Halo 4 Forge Mode returns, following the refinements Bungie made since the introduction of the mode in Halo 3 and its return in Halo: Reach. While questions have been asked on how different Forge in Halo 4 is to its predecessors, 343 Industries - the developers - insist there are improvements.

On environments, rather than the completely-grey Forerunner aesthetic Reach popularized, "There will be some aesthetic variety we'll talk about later," 343 Industries community manager - Jessica Shea - said in the July 18 Halo Waypoint Bulletin. "[B]ut most objects will be UNSC themed," she added.

Shea also revealed Forge-made maps aren't launching alongside the 10 unique maps in Halo 4. "[W]e're still discussing how to promote and enable Forge creations in a way that maintains a separation of that kind of content from the main mix," Shea also said. Forge maps in Halo: Reach are frequently available to vote for in matchmaking, but the quality isn't always high. As mentioned, there is also the inevitable repetition if just a single environment is the Forge sandbox, so three different environments - confirmed by 343 Industries at Rooster Teeth Expo earlier in July - should provide greater visual variety.

Comparing size to the huge Forge World in Halo: Reach, "environments will be large enough to accommodate just about any design you can think of, from a Lockout remake to a sprawling racetrack" according to Shea. Three different forge environments exist, meaning having to build in a continuous space like Forge World in Halo: Reach isn't a problem.

Coliseum "walls" are huge titles for building floor tiles, so it should provide a solid canvas to build on, Shea revealed.

Dynamic lighting changes the light on the map depending on player position and objects placed. A completely nighttime map isn't possible, but "there will be an element that will enable a starkly different look than the bright daytime maps you're used to," Shea said.

The true test for Forge will be when the fans can test the system. If 343 Industries has fixed Halo: Reach's problem of being a single shade of grey, consequently making different areas of the map almost not distinguishable, then Forge is going to be a greatly improved this November.

Halo 4 releases November 6 on Xbox 360.