Hardcore Halo fans rejoiced when 343 Industries announced that the Halo 2 Anniversary remake within The Master Chief Collection will bring back the game's traditional skill-based ranking system, and now we've gotten a more in-depth look at how it will work.
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In an interview with IGN, 343 showed off the revamped ranking system, a true version of which has not been seen for several years. Getting a '50' rank meant something in Halo 2--you really were among the very best players, while Halo 4 rewarded it simply for gaining enough experience over time by playing.
"Each playlist within Halo: The Master Chief Collection uses an independent skill-based ranking system that is identical to the leveling system from the original Halo 2," the studio told IGN. "The system uses the same exact XP requirements as the original Halo 2; players will earn XP when they win and lose XP when they lose, and total XP will determine their rank. You will have a skill-based ranking per each playlist; we ultimately decided not to have a 'master' ranking across all four games combined, given that player skill and approach varies radically between game chapters.
"Additionally, we've also modified matchmaking to use skill detection, which will put players into the fairest matches faster than any Halo game to date," a studio spokesperson continued. "In ranked hoppers, players will be evaluated after each match and can go up or down in ranks depending on how well they perform. Social matches will also be available for players who prefer a more relaxed play experience."
Got all that? The idea of an overall rank across all Halo titles is intriguing, but it does make sense given the fairly large differences between the games. The return of true ranked matchmaking (and it's faster, for a bonus) is greatly welcomed, as are the game's dedicated severs (looking at you, Halo 3). The Master Chief Collection is due out November 11 only on Xbox One.
