Next week’s Halo 4 matchmaking playlist update includes ‘SWAT’

Microsoft and 343 Industries are gearing up to release the first Matchmaking update for Halo 4, not even a week after the game launched to the masses.

343 Community Manager Jessica 'bs angel' Shea explained that Halo 4 Matchmaking updates will occur on a "more frequent basis" than what we're used to with Halo: Reach.

"Instead of monthly updates, we will be providing weekly updates, with the goal being to provide fresh content on a regular basis," she said. "We will maintain a static set of playlists and feature one or two “rotational” playlists on top of that. We will be monitoring trends and statistics closely so we can react accordingly to your preferences and likes."

"For instance, if one of our rotational playlists consistently holds a higher population than one of our static playlists, we will consider swapping them out based on player demand," she explained. "The process will be fluid and based on numbers, and we’re extremely excited about the benefits of our new approach."

So what's in store for players with the first update? To begin, we'll have "Boom, headshot!". We're also going to be getting SWAT, which Shea explained has been "carefully balanced."

"We’ve carefully balanced the damage resistance to allow both the Battle Rifle and the DMR to compete against each other in SWAT. Another change is that we’ve removed the shield HUD; so combined with disabled radar and no ordnance, you get even more visibility during a match."

The maps that will be playable in the SWAT playlist include:

• Haven
• Adrift
• Complex
• Abandon
• Solace

Below are the exact number of shots it takes each weapon to kill:

• DMR – 3 bullets to the chest, 1 bullet to the head
• Magnum – 3 bullets to the chest, 1 bullet to the head
• BR – 7 bullets to the chest (this gun shoots three bullets in a burst, so the first bullet of the third burst will kill the player), 1 bullet to the head

And because bs angel is such a doll, she's given us a few helpful points for those new to the SWAT game type.

• Aim for the head!
• Use a DMR for long range encounters and a BR to sweep hallways.
• A Magnum is more effective than melee at very close range because of its incredibly fast fire speed.
• Use callouts with your teammates; communication allows you to work more efficiently as a team.
• Pick up a DMR or BR off of an enemy. Having both weapons is a big advantage.
• Learn the maps to keep your reticle at headshot level.

Check out Halo Waypoint for a preview of the planned settings.