My Halo News.com

The latest news about the Halo series of games from Microsoft

  • January Matchmaking Playlist Update

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    The January Matchmaking Playlist Update went live yesterday – you can read all the details over at Halo Waypoint. New maps, new playlists, tweaks to gametypes – go read! (Louis Wu 15:16:08 UTC)

  • Halo: Agent of Anti-American Terrorism!

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    ChristWire has an article explaining how Halo is ruining our society. I laughed. (Hint: ChristWire is satire. Apparently, some folks who read this article don’t get that.) Hypertrooper was the first to post it where I could see it, but there’s also a thread on our own forum. This one must have been fun to write… (Louis Wu 15:10:10 UTC)

  • HRSotD: Halo 2 New Mombasa

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    HRSotD (short for Halo: Reach Screenshot of the Day) is a daily feature dedicated to the wonders of Halo: Reach screenshots and the artists that capture these amazing images. A variety of shots—all of which are completely unaltered and captured in Halo: Reach’s theater mode—are included for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy the varied selection of images, and maybe even find inspiration to make your own!

    Halo: Reach Screenshot

    Author: TA747

  • Tattoo Tuesday: Super-soldier

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    Some people show their love for Halo by playing the games. Others get a relevant image permanently placed upon their body. Enjoy this particular example of a Halo-related body modification, and if you have a picture you’d like to submit for possible future inclusion, send it to bsangel[at]halowaypoint.com!

    Halo Tattoo



    Halo tattoo, as seen on Thors toe

  • January Matchmaking Playlist Update

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    Halo: Reach Screenshot


    Looking for the details of the January Halo: Reach Matchmaking playlist update? Here are the specifics, in one handy-dandy bulleted list:


    • Living Dead updated.

    Zombies need games to go along with their brains, which is why we updated this playlist to include the following new spooky map variants: Bedlam, Uncongealed, Pandemic, Count d’Houen, Deadwalk, Powerless, Spooky Base, and Parasitic. We also don’t want you to be “All Alone,” so we turned up the weighting on Condemned. Can we get a bleep-bloop?!


    • Team Arena, Big Team Battle and Double Team updated to TU settings.

    TU game types are our standard Reach Matchmaking settings with the Title Update changes. Those changes are: damage bleed enabled, modified reticle bloom, sword block removed, Armor Lock modified, and Active Camo modified.


    • Squad DLC added. All DLC included/required.

    When Premium Battle was removed, threads about its disappearance slowly began cropping up. We adjusted the Matchmaking algorithm to match players who have DLC with other players who have DLC more often, but we noticed many players saying they still weren’t getting enough DLC to satisfy their map-related cravings. So we’re bringing a premium list back in the form of 6v6 DLC Slayer. This list is being introduced on a probationary status due to the low population previously experienced in Premium Battle.


    • Abridged updated to latest version.

    The creators, theforceswithin and schmittler 5000, made numerous changes to this map. Here are a few they deemed significant enough to mention:

    1. Multi-flag has been improved. The flags now spawn in the front of the base a few feet from the GL (previous PL spawn).
    2. A teleporter has been added inside the base that leads up to the two-story (Concussion) towers. This significantly improves movement.
    3. The gravity lift to the Falcon has been moved into the base to stop vehicles from getting stuck in a permanent floating state.
    4. Kill zones have been overhauled. It is now possible to fly underneath the bridge, and there are no HLG spots that we have found to be a problem.


    • 2v2 variants of Solitary and Battle Canyon added to Double Team.


    • Grifball early win behavior fixed.


    • Zealot, Countdown, and Penance added to Team Snipers.


    For more information about the January playlist update, please refer to the 1.4 edition of the Halo Bulletin.
    To leave feedback on the January Matchmaking Playlist Update, please visit the Matchmaking section of our forum.

  • Hindsight: ODST – Tayari Plaza

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    Hindsight: ODST - Tayari Plaza


    From Forward Unto Dawn:

    Here you will find an exploration of each of the levels from Halo 3: ODST. Hindsight: ODST is not to be mistaken for a walk through tutorial or gameplay guide; instead you will find a thoughtful tour of a beautifully crafted game and the encounters, easter eggs, and fun found within.

    We hope you enjoy our look at Tayari Plaza.


    Hindsight: ODST – Tayari Plaza

  • Halo Theme Tune in an Oil Chamber

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    From Jonny:

    Tom sounds exactly like the Halo theme in that place. It was like a cathedral down there!


    Halo Theme Tune in an Oil Chamber

  • Surprise Master Chief Birthday Cake

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    Custom Leather Case


    From Aedelthryd:

    This was my surprise Master Chief birthday cake, made by Alison Golden. I thought it was awesome!


    Surprise Master Chief Birthday Cake

  • Community Customs Night 1.6.12 – A Halo: Reach Montage

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    From Hyokin:

    Enjoy all the highlights from the HBO Community Customs night! If you haven’t played with the group, I highly recommend it. The games truly bring out everything we love about Halo and bring a fresh experience! Enjoy the highlight video.


