Halo Infinite is set to reintroduce a classic vehicle, absent for 15 years, alongside a brand-new weapon and significant updates to its playlists. This comprehensive update aims to revitalize the multiplayer experience for players.
The Return of the Falcon
According to a detailed Halo Waypoint blog post, the highly anticipated Halo Infinite Fall Update 2025, scheduled for release on August 5th, will mark the return of the iconic Falcon vehicle to multiplayer. This marks its first appearance in the series since Halo: Reach in 2010. The Falcon will initially be showcased in a special limited-time mode called `Famished Famished Falcons,` a creative twist on `Hungry Hungry Hippos,` where four teams of three will pilot Falcons to capture a central flag. Equipped with both a machine gun and a grenade launcher, the Falcon will also be integrated into specific Big Team Battle (BTB) maps within the regular playlists.
Introducing the Vestige Carbine
The update also introduces the new Vestige Carbine, a semi-automatic rifle that unleashes distinctive radioactive green bolts. While a fresh addition to the arsenal, it bears a visual resemblance to the Needle Rifle from Halo: Reach. Though its inclusion in standard playlist maps wasn`t explicitly mentioned, the Vestige Carbine will be central to a new `Banished Slayer` playlist. This asymmetrical slayer mode pits teams using UNSC weaponry against those wielding Banished armaments, with the Vestige Carbine being a key Banished weapon.
Operation: Shadows Event
The Fall Update 2025 also kicks off `Operation: Shadows,` an event themed around the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), the covert intelligence and black-ops agency with a significant presence throughout the Halo saga. Players can progress through a 20-tier free event pass, earning rewards like the Whisper armor set and Spartan Points. Additionally, a 50-tier Premium Operation Pass will be available, offering three exclusive armor sets.
Playlist Enhancements and Future Outlook
Further enhancing the game, the Fall Update 2025 brings several playlist improvements. Most Firefight modes will now offer dynamic perspective switching, allowing players to seamlessly toggle between first-person and third-person viewpoints. The Extraction game mode benefits from clearer objective markers, simplifying site identification. Furthermore, Extraction sites will now temporarily lock after an offensive team successfully captures an objective, providing defenders a crucial moment to regroup and strategize. This comprehensive update officially goes live on August 5th.
While the precise trajectory for the Halo franchise remains somewhat undefined, Microsoft has affirmed that additional Halo titles are indeed in development. Last year, 343 Industries underwent a rebranding, becoming Halo Studios, and announced a strategic shift towards developing future games using Unreal Engine 5, moving away from their proprietary Slipspace engine. Halo Studios indicated this change would accelerate development cycles. Adding to the speculation, Phil Spencer, at the conclusion of the June Xbox Games Showcase, hinted that 2026, marking the 25th anniversary of Xbox, would witness the `return of a classic that`s been with us since the beginning,` strongly suggesting a new Halo installment.