'Halo Wars 2' Release Date, News & Update: Is Microsoft Game For RTS Experts?

Availability of "Halo Wars 2" public beta at E3 2016 was a popular offering. Fans of the franchise, however, are now wondering how "Halo Wars 2" will cater to different levels of real time strategy (RTS) player experience.

When the original "Halo Wars" was released on the Xbox 360, a new entry to a franchise that popularized first person shooting on consoles released as an RTS game seemed doubtful. Also like the condition of its "Halo" franchise siblings here was a genre being brought to consoles that had previously been popularized on PC.

"Halo Wars" would not be bringing RTS to consoles for the first time. Even as far back as the original PlayStation, console gamers were able to play the original of EA and Westwood's "Command & Conquer" series in a PlayStation port, using the consoles controller as the original.

When "Halo" fans and general gamers got their hands on "Halo Wars" the results were generally positive. "Halo Wars" did bring Real Time Strategy to consoles after proving that FPS can exist on consoles as well as PCs. However, PC gamers are commonly known to be a difficult demographic to please. 

Back in command. Check out the trailer for Halo Wars 2. #E32016 pic.twitter.com/hNe5TQYQ0P

— E3 (@E3) June 17, 2016

The control was there, but one could argue that the finesse of control was not. The original solution by "Halo Wars" to this was to use common functionality and simplicity to meet the obvious limits a console controller has compared to a keyboard and mouse.

With the recent public beta of "Halo Wars 2," it is becoming apparent in the difficultly of not only again bringing RTS format to consoles, but also with Microsoft's Windows shared gaming platform the exact same game must cater for PC gamers expectations and controls.

An interesting article over at Ars Technica goes into much detail about this and other potential challenges following the "Halo Wars 2" beta. As overwhelmingly positive as "Halo" games have been received, there is no way a game like "Halo Wars 2" can compete with the detail of the likes of "StarCraft II."

However, it may be that 343 and Creative Assembly are using the "Halo" universe as introduction for gamers who are unfamiliar with RTS. Again on consoles - and this time as strange as it may be - on PC, but also bringing IN PC gamers itching to play another "Halo" game on PC.

How "Halo Wars 2" will turn out is wait-and-see. Microsoft will release "Halo Wars 2" on Xbox One in February 2017.