Halo Infinite Finally Restores Long-Missing Feature After 15 Years
▼ Summary
– Halo Infinite’s Fall Update 2025, launching August 5, reintroduces the Falcon vehicle, last seen in Halo: Reach (2010), in a limited-time mode and Big Team Battle playlists.
– The update adds the Vestige Carbine, a new semi-automatic rifle firing radioactive green bolts, featured in the Banished Slayer playlist.
– Operation: Shadows, an ONI-themed event, offers a 20-tier free pass and a 50-tier Premium Operation Pass with exclusive armor sets and Spartan Points.
– Playlist updates include merged Firefight modes with POV switching, improved Extraction mode markers, and temporary objective locks for defense regrouping.
– Microsoft hints at future Halo games, with 343 Industries rebranded as Halo Studios and a potential major release in 2026 for Xbox’s 25th anniversary.
Fans of the Halo franchise have reason to celebrate as Halo Infinite reintroduces a beloved vehicle missing from the series for over a decade. The upcoming Fall Update 2025, launching August 5, marks the return of the Falcon, a fan-favorite aerial transport last seen in Halo: Reach back in 2010. This long-awaited addition is part of a broader content drop that includes a new weapon, playlist enhancements, and a themed in-game event.
The Falcon will debut in a limited-time mode called Famished Famished Falcons, a chaotic twist on the classic Hungry Hungry Hippos concept. Teams of three will battle to secure a neutral flag while utilizing the vehicle’s dual armaments, a machine gun on one side and a grenade launcher on the other. Beyond this mode, the Falcon will also appear in select Big Team Battle maps, integrating seamlessly into standard multiplayer rotations.
Alongside the Falcon, players will get their hands on the Vestige Carbine, a semi-automatic rifle that fires radioactive green projectiles. While visually reminiscent of Halo: Reach’s Needle Rifle, this weapon is entirely new to the franchise. Its availability in standard playlists remains unconfirmed, but it will feature prominently in the Banished Slayer mode, where teams clash using faction-specific arsenals.
The update also kicks off Operation: Shadows, an ONI-themed event packed with exclusive cosmetics. A free 20-tier pass offers the Whisper armor set and Spartan Points, while a premium 50-tier pass unlocks three additional armor sets. This event leans into the shadowy, espionage-driven lore of the Halo universe, giving players fresh customization options.
Beyond new content, the update refines existing gameplay. Firefight modes now allow players to toggle between first and third-person perspectives without playlist restrictions. Extraction modes receive quality-of-life improvements, including clearer objective markers and temporary site locks after captures, balancing the pace of matches.
Looking ahead, the Halo franchise continues to evolve. Following 343 Industries’ rebranding to Halo Studios, future titles will shift to Unreal Engine 5, promising faster development cycles. During June’s Xbox Games Showcase, Phil Spencer teased a major 2026 release tied to Xbox’s 25th anniversary, strongly hinting at another Halo installment. For now, the Fall Update ensures Halo Infinite remains a vibrant experience for both longtime fans and newcomers.
(Source: Gamespot)
