There are some big changes coming to the world of Halo 4, but none are as exciting as seeing what new developer 343 Industries is bringing to the multiplayer. Though they have already teased a few of the game’s new competitive and cooperative modes, 343 is now slowly revealing more substantial details about Halo 4‘s multiplayer.
In the first part of a video series over at Game Informer, Multiplayer Designer Brad Welch discusses some of those multiplayer changes, and how they will impact the play styles of long-time Halo fans.
One of the most influential changes to multiplayer for Halo 4 are the loadouts – customizable weapon and ability choices that will create unique player combinations in Halo 4‘s multiplayer. Rather than relying on weapon drops for new choices players will be able to select which of the game’s varied arsenal they want to roll into battle with.
Along with new weapons, players will also be able to select from many of Halo: Reach‘s abilities, and some new ones, for their loadout. Sprint, however, won’t be an option since it now comes standard for all Spartan IVs. As Welch points out, without sprint multiplayer gamers are finding new play styles and ability options that were never really explored before in Reach.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a new Halo without some new modes for players to tool around with, and Halo 4 promises new revisions of old standards along with a few new options like Regicide. Regicide places a bounty on a single player’s head (the “King”), that grows as they kill more opponents, and only when that king is killed does the honor (or dishonor) pass on. Points are still awarded for kills regardless, but there is obviously going to be one priority target for Regicide.
There are still many elements to the multiplayer, including its Red vs. Blue storyline and a more detailed explanation of the Spartan points, to come later this week. And, to sweeten the deal even further, Conan O’Brien is planning on revealing some big Halo 4 news on his show tomorrow.
Though this is just a taste of what 343 has in store of multiplayer fans in Halo 4, it’s absolutely a great start. There are enough new features and content for 343 to escape Bungie‘s shadow, while die-hard fans should be happy to know old standards (like Capture the Flag) are returning.
What do you think of Halo 4‘s new multiplayer mode Regicide? How will the inclusion of sprint alter the selection of armor abilities in the multiplayer?
Halo 4 is slated for a Holiday 2012 release on the Xbox 360.
Source: Game Informer
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I haven’t been this excited for a Halo game since Halo 2.
it’s good to see the franchise step in new directions, halo 2 and 3 where the same bs as halo CE it’s about time we got a new and fresh take on the franchise, i say bring it 343, show us that bungie was lazy with the franchise and was to scared to evolve it the way you guys have
So I guess the inclusion of Xbox Live in Halo 2 wasn’t new from Combat Evolved, as was the massive overhaul in gameplay. Oh, and Forge and Theatre in Halo 3 wasn’t new either. You’re not satisfied with any game series, are you?
i dare them not 2 buy black ops 2 i dare you losers
umm d***weed wtf does BO 2 have to do with halo (*besides competition) ? i never said i like either repetitive load of bs. but if i had to choose (pick your poison instance) it would be halo b/c not only does halo look better, it has more balance then any CoD game (minus the assault rifle being horse s***).
the halo franchise has only slightly evolved through its sequels, nothing significant much like CoD (only addition being the kill streaks). 343 seems to have changed that by creating new and different game types (different to the usual halo game types) and by changing the visuals (making everything prettier).
From Halo CE to Halo 2, even just the added physics changed the game in a major way; players could now move objects with their bodies, vehicles could be destroyed to allow for more battlefield balance, and several other things changed.
And in Halo 3, the inclusion of Forge completely changed the game. And I mean, completely. We were able to explore maps to new levels, find more efficient strategies, and many game developing schools used Forge as a tool to practice designing games, as well as Bungie finding extremely talented people through forge, and getting their feedback and help in the games. Forge even gave the game lasting appeal to players who didn’t much enjoy the online multiplayer. Look at Forge Art; some of it is incredible.
Even just minor tweaks in gameplay functions can completely change the entire game. I’m not trying to say that the series has evolved at an alarming rate since it started, I’m saying that it hasn’t needed to in the sequel and Halo 3. The tweaks added made for some amazing games. And that being said, they certainly weren’t rehashed games, like your first comment here made them sound to be.
