343 Industries' Halo Infinite has had quite a turbulent time since its launch. From poor reveal impressions to delays of the game to the slow drip-feed of content, Halo Infinite seems to be crawling when it should be flying. Released during the wake of the disastrous launch of Battlefield 2042 and the tepid at best reception to Call of Duty: Vanguard, the game was 343's chance to break out and bring the Halo franchise back to the juggernaut it once was. However, with controversy after controversy and poor management, Halo Infinite finds itself where those other games were a year after launch.
343's Winter Update for Halo Infinite looks to change this. It has been lauded as Halo Infinite's biggest update, including a free 30-tier battle pass featuring some of Halo: Reach's fan-favorite cosmetics and generalizing the once hyper-specific multiplayer challenges. These, however, are simply fan service. The meat of the update consists of three major pieces of the series' identity that Halo Infinite was missing: the indisputably beloved Forge mode, a co-op mode for the campaign, and XP for multiplayer matches.
The Winter Update Features the Triumphant Return of Forge Mode
By far, one of the most requested features was the return of Forge Mode, a map editor that debuted in 2007's Halo 3. As with any video game map creator, the Halo community has been using Forge Mode to make all sorts of magical things, like deathmatch maps, obstacle courses, custom game mode maps, and recreations of real buildings. Since its inception, Forge Mode has been an iconic part of Halo and a showcase of the community's creativity, and many were disappointed to see it missing at launch.
Not only is Forge Mode finally returning -- it looks better than ever. Halo Infinite's Forge Mode is by far the most in-depth and advanced iteration the series has seen. It boasts much-requested features like an undo button and scaling for individual parts, and that's only the tip of the iceberg. This version of Forge Mode truly shines with the introduction of its incredibly in-depth scripting system, which is improved from Halo 5: Guardians. If players want to have assault rifles that fire M41 rockets or give specific bots or players higher health and lower shield regeneration, they can. These features are sure to truly test the limits of Halo players' creativity.
Halo's Iconic Co-op Is Finally Coming Back
Ever since Halo: Combat Evolved hit the scene, the series has been known for its split-screen multiplayer and co-op. Halo's legacy was established with the LAN party and the gathering around a television. Halo 3 went so far as to change the cooperative players into different characters and changed the cutscenes to reflect that. However, Halo Infinite launched without any co-op options, something fans viewed as a bizarre choice. Infamously, 343 Industries axed split-screen co-op near the end of its implementation, drawing the ire of many longtime fans.
Network campaign co-op has also returned in the Winter Update, with a fresh new set of achievements based on cooperative play and the much-requested Mission Replay system. Now, players can go back and replay previously completed campaign missions, some of which were in locations that could not be revisited, rendering collectibles in that area unobtainable. Though split-screen may still be missing, this is a big step forward for Halo Infinite towards embracing the identity of what made the series so great. Halo Infinite's co-op is also cross-platform, meaning no one will be left out whether they're playing on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, or PC.
Halo Infinite Is Getting Multiplayer XP
While not as iconic as Forge Mode or co-op, the Winter Update's final major addition was also highly-requested. Now, those playing Halo Infinite's multiplayer will earn XP for simply playing matches. One of Halo Infinite's biggest criticisms was that the only way to gain XP was through obtuse, often selfish, challenges that ruined the team play of the game. Now, like in previous games, players gain XP for finishing and winning matches. This, alongside the new and improved challenge system, makes gaining battle pass tiers much less of a chore and incentivizes players to simply enjoy the game rather than focusing on arbitrary challenges.
Halo Infinite has had a rough year since it launched, and 343 Industries has been on the brink of losing the community's favor and support altogether. However, this Winter Update is an important step in the right direction that brings the game closer to its roots and brings Infinite closer to being the celebration of all things Halo it was always meant to be. By listening to the fans and implementing improvements and features the community has been asking for, 343 looks set to turn Halo Infinite around, indicating the game's future is finally bright.