much quicker overall. Unfortunately, the Bulldog cannot defeat enemy Spartans with one shot, so to balance it out, it has much better range, allowing you to get kills with two or three rapid shots quite consistently.

Halo Infinite Sniper Rifle

The original UNSC Sniper Rifle returns as the S7 Sniper Rifle. It’s one of the weapons that has remained relatively unchanged from game to game, even in Halo Infinite. As with previous versions, the S7 Sniper keeps the usual four-round magazine, its variable zoom scope – this time in a 5x-10x configuration – and can still one-shot kill in multiplayer if you’re able to pull off a headshot. Although, you could go for a 360 no-scope too to get some bonus medals read out by Halo multiplayer announcer, Jeff Steitzer. 

Halo Infinite Rocket Launcher

The double-barrelled Rocket Launcher returns in Halo Infinite as the M41 SPNKr after getting left out at launch in Halo 5: Guardians. This Halo Infinite weapon is not too different from previous versions and still has the dual rocket tubes loaded with some highly explosive missiles. This version’s rockets have a large blast radius but a low velocity and relatively small lethal area within that big explosion. To defeat any stronger enemies or deal some serious damage to vehicles, you’ll need to get a direct hit. The rockets also have no locking capabilities against aerial vehicles, so you’ll have a hard time trying to hit Wasps or Banshees.

Halo Infinite Hydra

Making its debut in Halo 5: Guardians, the UNSC Hydra is a kind of rocket launcher-grenade launcher hybrid that fires small micro-missiles that can lock onto enemy infantry and vehicles. It still has the six-rocket drum that needs to be loaded with individual missiles, but it now has two firing modes. The normal mode fires incredibly fast missiles with no locking. Just two direct hits with this mode will take down an enemy Spartan. You can then switch to the tracking mode which allows you to lock on before firing so that the missiles seek towards a target. Four direct hits with the seeking missiles will defeat an enemy Spartan, so you trade damage for reliability.

Halo Infinite Banished weapons

Halo Infinite Pulse Carbine

Halo Infinite Targets

Defeat these Halo Infinite Targets to get modified weapon variants in the campaign

This new Halo Infinite weapon combines the classic Plasma Rifle and Covenant Carbine into a medium range, burst rifle. The Pulse Carbine fires five relatively slow-moving plasma bolts that have light tracking capabilities to compensate per burst. Like previous Covenant weapons, you need to manage the heat by venting it – six rapid bursts cause an overheat but the carbine automatically cools itself gradually. While enemies can easily hop around and sidestep the tracking plasma shots up close, but this becomes much more difficult at medium ranges. Two bolts within red crosshair range are enough to kill, allowing the Pulse Carbine to compete with other medium-range Halo Infinite weapons like the Commando and Battle Rifle.

Halo Infinite Needler

The Covenant’s classic rapid-fire SMG is back in Halo Infinite with more pink crystals to fire. This iteration of the Needler has a 26-round magazine and fires incredibly quickly. As with Needlers in past Halo games, you’ll need to get up close for it to be even remotely effective. Being within red crosshair range activates the needles’ tracking abilities, and landing enough of them on a target will still cause a devastating supercombine explosion of pink mist. It’s high fire rate makes it feel like the closest weapon to an SMG in Halo Infinite, and it’s very good when you find its range sweet spot.

Halo Infinite Plasma Pistol

The Plasma Pistol makes a reappearance as a weapon in Halo Infinite, but it’s had one massive change: it can no longer EMP vehicles – that function now belongs to the new shock damage type in Halo Infinite, which is found on the Disruptor, Shock Rifle, and Dynamo Grenade. As is normal for the Plasma Pistol, it still functions quite terribly as a normal pistol too, even in Halo Infinite. Thankfully, it can still charge EMP shots to instantly take down an enemy’s shields. Even though it’s known as the noob combo, pairing the Plasma Pistol with a precision weapon to clean up an easy kill with a headshot is still a completely viable strategy, even after 20 years of Halo.

