There have been many comments that Bungie's decision to not include matchmaking with firefight is a "deal breaker" and such.  I believe this to be true.  I, like many, would love to see Bungie patch the game to allow matchmaking in firefight.  However, it seems that this would not be an easy fix and therefore will likely not happen.  Let me show you something from a Q & A that was just released on Bungie.net on 10/9/09:

Q. Why does latency affect the cooperative and multiplayer experiences in such dramatically different ways? Both gameplay modes are using the same network architecture, right?

A. We actually use different networking models for our cooperative and multiplayer games. Firefight and campaign co-op use what we call a synchronous or lockstep model, and multiplayer/Forge use a distributed model...... So, one big difference between the two models is latency.

Q. Isn’t there a really quick and easy way for Bungie to crank out a patch that would remove the effects of latency altogether?

A. Unfortunately not. There is a lot of work that goes in to making our distributed multiplayer model run as well as it does. The messages that are passed around to keep the machines states up to date are crafted to minimize bandwidth and support the needed functionality. We simply have never hooked up distributed messages to a lot of the awesomeness that exists in Firefight and co-op campaign. Things like cinematics, AI, combat dialog, let alone making it all run smoothly on a 256K up host. It would be a lot of work, and we are super focused on Reach at the moment. :)

Now, I cut out the majority of this cut and paste to get my point accross.  If you want to read the rest go to bungie.net and check it out (http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_100909)

So, as you can see,  you can extrapolate that answer into the assumption that Firefight will likely never recieve matchmaking in a ODST patch.  However, another thing that you can assume is that firefight will be included in all of bungie's future releases (including Reach) and they will use this feedback to try and include matchmaking in their future games with Firefight.  

It's a real good way to get your friends to buy the game: You'll ask them to get ODST because you need more people to play with. I added a bunch of people from CAG, but It's not the same as adding your local friends and co-oping together.

Actually a very smart sales technique imho.

What MonstaMack said.

+ It's good they're concentrating on Reach.

Way to spot the silver lining, guys!

Yeah that would be great.

Just play ODST's Halo 3 multiplayer disc, play people in that exclusive playlist, and ask them if they want to friend for firefight. People did that for Halo 3's campaign.

i'm not a fan of firefight, i think its boring as hell. Horde mode in gears of war 2 is better if you ask me.

Hmm, I don't know.  I haven't played Gears of War 2's Horde mode. 

I don't know about you guys, but I get this piss-my-pants-in-excitement feeling about Halo: Reach.  The same sort of excitement I got when I saw the first Halo 3 commercial during the Super Bowl (a  commercial I still have saved on my 360 hard drive). 

who cares. Firefight is gay Halo is made to shoot the crap out of EACHOTHER in awesome shield generating suits! Halo 3 has mastered the online department and is probably the greatest FPS because of its online!

I've got a very good feeling about Halo: Reach too.  I remember when I first saw Halo 3's first trailer.  I went crazy and ran to a bunch of different friends houses (Didn't have a cell phone lol)