    Community Customs Night 1.6.12 – A Halo: Reach Montage

  • Forerunner fails

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    OXM UK has some choice words for Halo’s Forerunners (and other ancient races) – thanks again, ElzarTheBam.(Louis Wu 16:02:14 UTC)

  • A close look at 343

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    All Ages Gaming has an article explaining why you shouldn’t be worried that 343 Industries currently sits at the Halo helm. (I wasn’t, actually… but it’s good to know other fans have their back.) Aside from some inaccuracies about prior credits of some of the principals, it’s an interesting read. Thanks, ElzarTheBam.(Louis Wu 14:00:17 UTC)

  • Duck and Laugh

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    pete_the_duck continues to amuse with his webcomics – today’s is pretty clever, and I liked Sunday’s, as well. Quack!(Louis Wu 12:10:22 UTC)

  • Rust and Echoes

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    Sqorck stopped by with a link to the Halo theme chanted… in a giant oil chamber. Awesome echoes! Moorpheusl9 followed up with one from a squash court. They both sound great!(Louis Wu 12:09:37 UTC)

  • Lightbulbs for your Desk(top)

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    HotIcePhoenix put together a Guilty Spark wallpaper as a commission… he’s cute! Check it.(Louis Wu 12:08:44 UTC)

  • An Awesome Opening Credit Roll to Tide You Over

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    Timgie stopped in to show off an incredibly cool draft of the opening for his newest machinima project. It already looks amazing, but he’s still looking for your feedback so give it a watch, then stop by to let him know what you think. If the intro looks this good, I can’t wait to see the full project!(GrimBrother One 06:42:56 UTC)

  • Holy Trailer Recreation, Batman!

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    Don’t worry, despite Wu’s only headlines from yesterday reading “Quitting Halo” and “No Help”, I have convinced him to stay around for a bit and use my sometimes-versatile vernacular as a creative crutch whenever he needs. On that note, over the holiday break, HBO participant JIMBOTHY had yet another capital idea and decided to recreate the recent Dark Knight Rises trailer in Halo: Reach machinima-style. The result is awesome; you should definitely check it out! Update: you can now watch a comparison video showing both the original and the machinima version side by side.(GrimBrother One 06:30:05 UTC)

  • No Help

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    MASSAIKUR stopped by with word of a live action/machinima mashup called ‘No Help‘ – this was put together by xXCrushedStarXx. I giggled.(Louis Wu 21:03:58 UTC)

  • Quitting Halo

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    ncsuDuncan has posted a new article at Misriah Solutions – this one looks at the problem of quitters in Halo: Reach matchmaking, and proposes some solutions. There are interesting discussions on our forum and at NeoGAF – join in!(Louis Wu 18:46:17 UTC)

  • HRSotD: Delicious!

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    HRSotD (short for Halo: Reach Screenshot of the Day) is a daily feature dedicated to the wonders of Halo: Reach screenshots and the artists that capture these amazing images. A variety of shots—all of which are completely unaltered and captured in Halo: Reach’s theater mode—are included for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy the varied selection of images, and maybe even find inspiration to make your own!

    Halo: Reach Screenshot

    Author: SadisticSecret

  • Community Member of the Week: Ka Five

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    Every Monday, we feature a community member who does one or more of the following things: routinely goes above and beyond for their fellow forum members, is a positive and active member of the community, and/or sends me mass amounts of cat pictures. This week our Community Member of the Week is Ka Five. Read about his Halo preferences below, then hit his profile to learn why SWAT should be (but isn’t!) his favorite playlist.

     

    Community Member of the Week

     

    Gamertag: Ka Five. Duh? 🙂

    Previous or current clan/community: None, but I like stickin’ with my Waypoint buds when I play. My group has grown exponentially since I made this thread, and you all rock so much. <3

    Halo games you are currently playing: All of ’em. Whenever I don’t know what to play, I pop in a Halo game. Primarily, though, I’m on Reach.

    Favorite map, game type and playlist: Favorite map would have to be Highlands and Breakpoint on Reach. Other Halo games, it would be Chiron TL-34, Beaver Creek, Headlong, Waterworks, Gephyrphobia, Ice Fields, Death Island, Foundation, and Terminal. Game type, CTF and Invasion, easy. Playlist, Invasion. I love fighting Elites as a Spartan, and vice versa.

    Least favorite map, game type and playlist: Any Campaign-based map that aren’t the Invasion maps. >_> Game type would be SWAT. Ironically, I’m going to be a police officer and SWAT certified. Playlist is the same.

    Halo weapon specialty/preference: Well, I do love my Assault Rifle, SMG, and Spartan Laser! Close quarters and long range lasering.

    Halo playing style: Whatever fits the needs of my team at the time. I like supporting my buds, though, and I do love my Armor Lock and Active Camo.

    Anything else we should know? I’m 21-years-old and am going to be a police officer. Something I’ve wanted to do my whole life. Anything else you want to know, just ask!


    Get to know Ka Five here!