'Halo: Reach' Multiplayer Details Unloaded

"Halo: Reach" info and footage regarding jetpacks and assassinations came out last month, but Bungie was obviously holding a lot back in regards to their sweeping multiplayer additions for the game. Social and matchmaking features highlight the list of planned upgrades, including peer evaluation, social elements, Arena playlists and queue-joining.

Bungie wants to target the most dedicated of hardcore "Halo" players with "Reach" while introducing some features geared toward easing casual play, according to a report over at Shacknews.

Longtime franchise players will notice the return of Active Rosters from "Halo 2," as well as a queue-joining option that lets you automatically join matches with your friends as they become available. There will also be a barrage of settings for connecting with strangers based on language, chattiness, tendencies toward teamwork and other details.

Arena playlists sound pretty epic, but will only affect the most dedicated of players. In order to qualify for the ratings and skill-driven matches, you'll have to generate a score based on daily averages from a minimum amount of playtime. For the hardcore among the elite, this shouldn't be an issue, but the allotted time barrier for entering their ranks just became serious.

For anyone who thought "Modern Warfare 2" was going to have the last word in multiplayer innovation for a while, Bungie sounds like they want to make a statement themselves this year.

Are you hardcore enough to qualify for Bungie's new Arena playlists? What do you make of their other new features for "Halo: Reach"? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Tags bungie, halo, halo: reach, microsoft game studios