Halo Infinite is here! The multiplayer-defining franchise enters a new generation of esports through its Halo Championship Series (HCS).
The official platform sets Halo tournaments on a global scale while bringing together the hottest names in the esports sector.
Many events are already in motion across different majors and tiers. To keep everything neat and tidy, we've compiled everything you need to know about HCS in one place.
Read More: Best Monitor For Halo Infinite: Our Top Picks To Give You The Edge
HCS Events Explained
There are five different types of events Halo athletes can compete in.
Online Tournaments
Using Halo's new online platform, Faceit, players will face each other through single or double elimination rounds in their own region. Different stakes will be involved, those of which include general local matches or qualifiers for bigger events.
Pro Series
Top competitors face amateurs in local regions - this is to help discover pro gamers who have the potential to go pro while expanding the attractiveness of talent in that area.
Supers/Regionals
For each region, there is one Online Super and one Regional Championship. The Regionals provide cash prizes and may even allow players to qualify for the Majors. The Supers are the exact same, only they take place online.
Majors
Gigantic open events feature open teams that compete from multiple regions. Teams can also win big cash prizes at the Majors and can qualify for the Halo World Championship.
Halo World Championship
The biggest event in Halo esports takes place over 4 days. It is made of three stages: play-offs for guaranteed regional representation, group stages for the best teams from the Majors, and a definitive stage where the Top 8 compete.
HCS Upcoming Tournaments
The 2021-2022 global roadmap for the HCS has been announced. Differing per continent, the events may change later on but here are the dates as of yet (via 343 Industries):
NORTH AMERICA:
- 11/20 - 11/21: NA Open Series
- 11/27 - 11/28: NA Open Series
- 12/1 - 12/2: NA Kickoff Qualifier
- 12/2: Pool Play Roster Lock - Raleigh 2021
- 12/13: Open Bracket Roster Lock - Raleigh 2021
- 12/17 - 12/19: HCS Kickoff Major Raleigh 2021 (Split 1 begins)
- 1/2: NA Open Series
- 1/6: NA Pro Series
- 1/9: NA Open Series
- 1/13: NA Pro Series
- 1/16: NA Open Series
- 1/20: NA Pro Series
- 1/23: NA Open Series
- 1/27: NA Pro Series
- 1/29 - 1/30: NA Regional Qualifier
- 1/31: Roster Lock - Anaheim 2022
- 2/11 - 2/13: NA Regional Championship @ DreamHack Anaheim 2022
- 2/20: NA Open Series
- 2/27: NA Open Series
- 3/13: NA Open Series
- 3/20: NA Open Series
- 4/1 - 4/3: NA Open Championship
- 4/11: Roster Lock - Kansas City 2022
- 4/29 - 5/1: HCS Major Kansas City 2022 (Split 1 Finals)
- 5/2 - 5/22: Player Break
- 5/23: Split 2 begins
- 5/29: NA Open Series
- 6/2: NA Pro Series
- 6/5: NA Open Series
- 6/9: NA Pro Series
- 6/12: NA Open Series
- 6/16: NA Pro Series
- 6/19: NA Open Series
- 6/26: NA Open Series
- 7/10: NA Open Series
- 7/23 - 7/24: NA Super Qualifier
- 7/25: Roster Lock NA Super 2022
- 7/30 - 7/31: NA Super Open Bracket
- 8/5 - 8/7: NA Super 2022
- 8/14: NA Open Series
