Operation "Blue Team" in Halo Infinite: The Return of Master Chief and Classic Firefight

Master Chief and his squad are back in action in Halo Infinite! Alongside them comes Firefight Classic, a mode inspired by the beloved survival experience from Halo 3: ODST. The latest update also introduces several faithfully recreated Firefight maps from both Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach.

The Return of Blue Team

John-117 has long been the face of the UNSC and a symbol of the entire Xbox franchise, but Master Chief wouldn't be who he is without his squad. Launched on March 11, Operation "Blue Team" marks the first in-game appearance of the Spartan squad since Halo 5: Guardians (2015). While the other members may not possess John's natural luck and leadership, Linda-058, Kelly-087, and Fred-104 are renowned for their accuracy and speed, making them some of the most formidable Spartan-IIs in the Halo universe.

Halo Infinite players can unlock Kelly-087’s HERMES-class Mjolnir armor in the free 20-tier battle pass, while the rest of Blue Team’s signature gear is available in the in-game Store.

Firefight Classic: A Legendary Mode Returns

One of the most exciting additions for longtime fans is the introduction of Firefight Classic. This PVE mode recreates the original Firefight experience first introduced in 2009’s Halo 3: ODST, where teams of four face endless waves of increasingly difficult enemies. Each round consists of five waves, with three rounds making up a full set.

A unique feature in Halo Infinite’s version is the ability to choose: after completing a set, players can either extract and end the game honorably or continue fighting until they are overwhelmed by The Banished.

Three iconic Firefight maps have been brought back for the mode:

• Alpha Site (Halo 3: ODST) – Defend ONI’s headquarters in New Mombasa.
• Security Zone (Halo 3: ODST) – Another strategic defense point in the city.
• Courtyard (Halo: Reach) – A return to SWORD Base.

Everything New in Operation "Blue Team"

• Free 20-Tier Battle Pass – Featuring Kelly-087’s HERMES-class Mjolnir armor.
• New Store Bundles – Including Linda-058, Fred-104, and John-117 armor.
• New PVE Mode – Firefight Classic.
• New Firefight Maps – Alpha Site, Courtyard, Forest, Security Zone.
• New PVP Mode – Hot Swap.
• New PVP Map – Nemesis.
• Playlist Changes – Improved stability and reduced matchmaking search times.

What’s New for PVP Players?

For multiplayer fans, the update introduces Hot Swap, a 4v4 matchmaking mode first seen in Halo 4. This mode tests players’ adaptability across Halo Infinite’s entire sandbox. All players start with identical loadouts that rotate every 30 seconds. Unlike Escalation Slayer, in Hot Swap, everyone has the same weapons and abilities at all times, ensuring balanced yet dynamic gameplay.

Additionally, a new Forerunner-themed map, Nemesis, has been introduced.

Additional Updates

Halo Infinite’s Store and Exchange have been refreshed with new bundles, while matchmaking playlists have been reorganized to speed up matchmaking times. Operation "Blue Team" will run from March 11 to April 8, with an additional server stability patch scheduled for March 12 for Xbox and PC.

This update is part of a broader wave of news from Halo Studios, which recently announced the upcoming Extraction mode for Halo Infinite and a Forge map contest with a $20,000 prize pool.

Ready to jump back into battle? Operation "Blue Team" is live now!