Halo Infinite's Headhunter Gametype Sets Precedent for Classic Mode Returns in 2026

As a professional Halo player who's been grinding since the early days, I gotta say—seeing Headhunter finally return to Halo Infinite in 2026 feels like welcoming back an old friend after years apart. You know, that one buddy who always made game nights more chaotic and fun. Man, I remember testing early versions of this mode back in the Halo 2 and Halo 3 days, but we never got to play it officially until Reach's beta dropped in 2010. Fast forward to today, and 343 Industries has been slowly but surely bringing back all the classics we've been begging for. Firefight, Infection, Survive the Undead—they're all here now, living in Infinite's playlists or through custom games. But Headhunter? That's special. It was one of those modes featured prominently in Reach's legendary multiplayer trailer alongside Invasion and Arena, and now it's back with us.

Let me break down how Headhunter works for those who might be new to the chaos. When you spawn, you've got one flaming skull already equipped—kinda spooky, right? The objective is simple: kill other Spartans, collect the skulls that pop from their heads, and deliver them to rotating zones on the map. Each player can carry up to 10 skulls at once, and you win by either delivering 25 skulls total or having the most when time runs out. But here's the kicker—if you don't grab those skulls fast enough, they disappear! So you're constantly racing against both enemies and the clock. It creates this beautiful, frantic pace where every kill matters and positioning is everything. And while Infinite's version doesn't have team matches like Reach did (which had 4v4 options), the core experience is remarkably faithful.

Now, looking back at Infinite's journey since its 2021 launch... wow, what a ride. We started with just the basics:

• Big Team Battle 🎯

• Slayer 🔫

• Capture the Flag 🏁

But over these past few years, 343 has steadily expanded the roster with both new and returning modes. Check out this timeline of major additions:

And let's not forget the incredible community creations that have kept things fresh—Battle Royale variants, Survive the Undead scenarios, and even the upcoming Helljumpers mode by The Forge Falcons. Seriously, the creativity in this community never ceases to amaze me. But even with all this content, there's still room for more classics to make their comeback.

Which brings me to the rumors swirling around right now. Grifball—yes, that hilarious, hammer-swinging, bomb-throwing chaos—might be coming back to official playlists soon. I mean, think about it: Grifball became a Halo staple back in Halo 3, had a brief appearance in Guardians, and then... poof. Gone. But with Red vs. Blue: Restoration (the final season of RVB) getting its Blu-ray release earlier this year, 343 has the perfect opportunity to bring Grifball back as a tribute to the Machinima series that defined so much of Halo's culture. They could even use The Forge Falcons' already-existing Grifball and Super Grifball variants from the Combat Workshop. How cool would that be?

And if we're dreaming big here... why stop at Grifball? Let's talk about Ricochet, that sports-themed gem from Halo 4 that mixed football, rugby, and gunplay into one explosive package. 343 could tweak Grifball's structure to accommodate Ricochet's mechanics, maybe even bring back the football gear-inspired Ricochet armor for customization. Imagine scoring goals while dodging bullets—pure adrenaline.

Then there's Race, the mode where you'd hop in a warthog and tear through maps hitting checkpoints. With all the coatings and customization options we have for vehicles now, competitive races would be the perfect way to show off your style and skills. I can already picture the community tournaments...

So here's my take as a pro player: Headhunter's return isn't just about one gametype. It's a signal that 343 is listening to us—the veterans who've been here for decades, and the new Spartans just discovering what makes Halo multiplayer magical. These classic modes aren't just nostalgia; they're foundational experiences that teach timing, strategy, and pure fun in ways newer modes sometimes miss.

As we look toward whatever comes after Infinite (no official Halo 7 announcements yet, but you know it's coming eventually), I hope 343 continues this trend. Bring back the modes we love, refresh them for modern gameplay, and let us create new memories while honoring the old. Because at the end of the day, that's what Halo's always been about: community, creativity, and skull-collecting chaos that makes you scream with laughter at 2 AM.

What classic mode do you want to see return next? Drop your thoughts—I'm all ears. 👂