The massive Halo Infinite Winter Update brings a new co-op campaign mode, a game-changing ‘Forge’ map creator, new maps, weapon updates, a battle pass, and more.
Halo Infinite’s largest update yet, the sizable patch, brings along two new maps, a new game mode, battle pass, along with making balance changes to a plethora of weapons. Players should also note that this update has resolved many of the earlier acknowledged bugs and issues with the game. A complete list of all the bugs and glitch fixes can be found at the end of this article. The Winter update also includes a ‘Forge’ mode that lets players modify existing in-game objects and create new maps to enjoy multiplayer matches in. The ‘Forge’ mode is currently in its beta state and will be improved upon gathering player feedback.
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Halo Infinite Winter Update Network Co-Op Campaign Mode
Halo’s dev team starts off the huge patch by introducing a Network Co-Op mode that enables up to four players to play through the entire Halo Infinite Campaign together. Players have to start a separate Network Co-Op Campaign session to enjoy Halo Infinite’s campaign in co-op mode.
Here’s how to start a Network Co-Op Campaign session. Follow the steps below:
- Launch Halo Infinite.
- Select the “+” symbol underneath your Nameplate to add players to your Fireteam.
- From the Social menu, select the Friends tab.
- From here, you can join a friend’s Fireteam or invite them to join yours by selecting their Gamertag and choosing from the options on their Profile menu.
- Once the Fireteam has been formed, the Fireteam Leader (FTL) should navigate to the Campaign menu in the Play tab. The FTL is identified by a crown icon in the Fireteam widget located at the bottom left of the screen and in the Social
- In the Campaign menu, the FTL can select to Continue their latest save file, start a new save file, or load a specific save file.
- Once the FTL selects their save file, they will enter the Campaign Co-Op menu, where they can select the preferred Difficulty level and which Skulls to enable.
- After pressing the Start Co-Op button, the rest of the Fireteam will be prompted to select their save file.
- The FTL can select Start Game to initiate the session once all players select their save file.
Using the selected save files, the Fireteam’s campaign progress is aggregated so that the session’s progress reflects content that all members have completed. This allows all progress made in co-op sessions to be applied to each player’s individual save file.
“Collectibles, such as Data Pads and Skulls, will appear in co-op sessions if any Fireteam members have not collected them in their individual save. Collecting these items in co-op will unlock them for all Fireteam members who had not already collected them. If all players in the session have collected these items, they will not appear or be interactive.” read the post at Halo’s official site.
Players should note that unlocked equipment, equipment upgrades, and High Value Target (HVT) weapon variants will remain unlocked for individual players in co-op sessions even if all Fireteam members have not yet unlocked them.
Campaign Mission Replay
Main story missions and all side objectives like Outposts, Targets, and Marine Events can now be replayed.
To replay a mission or event that has already been completed, players need to follow the steps below:
- Launch Halo Infinite.
- In the Play tab of the main menu, select Campaign.
- Select Continue to use your latest save file or select Load Game to use a different save file.
- Once in gameplay, open the TacMap With the default control bindings, this menu can be opened using the View button on a controller or the Tab key on a keyboard.
- Navigate around the TacMap and locate a mission or event you would like to replay, then place the TacMap cursor on that objective’s icon.
- Use the shortcut listed on the bottom of the menu to open the icon’s Mission Options menu.
- In the Mission Options menu, select Replay Mission.
- Select the preferred Difficulty and Skulls then press the Play button to initiate the Mission Replay.
When replaying missions, the weapon loadout you currently have equipped will be used in the selected mission. You can use this to play earlier missions with weapon variants unlocked from late game Targets or with newly unlocked Skulls. Unlocked equipment and upgrades will also carry over to earlier missions, even if the selected mission takes place before that equipment is unlocked.
After completing a Mission Replay or when leaving a replayed mission early, the save file’s current mission will resume at the latest checkpoint available and all content unlocked in the Mission Replay (such as Skulls and audio logs) will carry over to the current save permanently. Completing missions on higher difficulties will count toward Achievements as well.
Two New Maps Launched
Along with a ‘creator’ mode that hopes to massively increase the interest of the new game’ playerbase, the huge 12GB update also introduces two new maps into the fray. Called Arygle and Detachment, the new maps are created using Halo’s new map-creator mode Forge. Both the maps are available in multiple Arena and Ranked matchmaking playlists and also, in Custom Games.
