Halo Infinite's release date is growing nearer, day by day and month by month. In the meantime, Halo fans have been anxious for news about the upcoming FPS's beta tests and how they can get in. Now, 343 Industries is sharing information about its first of these tests, a "Technical Preview" that remains without a start date. This Technical Preview will have a very specific purview, however. For example, one of its key focuses will be Halo Infinite's exciting new Weapon Drill modes.
The concept of Weapon Drills isn't a foreign one in FPS games. For example, Call of Duty has previously implemented training courses for players to rush through, and Titanfall 2's Gauntlet remains a challenge for expert FPS players. 343 appears to want to capture that mixture of tutorial and challenging repeatable content, but in a more robustly supported game mode. That's what Weapon Drills will be in Halo Infinite.
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While much remains to be seen about Weapon Drills, 343 has provided some early details. They're essentially tutorial experiences featuring a variety of moving and intelligent bots, intended to measure aptitude at attacking and damaging enemies. Four difficulties of bots will be available. They are Recruit, Marine, ODST, and Spartans, and each is dramatically smarter than the prior when it comes to avoiding damage. Examples given are dodging grenades and even using Halo Infinite's grappling hook for movements and attacks.
Further, to add a competitive element to Weapon Drills so keep players coming back well after they've lost the need for tutorials, 343 is adding a star-ranking system and scores. Players will be able to compete with others to maximize scores with different weapons at different difficulty levels. Scores will be based on combat, meaning the more damage done to bots the better a player will do. As such, reaching new Weapon Drill score heights will hopefully mean better in-game capabilities, too.
As for the Technical Preview, 343 has confirmed that players will be able to try out the Weapon Drill mode with 12 different Halo Infinite weapons. The MA40 AR, BR75, MK50 Sidekick, CQS48 Bulldog, Needler, VK78 Commando, S7 Sniper, Plasma Pistol, Pulse Carbine, Ravager, Heatwave, and Skewer will all be available to train with.
Halo Infinite's Technical Preview will feature more than just the Weapon Drill mode. It's also going to feature a 5v5 playlist that puts a team of players up against bots. Obviously, bots, which are new to Halo Infinite, are a big focus for this test. The Technical Preview will be invite-only and invites will only be sent to certain Halo Insiders. News on other, more open tests can be expected later this year.
Halo Infinite releases late 2021 on PC and Xbox Series X/S.