Is it just me, or do the Spartan-IVs seem a lot cooler now that they’re doing actual training instead of just playing video games aboard the Infinity? I’ve never really cared much about Halo’s lore explaining the multiplayer in depth, but seeing Spartans fighting at an academy is more badass to me than virtual simulations. It also probably helps that their armor is more reminiscent of the Spartan-IIIs’ from Reach than the goofy Mjolnir we see in Halo 4/5. 
I agree, I had the same thought when I noticed that in one of the screenshots for the academy map there is a sign that says something along the lines of “Warning, live rounds in use”. I much prefer an actual training environment for our Spartans, as opposed to a Titanfall 2-esqe training sim. Remember that Titanfall 2 map where the opening cutscene is your Pilot punching in to a training pod, and the whole map was a simulation? That was unique, and it was the only map in the game like that. Lore wise, that is every single match of Halo 4/5. I’m glad we’re returning a little more to “realism” it seems.
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> I agree, I had the same thought when I noticed that in one of the screenshots for the academy map there is a sign that says something along the lines of “Warning, live rounds in use”. I much prefer an actual training environment for our Spartans, as opposed to a Titanfall 2-esqe training sim. Remember that Titanfall 2 map where the opening cutscene is your Pilot punching in to a training pod, and the whole map was a simulation? That was unique, and it was the only map in the game like that. Lore wise, that is every single match of Halo 4/5. I’m glad we’re returning a little more to “realism” it seems.
Great analogy with the Titanfall 2 example! And I totally agree. I think one of Halo 3’s maps actually has a description that says the grounds are a training facility. I might be misremembering, but I believe it also says virtual simulations are ‘held in contempt’ by the people who run it. That seems similar to the academy we’re getting in Infinite, which I love!