War Games

Blue and Red Teams in competitive War Games.

War Games is an advanced UNSC combat training simulation most prominently used to train Spartans.

Overview

War Games training facilities, which are known to be located aboard UNSC Infinity and Anvil Station, use a combination of holographic projectors, millions of pneumatic risers, props, and simulated sensory information fed through a neural interface to generate realistic environments in which combat simulations are initiated. Most of these environments are recreated from either detailed scans, partial records or remote survey data of actual locations around the galaxy, although artistic flourishes may be applied at the simulation designers' discretion. Examples of such conceits include the anachronistic use of given starship, vehicle or emblem designs sometimes encountered in War Games simulations.

SPARTAN-IV fireteams routinely train in the War Games simulator to hone their strength and skills. Upon reaching a Spartan rank of level 50, they are given the option to enlist in a specialization in their field of choice, should they wish, they may also apply for multiple specialist rankings. The ANVIL initiative indicates a number of very select joint training engagements between SPARTAN-IVs and Sangheili of Arbiter Thel 'Vadam's Swords of Sanghelios aboard Anvil Station. War Games simulations are not exclusively competitive; in some scenarios the participants train against AI-controlled Covenant enemies.

A dedicated AI manages the War Games simulator and acts as the games' announcer. Sarah Palmer, the commander of the ship's Spartan contingent, has a low opinion of the AI.

As a multiplayer mode

Introduction to Spartan career in War Games in Halo 4.

"This unparalleled, revolutionary battle simulation is where Spartans go to hone their skills in competitive combat."

— Halo Waypoint

War Games was introduced in Halo 4 as the in-universe framing device for the game's multiplayer and is featured in a similar fashion in the subsequent Halo 5: Guardians and Halo Online. 343 Industries writer Jeff Easterling has suggested that virtually all competitive multiplayer modes throughout Halo's history could regarded as War Games exercises. However, he notes that fans should not "start splitting hairs about regarding specific time frames and extrapolating implications" from his statement. Nevertheless, 343 Industries has assigned canonical War Games-based designations to several Halo 2 and Halo 3 multiplayer maps, indicating that they are meant to be seen as part of a War Games simulation.

Gametypes

The following is a list of gametypes which are known to be included in War Games.

• Infinity Slayer
• Capture the Flag
• Grifball
• Oddball
• Regicide
• Flood
• Dominion
• King of the Hill
• Team Slayer Pro
• Big Team Infinity Slayer
• Extraction
• Ricochet
• Invasion
• Breakout
• Strongholds
• Warzone

Gallery

• 

  Early concept art of a War Games map for Halo 4.

• 

  Another early concept for a multiplayer map.

• 

  Spartan-IVs participating in a game of Capture the Flag on Exile.

• 

  A Spartan-IV hijacking a Ghost on Vortex.

• 

  Sarah Palmer participating in a game of invasion in Halo: Escalation.

• 

  Commander Palmer and Fireteam Jackknife inside the simulation deck.

• 

  Sarah Palmer killing a simulated Mgalekgolo in War Games.

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  Concept art of the Breakout arena for Halo 5: Guardians.

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  Spartan-IVs on Red Team win a match on Truth in War Games in the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta.

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  An animation of Blue Team winning a match on Eden in the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta.

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  Spartan-IVs fighting each other, Prometheans, and Covenant in a game of Warzone on Escape from ARC in Halo 5: Guardians.

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  Spartan-IVs and Sangheili on Anvil Station in Halo Online.

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  Spartan-IVs on Anvil Station in a game on Reactor.

List of appearances

• Halo 4 (First appearance)
  • Spartan Ops (Mentioned only)
• Halo: Escalation
• Halo: Hunters in the Dark (Mentioned only)
• Halo 5: Guardians
• Halo Online