Halo Infinite Energy Sword

Halo multiplayer isn’t complete without someone running around hacking Spartans up with the Energy Sword. It remains pretty much as it always has, being a one-hit kill and having a decent lunging range. The Halo Infinite Energy Sword does not have any smart-link ‘sights’ like it did in Halo 5: Guardians, and it consumes 15% of its charge per kill, so you don’t get as many hits as you have in the past. While playing Halo Infinite multiplayer, use the Grappleshot equipment item to quickly reel yourself in towards enemies. Be aware that the Repulsor is a great counter to the sword too!

Halo Infinite Gravity Hammer

Another iconic Halo melee weapon is also available in Halo Infinite. The Gravity Hammer returns but feels a little different compared to previous Halo titles. The Gravity Hammer is much slower to swing and requires better timing to wield effectively. It doesn’t really have much of a lunge either, but to compensate, its area-of-effect blast is now much bigger but also feels very focused directly in front of you. Gone are the times where you could panic-slam someone that got too close to you. Halo Infinite requires you to be much cleverer when wielding the Gravity Hammer.

Halo Infinite Disruptor

What appears to be the smallest firearm in the Banished’s arsenal, the Disruptor is an automatic pistol that is a fair bit better than the Plasma Pistol. It’s decent against Spartan enemies in Halo Infinite multiplayer, dealing low damage but also hitting them with a shocking damage-over-time effect that can tickle them to death. However, it’s much better against vehicles due to its shock damage bullets which can EMP vehicles. Firing enough of them into any vehicle will temporarily disable it, giving you the chance to kill the driver or hijack it. The Disruptor might not see much use in the smaller arena modes, but it should be a good sidearm to grab in big team battle modes with plenty of vehicles.

Halo Infinite Mangler

The new Banished Mangler is Halo Infinite’s answer to a hand cannon, but it looks a lot like the slow-firing Mauler shotgun-pistol from Halo 3. In Halo Infinite, it’s more of a slug-shooter, firing large, high-power rounds instead of a pellet spread. Three headshots with the Mangler will get you a perfect kill in multiplayer. It even has two tusk-like blades on the front that are used in its melee animation. This weapon has the potential to be quite devastating in the right hands, but missing a shot can easily lead to you losing a fight.

Halo Infinite Stalker Rifle

The new Stalker Rifle is a new take on the Covenant Carbine that sits between the carbine and the classic Beam Rifle sniper. The Stalker Rifle is a slow-firing, long-range weapon that can defeat an enemy Spartan in as little as three headshots. Despite being more like a marksman rifle than a sniper, this rifle also comes with a variable zoom optic, making it great for chipping away at enemies at very long ranges. To balance the Stalker Rifle’s high damage, only seven shots can be fired before it overheats. Venting before an overheat is much fast than a full cooldown, so manage your shots carefully. The Stalker Rifle will be easily outclassed by other weapons up close, so a reliable secondary is definitely needed if an enemy manages to close the gap.

Halo Infinite Shock Rifle

If the Skewer is the Banished’s heavy sniper weapon, the Shock Rifle is a much lighter long-range weapon. Like the S7 Sniper Rifle, the Shock Rifle has a four-round magazine but fires very slowly and lacks the variable zoom scope of the S7. It can still get one-hit kills with headshots, but narrow misses can cause minor glancing damage to enemy players. This is because the Shock Rifle actually fires a three-round burst very quickly, so missing just one of these shots won’t quite bring down a Spartan in one shot. However, its shock damage can arc between nearby enemies, so landing a shot can soften up clusters of foes. The shock damage gives it strong anti-vehicle potential as hitting a vehicle with enough shock damage will temporarily disable it.

Halo Infinite Ravager

The Ravager is a brand-new Banished grenade launcher-like weapon in Halo Infinite that packs a punch with a volley of exploding plasma balls. Each trigger pull with the Ravager fires a burst of three red plasma balls that arc and then explode on impact, with three direct hits being enough to defeat a Spartan. Holding down the trigger to charge up the Ravager will allow you to fire one large plasma ball instead that leaves behind a burning pool on the ground, which is great for area control. Be sure to keep an eye on the weapon’s temperature as it overheats after only a few bursts, and cools down very slowly.

