Take advantage of the new and vastly improved online networking and social matchmaking features in “Halo: Reach”, whilst playing Firefight with new and old friends on Xbox LIVE. Players can select a Firefight match from a playlist and join the game either solo or as a party with up to three friends.

Firefight takes full advantage of the robust suite of new community and matchmaking features in “Halo: Reach,” including Active Roster, Queue-Joining and a myriad of Connection Options. Firefight supports four-player online co-op over Xbox LIVE and two-player split-screen per console.

Unparalleled Customisation Options

It’s now possible for players to create and share their unique Firefight experiences for the first time in the “Halo” series with multiple layers of deep customisation options. Players can modify scores of variables, including game type, skulls, enemy wave composition, player traits, loadouts, match duration and much more.

With the robust set of customisation options available in the game, players can craft their own unique Firefight experiences and share them with the broader “Halo” community via their Xbox LIVE file share. Here is a sample of the new customisation options available in Firefight in “Halo: Reach”:

• Wave Properties: Which enemy types players will fight in each round of the wave, which skulls are active and what types of enemies they’ll fight in the “boss wave”
• Match Duration: Number of waves, rounds and sets the match will entail, all the way up to infinite as in “Halo 3: ODST”
• Weapons: Presence of weapon drops or ammo crates in the match and which weapons players have access to within the game
• Player Traits: Core player traits such as base shield and health, movement speed, jump height, weapon damage modifiers, armour ability usage, etc.
• Generators: The number, location, spawn order and loss condition of generators in Generator Defence modes
• Player Options: Respawn time, starting lives, bonus lives, available loadouts, etc.
• Custom Skulls: Up to three different custom skulls can be created for a given match, and each skull can have traits that affect the player (shields, health, movement, appearance, etc.) or the actual enemy waves (damage done, damage resistance, grenade throwing, luckiness, immunity to headshots, etc.)

Brand New Game Types

“Halo: Reach” features a host of new Firefight game types that add depth, diversity and all-new gameplay possibilities. In addition, player-created game modes will allow the “Halo” community to design and share a nearly limitless number of game variants. A few examples from the vast selection of new and familiar modes in Firefight include:

• Default Firefight Mode. The default variant in Firefight now lasts for one Set, and the Skull progression has been altered with the removal of Black Eye from the third round. This variant was designed to provide a very crafted experienced that ebbs and flows over a shorter period of time in contrast with the more open-ended experience in “Halo 3: ODST”
• Firefight Classic. Players who want to experience the new Firefight maps with the same settings as “Halo 3: ODST” can enjoy Firefight Classic, which allows them to battle waves of Covenant enemies as long as they can hold out
• Generator Defence. Originally revealed via the “Network Test1″ mode in the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta, Generator Defence is a new Firefight game type that challenges players to protect a set of generators from waves of Covenant attackers. Players will team up against an army of Covenant who are hell bent on destroying the generators they’re trying to protect
• Rocketfight. Rocketfight is a chaotic new Firefight mode that allows players to face the Covenant assault with just their buddies, their armour abilities and unlimited Rocket Launchers. It’s just one example of the nearly endless Firefight permutations that players can create and share with the community

Groundbreaking Technical Advancements

All-new engine technology combined with cutting-edge graphics and AI enable the most massive-scale and challenging Firefight matches ever on large, detailed maps with swarms of terrifying and cunning Covenant foes.

Rich New Sandbox

Repel the Covenant offensive with the full arsenal of new weapons, vehicles and armour abilities in “Halo: Reach.” Fearsome new enemies and creatures with all-new skills and abilities will challenge players to use all the tools available to turn the tide of battle against the Covenant onslaught.

New weapons included at E3’s Firefight debut include:

• Name: Target Locator – “Paint” a hostile target that unleashes a devastating bombardment from the UNSC’s orbital fleet