Hey 343, I’d like to provide my feedback as a Halo Veteran since Halo CE. Specifically on features that I believe Halo Infinite needs to add. I will be focusing on features that I believe should be prioritized when adding content to the game and excluding things that have already been announced (campaign co-op/forge) as well as commonly brought up community issues (bugs/progression/customization/store). Sorry for the length but there is a lot missing from the game at this point.
• More variety of maps with different biomes and more moving parts/interactable objects.
We desperately need more variety and innovation when it comes to future multiplayer maps. Campaign DLCs absolutely need to change things up and take us to different biomes like snow/ice, desert, jungle, swamp, flood infection zone, space (with Covenant/Banished/Human capital ship interiors), Human cities, etc. These environmental assets can then be used to create a larger variety of multiplayer maps (and Forge spaces). I personally would love to see a BTB map that is the giant interior of a Covenant capital ship with a massive hangar, command bridge, etc. It would also give a lot of personality to maps if they differed significantly in layout with interesting asymmetrical and base assault designs as well as having interactable objects and vehicles like gate switches, plasma shields, turbines, Elephant bases, etc.
• A “third pillar” multiplayer mode.
I thought for sure that the announcement on November 15th would be the unveiling of Halo Infinite’s third pillar of multiplayer, but surprisingly we never got one. We have arena, we have BTB, but we are sorely missing a mode like Invasion or Warzone. I hope a mode like this is still coming down the pipeline. It could be Invasion 2.0 as a 50 vs. 50 massive war mode with Pelican/Phantom transport of troops or even a Battle Royale. Just something big, epic, and new that makes Halo Infinite unique.
• More weapons.
I’ve given this a lot of thought. I recognize that your current sandbox is specifically designed to reduce redundancy. In that spirit, I’ve selected 10 legacy weapons that I believe can be added to the sandbox with minimal redundancy. I’ve described the unique gameplay niche they fulfill as well as the weapons I didn’t select and why. I’ve also excluded heavy weapons like the missile pod and flamethrower as I’m just focusing on standard carry weapons, but those would be cool too.
High priority
Classic Shotgun: One shot kill shotgun with cooldown between shots; critical for infection/zombies mode.
Carbine: High rate of fire semi-automatic precision rifle.
CE Pistol: Hand cannon power weapon.
Medium priority
Fuel Rod: Barrage style/direct impact focused rocket launcher power weapon.
Brute Shot: Grenade launcher; good for group suppression and vehicle knockback; non-power weapon unlike Cindershot.
SAW: Light machine gun.
Dual SMGs: Close quarters automatic powerhouse; so single weapon vs. dual weapon balance isn’t an issue, these will always be dual-wielded (you pick them up as a pair, you swap to them as a pair, etc.); when equipped you can’t throw grenades but you can melee with the guns themselves.
Dual Silenced Magnums: Stealthy recon firearms; same magnums used in Halo 3 Recon SWAT; same rules as dual SMGs.
Low priority
Sticky Detonator: Trap-based weapon; this one I’d tweak to be able to shoot multiple mesh-mine nodes that can also be remote detonated like the original.
Target Locator: Artillery power weapon.
Excluded
Plasma Rifle, Spiker: Too similar in function to Dual SMGs, which I think are more iconic (Halo 2 cover).
Beam Rifle: Too similar in function to Sniper Rifle.
Spartan Laser: Should never have been in multiplayer (ruined BTB vehicle balance); brilliantly replaced by the Skewer which incentivizes use on players with insta-shot, has a projectile that moves slower and has drop off at range, and can’t one-shot Warthogs and Tanks; come at me.
Mauler: Replaced with Mangler.
DMR/Needle Rifle: Replaced with Stalker Rifle.
Grenade Launcher: I went with the Brute Shot for a grenade launcher since it makes sense to be in Halo Infinite; plus we don’t need more weapons that EMP vehicles.
Plasma launcher: We have the Hydra and Plasma Grenades.
Plasma Repeater/Storm Rifle: Replaced with Plasma Carbine.
Focus Rifle: We have the Sentinel Beam.
Concussion Rifle: Too similar in function to the Brute Shot.
Rail Gun: Too similar in function to the Skewer.
Promethean Weapons: Lets not talk about those… Jokes aside all of them have weapons with similar functions in Infinite.
Side note: I’d like some of these excluded legacy weapons added too, but I’m focusing on prioritizing weapons that adhere to the current sandbox philosophy. Completely new and unique weapons would be cool too. I’d love to see any added weapons retroactively included in all Halo Infinite campaigns including the base game campaign. Also, please give the Ravager triple-shot more splash damage, buff the Commando accuracy, and give the gravity hammer more vehicle knockback.
• More vehicles
At the very least please add a Falcon with 2 passenger seats where the passengers can pull down a chaingun or grenade launcher (depending on the version) to use if they’re not carrying an objective. We’ve been missing multi-person aircraft in Halo. I wouldn’t mind seeing the Gauss Hog, Spectre, and Revenant back as well. Maybe a Scarab boss battle in campaign DLC?
Side note: Please fix the Chopper (handling/boost damage to other vehicles), the Banshee (handling/cannon damage/durability), and the Wraith (cannon damage and sound). I’m also of the opinion that the doomed mechanic and vehicle destruction in general looks pretty bad (especially when compared to Halo 3). I’d give vehicle destruction a full overhaul. Power vehicles should also spawn way earlier in BTB matches and have equal/simultaneous spawns on both sides for the sake of balance. One team shouldn’t get a tank while the other gets a chopper and those definitely shouldn’t only drop in the last 30 seconds of the game.
• More custom game settings
This one is definitely a must. I was so disappointed to see that I couldn’t make everyone spawn with infinite grappleshots with no cooldown. And I’m sure you’re aware that more game modes and game mode-specific settings need to be added. Please add more options (especially for equipment).
• Custom games browser when forge launches
You guys have already implemented this in MCC. It would be wildly disappointing if it doesn’t launch in Infinite alongside Forge. This feature would maximize the benefits of the Forge mode you spent time creating by allowing people to easily and immediately get people together to test and play new maps/game modes, helping to foster a thriving custom games community.
• Personal AI
The personal AI should be completely reworked to be more interesting. The voices can stay but the basic shapes need to change to actual AI character models. This can only benefit you guys monetarily as you can add AI from previous Halo games (Cortana, Serina, Isabel, Roland, etc.) as well as AI based on any Halo character (Master Chief, Sgt. Johnson, Arbiter, both the Keyes, Lord Hood, 343 Guilty Spark, Truth, Gravemind, etc.) much like Cortana is based on Halsey.
• Assassinations
These are sorely missed in Infinite. They add a lot of style and flair when you pull one off. I’m aware that many people don’t want to accidentally perform an assassination in tight situations when a quick melee would be preferable. I think a great solution would be to bind assassinations to holding the action button when possible (much like entering a vehicle) and not the melee button. This would also benefit you guys a lot monetarily as you can add assassinations to the shop.
• More equipment
Finally, I’d like to see more equipment options in the future. Specifically a jetpack as that would add a lot of cool custom game possibilities. Other options would be some iteration of a regenerator, power drain, flare, radar jammer, trip mine, auto turret, hologram, etc.
Side note: Please buff the strength and deploy time of the drop wall as well as the range of the threat sensor.
If anyone at 343 has read this feedback, I want to thank you for your time, and I hope it helps make Halo Infinite a better game in the long run. Have a great day!