"Halo 5: Guardians" is coming soon and players can expect a lot from multiplayer, playlists and the weapons list.
Josh Holmes, head of 343 Industries, shared a lot of information about the upcoming game on the TeamBeyond forums. He said that the general approach is to support CSR in the entire Arena experience and to deliver a specific set of Matchmaking playlists during launch. Players can expect a mix of new and returning game types, although not all esoteric game type will be available. Holmes said that their focused approach refers to creating a core set of game types then improving these to enhance player experience. He added that they have substantial support plans after the launch which will be discussed more during E3.
Holmes also said that it is quite a challenge for a developer to strike the balance between fun and variety. There are too many options available but not enough players in the smaller playlists to support quality gaming. These explain the rotation of content in matchmaking. They also have to ensure that they have the correct core set.
Gamers also asked questions regarding new Spartan abilities and weapon balances. In "Halo 5", new Spartan abilities include charging and sprinting. One user asked if weapon controls can be maintained while sprinting. Holmes answered that it cannot be executed in the game because it would require a huge amount of time to adjust and balance the game to allow such ability.
The approach would also affect the consequence of sprinting, which is the lack of accuracy in shooting. 343 Industries is said to be working on the window between initiating the thrust and the ability to shoot. Holmes also said that there are several skill jumps made into the maps. The ground-pound ability had its controls transferred to a new button. Holmes said that the change prevents crouch jumping and makes the ability more effective during combat.
Holmes shared that the weapons have also been improved, taking into consideration feedback and data from the beta version. The Magnum and bullet-magnetism were among the adjusted items. Holmes said that the sniper rifle was the weapon that changed the most in "Halo 5". He described it as a "big offender" in the beta version. He added that all the current weapons are faster to zoom in and out, to improve the combat flow.
"Halo 5: Guardians" is set to launch on October 27, 2015 on the Xbox One. More DLC from 343 Industries are expected in the future.