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Halo Infinite is bidding farewell to seasons, with no Season 6 in the cards. Instead, developer 343 Industries is opting for shorter, free Operations scheduled every 4-6 weeks.
In a recent livestream, 343 Industries detailed what players can expect in the upcoming weeks and months for the free-to-play shooter. The focus is on a series of Operations, starting with a free update on January 30.
This update introduces a new Halo Wars-themed Operation, along with additional customization options and a new map. Brian Jarrard, the community director for Halo Infinite, emphasized the team’s commitment to Operations, making it clear that the traditional seasons won’t be making a return.
Operations were introduced during Halo Infinite Season 5, resembling seasons in many aspects but with a key distinction—all rewards are accessible for free within a limited timeframe. Unlike the 4-6 month duration of typical seasons, free Operations only last a few weeks.
As before, players can opt for a premium version to secure permanent access to each Operation. Post-operation, the rewards become available for purchase in the game’s store for those who missed out during the limited-time period.
The upcoming Spirit of Fire Operation offers a premium version that unlocks a skin for the Assault Rifle, transforming it into the iconic Assault Rifle from Halo: Combat Evolved. Subsequent Operations, including Cyber Showdown 3 and The Yappening 2, will feature new cosmetics for players to earn.
The January 30 update for Halo Infinite introduces a free Mark IV armor core, the ability to use various shoulder pads on any armor core, and a new symmetrical arena map.
The update also includes three new helmets inspired by Spartans from Paramount’s Halo television series, which begins its second season on February 8. Additional Forge options, such as Covenant objects and buildings, are being added for custom map creations.
Future updates are expected to include new alien fauna and Flood-themed objects for use in Forge, as teased during the livestream.
The Flood-themed Season 5 of Halo Infinite, which began in October 2023 and concludes with the Spirit of Fire Operation, marks the end of the game’s seasons with a 100-tier battle pass.
With Season 4, 343 Industries announced the departure from attaching story elements to seasons, indicating that future seasons would lack story cinematics similar to Seasons 1-3.
In other Halo developments, a version of the franchise’s cooperative PvE mode, Firefight, was recently added to Halo Infinite in a free update. However, the rumored Halo battle royale from Halo Infinite support studio Certain Affinity has reportedly been canceled after years of development.
