Halo 5: Guardians was never short on content. It features a lengthy (if somewhat misguided) single-player campaign and a robust suite of different multiplayer options. Considering the number of half-baked triple-A games on the market these days, it's nice to feel like a $60 purchase was actually worth the price.
However, there was one major feature missing from Halo 5 at launch: Forge Mode. Ever since the days of Halo 3, fans have been able to take apart and put together their own custom levels, and the toolsets only got more and more robust as the series went on...except that Forge was missing in Halo 5. 343 Industries promised that the level creator was on its way, and that it'd be bigger and better than ever before.
That day is finally here.
The Cartographer's Gift, the first major content update for Halo 5: Guardians, has launched. Not only does it include the updated Forge mode, it introduces a new set of maps, a variety of classic Halo weapons and an entirely library of new REQ cards to Halo 5: Guardians' already-huge multiplayer arena.
First up is the brand-new Forge mode: if you've been waiting to build your own custom Halo 5 maps, today is your lucky day. For the most part, Forge works as it has in previous games: grab some building blocks, stick them together to build a base and lay down some weapons. It's a bit easier to navigate this time around, and grabbing entire structures at once is a godsend - no more moving bases around piece by piece.
If you were disappointed by the updated (and far less memorable) Rocket Launcher included in Halo 5, fear not: the classic SPNKR launcher is back. Considering its rarity, you probably won't be running around firing them off non-stop, but it's still great to have a piece of the classic arsenal back in Halo 5.
Two new maps have also joined the roster: Battle of Noctus is a huge new Warzone map placed in the middle of a bustling city, while the Arena map Overgrowth takes players to the middle of a thick jungle. Two Big Team Battle stages, Antifreeze and Entombed, round out the selection of new stages.
Finally, a wealth of new REQ cards have been added in: new armor sets (including the original Halo's Mark V armor), new Assassinations and new weapon skins are all a part of The Cartographer's Gift. If you've somehow unlocked all of Halo 5's gear already, expect to find some new toys to play around with.
Halo 5: Guardians was already a big game, and it's only going to get bigger. The Cartographer's Gift is available now, and for free: all you have to do is boot up the game and the update will start downloading automatically. Happy hunting!