I’m totally looking forward to Halo 4, and can’t wait to see how 343 handles taking over such a legendary franchise. Hopefully they earn their ownership of the series.
Yea there shouldn’t be major changes in a franchise. Haven’t we learned our lesson on why from DAO to DA2? That was a major overhaul of a good formula that DA2 completely ruined. As long as the games are selling millions COD is right to stick to its formula (I don’t play COD).
I might buy the next CoD. I actually enjoy both Halo AND Call of Duty. As well as Battlefield. Imagine that.
Thank you for being you.
I hope there are a lot of new features for multiplayer since none of the sequels really grabbed me.
PEOPLE WHO USAULY SAY THEY COULDNT GET INTO ARE PEOPLE WHO PLAY BLACK OPS OR BATTLEFEILD (CAMPERS) AND JUST PLAIN SUCK AT A GAME LIKE HALO IF YOUR DOWN I CALL ANY ONE ON HERE OUT TO A CHALLENGE TRUST ME YOU LL GET OWNED P S COD HAS BEEN THE SAME THING FOR 5 YEARS AND HALO(BUNGIE) HAS ADDED NEW THINGS EVERYTIME QUIT HATIN!
wow turn off the caps. your using a fake word “campers” to describe a particular game you don’t like, while you attack the people who enjoy it and play it……battlefield, halo and call of duty are such different games styles it insults me you would compare them in the same post. also i do not see how video game skill level factors into the any basis for how good a game is…saying halo takes more skill to play doesn’t make it a better game. why are you even bragging about video game skill to begin with? go to college, get a job, find a wife, make a family, buy a house and then brag about those things not your “madz halo skillz”
lol you must suck thats y yer bitchin
oh by thhe way this a gamer site not facebook and my wife is HOT by the way thanks for askin
hey, Each of the developers for all of these big name FPS (BF, COD, Halo) add new tings each time. Whether or not you care to see that is your own problem. As you put it… QUIT HATIN!!!
Well. It’s official. As a fan of halo from the beginning, I’m pretty pissed. I was excited about all this untill BAM. 343 changes a HUGE part of the core gameplay. I don’t want any fricken loadouts. Weapon spawns are ESSENTIAL to halo gameplay. I love sniping, but if everyone can just spawn in with a sniper in hand, the fun is GONE. I was pleased to see that 343 was making big additions, but once they messed with the core mechanics of the game, they lost my interest. Here’s one fan who wont be buying the next halo installment.
no one even uses weapon spawns in halo anymore, last i played people could rape with the DMR due to how dodgy the recoil is on that beast. load outs just makes things easier for everyone, and i doubt it will be something stupid like being able to spawn with a rocket launcher or fuel cannon, it will be like it was for reach – basic load out for weapons and armour abilities (though sprint is now on all load outs).
You cant spawn with a sniper, it will be selected loadouts only. Personally i dont like the idea either, weapon spawns have been a major multiplayer strategy since the beginning. However as long as its evenly done so that newcomers can still compete fairly with players who are already higher rank and have unlocked the loadouts ill be happy.
I cannot wait to see what they will do to the franchise. A must buy for me.
Can’t wait for Halo 4 its hopefully going to be better than Halo Reach. But I don’t like some of this Call of Duty embrace on the game personally I think Call of Duty is slow at updating there multiplayer engine and infinity Ward just
2/2 and Infinity Ward just plainly doesn’t care about the consumer but the money and only the money. And Dice cares about there consumers just as 343 does which why you ask because they actually read there forums. And Call of Duty can go die in a hole but Treyarch is the better man to take on Call of Duty. and back to Halo excuse my bad grammer but Halo rocks it made video games
everyone should watch this http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/04/16/the-changes-to-halo-39-s-competitive-multiplayer.aspx
Red vs. Blue story line, they said it, my God. I am a phsycic!