Argyle
Created using Halo’s Forge, Argyle is a map set on a UNSC ship deep in space. The map’s large courtyards are surrounded by a web of staircases and ramps. Players have ample opportunity to avoid enemy control of the map’s long sightlines by flanking through unguarded hallways. Alternatively, player can use one of the two sniper spawns to take down enemies from a distance.
Detachment
Inspired by Capture the Flag modes, Detachment features two bases connected by several unique routes. An island, reachable by multiple Man Cannons and the first teleporter in Halo Infinite Multiplayer, sits on the opposite end of a chasm from both bases. This island hosts a power weapon and great views of enemy positions.
Halo Infinite Winter Update New Campaign Achievements
The massive Halo Infinite Winter Update introduces the addition of 24 new achievements for players to earn, all added for a total of 420 gamer score. Some achievements will remain Co-op Campaign exclusive, means players have to play with friends in co-op mode to farm some of these specific achievements. Halo Infinite fans should also note that many of the achievements can also be earned by playing all solo.
Full list of new Campaign Achievements
- Mix Things Up – Get at least one kill with every available weapon and grenade on the Banished ship. (20 Gamerscore)
- Stick Around – Defeat Tremonius with the Skewer. (20 Gamerscore)
- Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly – Destroy both Phantoms before they leave Outpost Tremonius. (20 Gamerscore)
- Out with a Bang – Kill the Tower commander with a Plasma grenade. (20 Gamerscore)
- Workplace Safety Violation – Kill an enemy with the Banished mining laser. (20 Gamerscore)
- Conservation of Momentum – Complete the Conservatory in less than 15 minutes. (20 Gamerscore)
- It Really Does Beat Everything – Eliminate all enemies at the South Beacon with a Scorpion Tank. (20 Gamerscore)
- Vintage Fisticuffs – In the Nexus, kill the Hunter pair with melee final blows. (20 Gamerscore)
- Spire Stalker – Kill 40 enemies with the Stalker Rifle at the Command Spire. (20 Gamerscore)
- Turnabout is Fair Play – Kill one Chieftain and use his turret to kill another in the Repository. (20 Gamerscore)
- More Than He Bargained For – Defeat War Chief Escharum without ever fully losing your shields. (20 Gamerscore)
- What’s Rightfully Ours – In co-op, capture all Forward Operating Bases on any difficulty. (10 Gamerscore)
- Wardens of Zeta – In co-op, complete all seven Banished outposts on any difficulty. (10 Gamerscore)
- First Responders – In co-op, answer all UNSC distress calls on any difficulty. (10 Gamerscore)
- Hunting Party – In co-op, eliminate all Banished High-Value Targets on any difficulty. (20 Gamerscore)
- Air Raid – In co-op, kill 100 enemies while all players are riding air vehicles. (10 Gamerscore)
- Cow Catcher – In co-op, splatter 50 enemies while riding in a vehicle with another player. (10 Gamerscore)
- Gruesome Twosome – In co-op, kill 50 enemies while riding a Mongoose with another player. (10 Gamerscore)
- Keep It Steady – Kill 5 enemies with a Sniper Rifle from a vehicle. All players aboard vehicle share progress. (10 Gamerscore)
- Rolling Thunder – Kill 5 enemies with a Gravity Hammer from a vehicle. All players aboard vehicle share progress. (10 Gamerscore)
- Inseparable – In co-op, kill a Hunter and its bond brother within three seconds of each other. (20 Gamerscore)
- You, Me, Same Page – In co-op, destroy all cooling towers at the Dig Site within 60 seconds of each other. (20 Gamerscore)
- Controlled Demolition – In co-op, destroy four Fuel Silos within five seconds at either Ransom Keep or the Forge of Teash. (20 Gamerscore)
- Wolves at the Doors – In co-op, lower all three gates within 15 seconds of each other at Riven Gate. (20 Gamerscore)
To view the exclusive art for each completed Achievement alongside the list revealed above, Halo fans can click on the official Achievements article here.
Halo Infinite Winter Update Weapon Balance Changes
BR75 BATTLE RIFLE
The base damage and aim assist for the Battle Rifle have both been decreased.
