‘Halo 5’ In-Game Forge Browser Coming, Windows 10 Version Shown Off At RTX

Developer 343 Industries hosted a panel at RTX 2016 focusing on the future of Forge in Halo 5. It wasn’t just the Xbox One version of the map making and custom game making tool that was revealed, but the upcoming Windows 10 version as well.

The “Forge on the 4th of July” panel was streamed live via Twitch where 343 Industries shared its plans for Forge in Halo 5. The big news is an in-game content browser is finally being added to Halo 5 so players can search and bookmark creations to download and play immediately on their console.

Halo 5 owners currently have to visit the Halo Waypoint website. Bookmarking maps and custom game types there automatically make them available to play on the Xbox One, but it is still an extra step players need to take away from their console. The in-game browser will be added under the “Forge” menu option with a “My Files” link to finally add a level of convenience that many will argue should have been available when Forge was released this past December.

Halo 5’s upcoming Content Browser takes finding and sharing incredible community creations to the next level! pic.twitter.com/vBkrkepyth

— Halo (@Halo) July 2, 2016

The Forge content browser will not only be available for the Xbox One, however. It will also be available in Forge – Halo 5: Guardians Edition for Windows 10 PCs. The tool will be available via the Windows Store later this year with mouse and keyboard support.

The developer demonstrated the Windows 10 version of Forge during the livestream and showed the finer level of control that will be afforded to map makers and content creators. Additionally, the PC version will feature community-developed tutorials to help guide users with their creations.

Creations made using Forge – Halo 5: Guardians Edition can be tested and played with friends on PCs. It’s not the full Halo 5 multiplayer experience, but it’s an obvious opportunity for 343 Industries to develop and test the game engine on the Windows 10 platform. Any maps, modes, or mini-games created using Forge on the PC can be published to the Xbox One.

Matchmaking will not be supported with Forge on Windows 10. Players will be able to join and play custom games with others, but they’ll need to bring them in through their Xbox LIVE friends lists versus automatically being connected with others.

Interestingly, 343 Industries is adding support for resolutions up to 4K. This is obviously not supported on the Xbox One, but it is another aspect of the studio testing and iterating on the Halo 5 game engine on Windows 10.

Turn 10 Studios is doing something similar with Forza Motorsport 6: Apex for Windows 10. This is a pared down experience from the Forza 6 release on Xbox One, but one that provides an entry point for the racing simulator developer to bring its games over to Windows 10 without dealing with the headaches of a full game release with tons of unknown factors.

It is already known that Turn 10 Studios will bring all future Forza games to both Windows 10 and Xbox One. Neither Microsoft, nor 343 Industries, have officially announced future Halo titles will also be released for PC, but that’s what they appear to be setting up with Forge – Halo 5: Guardians Edition

What do you think of an in-game content browser finally being added to Halo 5, plus keyboard and mouse controls for Windows 10? Sound off in the comments below.

[Image via 343 Industries]