Adrift

Adrift is a small symmetrical multiplayer map featured in Halo 4.

Universe and lore


Although this CAA mining vessel was refitted as an ordnance transport, damage sustained during the Battle of Kholo has condemned it to an inescapable slide down the gravity well of a gas giant. On board, its automated systems continue unabated, their operations executed in eerie futility as they drift ever-closer to destruction.

Adrift is set on the Colonial Administration Authority Springhill-class mining ship (CFM-88) orbiting a gas giant near Kholo. A stationary HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark II (D) exoskeleton is under construction by a series of robot arms in a section of the ship.

Layout
The map is small, symmetrical stage designed for Slayer gametypes. The outer area of the map features man cannons which allow players to quickly traverse the area. An asteroid belt can also be seen looming over the map. Hallways, tunnels, and routes make up the outer parts of the map, leading into a central room.

There are numerous entrances to the center room, or the "Armory", that help prevent camping. The center room consists of three levels. In the middle of the room, a raised platform provides a height advantage over the rest of the center. There are two access doors that are level with the platform, with a gap between the doors and platform. The lower level features a dual set of grav lifts which are directly across from one another, that allows players to reach the second level away from the center. The large amount of cover in the center near the entrances allow players to kill exposed enemies standing in the room.

An Overshield will spawn in the center of the map, enforcing a rush for top mid. The center is where most firefights will occur on the map, since most platforms lead to the room.

There are several hallways and routes around the map, with tight corridors and corners. The lower-leveled hallway connects to the base and will lead to a man cannon, allowing the player to quickly reach opposing bases and objectives. The lower hallway also features a stairway, in the middle of the hallway, that will take the player to the lower level in the center room on the map. Railings located on the outside areas of the map help prevent the player from falling to their death. A sniper rifle spawns on each corner adjacent to either team's spawns. The lower region of Adrift features two grav lifts, four stairwells, and multiple crates which can be used to jump up to the next level of the map. The grav lifts lead to the nearby hallway of either player base, depending on which lift is taken by the player. The hallway by the grav lifts connects a platform that holds a single man cannon, capable of taking the player to the base or objective. The spawning bases on the map are covered in platforms and crates. The third hallway leads to the highest level in the center room of Adrift, where power ups or power weapons are commonly found.

Callouts
The following are locations on the map that were named in the Halo 4: Official Game Guide:
 * Construction/Blue Base
 * Blue Jump
 * Blue Hall
 * Blue Lift
 * Blue Walk
 * Dark Lifts
 * Bottom Center
 * Red Tunnel
 * Red Computers
 * Red Jump
 * Refinery/Red Base
 * Blue Computers
 * Blue Tunnel
 * Blue Stairs
 * Top Center


 * Blue Ramp
 * Light Lifts
 * Red Walk'
 * Red Lift
 * Red Hall
 * Red Stairs
 * Red Jump

Strategies

 * Due to the amount of raised platforms and overall versatility present in the level, a jetpack is very useful in traversing the map's middle section, as it can allow the player to circumvent easily naded stairwells to pursue a surprise attack.
 * Promethean vision is also useful on the map. The amount of corners on the map allows players to ambush unsuspecting players with ease, especially with the use of the Boltshot, which can generally one shot within the confines of the map's hallways.
 * The thruster pack is also recommended due to the close quarters nature of the map, which enables reliably thrusting over an opposing player's head for a potential assassination.
 * It is best to avoid the hallways that lead to the center, due to the amount of grenades thrown in the area. However, the hallways can be baited by an attentive player with a sniper rifle due to the line of sight across the map to the other populated hallway, and to various areas in the map's midsection.
 * The overshield that spawns can be easily baited for if a player tosses a grenade off the nearby walls of the power up. Doing this during the initial rush for the overshield can result in the would-be obtaining player's shields being dropped, allowing for an easy headshot.
 * Additionally, spawning with a storm rifle or a plasma pistol can allow for a quick burn on a player who has already obtained the overshield.

Production notes
Originally the map was named "Warhouse". This name was a working title that was carried forward into public statements.

Several themes were explored for the map including a space platform, a spooky science experiment, and a jungle-bound UNSC facility for bio research. The space platform theme was settled upon and using reference material from NASA, aircraft carriers and naval shipyards the map took it's current form.

Adrift underwent a slight visual overhaul for the retail build, following the E3 2012 build. This change included a shift in lighting, brightening the outside areas of the map, while darkening the interior of the ship. As well during the E3 2012 build, the mining vessel's hull classification symbol was FFG-88, designating it as a frigate.