Developer Team Notes
Firstly, the Halo dev team wants the BR75 to remain the versatile weapon players know and love. But we have also noticed it has been performing a bit too well – making it not feel as rewarding as it should. In the Winter Update, the team wishes to raise the skill ceiling on landing the final kill shot as well as reduce its effectiveness at range from the hip. These changes intend to help make kills with the BR75 feel even more rewarding.
Changes:
- 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.
VK78 COMMANDO RIFLE
The VK78 Commando Rifle’s aim assist has been increased, making it more efficient at shorter distances.
Developer Team Notes
“One of the most common pieces of feedback we’ve received is that aiming with the VK78 Commando felt loose, especially at shorter range.” read the developer notes at Halo Waypoint, the official site. “To help increase its effectiveness up close, we’ve slightly increased the bullet magnetism and slightly reduced the high minimum error. We’ve seen this help players finish off targets at closer range during internal playtests, so we’re eager to see how this plays out in the wild.”
- 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.
DISRUPTOR
The Disruptor’s magazine now holds 12 rounds rather than 10.
Developer Team Notes
The Disruptor has started to see more use as we’ve gotten further into Halo Infinite’s lifespan, but it still isn’t doing as well as we’d hoped. To help with this, we’re updating the ammo count to help players close out kills a little more easily. We’ve also spotted reports of the damage over time (DoT) effect being inconsistent and will be working to get an improvement out in a future update.
- Increased magazine ammo count from 10 to 12.
PLASMA PISTOL
Charged shots from the Plasma Pistol will now more effectively track enemies in both close and mid-range combat. Uncharged shots now deal more damage as well.
Developer Team Notes
“Many players have report that the Plasma Pistol was underperforming against Spartans, especially when using its overcharged shot. To help the overcharged shot track as expected at mid-to-close range, the developer team has updated its values slightly in the Winter Update. Secondly, we have also noticed the base shot was not seeing much use, so we’ve increased the damage of the base shot to make it a more viable option for players.”
- 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
The Pulse Carbine’s plasma bursts will now better track enemies in short to mid-range combat, however, their tracking at longer ranges has been reduced.
Developer Team Notes
“Even as players have gotten more proficient with the Pulse Carbine, it has not been as successful in short-to-mid range as the team would like. To help with this, the team has updated the tracking to help it out in shorter range. To help balance out its power though, the tracking will be reduced at longer range. These changes intend to help player land shots more consistently in short to mid-range while slightly reducing the effectiveness at longer ranges.”
- 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.
FRAG GRENADE
The detonation timer for the Frag Grenade has been slightly increased to reward better placed grenades and to give players on the receiving end more time to react.
Developer Notes
“The Frag Grenade has received feedback that it’s a bit too effective and that throwing one just before dying results in easier trades than intended. In order to help address these issues, we have increased the detonation time slightly. This will give players a little bit more time to react to a grenade that has landed near them. It will also reward players for better placed grenades”.
- Increased detonation timer by 0.2 seconds.
Progression Updates
Match XP (Beta)
The new Match XP system intends to reward players for their performance in every matchmade multiplayer game. XP is awarded for accomplishments like:
- 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
The Winning Team, Match MVP, and Top 50% of Team awards will stack for a total of 200 XP.
When a match ends, players will now see the Match XP they were awarded, which Challenges they completed, and their progress in the Battle Pass tiers.
Weekly Challenges
Starting alongside the launch of the Winter Update, the following updates have been made to the Weekly Challenge deck:
- Challenges are more “general” overall.
- The number of Challenges required to unlock the Ultimate Challenge has been dropped from 20 to 10.
- All Weekly Challenges can now be completed by players in any multiplayer playlist.
Halo Infinite Winter Update New Events
Joint Fire Event
Early next year, the Joint Fire event will introduce a new 10-tier Event Pass and feature an asymmetrical Capture the Flag (CTF) variant: Covert One-Flag. Like the Winter Contingency II event above, this event’s rewards can only be earned by completing Event Challenges while the event is active.
