I can't believe what I just saw! 😲 As a long-time Destiny 2 player who's spent countless hours wiping on raid bosses, the idea of experiencing that same chaotic, teamwork-driven magic in the Halo universe seemed like a pipe dream. But leave it to the sheer genius—or madness—of one dedicated fan to make it a reality. In the year 2025, the gaming community continues to astound, and this latest creation is a testament to that. The line between two iconic FPS franchises just got beautifully blurred.

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🛠️ The Mastermind Behind the Crossover

Let's talk about the architect of this madness: a Reddit user going by the name MadmanEpic. Honestly, the name fits perfectly. This isn't just some simple map reskin; we're talking about a full-scale, original raid experience built from the ground up within Halo Infinite's powerful Forge mode. The community's reaction says it all—over 1.7K upvotes and a flood of compliments praising the sheer ambition of merging Destiny's intricate raid design with Halo's sandbox. It's the kind of fan project that makes you remember why player-driven content is the lifeblood of any live-service game.

🏰 Welcome to the Shard of Ascension

So, what exactly did MadmanEpic build? The creation is called 'Shard of Ascension,' and it's described as an "original full-length Destiny raid." For anyone who's never stepped into a Destiny raid, buckle up. Here's what you're signing up for:

  • Estimated Time Commitment: Your first blind run? Plan for a cozy 2+ hours. A perfect, flawless playthrough? Maybe around 40 minutes. Good luck with that!

  • The Structure: The raid is built around four major encounters, interspersed with traversal sections that are more than just walking from point A to point B.

  • Team Size: Designed for the classic six-player fireteam, but you can scale it down to four if you're short on Guardians... I mean, Spartans. Just remember to dial the enemy difficulty back to Normal!

Raid Feature Destiny 2 Equivalent Halo Infinite Twist
Encounters Boss fights with mechanics Fighting Banished with custom mechanics
Platforming Jumping puzzles Spartan-based traversal & vehicles
Teamwork Communication is key Same spirit, new sandbox
Reward Loot & triumph The satisfaction of conquest

⚙️ Stretching Forge to Its Limits

According to the creator, this project "stretches Forge to its absolute limits." And watching the trailer, I believe it. We're not just talking about placing a few enemies and calling it a day. This involves:

🔧 Custom Mechanics: Puzzles and encounter mechanics that feel inspired by Destiny's best.

🚗 Vehicle Sections: Utilizing classic Halo Infinite vehicles like the Warthog and Ghost in a PvE raid context. Imagine doing a tank section against a giant boss!

🎯 Enemy Design: Facing off against the Banished, but with behaviors and placements designed to challenge a coordinated team, not just a lone wolf.

The beauty of it is that this entire experience is free to play. You don't even need to own Halo Infinite's campaign. Just hop into the custom games browser via Forge, and you're good to go. MadmanEpic was kind enough to share the map and mode links directly.

🕒 Perfect Timing & The Future of Fan Content

This launch comes with a bittersweet note. It arrived shortly after Halo Infinite's final major content update, Operation: Infinite, which dropped in November. With 343i moving on to new projects, the future of official new content is uncertain. This makes community creations like Shard of Ascension not just fun diversions, but essential pillars keeping the game alive and fresh in 2025.

It proves that the Forge toolset is more than a map editor—it's a full-fledged game development suite in the hands of passionate players. MadmanEpic's work opens the door to a wild future. What's next? A Halo-themed "Last Wish"? A Forge-crafted "Vault of Glass" with Sentinel Beam Oracles? The possibilities are thrilling.

✨ Why You Should Play It

If you're a fan of either franchise, here's your checklist for why Shard of Ascension is a must-try:

✅ A Novel Challenge: Experience the puzzle-solving and communication demands of a Destiny raid without leaving the Halo universe.

✅ A Technical Marvel: Witness firsthand what's possible when a creator pushes the available tools to their breaking point.

✅ Pure, Unadulterated Fun: Gather five friends, hop into Discord, and prepare for laughs, frustration, and eventually, glorious victory.

✅ It's FREE: The biggest barrier to entry for most games doesn't exist here. Just download and play.

In an era where games can sometimes feel like they're on life support after their official support ends, projects like this are a powerful reminder. The community holds the keys to the kingdom. The creativity, the passion, and the willingness to spend hundreds of hours building something for others to enjoy—that's the real endgame. So, to MadmanEpic and creators like them: thank you. You're the true architects of our ongoing adventures. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find five other Spartans. We have a Shard to ascend. 💪