On November 8, the Halo Infinite Winter Update will bring a network co-op campaign, the Forge beta, and several new multiplayer additions.

Campaign Co-Op will allow players to progress together. Entering a session will place the party at the point where the furthest behind player is. Each collectible will also be available to each player who has not yet obtained it. In settings, players can select skulls from the ones each player has unlocked. Players can now replay missions as well, returning to unlock skulls or audio logs they didn’t take before.

The Forge beta allows players to host up to 7,000 objects per map, while Halo 5 allowed 1,600. Users can scale objects, making small ones large and large ones small. It also includes a visual scripting language, allowing players to play with small variables. Forge will launch with six canvases, i.e. map backgrounds, but will receive more over time. Bots are compatible with Forge for the first time. Each project will also be saved and carried over to future versions of Forge.

The multiplayer mode will receive two new official maps created by Forge. The first is Argyle, a closed map located inside a Forerunner structure. The second is Task Force, set in a UNSC base that features Halo Infinite’s first teleporter. Covert One-Flag is Halo Infinite’s first asymmetric mode. One team defends a flag while the other attacks to claim it. Attackers have unlimited active camouflage, while defenders have an infinite supply of threat sensors.

A new Match XP system awards players XP just for playing matches, with additional bonuses for performance and victory. The Winter Update will also launch with a free 30-tier Battle Pass, which includes many of the Reach cosmetic items. After the release of the update, there will be two events. The first one is in December and it’s called Winter Contingency 2. The second one is in January and it’s called Joint Fire.

Post-launch plans for Halo Infinite have changed significantly in recent months. The game will no longer receive a split-screen multiplayer campaign, and 343 will devote more resources to live service content.