NEW MULTIPLAYER MODE: COVERT ONE-FLAG
In Covert One Flag, two teams will swap between attacking and defending a single flag with each side having unique loadouts. The attacking team will attempt to sneak towards the enemy flag while equipped with Pulse Carbines and Sidekicks. The attacking team will have unlimited Active Camo. The defending team hunts the invisible attackers and defends their flag with Commando Rifles, Energy Swords, possessing unlimited Threat Sensors.
Covert One Flag will rotate into matchmaking with the launch of the Winter Update and may rotate out in the future. The new mode will be available as a featured matchmaking playlist during the Joint Fire event. Covert One Flag is ready to play in Custom Games now, with the launch of the Winter Update.
Halo Infinite Winter Update Battle Pass
The Halo Infinite Winter Update also introduces a 30 tier Battle Pass that players can gain access to for free. This Battle Pass contains a wide selection of Halo: Reach-themed customization items which players can completing several Challenges and Match-XP.
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Complete list of Winter Update Battle Pass tier rewards
- Mark V [B] Armor Core
- Armor Emblem: Brooch
- Mark V [B] Chest: UA/TAAP
- Mark V [B] Left Shoulder Pad: SAP/SEC
- Mark V [B] Right Shoulder Pad: SAP/SEC
- Consumable: XP Boost
- Vehicle Emblem: Brooch
- Visor: Sardonic
- Mark V [B] Utility: UA/Type CHOBHAM
- Mark V [B] Helmet: CQB
- Consumable: XP Boost
- Weapon Emblem: Brooch
- Mark V [B] Knee Pads: UA/Type GR
- Mark V [B] Left Shoulder Pad: SAP/GND
- Mark V [B] Right Shoulder Pad: SAP/GND
- Consumable: XP Boost
- Nameplate: Brooch
- Mark V [B] Left Shoulder Pad: SAP CQC
- Mark V [B] Right Shoulder Pad: SAP CQC
- Mark V [B] Helmet: CQC
- Consumable: XP Boost
- Visor: Bullfrog
- Mark V [B] Armor Coating: Moa Assault
- Mark V [B] Chest: UA/SIMA
- Mark V [B] Helmet Attachment: UA/Type C1
- Consumable: XP Boost
- Mark V [B] Left Shoulder Pad: SAP/SEC [K]
- Mark V [B] Right Shoulder Pad: SAP/SEC [K]
- Mark V [B] Chest: TAC/Kukri Machete
- Mark V [B] Helmet: Mark V
Follow these steps below to change your equipped Battle Pass.
- Navigate to the Battle Pass menu. This can be done from the main menu by selecting or using the shortcut listed within the Battle Pass tile in the top right corner of the screen.
- Select the Switch Battle Pass button below the Battle Pass tile located on the left side of the menu.
- On the Battle Pass Switcher menu, use the checkbox below the Battle Pass tiles to equip the preferred Battle Pass.
Halo Infinite Winter Update Resolved Issues
Global
Text on loading screens should no longer change size when the UNSC emblem appears in the bottom left corner of the screen.
The Mouse 4 and Mouse 5 icons in the Keyboard/Mouse tab of the Settings menu are no longer reversed. Binding an action to Mouse 4 would now show the upper side button of a mouse and binding an action to Mouse 5 will show the lower side button.
Various instances of overlapping text in menus have been significantly improved.
Multiplayer
Fusion Coils attached to the back of a Razorback should now consistently detonate when the Razorback is destroyed.
Firing the Disruptor should now correctly uncloak players using Active Camo.
Rockets reflected by the Repulsor equipment no longer appear invisible to some players.
Collision fixes have been implemented on the multiplayer map Catalyst to stop players from taking objective items out of the playable area.
Spawn points on the multiplayer map Catalyst have been adjusted to reduce instances of players respawning in an enemy player’s line of sight.
The Dynamo Grenade’s “ticking” sound effect will no longer play when dealing damage to an enemy in a Ranked multiplayer match.
The Volatile Skewer’s projectile will now be launched in Man Cannons like the base Skewer’s projectiles.
Visual
Equipped armor customizations will now consistently appear on the player’s Spartan when rewatching the Season 2 Introduction Cinematic.
During multiplayer matches, emblems and nameplates should now appear consistently on the Scoreboard and the “Killed By” Heads-Up Display (HUD) element.
The third-person animation for reloading the Bulldog shotgun has been improved.
