Forge for Windows 10, Content Browser, 2 New Sanghelios themed maps: Mercy (Arena and Remake of Halo 4′s Map Haven) and Temple (Warzone Assault), 3 new weapons including Gunfighter Magnum and Hunter Cannon, and more!
Know Your Enemy: The Story and Characters of Halo Wars 2.
Join 343 Industries for a glimpse into the task of bringing beloved heroes back into the fold after three decades adrift in space. What new adventures await them in this new galaxy? What new allies and adversaries will they meet? Find out how it’s all coming together in this behind-the-scenes featurette for Halo Wars 2.
Halo only had a small segment today during Xbox’s press briefing, however many other details were revealed online outside of the briefing. Halo Wars 2 had two trailers revealed, the first was a cinematic trailer and the second was advertising the Open Beta that is currently available and odds are you’re probably installing it or playing it right now.
The Halo Wars 2 Beta is available to everyone with Xbox Live Gold. It runs from June 13th to the 20th.
The Beta features 2 modes. Domination, which is available from the 13th through the 16th. In Domination players build their bases and armies, and battle for control of the map and supremacy of the Ark.
Deathmatch is the other mode that will be available from June 17th until June 20th. It’s a straight up fight to the death. Last man standing wins.
Both game modes are 2v2. Domination will feature a map called Ricochet, and Deathmatch will be played on a map called Veteran.
Now this isn’t a marketing beta, with this announcement 343 has informed us that Halo Wars 2 has been pushed from it’s original Fall 2016 release to February 21st, 2017. 343 decided to move the game to give it room to breathe as there are many games this fall.
With that being said the beta is taking place roughly 8 months before release so there is plenty of time to incorporate our feedback. The Beta is only available for Xbox One, however there will be another beta closer to launch for Xbox One and Windows 10. This current Beta also offers Gold REQ packs for Halo 5 if you play it. You get 1 after your first game of the Halo Wars 2 Beta and 2 more after your 5th game.
Halo Wars 2 currently has 5 listed game modes. Skirmish (Solo & Online Multiplayer Co-op), Strongholds (Online Multiplayer), Domination (Online Multiplayer), Deathmatch (Online Multiplayer), and a new mode called Blitz (Solo & Online Multiplayer Co-op).
In terms of story, Halo Wars 2 takes place directly after the events of Halo 5: Guardians. After decades adrift and declared lost with all hands, The Spirit of Fire is back with Captain Cutter and crew. Roughly about 27 years since the events of the original Halo Wars.
If you didn’t already notice, Blur Studio is indeed doing the cinematics.
The new villain is Atriox, the leader of the mercenary force known as The Banished – a fierce and powerful Brute faction. The Banished bring many classic Halo alien weapons to the battlefield with an explosive redesign, making them as brutal and deadly as anything the UNSC has encountered. Halo Wars 2 takes place on the Ark, which was first introduced in Halo 3.
Halo Wars 2 is also a Xbox Play Anywhere title. This means if you buy a digital purchase of Halo Wars 2 on your Xbox One or Windows 10 you’ll get access to the other version for free. So you can play on your Xbox One with a controller or on Windows 10 and crank the resolution and use your keyboard and mouse. Now you don’t have to decide between a platform since you get both.
Currently there are two versions of Halo Wars 2. There’s the standard edition and there’s the ultimate edition. The ultimate edition comes with the Halo Wars 2 season pass, 4 days of early access to the game, and the Definitive Edition of the original Halo Wars.
The season pass delivers regular updates that span more than six months and include new leaders with abilities, new units, a new campaign expansion with exclusive missions, and more to be announced soon.
The ultimate edition allows owners the ability to play Halo Wars 2 4 days before the standard release date, so instead of February 21, 2017. You can play on February 17th.
Halo Wars: Definitive Edition is an enhanced version of the original Halo Wars that runs natively on Xbox One and Windows 10. It includes improved graphics and all the DLC for the game.
Halo Wars 2: Ultimate Edition costs $79.99 USD, the standard edition costs $59.99. Both listings online come with an item called Welcome to the Ark, which may be a pre-order bonus item. It’s description says…
Experience the exciting first battles between the UNSC and The Banished. Unlocks the story missions and multiplayer leaders from the original Halo Wars 2 campaign.
That could be a typo, possibly meant to say Halo Wars not Halo Wars 2. We’ll hopefully get more details and clarification as E3 continues.
The next update for Halo 5: Guardians, Memories of Reach, will be available tomorrow – May 12th, 2016. The update adds Infection game type, Noble Team armor sets, Brute Plasma Rifle, Jorge’s Chaingun, and the Phaeton Helios to Halo 5.
Memories of Reach is the second to last free content update detailed for Halo 5: Guardians. The next and presumably final content update is Hog Wild. Hog Wild is assumed to release in June. Warzone Firefight’s release date is TBA.