- 8/21: NA Open Series
- 8/26 - 8/28: NA Open Championship
- 9/5: Roster Lock HCS Major Orlando 2022
- 9/23 - 9/25: HCS Major Orlando 2022 (Split 2 Finals)
- 10/20 - 10/23: Halo World Championship 2022
EUROPE:
- 11/20 - 11/21: EU Open Series
- 11/27 - 11/28: EU Open Series
- 12/1 - 12/2: NA Kickoff Qualifier
- 12/2: Pool Play Roster Lock - Raleigh 2021
- 12/13: Open Bracket Roster Lock - Raleigh 2021
- 12/17 - 12/19: HCS Kickoff Major Raleigh 2021 (Split 1 begins)
- 1/2: EU Open Series
- 1/5: EU Pro Series
- 1/9: EU Open Series
- 1/12: EU Pro Series
- 1/16: EU Open Series
- 1/19: EU Pro Series
- 1/23: EU Open Series
- 1/26: EU Pro Series
- 1/30: EU Open Series
- 2/6: EU Open Series
- 2/20: EU Open Series
- 2/27: EU Open Series
- 3/12 - 3/13: EU Super Qualifier
- 3/14: Roster Lock EU Super 2022
- 3/19 - 3/20: EU Super Open Bracket
- 3/25 - 3/27: EU Super 2022
- 4/1 - 4/3: EU Open Championship
- 4/11: Roster Lock Major Kansas City 2022
- 4/29 - 5/1: HCS Major Kansas City 2022 (Split 1 Finals)
- 5/2 - 5/22: Player Break
- 5/23: Split 2 begins
- 5/29: EU Open Series
- 6/1: EU Pro Series
- 6/5: EU Open Series
- 6/8: EU Pro Series
- 6/12: EU Open Series
- 6/15: EU Pro Series
- 6/18 - 6/19: EU Regional Qualifier
- 7/1 - 7/3: EU Regional Championship 2022 - Valencia, Spain
- 7/10: EU Open Series
- 7/17: EU Open Series
- 7/31: EU Open Series
- 8/14: EU Open Series
- 8/21: EU Open Series
- 8/26 - 8/28: EU Open Championship
- 9/5: Roster Lock HCS Major Orlando 2022
- 9/23 - 9/25: HCS Major Orlando 2022 (Split 2 Finals)
- 10/20 - 10/23: Halo World Championship 2022
MEXICO:
- 11/20 - 11/21: MX Open Series
- 11/27 - 11/28: MX Open Series
- 12/1 - 12/2: MX Kickoff Qualifier
- 12/2: Pool Play Roster Lock - Raleigh 2021
- 12/13: Open Bracket Roster Lock - Raleigh 2021
- 12/17 - 12/19: HCS Kickoff Major Raleigh 2021 (Split 1 begins)
- 1/2: MX Open Series
- 1/4: MX Pro Series
- 1/9: MX Open Series
- 1/11: MX Pro Series
- 1/16: MX Open Series
- 1/18: MX Pro Series
- 1/23: MX Open Series
- 1/25: MX Pro Series
- 1/30: MX Open Series
- 2/6: MX Open Series
- 2/19 - 2/20: MX Super Qualifier
- 2/21: Roster Lock MX Super 2022
- 2/26 - 2/27: MX Super Open Bracket
- 3/4 - 3/6: MX Super 2022
- 3/13: MX Open Series
- 3/20: MX Open Series
- 4/1 - 4/3: MX Open Championship
- 4/11: Roster Lock Major Kansas City 2022
- 4/29 - 5/1: HCS Major Kansas City 2022 (Split 1 Finals)
- 5/2 - 5/22: Player Break
- 5/23: Split 2 begins
- 5/29: MX Open Series
- 5/31: MX Pro Series
- 6/5: MX Open Series
- 6/7: MX Pro Series
- 6/12: MX Open Series
- 6/14: MX Pro Series
- 6/19: MX Open Series
- 6/26: MX Open Series
- 7/2: MX Regional Qualifier
- 7/17: MX Open Series
- 7/22 - 7/24: MX Regional Championship 2022 - Mexico City, Mexico
- 8/14: MX Open Series
- 8/21: MX Open Series
- 8/26 - 8/28: MX Open Championship
- 9/5: Roster Lock HCS Major Orlando 2022
- 9/23 - 9/25: HCS Major Orlando 2022 (Split 2 Finals)
- 10/20 - 10/23: Halo World Championship 2022
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND:
- 11/20 - 11/21: ANZ Open Series
- 11/27 - 11/28: ANZ Open Series
- 12/1 - 12/2: ANZ Kickoff Qualifier
