Fans have often asked if the Flood, the all-consuming parasitic race, will return in Halo 4. The answer was consistently an emphatic "No," but developer 343 Industries recently revealed that the sometimes unpopular enemy will in multiplayer mode.

Lead multiplayer designer Kevin Franklin talked to IGN, describing the Flood mode as a spiritual successor to zombie-killing mode Infection. Two teams play in Flood: the Flood, and Survivors. Survivors can choose abilities including Active Camouflage, which turns players invisible while stationary and when moving slowly.

Flood players move "very" quickly and jump large distances, and they are a threat at short range. Survivors have a Magnum and Shotgun; Magnums have a short ammo supply to balance the one-hit-kill headshots. Shotguns are also one-hit kills at short range.

Flood have Claws, effectively a skinned Energy Sword. Franklin said that 343 Industries wanted to create a "special" experience, from dynamic music to particle effects. A "visual effect," unspecified but likened to speed boosts, is also available for Flood. Flood do have an assassination ability, though it was not used in the preview.

As mentioned, Survivors can choose multiple armor abilities. Promethean Vision and the Hardlight Shield are available, though this has not been finalized. Flood have Thruster Packs, Promethean Vision, and Active Camo. Full customization is available also, allowing armor abilities to be changed.

The playlist will be available at launch, including six maps of the ten available. IGN is running through Halo 4's ten maps as launch approaches. The first was "Abandon," a desolate, and abandoned research facility. Players of Halo 2's Backwash will see similarities in the swamp aesthetic.

The preview takes place on Solace, focusing on Team Slayer (four-versus-four). The map also supports Capture the Flag; ten players is the upper limit for Flood, Franklin confirmed. At the beginning of rounds Halo 4 checks for when players spawn as Flood, and how often. It means an even distribution of Flood per round, ensuring that players occupy both roles.

Flood returns with many of Infection's traits because of what the community wants, according to Franklin. Halo 4 launches on Nov. 6 for Xbox 360.