Are the 'Social Games' servers dedicated servers run by Microsoft?

[galaxysenshi]

I got MCC here and I wanna get back into the multiplayer (I played hundreds of hours of it on Xbox One). Problem is, I'm paranoid that the servers are peer to peer, meaning they're being hosted by some random person who isn't affiliated with 343. I'm paranoid about this because I don't want to connect to an IP where I'll get hacked or get a virus. I'm only talking about the 'Social Games' multiplayer.

Are they run by Microsoft/343? Are they safe dedicated servers? Can I get a virus from them?

[Robert F.]

Peer to peer only works on Co-op campaign and 2-4 player Spartan Ops, most of multiplayer like firefight, social and CGB uses MS based dedicated server.

[galaxysenshi]

Originally posted by Robert F.:

Peer to peer only works on Co-op campaign and 2-4 player Spartan Ops, most of multiplayer like firefight, social and CGB uses MS based dedicated server.

So they use Microsoft servers? Which should mean that it's all safe?

[Define Brackish Water]

You're safe anyway. There's no known way to exploit someone over the online components for this game. Microsoft cares about that because they don't want there to be a way to jailbreak an Xbox One or Xbox Series.

If you want to obscure your IP address when playing online then make sure relays are turned on in the in-game settings. This will route your traffic through and Xbox Live server. I do not know if it extends to voice communication only (text chat goes through an Xbox Live server for sure) or if it affects your game inputs as well. I also do not know how it affects a peer to peer connection.

• Matchmaking is almost always hosted on a dedicated server run by 343i. If there is a severe server outage then 343i has it set up to allow for peer to peer matchmaking games. This is a rare situation and from my understanding has always been universal instead of specific regions or players.
  
• Matchmaking includes ODST firefight and Reach firefight.
  
• The Custom Game Browser only allows for games hosted on dedicated servers run by 343i.
  
• All online campaign co-op is peer to peer.
  
• Forge is always hosted on a peer to peer connection.
  
• Regular custom games are always hosted on a peer to peer connection. In order to get into one of these a player has to invite you directly or you have to join a player directly.
  
• Custom games can include ODST firefight and Reach firefight.
  
• Theater is local and can't be watched online.
  
• Halo 4 Spartan Ops is not available in matchmaking and is peer to peer only.

In order to play matchmaking, use the Custom Game Browser, unlock achievements, earn XP, or earn unlock points you must run the game with Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) on.

Halo 3's gametypes were built into the game and a Title Update was required to add more, so for Halo: Reach Bungie (the original developer company who is now no longer involved) made a gametype scripting language called Megalo. This same scripting language exists in Halo 4 and Halo 2 Anniversary multiplayer. What can be done with this scripting language is fairly restricted. I have not kept up to date with the modding and forge communities the past several months but believe me when I say that it will never pose any harm to you. You'll encounter games with customized scripts in the Custom Game Browser.

I bring up the gametype scripting because I have heard of rare eye-witness testimonies of people who cheat to bypass EAC of using it to make other players see weird things in-game. This is as benign as putting a waypoint with a pre-existing icon over a group of player's heads but nonetheless the possibility exists that it could be used to make something unusual happen. Since matchmaking runs on a dedicated server there is no "host advantage" for these people to exploit. That fact alone greatly reduces what someone cheating could do. This may have been different in the past but you should know that MCC originally released on Xbox One in 2014 and has needed/gotten thousands of patches and fixes. I'm describing how things are to you today.

I have been in custom game rooms with EAC off and a host who is intentionally cheating to do wild things. They are all still benign and would do you no harm. Being host allows for things like letting players shoot rockets from ARs, changing up what is attached to the back of a warthog on a whim after a round restart, and being able to personally fly around the map. I say this to communicate that there is still a limited amount of control someone cheating has, though admittedly this was likely all done with a specialized tool called Assembly which allows the user to "poke" specific changes into RAM.

Modding is generally safe and does not carry a risk of being banned. All mods for MCC involve replacing files and the tools that allow you to mess with MCC in real-time generally can't get through the obscuration barrier put up by EAC. If EAC detects something it doesn't like then it will kick you from the game. The only ban risk comes from trying to bypass EAC.

TL;DR: You're fine. There is nothing to worry about. The modding community is alive and well and would send out an alarm if there was a known danger.

[galaxysenshi]

Originally posted by Define Brackish Water:

You're safe anyway. There's no known way to exploit someone over the online components for this game. Microsoft cares about that because they don't want there to be a way to jailbreak an Xbox One or Xbox Series.

