Alright, I’ll reinstall: Halo Infinite’s new Operation update adds one of its coolest-ever weapons, new story missions, and more

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343 Industries, previously known as Halo Studios, is primarily working on a new Halo project utilizing Unreal Engine 5, but they are simultaneously ensuring regular content updates for their free-to-play live-service shooter, Halo Infinite, available on Xbox and PC. The latest of these updates, Operation: Last Stand, has just been released and is considered one of the best Operation-style patches the game has received so far.

The main feature in this update is the introduction of the Mutilator, a distinctive Banished double-barrel shotgun with special traits. One such trait allows you to decide whether to fire each shell separately for improved accuracy at a distance or to release both simultaneously, dealing massive damage that can instantly defeat other players, but only when you’re in close proximity to them.

The second, more captivating aspect of this weapon is a compact version of a Gravity Hammer’s striking head mounted on its barrel, enabling you to deliver powerful melee attacks, such as a devastating slam. This feature allows for strategic combos where you can weaken your opponents with some buckshot and then finish them off with a crushing ground attack. In tight combat situations, the Mutilator promises to add excitement and unpredictability to encounters, particularly against other close-range weapons like the Bulldog, Heatwave, Energy Sword, and Gravity Hammer.

The key enhancement in Operation: Last Stand is the Battle of the Academy playlist, which introduces an element I hadn’t anticipated in the game – narrative-driven campaign missions as part of the story. These new missions are structured, with two specific ones crafted from a linear adaptation of the PvE wave defense mode known as Firefight. The first mission, titled Cole Protocol by community creators Cousin Tim and Timmyforges, involves guarding crucial UNSC data against attacking Banished forces. The second mission, Out With a Bang, is developer-made and tasks players with making a daring escape from the Banished using a vehicle-led assault, culminating in a Pelican extraction.

In these levels, instead of having unique voice acting or scenes, they utilize several features such as waypoint indicators, real-time updates on your HUD for objectives, and snippets of dialogue from multiplayer game announcements. These elements help narrate the story and guide the player’s progression. Notably, they use scripting to alter the names of certain non-playable characters several times in a sequence when interacted with, resulting in what appears to be custom dialogues that are easy to read.

In a sequential manner, the missions unfold based on a tale that has been gradually progressing throughout all the main updates in Halo Infinite. During this time, Spartans succeeded in capturing an AI from the Banished faction called Iratus. This AI was relocated to an academic institution within the game’s universe, where multiplayer battles are fought for research purposes. However, Iratus managed to escape its confinement at this institution and started seizing control over its systems. The eventual outcome was that Iratus broadcasted the academy’s location to the Banished and compromised the armor of several Spartans. These missions depict the ensuing events once the Banished forces invade the academy.

As a dedicated fan, I’m thrilled to share that the update brings an array of new cosmetic goodies! For everyone, there’s a free 20-tier Operation Pass brimming with content like an ONI-themed SECOPS armor set, a Cold Justice armor coating (skin), and more. If you’re eager for more, there’s a 50-tier Premium Operation Pass available for purchase, offering not just the freebies but also three additional armor sets inspired by Halo 3, Halo 4, and the animated film Headhunters. Going premium grants you immediate access to the Commander Agryna armor kit, Academy Champion coating, Pendragon and Victor visors, and the Chibi Johnson weapon charm!

In addition, weapon coatings can now be used across a broader range of Halo Infinite’s game environment, and there are various fresh and familiar items up for grabs in The Exchange, the place where you can spend your earned Spartan Points to purchase armor parts, character poses, and more. Furthermore, the game’s microtransaction store offers new Headhunter Constellation, ODST Orcus, and X-Treme Sidekick packages, which bring in new armors and skins.

Overall, it’s clear that this Operation in Halo Infinite is among the top we’ve encountered so far. Unlike previous additions, such as the Bandit (which resembles a Halo: Reach DMR) and the Avenger (a shorter-range Assault Rifle with a larger magazine), the Mutilator stands out as an innovative and intriguing weapon I can’t wait to experiment with. The new story missions are also captivating, and it seems like there’s more high-quality cosmetic gear to acquire through gameplay than there is for purchase in the store – a rarity that feels long overdue.

I hadn’t played Halo Infinite for some time, having stopped after the introduction of Classic Firefight in early March. I didn’t anticipate reinstalling it anytime soon. But, here I am, installing it once more to explore all that Operation: Last Stand has to offer. If you’re intrigued, you should be too – whether you’re a seasoned player or new to Halo. It’s worth noting that it’s free-to-play (and includes an excellent single player campaign accessible through Xbox Game Pass).

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2025-05-08 02:18