Halo Infinite Skewer

Another of the Banished’s new Halo Infinite weapons, the Skewer is a long-range sniper weapon that also has the vehicular destruction abilities and appearance of a rocket launcher. The Skewer is a massive shoulder-mounted cannon that fires a giant javelin spike at incredibly high speeds. Hitting a Spartan with one of these spikes always results in a one-hit kill. It also has a variable zoom scope like the S7 Sniper Rifle, and it is particularly effective against vehicles – it can one-shot small and fragile vehicles like the Mongoose, Ghost, and Wasp. To balance it out, the Skewer’s size means it handles slowly and can only hold one spike at a time with a lengthy reload between each one.

Halo Infinite Forerunner weapons

Halo Infinite Heatwave

The first of the new Forerunner weapons in Halo Infinite, the Heatwave is a revamped version of the Scattershot shotgun from Halo 4 and 5. It’s very different in appearance but still has its ricochet projectiles and can penetrate through targtes. These ricochet projectiles have far more chaotic paths that allow them to fly around for a bit, making it likely that an accidental ricochet could finish off your opponent. By default, the Heatwave fires a horizontal line of six hard light projectiles, but toggling to its alternate fire mode changes the spread to a more vertical, shotgun-like pattern which is better for focusing on a single target. The Heatwave is great for defeating enemies in tighter spaces once you’ve mastered using the vertical fire mode and it can defeat a Spartan reliably in two shots.

Halo Infinite Sentinel Beam

Making its return, the classic Forerunner Sentinel Beam is back with Halo Infinite. This version of the weapon looks, sounds, and behaves quite differently compared to previous versions. It now deals quite significant damage but has hefty recoil to compensate. You’ll also notice that it no longer has a battery and overheat mechanic. Instead, the Sentinel Beam now operates from a limited supply of ammo that needs to be charged back into the weapon, so it’s much more like a conventional reload, rather than an overheat. The beam can also penetrate targets, so lining up the perfect beam will allow you to damage multiple targets at once.

Halo Infinite Cindershot

The Cindershot is a completely new Forerunner weapon in Halo Infinite. It’s basically a grenade launcher – like a Forerunner version of the Hydra – but it has lots of extra things going on to make it unique. First of all, its grenades will bounce once if they hit a surface and then detonate into fragments, so you can bounce them along the ground or around corners to catch enemies out. The Cindershot also has an alternate fire mode that converts the grenades into laser-guided micro-missiles. When you fire one, it will fly towards wherever your crosshair is pointing, and can still bounce. It’s an interesting weapon that will allow for some very creative plays, with two well-placed shots – not even direct hits – being all that’s needed to bring down an enemy Spartan.

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Twitter user Halo Infinite Leaks & News (opens in new tab) shared a series of screenshots that show a new game mode called ‘BTB: Last Spartan Standing.’ The same tweet also featured a supposed description of the new mode which reads: “Every Spartan for themselves! Level-Up your loadout by earning Personal Score to be the last Spartan standing.” According to a follow-up tweet (opens in new tab) from the same account, this new mode can be seen “in offline mode.” 

Description of the new game mode “Last Spartan Standing”.#HaloInfinite pic.twitter.com/5SSq3v10WyApril 6, 2022

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We’ve been hearing rumours surrounding Halo Infinite’s battle royale mode for a while now. Back in August 2021, someone discovered battle royale related files during the Halo Infinite technical test including a voice clip performed by the game’s multiplayer announcer Jeff Steitzer where he says the words “battle royale.” 

A few days after these files were discovered, a new rumour began which said that Halo Infinite battle royale will reportedly build on the campaign. According to this rumour the new game mode is apparently “heavily connected to the campaign” and has also been in development for years. Which is surprising considering Halo Infinite only officially released back in November 2021. 

In other Halo Infinite news, a recent datamine suggests that Halo Infinite could soon bring back the game mode Shotty Snipers. We don’t have to wait too long to see if a new battle royale or Shotty Snipers game mode will be coming to Halo Infinite as Halo Infinite Season 2 (opens in new tab)  (aka Lone Wolves) is due to launch next month.

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