Halo: The Master Chief Collection is overhauling its Exchange system, making nearly all previously available items permanently accessible to players. The update, now live, removes time restrictions from most Exchange content, allowing players to redeem rewards with Spartan Points at any time rather than waiting for limited rotations.
The Exchange was originally introduced as a way for players to unlock cosmetic gear by playing the game, earning Spartan Points, and spending them on featured items. Under the new structure, the majority of that inventory will remain available in perpetuity. According to the announcement, this change means that most previously offered rewards should now be accessible without time pressure.
In addition to broadening availability, certain items that were previously seen only once are returning as login unlocks. These include content that had effectively been vaulted after limited distribution. One example highlighted is the Avalanche Sniper Rifle, which was originally awarded to players who reached rank 20 in Halo 3 Recon Slayer during Season 4 Reclaimer. Other returning items include the Halo 4 BR BLS skin, the Halo 4 DMR BLD skin, and a selection of seasonal or rotational nameplates. Players can unlock this content simply by logging into Halo: The Master Chief Collection.
While most items will now remain permanently available, a small number of bundles will continue to rotate on a fixed quarterly schedule. In Quarter 1, running from January 1 through March 31, players can access the ORION armor set, including its helmet, chest, shoulders, and arms components. Quarter 2, spanning April 1 through June 30, features the Grunt Plush back accessory, the OGX Magnum skin, and the X Pack back accessory.
Quarter 3, from July 1 to September 30, includes the Mirage SPI armor set with its helmet, chest, and shoulders. Finally, Quarter 4, running October 1 through December 31, offers the OGX Shotgun skin, OGX Rocket Launcher skin, and the Taygetus Dory back accessory.
With this update, the Exchange shifts toward a more open structure, reducing exclusivity while retaining a small set of rotating rewards. Players can now collect most cosmetic items on their own schedule while monitoring the quarterly rotations for the remaining limited bundles.
