343 explains changes made to Halo 4 multiplayer

Halo 4 will see some sweeping changes to the competitive multiplayer component this time around.  Lead multiplayer designer Brad Welch recently sat down with Game Informer to detail some of these changes, that all-in-all, sound pretty intriguing.

Welch told the magazine in a video interview that they didn’t change the game up too much between campaign and multiplayer, there’ll be a consistent feel between the two gametypes.  And while that might not be too much of a stretch from older Halo titles, the new ranking and perks system is certainly going to change the way fans play Halo.

“Spartan 4 can rank up, we’ve developed a new ranking system for the Spartan.  As you rank up, you’ll earn XP for playing, if you play better you’re obviously gonna earn more XP.  Each time you rank up, you’ll earn Spartan points.  You’ll spend those points to mix and match, and build loadouts for your preferred playstyle.”

“We’re introducing a new progression system, and an ability to unlock gameplay items now… Allowing players to use the entire Halo sandbox.”  Welch detailed numerous perks and changes made to the armor abilities.  For one, Sprint will not be an armor ability, but a built in mechanic for the Spartan 4.  He goes on to describe “ForunnerVision” an unlockable effect that will allow players to see through walls, and traditional armor abilities like active camo and hologram.

The Making of Halo 4 – First Look

A new gameplay mode was detailed, called Regicide.   It’s a free-for-all mode that features a “king”.  The king gets a bounty on his head for each kill that he gets.  As kills go up the bounty increases. Players will get points for king kills and player kills… sounds hectic.

Many of the classic Halo gamemodes will see “revisions”, says Welch, but are definitely returning.

Halo 4 is due out this fall, exclusively for the Xbox 360.