Halo's multiplayer has always been a strong selling point for the series, offering fun maps and modes that complement its smooth gameplay and keep players hooked. Halo Infinite, developed by 343 Industries and published by Xbox Game Studios, was hailed as a return to form for the franchise upon its release late in 2021. However, the Battle Pass was heavily criticized for its slow progression, which was often unrelated to players' performances in matches. 343 have continued to work on these issues and has announced via Halo Waypoint that Season 2 of the game's multiplayer will be released on May 3.
Joseph Staten, Infinite's Head of Creative, highlighted how the team is focusing on several key areas. The first is addressing current issues and implementing systems, such as new anti-cheat measures, to improve player experience. Their focus will then shift to completing Season 2 of the multiplayer. In their most recent announcement, 343 gave new details on Season 2's new theme, which included relevant new characters and armor sets, as well as new maps and game modes.
Halo Infinite Multiplayer Season 2's New Theme
The new theme for Season 2 of Halo Infinite's multiplayer was announced as "Lone Wolves." The Lone Wolves are a Spartan class that specializes in isolated hunting and tracking inside enemy territory. This theme will be the core idea influencing a lot of the content and story for Season 2, which will be conveyed through a combination of cinematics, in-game events and Battle Pass unlocks. Two Lone Wolf characters have already been introduced: Spartan Sigrid Eklund and Spartan Hieu Dinh. It seems they will work alongside Spartan Commander Laurette Agryna, who was introduced in Season 1, to drive the story forward.
New armor sets and Battle Pass items will further play into this theme. For example, 343 announced it will be releasing a free Lone Wolves armor core for players to equip to their online Spartan and customize. Although the Lone Wolves theme will play a prominent role in shaping Season 2, there will still be other standalone content released. One such item is the free Fracture armor core, pictured above right. Further customization options will be released further down the line.
New Maps For Halo Infinite Multiplayer Season 2
Season 2 of Halo Infinite will also introduce several new maps for players to enjoy. The first is "Breaker," which is designed for Big Team Battle (BTB). From the released concept painting, it looks as if there will be one central hub for fighting over weapons and territory, with the area around it being more open, perhaps for vehicles or long-range combat. It also appears to have several levels for players to explore, but full details remain to be divulged.
A new Arena map has also been announced. The map, named "Catalyst," seems a lot more condensed for intense close-quarters combat. Hopefully, it will provide a fun space to enjoy Halo Infinite's brilliantly smooth gameplay. This would bring a much-needed breath of fresh air to the multiplayer, improving the overall game experience and variety.
New Game Modes For Halo Infinite Multiplayer Season 2
Another important announcement made by Staten was that Season 2 would include several new game modes. Like the addition of new maps, these will be essential for maintaining player interest by providing more multiplayer variety. The new modes include the classic "King of the Hill," which has been a favorite in previous Halo multiplayers. Season 2 is also set to bring with it two completely new game modes.
The first is "Last Spartan Standing," which is a free-for-all elimination mode. It seems likely that this will be a take on the popular battle royale genre of multiplayer. The other new mode is "Land Grab," but there was no further information given on it. However, its name suggests it might play similarly to "Territories" in Halo 2, 3 and Reach or the current "Strongholds" game type.
Finally, Staten did address several other modes that are currently being worked on but will unfortunately not be released at the launch of Season 2. Campaign network co-op will likely come later in Season 2, while split-screen co-op is yet to have a release window. Forge is also currently being developed to drop alongside Season 3 of Infinite's multiplayer. There is currently no mention of any campaign DLC either. 343 says it will have more to share regarding Season 2 of Halo Infinite's multiplayer in April.