Last June we invited our fan community to jump in and get hands-on with a slice of Halo Wars 2 with our first multiplayer beta. As discussed, we received a tremendous amount of valuable feedback on both the technical and gameplay side that has helped the team continue to refine and improve the overall Halo Wars 2 experience as we march towards launch on Feb. 21, 2017.
As we enter the final stretch of development, I’m happy to announce one more opportunity to get hands-on with Halo Wars 2 and ask for your participation in one final large-scale multiplayer beta. This time around the focus will be exclusively on our brand-new, card-based game mode, Blitz, and it’ll be available on both Windows 10 PC and Xbox One beginning Jan. 20, 2017.
Blitz is our new twist on RTS gameplay that combines the deck building and split-second decision making of card-based strategy play with explosive tactical combat in the Halo universe. Your card deck, along with your faction leader, are your greatest resources as you assemble a collection of air, ground and infantry units and seek to out-think and out-maneuver your opponents on the battlefield. We’re really excited about this new mode and look forward to unleashing Blitz upon the community to play and run through its paces prior to launch.
The Halo Wars 2 Blitz Beta will officially begin on Friday, Jan. 20 and is slated to run through Jan. 30, 2017. The Blitz Beta will take place on the map “Proving Grounds,” and will offer 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3 gameplay via matchmaking on both Windows 10 PC and Xbox One. One thing we’re particularly excited about is the fact that all of the Faction Leaders and Blitz cards that will be available in the full game at launch on Feb. 17 will be included and available to play and experiment with during the beta, offering wide breadth of strategic and gameplay options. You’ll also find a series of daily and weekly challenges to participate in as we work to stress test those systems.
9 comments
BuzzDuraband
18 Jan 17#1
For anybody interested. The cheapest pre-order price is currently at Smyths. £34.99 with code pre5.
JimJamJamie
18 Jan 17#2
Game developers *really* like cards these days. Just another layer of transactions on top of DLC and season passes.
I'm guessing you will be able to buy card packs as well then?
Elivercury
18 Jan 17#3
Tell me about it Jim. It's ridiculous.
Incidentally if you're going to have a randomised 'deck' then that sounds like the worst idea for an rts ever.
If it's just selecting units then it's simply a micro transaction scam.
Don't want to be a pessimist but the idea puts me off either way. That said it's only one mode and I enjoyed halo 5 plenty enough despite their card mode.
Might give this a go if I've time.
Godlikezebra
22 Jan 17#4
Its a business not a charity buy it or not no one cares
AdyCarter
22 Jan 17#5
@Elivercury, if you look into it, you'll find its really not MT based.
mark_ed
22 Jan 17#6
people care because it is a franchise game with awareness, passion, feelings, memories and nostalgia. You introduce rip-off DLC/micro-transactions etc, then of course people are going to be up in arms. YOU may not, but don't mistake that others will feel the same especially after being burned by studios buying in engines, cranking up the costs, turning down the rewards, and expecting a mega-million bonanza sellout.
Halo is approaching 15 years as a franchise. It should not be demeaned into a card randomisation exploitation "rngesus has failed me again".
Personally I played half an hour of this, and it is crap - badly thought out menus, bad tutorial that cuts out sections halfway through. I know that if you had gone through the ACTUAL tutorial (which isn't accessible) that you may be in a better position - but this is just not worth playing.
bazman28
24 Jan 17#7
will this work on pc aswell?
bobmoo79
25 Jan 17#8
Damn that's a good price but that's Xbox one only. I'm looking for pc.
bobmoo79
25 Jan 17#9
There is another version for sale that will work on pc and Xbox one, but this version will only work on Xbox one.
![Fresh Breakfast Meat Box (Using code) @ Campbells Meat [Haggis / Lorne Sausage / Bacon / Black Pudding & More]](/images/topics/208684_1.jpg)
![[Xbox One/Windows 10] Halo Wars 2 Blitz Multiplayer Beta (20th - 30th Jan)](/images/topics/138333_1.jpg)
![[Xbox One] Q. u. b. e: Director's Cut on Deals with Gold](/images/topics/208716_1.jpg)
Opening post
Last June we invited our fan community to jump in and get hands-on with a slice of Halo Wars 2 with our first multiplayer beta. As discussed, we received a tremendous amount of valuable feedback on both the technical and gameplay side that has helped the team continue to refine and improve the overall Halo Wars 2 experience as we march towards launch on Feb. 21, 2017.
As we enter the final stretch of development, I’m happy to announce one more opportunity to get hands-on with Halo Wars 2 and ask for your participation in one final large-scale multiplayer beta. This time around the focus will be exclusively on our brand-new, card-based game mode, Blitz, and it’ll be available on both Windows 10 PC and Xbox One beginning Jan. 20, 2017.
Blitz is our new twist on RTS gameplay that combines the deck building and split-second decision making of card-based strategy play with explosive tactical combat in the Halo universe. Your card deck, along with your faction leader, are your greatest resources as you assemble a collection of air, ground and infantry units and seek to out-think and out-maneuver your opponents on the battlefield. We’re really excited about this new mode and look forward to unleashing Blitz upon the community to play and run through its paces prior to launch.
The Halo Wars 2 Blitz Beta will officially begin on Friday, Jan. 20 and is slated to run through Jan. 30, 2017. The Blitz Beta will take place on the map “Proving Grounds,” and will offer 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3 gameplay via matchmaking on both Windows 10 PC and Xbox One. One thing we’re particularly excited about is the fact that all of the Faction Leaders and Blitz cards that will be available in the full game at launch on Feb. 17 will be included and available to play and experiment with during the beta, offering wide breadth of strategic and gameplay options. You’ll also find a series of daily and weekly challenges to participate in as we work to stress test those systems.
9 comments
I'm guessing you will be able to buy card packs as well then?
Incidentally if you're going to have a randomised 'deck' then that sounds like the worst idea for an rts ever.
If it's just selecting units then it's simply a micro transaction scam.
Don't want to be a pessimist but the idea puts me off either way. That said it's only one mode and I enjoyed halo 5 plenty enough despite their card mode.
Might give this a go if I've time.
Halo is approaching 15 years as a franchise. It should not be demeaned into a card randomisation exploitation "rngesus has failed me again".
Personally I played half an hour of this, and it is crap - badly thought out menus, bad tutorial that cuts out sections halfway through. I know that if you had gone through the ACTUAL tutorial (which isn't accessible) that you may be in a better position - but this is just not worth playing.