- 12/2: Pool Play Roster Lock - Raleigh 2021
- 12/13: Open Bracket Roster Lock - Raleigh 2021
- 12/17 - 12/19: HCS Kickoff Major Raleigh 2021 (Split 1 begins)
- 1/2: ANZ Open Series
- 1/4: ANZ Pro Series
- 1/9: ANZ Open Series
- 1/11: ANZ Pro Series
- 1/16: ANZ Open Series
- 1/18: ANZ Pro Series
- 1/23: ANZ Open Series
- 1/25: ANZ Pro Series
- 1/30: ANZ Open Series
- 2/6: ANZ Open Series
- 2/19 - 2/20: ANZ Super Qualifier
- 2/21: Roster Lock ANZ Super 2022
- 2/26 - 2/27: ANZ Super Open Bracket
- 3/4 - 3/6: ANZ Super 2022
- 3/13: ANZ Open Series
- 3/20: ANZ Open Series
- 4/1 - 4/3: ANZ Open Championship
- 4/11: Roster Lock Major Kansas City 2022
- 4/29 - 5/1: HCS Major Kansas City 2022 (Split 1 Finals)
- 5/2 - 5/22: Player Break
- 5/23: Split 2 begins
- 5/29: ANZ Open Series
- 5/31: ANZ Pro Series
- 6/5: ANZ Open Series
- 6/7: ANZ Pro Series
- 6/12: ANZ Open Series
- 6/14: ANZ Pro Series
- 6/19: ANZ Open Series
- 6/26: ANZ Open Series
- 7/10: ANZ Open Series
- 7/17: ANZ Open Series
- 8/14: ANZ Open Series
- 8/15: Roster Lock ANZ Regional
- 8/20 - 8/21: ANZ Regional Qualifier
- 9/2 - 9/4: ANZ Regional Championship 2022 - Melbourne, Australia
- 9/5: Roster Lock HCS Major Orlando 2022
- 9/23 - 9/25: HCS Major Orlando 2022 (Split 2 Finals)
- 10/20 - 10/23: Halo World Championship 2022
HCS Prizes And Winnings
The higher your rank and the more competitive the event, the higher the earnings gained. Here's a breakdown of the winnings:
- Majors: $250,000
- Supers/Regionals: NA: $125,000, EU: 100,000, and ANZ/MX: $50,000
- Halo World Championship: $1,000,000
All online tournaments will also have a prize pool but, these differ per region.
These prizes will be crowdfunded in various ways, those of which include a small percentage of the base game and Halo Infinite in-game Store sales. While a prizing cap has also been placed:
- Majors: $350,000
- Supers/Regionals: NA: $175,000, EU: $135,000, and ANZ/MX: $75,000
HCS Weapons, Maps, And Modes
All players will start off with the Battle Rifle. Additionally, Motion Tracker has been disabled as has Grenade Hitmarkers. Additionally, equipment such as the Power Equipment, Weapons, and Power Weapons have been selectively placed on each location.
With regards to maps and modes, these are the combination of playlists that will be prominent throughout all of HCS tournaments:
Slayer:
- Live Fire
- Recharge
- Streets
- Bazaar
- Aquarius
Capture the Flag:
- Bazaar
- Aquarius
Strongholds:
- Live Fire
- Recharge
- Streets
Oddball:
- Live Fire
- Recharge
- Streets
Maps will be rotated randomly depending on the skill level of each stage in tournaments. The combination will differ every time, so pro athletes don't know what to expect.
Best of 3:
- Game 1: Objective
- Game 2: Slayer
- Game 3: Objective
Best of 5:
- Game 1: Objective
- Game 2: Slayer
- Game 3: Objective
- Game 4: Objective
- Game 5: Slayer
Best of 7:
- Game 1: Objective
- Game 2: Slayer
- Game 3: Objective
- Game 4: Objective
- Game 5: Slayer
- Game 6: Objective
- Game 7: Slayer
HCS Ranks
Players will be enrolled in Pro, Semi-Pro, Amateur Elite, and Amateur ranks depending on their HCS points. These also differ per region:
