since were technically on CU31 now I figured I should just review this already

lets just get it out of the way
this update sucks

I still think operations are ass and basically everything newly added in this update was cosmetics

don't get me wrong the cosmetics (besides the chimera ones) are god damn fantastic

My personal favorites is obv the mark iv core and armor
but also the classic AR and the banished themed armor and weapon models

but cosmetics are still cosmetics
not to mention most of this shit was in the store and heavily overpriced instead of what could have easily been a $10 battle pass

but yeah gameplay wise the only things this update added was a kinda new mode, 1 new dev map and 2 new forge made dev maps (well at the time of writing this Corrosion actually isn't out yet)

I mean yeah that 1 new dev map aka illusion is great
and they did also overhaul a few playlist to add in some more community forge maps

but thats just my biggest issue with this game right now
the community is doing all the work

and im not trying to discredit the devs hard work
I do think CU31 was a pretty cool update

and im not trying to discredit the community forgers either
their maps are amazing and deserve to be in official matchmaking

but again
the only things gameplay wise added this update that were dev made was
1 new dev map
2 new dev made forge maps
and a kinda new mode

and im gonna be honest
the kinda new mode aka Gruntpocalypse im pretty sure could have been made in custom games

its also not that fun

and the forge made dev maps?
im sorry they look like ass
especially when compared to community made forge maps

now sure looks aren't everything
the most important thing is how they play

Elevation for example was praised on how it plays because of its fun little low grav area/gimmick

kinda reminded me of a reach map

but still a kinda mid dev made forge map being the only thing cyber showdown 3 added gameplay wise while the shop was filled with a insane amount of newly added, kinda ugly and heavily overpriced cosmetics

like I think you get the point
that fucking sucks

which reminds me
quick rundown of the operations

spirit of fire was cool
cyber showdown 3 sucked
yappening 2 is alright

nothing about any of these is really that special however and they seriously don't feel like events

maybe yappening kinda does since it has the new firefight mode

but all of these really just feel like shop updates

huge downgrade from season 5

A poor downgrade from the last season how are you just going to add just 1 map at the launch of the update, isn't this a "content update" might as well be a shop update considering how many fucking items there is with stupid price marks. Disappointing how most of the shop items just couldn't be in a battle pass. The operation pass is pretty good but, I would've favored a battepass instead with all the cool shop stuff in it that would've been the best outcome. The Mark IV is absolutely glorious no doubt about that, and alongside with cross core shoulders (thank god finally). Mark IV is probably the best looking core in my opinion but, again it's a ashamed this would be the last of halo infinite support it's only going to get riddled with expensive cosmetics. Hopefully the team puts their all on the next Halo and actually deliver a good impression when that day comes.

I know that CU29 hasn't ended yet (Which was originally supposed to be Season 6: Spirit of Fire, but they had to scrap it) and it's weird really. We don't even know when CU30 is going to come out.

But back on topic, CU29 is honestly one of the worst responses to Halo Infinite's content issue since Season 2. CU29 genuinely gives me "The Season 2 content drought" war flashbacks.

But at least there's far more maps and playlists now than their was back in 2022. The other big thing to note about CU29 is that they did away with the battlepass that gave you back the credits that you'd use to buy them, and opted for smaller, shitter 10-20 tier "operation" passes that don't have some credits that you can get back, but sure as shit have double XP boosts- like as if you weren't sitting on 200 of those already.

The only good thing about CU29 is that they added the Mk IV core, which I personally don't care for but I know a lot of people do, and they expanded on cross-core with cross-core shoulders and they made more pre-season 3 coatings cross-core.

Also the majority of the content that WOULD'VE been in the battlepass is currently in the shop. That's nice. Thank you 343. Thank you for giving me the privilege of licking your filthy boots one last time before you cast all of us who supported this game since the beginning to the side to work on your next Halo game that LET'S BE FUCKING HONEST- is going to be just as shit as Halo 4, Halo MCC at launch (and rn), Halo 5, and Halo Infinite. Thanks 343. Maybe your army of rabid zoomer Halo fans who were born in 2010 will support your future endeavors, but I sure as hell wont.