With the twentieth birthday of [i]Halo 2[/i] on the horizon, the 2024 Winter Update will bring the celebrations to [i]Halo Infinite[/i] with customization content based on the beloved game in Operation: Great Journey, which launches tomorrow—November 5. [hr][/hr] [h2]"You Look Nice"[/h2] [i]“Your new suit’s a Mark VI. Just came up from Seongnam this mornin’. Try and take it easy until you get used to the upgrades.”[/i] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38365036/47d76c4760cbe3b39cd90cfb2604716a92595884.jpg[/img] Upon returning to Earth in the aftermath of the events of [i]Halo: Combat Evolved[/i] (and [i]Halo: First Strike[/i]), the Master Chief received his Mjolnir Mark VI armor aboard Cairo Station at the start of [i]Halo 2[/i]. Field tested by Maria-062 in Seongnam, Korea, the Mjolnir Mark VI platform represented a culmination of decades of research and improvement. Boasting a more resilient and quick-charging energy shield system, the Mark VI armor was even more streamlined and compact than its predecessors. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38365036/71af0683b9192cec2a5beb04e4b568d0d8c7fd8c.jpg[/img] This armor would see the Master Chief through some of the most pivotal events of the Covenant War. So, get ready to step into the iconic Mjolnir Mark VI suit and prepare to finish the fight. Acquire the Rocket Reclaimer bundle from [i]Halo Infinite[/i]’s Shop when Operation: Great Journey launches on November 5. This bundle includes: [list][*] Master Chief Mark VI armor kit [*] Green Man armor coating [*] Veteran SPNKr weapon model [*] Veteran Metal weapon coating[/list][hr][/hr] [h2]Operation Pass[/h2] [i]“When we joined the Covenant, we took an oath!”[/i] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38365036/3e4a1a3640e1d7edf1e249d78c6d9af94bef9a9c.jpg[/img] Formerly a Special Operations commander for the Fleet of Particular Justice, the basis of inspiration for the Operation Pass armor is Rtas “Half-Jaw” ‘Vadum. We first met ‘Vadum in [i]Halo 2[/i] where he led the Covenant forces tasked with eliminating the heretic leader Sesa ‘Refumee, journeying with the Arbiter to the Forerunner mine located on the gas giant Threshold. ‘Vadum would aid the Arbiter in subsequent missions until the treachery of the Prophet of Truth was revealed, ousting the Sangheili from their long-held role within the Covenant. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38365036/f61798cd470b8037aa61e504cc4c53944acc2618.jpg[/img] As shipmaster of the assault carrier [i]Shadow of Intent[/i], ‘Vadum has continued to serve among the Swords of Sanghelios, hunting down the remaining Prophets responsible for countless crimes. This legendary character is set to appear in the upcoming novel [i]Halo: Empty Throne[/i], releasing early next year. Acquire the Thremaleon armor along with other free rewards in Operation: Great Journey’s free 20-tier Operation Pass. This armor is custom crafted at the Kolaar Manufactorum for Spartans selected to serve alongside Swords of Sanghelios special forces. Upgrade to the Premium Pass to secure the Veteran SRS99 weapon model, based on Halo 2’s sniper rifle, and Damascus Alchemy weapon coating. [hr][/hr] [h2]Helioskrill[/h2] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38365036/a4f90f4ca2df4e96366dad1672fd99010679b27b.jpg[/img] Introduced in [i]Halo 5[/i], the Helioskrill armor quickly became a fan-favorite. Created by a Sangheili prodigy, an artisan-armorer inspired to test her skill against the best that humanity could muster, the Helioskrill armor was regarded as a work of art in both form and function for Spartan super-soldiers. As the alliance between the UNSC and the Swords of Sanghelios has continued to strengthen, the Spartan is but another canvas for the artisan-armorers of the Kolaar Manufactorum to create splendid masterpieces of lethality. Acquire the Helioskrill armor from the Arbitration bundle in the Shop when Operation: Great Journey arrives on November 5. This bundle includes: [list][*] Helioskrill helmet [*] Stormclaw Mask helmet attachment [*] Helioskrill Pauldrons shoulder pads [*] Helioskrill Harness chest attachment [*] Helioskrill Cuisse hip gear [*] Helioskrill Poleyn kneepads [*] Risk Explorer armor coating [*] Reclaimed Wings armor effects set[/list][hr][/hr] [h2]Delta Forged[/h2] For a look that says “Straight outta Delta Halo,” compiling the Rocket Reclaimer and Arbitration bundles into one, be sure to pick up the Delta Forged bundle. As a bonus, you will also acquire the Oracle Augmentor shoulder pads and Oracle Protocol, chest attachment—armor pieces modelled on the appearance of 343 Guilty Spark. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38365036/19aa3b76379cd453fa39faf9d684558b202e3a28.png[/img] [hr][/hr] [h2]Wartime Requisition[/h2] [i]“Get tactical, marines!”[/i] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38365036/57eaad5dc85270527d5c93903208e3da16a22b9d.jpg[/img] Even prototype Marine Corps helmet designs have been snapped up for use by active-duty Spartans. Based on the design of the UNSC Marines’ battle dress uniforms, particularly those seen in [i]Halo 2: Anniversary[/i], the Wartime Requisition bundle offers a fitting look for the frontlines. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38365036/9e5e3d4cca46146f988e27d2813de5f080d300cf.jpg[/img] This bundle contains: [list][*] XM55 ACH helmet [*] HUL-I/UPTIK helmet attachment [*] UA/Model 48 shoulder pads [*] UA/M532 Plate chest attachment [*] UA/ULAP hip gear [*] UA/Type MI kneepads [*] Pixel Camouflage armor coating [*] Podium Finish stance[/list][hr][/hr] [h2]The Exchange[/h2] Operation: Great Journey brings a refresh of The Exchange, where you can acquire various customization items with Spartan Points earned by playing matches and completing certain Challenges. The fan-favorite Mark V Zeta helmet and Scorpion Punch armor coating make a (re)appearance, becoming available to players for the first time since the Tactical Ops event all the way back in 2022. If you missed these back then, be sure to secure ‘em when they hit The Exchange on November 5! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38365036/d699ba268260b13b5e13bffeb42cf2b995ada3c8.jpg[/img] We’ll have a full list of customization items in The Exchange in next week’s launch blog, so stay tuned. [hr][/hr] That concludes our look at the customization content coming in Operation: Great Journey, which kicks off [i]Halo Infinite[/i]’s Winter Update for 2024. For more on the Winter Update, check out the following blogs: [list][*] [url=https://steamcommunity.com/games/1240440/announcements/detail/4467100996153114712]PLAYLIST OVERVIEW[/url]: Learn more about the upcoming third-person Firefight: King of the Hill experience and Delta Arena playlist coming to [i]Halo Infinite[/i] [*] [url=https://steamcommunity.com/games/1240440/announcements/detail/4467100996153114904]SANDBOX OVERVIEW[/url]: Discover the new MA5K Avenger coming to [i]Halo Infinite[/i] along with further sandbox balance changes [*] [url=https://steamcommunity.com/games/1240440/announcements/detail/4467100996153115025]FORGE OVERVIEW[/url]: From third-person camera controls to enhanced credit attribution for creators of maps and modes, find out more about all the updates and improvements coming to Forge[/list]