Multiplayer is a huge focus of every Halo game, but with Halo 5: Guardians, 343 Industries set out to fix everything that was wrong with Halo 4's competitive offerings. Gone are the numerous, unnecessary Call of Duty-esque mechanics, replaced by a wealth of new features that feel right at home in Halo's sandbox. From everything that fans have seen, Halo 5: Guardians' multiplayer could be some of the best in the series.

That being said, 343 Industries has been tight-lipped about the game's launch day multiplayer suite. Sure, Warzone and Arena have been the focal points of the game's pre-release marketing push, but those modes are just a part of Halo 5's larger competitive modes. So, what else will be available on Day One?

Well, thanks to 343 Industries' multiplayer designer Quinn DelHoyo (via IGN), fans finally have an idea of what to expect. Obviously, Warzone and Arena will have a big presence - they are the game's two major modes, after all - but there will also be a slew of Halo classics for fans to jump into:

Warzone

One of Halo 5's flagship modes, Warzone is a huge 12-on-12 battle. Players will fight to capture bases, take down enemy Spartans and even face A.I.-controlled bosses. The map selection is a bit limited, true, but given the scale of the matches, it's understandable.

• Escape from A.R.C.
• Raid on Apex 7
• March on Stormbreak

Warzone Assault

The default Warzone mode features two teams fighting on a symmetrical map, with each side fighting on relatively even grounds - Warzone Assault, on the other hand, ditches the symmetry for an attack-and-defend style of play. The mode brings back memories of Halo: Reach's Invasion game type - if Warzone Assault is anything like Invasion, players should definitely get excited.

• Dispatch
• Array
• Summit

Team Arena

As the other half of Halo 5's marquee multiplayer modes, Team Arena is all about smaller, more intimate skirmishes. You've got your classic Slayer and CTF variants, and the new Strongholds mode (a reworked version of Territories from prior games), also makes its debut. They've been built from the ground up for e-Sports, but don't worry - this is still classic Halo multiplayer.

• Gambol (Breakout)
• Trident (Slayer)
• Coliseum (Slayer)
• Eden (Slayer)
• Plaza (Slayer)
• Empire (Slayer)
• The Rig (Capture the Flag)
• Coliseum (Capture the Flag)
• Truth (Capture the Flag)
• Fathom (Strongholds)
• The Rig (Strongholds)
• Eden (Strongholds)
• Empire

Slayer

It just wouldn't be a Halo game without classic Deathmatch. Slayer is as simple as it gets: the team with the most kills wins. There's no word on variants just yet, but you can expect to find a few bizarre versions somewhere down the line.

• Coliseum
• Plaza
• The Rig
• Truth
• Regret
• Fathom

Breakout

Breakout has e-Sports written all over it: teams of four rush to capture a single flag in the middle of the map. The catch is that players only have one life: if you die, you're out. Ten rounds in a single game might sound like a bit much, but considering how quickly everything happens during the match, Breakout is actually one of the shorter game types available.

• Gambol
• Trident
• Trench
• Crossfire
• Altitude

SWAT (also includes Magnums)

If Breakout is fast-paced, then SWAT is practically sprinting: players are armed with either a Battle Rifle or Magnum (each weapon has its own sub-playlist) with no shields whatsoever. Headshots are the name of the game - all it takes is one bullet to send someone back to the killcam.

• Eden
• Regret
• The Rig
• Plaza
• Orion
• Pegasus

Free-For-All

Free-for-All is typically where things get a bit nutty, but for launch day, 343 Industries is keeping its lone wolf playlist relatively tame. Slayer is the playlist's only mode, so if you were hoping for something like Oddball or King of the Hill, you'll have to look elsewhere.

• Eden
• Regret
• The Rig
• Plaza
• Orion
• Pegasus

There's also mention of a special community playlist dubbed the 'Weekend Special.' While details on the timed playlist are still scarce, 343 did confirm that, by voting through Halo Waypoint, players can choose which mode gets featured. There's also a promise of bonus experience and special REQ boosts, but again, details are still few and far between - it looks like we'll have to wait until launch to see what 343 has up its sleeve.

All in all, Halo 5: Guardians' Day One multiplayer lineup looks solid. The offerings here aren't quite as varied as previous Halo games, but considering how unplayable The Master Chief Collection was at launch (and, for many players, still is), it's easy to assume that 343 wants to start off with something a bit more focused, make sure everything is running smoothly and then expand from there.

Thankfully, it won't be long before fans can dive back into some of the best multiplayer in the industry: Halo 5: Guardians hits store shelves on Oct. 27.


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