If you want to obscure your IP address when playing online then make sure relays are turned on in the in-game settings. This will route your traffic through and Xbox Live server. I do not know if it extends to voice communication only (text chat goes through an Xbox Live server for sure) or if it affects your game inputs as well. I also do not know how it affects a peer to peer connection.

• Matchmaking is almost always hosted on a dedicated server run by 343i. If there is a severe server outage then 343i has it set up to allow for peer to peer matchmaking games. This is a rare situation and from my understanding has always been universal instead of specific regions or players.
  
• Matchmaking includes ODST firefight and Reach firefight.
  
• The Custom Game Browser only allows for games hosted on dedicated servers run by 343i.
  
• All online campaign co-op is peer to peer.
  
• Forge is always hosted on a peer to peer connection.
  
• Regular custom games are always hosted on a peer to peer connection. In order to get into one of these a player has to invite you directly or you have to join a player directly.
  
• Custom games can include ODST firefight and Reach firefight.
  
• Theater is local and can't be watched online.
  
• Halo 4 Spartan Ops is not available in matchmaking and is peer to peer only.

In order to play matchmaking, use the Custom Game Browser, unlock achievements, earn XP, or earn unlock points you must run the game with Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) on.

Halo 3's gametypes were built into the game and a Title Update was required to add more, so for Halo: Reach Bungie (the original developer company who is now no longer involved) made a gametype scripting language called Megalo. This same scripting language exists in Halo 4 and Halo 2 Anniversary multiplayer. What can be done with this scripting language is fairly restricted. I have not kept up to date with the modding and forge communities the past several months but believe me when I say that it will never pose any harm to you. You'll encounter games with customized scripts in the Custom Game Browser.

I bring up the gametype scripting because I have heard of rare eye-witness testimonies of people who cheat to bypass EAC of using it to make other players see weird things in-game. This is as benign as putting a waypoint with a pre-existing icon over a group of player's heads but nonetheless the possibility exists that it could be used to make something unusual happen. Since matchmaking runs on a dedicated server there is no "host advantage" for these people to exploit. That fact alone greatly reduces what someone cheating could do. This may have been different in the past but you should know that MCC originally released on Xbox One in 2014 and has needed/gotten thousands of patches and fixes. I'm describing how things are to you today.

I have been in custom game rooms with EAC off and a host who is intentionally cheating to do wild things. They are all still benign and would do you no harm. Being host allows for things like letting players shoot rockets from ARs, changing up what is attached to the back of a warthog on a whim after a round restart, and being able to personally fly around the map. I say this to communicate that there is still a limited amount of control someone cheating has, though admittedly this was likely all done with a specialized tool called Assembly which allows the user to "poke" specific changes into RAM.

Modding is generally safe and does not carry a risk of being banned. All mods for MCC involve replacing files and the tools that allow you to mess with MCC in real-time generally can't get through the obscuration barrier put up by EAC. If EAC detects something it doesn't like then it will kick you from the game. The only ban risk comes from trying to bypass EAC.

TL;DR: You're fine. There is nothing to worry about. The modding community is alive and well and would send out an alarm if there was a known danger.

I take it that the matchmaking with 343i servers includes the Social Games too?

[RuntyFlame]

Originally posted by Robert F.:

Peer to peer only works on Co-op campaign and 2-4 player Spartan Ops, most of multiplayer like firefight, social and CGB uses MS based dedicated server.

and peer to peer netcode is still trash mind you

[Define Brackish Water]

Originally posted by kendra:

I take it that the matchmaking with 343i servers includes the Social Games too?

That's one way of looking at it.

Multiplayer -> Social Games
Multiplayer -> Competitive Games
Multiplayer -> Custom Game Browser
Firefight -> Matchmaking
These are all running on dedicated servers controlled by 343i. The firefight one is a duplicate option.

And for the sake of clarity and rounded corners,
Custom Multiplayer = Custom Games

[galaxysenshi]

Originally posted by Define Brackish Water:

Originally posted by kendra:

I take it that the matchmaking with 343i servers includes the Social Games too?

That's one way of looking at it.

Multiplayer -> Social Games
Multiplayer -> Competitive Games
Multiplayer -> Custom Game Browser
Firefight -> Matchmaking
These are all running on dedicated servers controlled by 343i. The firefight one is a duplicate option.

And for the sake of clarity and rounded corners,
Custom Multiplayer = Custom Games

Ok- so it's definitely safe then. Thank you!!