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Halo 5’s Spectator Mode Will Debut In The Guardians Multiplayer Beta
We had a chance to go hands on with Halo 5: Guardians last month, and you’ll be able to do the same at the end of December. While you’re taking a break from playing Team Slayer or Breakout, you might want to tune into broadcasts of other players to learn some tips.
343 Industries talked to IGN about its plans. The Halo Channel and Twitch will both provide easy access to some of the best players. There will also be shoutcast features, including rewind and fast-forward. More comprehensive control offerings are planned for the game’s fall 2015 launch.
When we spoke with the team from 343 during our hands-on demo, they spoke to us about how the game is built for eSports. Multiplayer designer Quinn DelHoyo told us that the game will feature seven different ranking tiers, with the top one labeled as “Pro.” The idea is that players can earn their way into the spotlight.
Another major change that tends toward eSports is the unification of abilities. Instead of equipment or armor abilities, every Spartan is outfitted with a thruster pack.
“It’s really important to create a consistent control scheme and a suite of abilities that all players share, so that we can preserve the skill gap,” director of production Chris Lee told us. “It allowed us to layer in some depth.”
The Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Arena Beta is scheduled to start on December 29. For more, check out our full hands-on preview and a breakdown of the new elements.
[Source: IGN]
Our Take
Halo has been part of the eSports scene, but these new inclusions and the path to Pro recognition bring it up to speed with what MOBAs are doing. While I hope there will be more casual modes of play, it seems that 343 seems firmly focused on making its next offering a staple of competitive play.
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