The third-person animation for Spartans clambering up a ledge no longer has a chance to appear temporarily frozen.
The Repulsor equipment should now be visible in first-person.
The windshield tint of the Spacestation Gaming Warthog coating has been adjusted so that players in the driver and passenger seats are more visible to other players.
Multiple overlapping Spartans will no longer appear on the Multiplayer menu.
The Kythera Battlepad wrist armor will no longer appear to float above transradial or transhumeral prostheses on the Eaglestrike armor core.
A missing UNSC decal has been restored to the Liteknuckle gloves for the Mark VII armor core.
Audio
Multiple Iratus AI voice lines have been added for kills with kinetic, plasma, hardlight, and shock weapons.
Menus
Challenges listed on the pause menu during multiplayer matches will now show their correct XP values.
Reintroduced the “Congratulations” message for players who have completed all available Battle Passes. This message was previously removed due to a bug which has since been fixed.
Using the Save a Copy shortcut in the Custom Games Mode Editor menu will now save all currently applied but unsaved changes to the new copy.
To reduce instances of players unintentionally leaving a multiplayer match early, the Leave Fireteam shortcut in the in-game Pause menu’s Social menu now has a confirmation dialog.
Challenges and Medals
Grappling to and hijacking a Brute Chopper now correctly progresses the Grapple-Jack Challenge.
Kills will now more consistently track for weapon-specific Challenges.
Theater
Players are now able to consistently bookmark Theater films.
When viewing bookmarked films in the Content Browser menus, the player’s tiles will show “New Film” as the film’s name. Selecting the film will show the correct map and mode names.
Theater Films in the My Bookmarks menu now have a Watch Film option.
Campaign Mode
Menus
Previously enabled Skulls no longer have a chance to become disabled after resuming a save file with the Continue button in the Campaign menu.
Gameplay Time will no longer carry over between new save files using the same save slot in the Campaign menus.
The Bandana Skull will now be marked as collected on the Tac-Map as soon as players pick it up.
All Weapon Variants are now correctly labeled in the FOB tab of the TacMap.
Completing missions will now consistently show the correct difficulty levels in the TacMap and, if applicable, unlock the correct full Campaign completion achievements.
Access to the Screen Calibration menu during Campaign gameplay has been restored.
This menu can be accessed by navigating to the Video tab of the Settings menu and using the shortcut listed on the bottom of the screen.
Closing Halo Infinite via outside methods (such as Task Manager on PC or powering off the PC/console) and then loading or starting a different save file will no longer overwrite or corrupt save files.
Gameplay
Simultaneously reloading a weapon and refilling ammo at an ammo crate will now correctly refill both the weapon’s magazine and the reserve ammo.
An erroneous kill volume near the eastern anti-air Gun Battery has been removed.
Kill volumes have been adjusted so that enemies launched off the surface of Zeta Halo due to the Boom and Cowbell Skulls’ increased explosion velocity will no longer block objectives from being completed.
Visual
Character facial animations now appear smoother at all framerates.
The Grunt Birthday Party Skull will now only trigger confetti effects when a headshot kills a Grunt.
Skipping cutscenes no longer has a chance to disable first-person animations and make weapon models invisible.
Network Co-Op
The developer team has made the following improvements based on feedback and Halo Support tickets from a Halo Insider flight in July 2022.
What is the file size of Halo Infinite Winter Update?
The file size of the update changes depending on the platform, but by just 1 GB. For Xbox consoles, the update is “approximately 12 GB or less. On the other hand, PC users will have to download a 13 GB update from the Microsoft Store/PC Xbox app or Steam. Players will require a stable internet connection to download and enjoy the entirety of the new content in this update.
When Does Halo Infinite Winter Update Release?
The groundbreaking update marks a year since the game’s release and is slated to arrive on servers on November 8, 2022. The Winter patch also celebrates the release of one of the most memorable titles in the same shooter franchise, Halo 4. By bringing two new maps and also some classic fan-favorite maps from the cherished fourth installment of Halo, the upcoming update surely hopes to give players a good reason to pick up the game again. The developer team has listened to the fans and is now working their way into making Halo Infinite if not great, but a better version of the game released upon launch.
Players can access the full patch notes article on the Halo Waypoint site by clicking here.
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