At the end of 343 Industries Ghosts of Meridian Livestream (a livestream showing off the most recent update for Halo 5) a teaser was aired announcing the return of the game mode Infection – which will arrive with Memories of Reach, the next content update for Halo 5.
Memories of Reach will be adding the remaining armor from members of Noble Team, the cast of Halo: Reach, to Halo 5: Guardians. In the teaser we see Jun, Kat, Jorge, and Emile. Carter’s armor is already in the game and Noble 6’s armor kind of exists… as a homage currently.
This update was expected to release at the end of April, however Ghosts of Meridian was delayed missing the end of March and was released April 5th. Now fans are left to wonder if Memories of Reach is still on course for the end of April or not.
Ghosts of Meridian is the next free content update for Halo 5: Guardians and is scheduled to release next week April 4th-8th. In addition to adding maps, vehicles, weapons, skins, armor sets, emblems, and more. Ghosts of Meridian will include a variety of game improvements based on our feedback. Including multiplayer updates and fixes, sandbox, weapon, and vehicle adjustments. Improvements to the REQ station UI performance, they’re also adding a lengthy list of forge additions, fixes, and improvements. SWAT DMRs will be added along with a re-balance of swat game types.
Halo 5 Guardians Tyrant Rocks and Bridge
Halo 5 Guardians Tyrant Concept Art Faceoff
Halo 5 Guardians Tyrant Sun
Halo 5 Guardians Tyrant Scattershot
Halo 5 Guardians Tyrant Combat Evolved
Halo 5 Guardians Tyrant Walkways
Halo 5 Guardians Tyrant Concept Art
Tyrant was revealed to be the new Arena map coming with the update. Tyrant is a small symmetrical map made for CTF and assault.
Halo 5 Guardians Skirmish at Darkstar Ship
Halo 5 Guardians Skirmish at Darkstar Pathways
Halo 5 Guardians Skirmish at Darkstar Hammer
Halo 5 Guardians Skirmish at Darkstar Establishing Angle
Halo 5 Guardians Skirmish at Darkstar Concept Art
Halo 5 Guardians Skirmish at Darkstar Mantis
Halo 5 Guardians Skirmish at Darkstar Overview
Skirmish at Darkstar is the Warzone map with this update. It’s the most condensed and infantry focused map, features a new intro sequence, new legendary bosses (some driving UNSC vehicles), and interactive gates near the home bases.
The Gravity Hammer variants and traits were also revealed, Corpse Maker, Grinder, and Tartarus’ Gavel. Corpse Maker generates an unstable gravimetric vortex at the point of impact – so from that sounds of that I think it might generate the gravity well like the Voids Tear. The Grinder has a faster swing time and additional energy capacity – so more ammo.
Tartarus’ Gavel – This Mythic Gravity Hammer unleashes a linear series of kinetic explosions with each swing. And also boosts movement speed, shield strength, and jump height.
Song of Peace and Razor’s Edge Suppressors, Blue Steel Weapon Skin, Hannibal Mantis and Scorpion, Dynast Armor Varaints, MARK IV Gen 1 Arcadia, MARK V Alpha Reflex, Fisticuffs Assassination, Take a Look Assassination, Grenadier Armor Mod!
Also a look at Warzone Turbo which is only available until April 4th!
To cap off the Halo World Championship Finals 2016 in Hollywood, California – 343 Industries revealed the gameplay trailer for the upcoming Warzone Firefight mode for Halo 5: Guardians.
Warzone Firefight is set to come out Summer 2016, will support up to 8 players (that’s 4 more than the previous iterations of Firefight in Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach), as well as “dynamic objectives” which 343 boasts “that you can play thousands of matches before seeing the same objective combination”, and a new tier of enemy – Mythic.
Warzone Firefight will feature more enemies than ever – including a brand new tier of “Mythic” enemy bosses
Halo 5 Guardians Warzone Firefight Warden
Players will face numerous enemies and objectives as they try to finish the mode’s 5 rounds. Of course Halo 5’s REQ system will be accessible and as a result, it’s safe to say that this mode will also require online access due to the REQ system. Not to mention due to the lack of split-screen in Halo 5 – you’ll want all the help you can get!
More details for Halo 5: Guardians’ Warzone Firefight mode will come as it’s release draws nearer. Stay tuned till then!
New April (formerly March) REQ Teaser for Halo 5: Guardians briefly showing off a new Suppressor, armor sets, new Warzone map, Teeth Assault Rifle skin, and a Gauss Mantis?! Update titled Ghosts of Meridian.
First Official Screenshot for Halo 5’s Warzone Firefight was released and the Ghosts of Meridian update will arrive in early April, just missing the month of March by a few days.
Chief Canuck - Video Game News 