A Destiny-style raid has come to Halo Infinite, and it left me speechless — it’s so awesome that fans want Bungie to hire the creator

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Halo Infinite, the free-to-play shooter on Xbox and PC, won’t receive any more large updates. The developers at Halo Studios are now focusing on a new project called Halo: Campaign Evolved and the future of the Halo franchise. However, dedicated fans within the game’s Forge community are still creating incredible new content and experiences for players to enjoy.

I’ve been amazed by what people have built in Halo Infinite using Forge. We’ve seen recreations of old missions, funny Pokémon battlegrounds, impressive RPG fights like those in Baldur’s Gate 3, and even game modes inspired by Helldivers 2. But honestly, one recent creation stands out as the most incredible thing I’ve seen anyone make with the tool so far.

Shard of Ascension is a cooperative raid mission, similar to those in Destiny, designed for 4 to 6 players who can communicate effectively. It was created entirely using the Forge engine by a single developer, MadmanEpic. He temporarily paused work on his upcoming boomer shooter, AVENGE MYSELF, to focus on Shard of Ascension for half of 2025.

If you’re not familiar, raids in the Destiny and Destiny 2 games are challenging, extended levels designed for six players to complete together. These raids feature several distinct encounters – usually around four – that demand strong teamwork, clear communication, and precise coordination. After experiencing these raids himself last year, a player named MadmanEpic got the idea – and a strong urge, which he jokingly attributed to an obsessive thought – to create a similar experience in Halo.

You can find the map and details needed for the raid bookmarked on both Halo Waypoint and within Halo Infinite’s Content Browser. Best of all, since Halo Infinite is free-to-play, you can experience Shard of Ascension without any cost. Check out the trailer here [link provided], and I also suggest watching MadmanEpic’s detailed walkthrough of the raid – just be aware it contains spoilers!

As I’ve been following the development, MadmanEpic has outlined the core design principles for the Shard of Ascension raid. They’re aiming for a distinctly Halo feel, prioritizing physical interactions – things like throwing objects or hitting switches – over complex buff systems seen in games like Destiny. A key focus is leveraging Halo’s existing sandbox – meaning players will be using a variety of weapons and vehicles. Ultimately, they want the raid to be challenging but fair, something players can figure out with a little practice and teamwork.

I won’t give away any details about the raid, but having watched the entire walkthrough – including all three challenging puzzle sections and the final boss – and as someone who’s been playing and raiding in Destiny 2 for years, I can confidently say this raid is a truly impressive accomplishment.

This experience captures everything players enjoy in Destiny raids – challenging fights, familiar mechanics used in innovative ways throughout, and even a bit of platforming to keep things fresh – all seamlessly integrated into the Halo universe and aligned with MadmanEpic’s vision.

Calling this a masterpiece is completely justified, considering MadmanEpic created it entirely on their own in just half a year, cleverly overcoming the challenges of the Forge platform.

The story is engaging, set on a fragment of the original Halo ring. A team of Spartans must prevent Iratus, a villainous AI from Halo Infinite, from seizing control of a powerful Forerunner system.

Players are incredibly impressed with a community-created experience called Shard of Ascension, and are urging Bungie to hire its creator, MadmanEpic, to work on official Destiny Raids and Dungeons. Notably, two people claiming to be developers – one even stating they work on Destiny – left comments praising the creation and MadmanEpic’s skill, with one hinting that Bungie is taking notice.

It’s hard to say if these people are truly developers, but I’m really hoping someone hires MadmanEpic. They’ve mentioned they’re looking for work, and their level design skills are clearly impressive. Let’s hope it works out for them!

What are your thoughts on the new Shard of Ascension raid in Halo Infinite? Are you planning to play it, either by downloading the update or returning to the game? And would you be interested in seeing more raids like those in Destiny added to future Halo games? Share your opinions in the comments below!

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2026-01-13 02:40