Halo: The Master Chief Collection has been improving after its disastrous launch, but there are still many issues that plague the game. A massive update has been promised for some time now, with developer 343 Industries saying that it was so big that it required its own beta. However, they have announced today that the planned content update beta has been cancelled in favor of internal testing.
After further evaluation, the team has determined that that final testing for the content update will be completed internally
It is said that this new internal testing will help get the update out sooner, though that might be little solace if fans are left disappointed by the results. 343’s announcement reads “After further evaluation, the team has determined that that final testing for the content update will be completed internally, and we will not be conducting a beta test for the next CU. Also, it was determined that the additional time and work devoted to the beta would’ve actually postponed the public availability of the content update. Lastly, there were some added challenges surrounding the CU beta – including an extra series of required updates and rollbacks – that made us take a step back and reexamine the CU beta. Ultimately, this plan will allow us to deliver the smoothest possible experience, and ensure that the next content update becomes available as soon as possible.”
No release date was given for the major update, but the developer was quick to point out that further playlist changes were on the way as well. Team Snipers and an altered Rumble Pit will be rolling out soon, while an Objective only playlist is planned for later. Team Snipers will be replacing Team SWAT, so get your matches in while you can. 343 will be monitoring playlist data to see which should come back, so it is doubtful that this will be the last you see of Team SWAT.
Work is also underway on the Halo 2: Anniversary style remake of Relic, which will be offered to players to compensate for the launch troubles. No official date was given for this either, but fans should expect it to hit in the next few months. Concept art for the new map can be seen above.
