Halo 3 “X-button” revealed

Bungie have spilled the beans on the much-anticipated use for the “X-button” on the pad.

The developers’ weekly update has brought news of the Equipment function, which will allow players to throw down a tripmine or Bubble Shield. There may also be more special pieces of equipment coming to the table in the future. Bungie released this information after showing a multiplayer test video last week.

“You guys did see the final revelation of the mysterious X button. It’s what’s known (at the moment) as Equipment,” the official update states. “The two very plain examples shown in the Vidoc were the Bubble Shield and the Tripmine. Both can be used in all manner of strategic and hilarious ways. There might have been another, but you can wait a month to see that one.”

“A piece of equipment will be a rare and valuable find. It will be located, you will pick it up and you will choose when and where to deploy it. As you can see in the HUD, it’s indicated that you’re carrying it. Pressing X will drop it – not throw it.”

There’ll be chance to have a go of the feature in the beta test next month if you bought a special copy of Crackdown.

Apparently Equipment will simply pop onto the floor in front of the player instead of rolling around, which sounds useful.

There’s an action replay feature that allows players to watch their own death, some changes to water effects and a few extra tweaks in the graphics department.

Bungie have insisted that the much-loved Halo multiplayer experience won’t be lost, despite these new additions.

“Usually, there will be just one available on a map at any given time. Same thing goes for the tripmine, and any other equipment items we may or may not include in the game,” the developer explains. “Rest assured, they are incredibly fun to use, and add a subtle layer of strategy, without fundamentally impacting any of the typical Halo ‘flow’. In fact, it improves it. There. I said it.”

If you’re good we’ll keep giving you updates, just check the hub.