<s>
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
a	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
343	O
Industries	O
and	O
Creative	O
Assembly	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
published	O
by	O
Microsoft	O
Studios	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
February	O
2017	O
on	O
Windows	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
is	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
science	O
fiction	O
universe	O
of	O
the	O
Halo	B-Application
franchise	O
in	O
2559	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
(	O
2009	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Spirit	O
of	O
Fire	O
arrives	O
at	O
the	O
Ark	O
,	O
a	O
Forerunner	O
installation	O
responsible	O
for	O
constructing	O
and	O
remotely	O
controlling	O
the	O
titular	O
Halo	B-Application
rings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
players	O
construct	O
a	O
base	O
of	O
operations	O
,	O
accumulate	O
resources	O
to	O
produce	O
infantry	O
and	O
vehicle	O
units	O
,	O
and	O
command	O
their	O
armies	O
from	O
a	O
bird's-eye	B-Application
view	I-Application
of	O
the	O
battlefield	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
of	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
began	O
in	O
2014	O
when	O
Halo	B-Application
franchise	O
developer	O
343	O
Industries	O
approached	O
development	O
studio	O
Creative	O
Assembly	O
about	O
a	O
collaboration	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
343	O
Industries	O
wanted	O
to	O
integrate	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
more	O
closely	O
with	O
the	O
ongoing	O
storyline	O
of	O
the	O
Halo	B-Application
series	O
,	O
leading	O
them	O
to	O
set	O
the	O
game	O
28	O
years	O
after	O
the	O
original	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
to	O
fix	O
the	O
story	O
in	O
the	O
current	O
timeline	O
of	O
the	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
received	O
generally	O
positive	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nuisances	O
in	O
the	O
keyboard	B-Device
and	O
mouse	B-Device
controls	O
left	O
some	O
critics	O
disappointed	O
,	O
but	O
enhancements	O
made	O
to	O
the	O
gamepad	B-Device
control	O
scheme	O
from	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
were	O
praised	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
a	O
military	O
science	O
fiction	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
video	O
game	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
players	O
command	O
armies	O
from	O
a	O
bird's-eye	B-Application
view	I-Application
of	O
the	O
battlefield	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
may	O
be	O
played	O
using	O
a	O
gamepad	B-Device
or	O
using	O
a	O
mouse	B-Device
and	O
keyboard	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
its	O
predecessor	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
,	O
it	O
features	O
two	O
playable	O
factions	O
:	O
humanity	O
's	O
military	O
arm	O
,	O
the	O
United	O
Nations	O
Space	O
Command	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
alien	O
faction	O
,	O
the	O
Banished	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
modes	O
include	O
Skirmish	O
,	O
a	O
cooperative	O
or	O
solo	O
play	O
mode	O
against	O
computer-controlled	B-Application
(	O
AI	O
)	O
opponents	O
;	O
Deathmatch	O
involves	O
eliminating	O
the	O
opponent	O
's	O
army	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blitz	O
Firefight	O
is	O
a	O
single-player	O
and	O
cooperative	O
variant	O
that	O
pits	O
players	O
against	O
waves	O
of	O
aritifical	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
(	O
AI	O
)	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
science	O
fiction	O
universe	O
of	O
the	O
Halo	B-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
is	O
set	O
in	O
2559	O
,	O
28years	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
and	O
shortly	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Halo	B-Application
5	I-Application
:	I-Application
Guardians	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
closes	O
with	O
the	O
crew	O
of	O
the	O
human	O
United	O
Nations	O
Space	O
Command	O
(	O
UNSC	O
)	O
warship	O
Spirit	O
of	O
Fire	O
entering	O
cryosleep	O
and	O
drifting	O
in	O
uncharted	O
space	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Spirit	O
of	O
Fire	O
is	O
adrift	O
in	O
space	O
,	O
the	O
ship	O
's	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
(	O
AI	O
)	O
Serina	O
(	O
Courtenay	O
Taylor	O
)	O
terminates	O
herself	O
before	O
succumbing	O
to	O
rampancy	O
,	O
a	O
terminal	O
state	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Captain	O
James	O
Cutter	O
(	O
Gideon	O
Emery	O
)	O
,	O
Professor	O
Anders	O
(	O
Faye	O
Kingslee	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
the	O
crew	O
wake	O
from	O
cryonic	O
sleep	O
at	O
the	O
Ark	O
,	O
a	O
Forerunner	O
installation	O
capable	O
of	O
manufacturing	O
large	O
ringworlds	B-Application
known	O
as	O
Halos	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Anders	O
suggests	O
that	O
they	O
create	O
a	O
Halo	B-Application
ring	O
using	O
the	O
Ark	O
's	O
foundry	O
to	O
transport	O
the	O
crew	O
away	O
from	O
the	O
Ark	O
and	O
back	O
into	O
UNSC-controlled	O
space	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
new	O
Halo	B-Application
is	O
released	O
but	O
UNSC	O
forces	O
face	O
resistance	O
from	O
the	O
Banished	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
the	O
Ark	O
,	O
Alice	O
and	O
Douglas	O
prevent	O
Banished	O
reinforcements	O
,	O
including	O
Atriox	O
,	O
from	O
getting	O
to	O
the	O
Halo	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Having	O
defeated	O
the	O
Banished	O
forces	O
on	O
the	O
ring	O
,	O
ground	O
forces	O
return	O
to	O
the	O
Spirit	O
of	O
Fire	O
but	O
Anders	O
and	O
the	O
Halo	B-Application
enter	O
slipspace	O
as	O
they	O
cannot	O
halt	O
the	O
jump	O
's	O
countdown	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Before	O
the	O
Halo	B-Application
jumps	O
,	O
Anders	O
promises	O
to	O
get	O
help	O
from	O
the	O
UNSC	O
as	O
soon	O
as	O
possible	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
post-credits	O
scene	O
,	O
Anders	O
 '	O
Halo	B-Application
drops	O
out	O
of	O
slipspace	O
prematurely	O
,	O
only	O
to	O
encounter	O
a	O
Forerunner	O
Guardian	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Operation	O
SPEARBREAKER	O
missions	O
take	O
place	O
one	O
month	O
following	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
the	O
Halo	B-Application
Ring	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2009	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
Studios	O
launched	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
,	O
a	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
spin-off	O
from	O
the	O
first-person	O
shooter	O
series	O
Halo	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
was	O
a	O
commercial	O
success	O
,	O
Ensemble	O
Studios	O
was	O
shut	O
down	O
after	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
lead	O
writer	O
Graeme	O
Devine	O
,	O
this	O
script	O
explored	O
the	O
history	O
of	O
the	O
Forerunners	O
and	O
involved	O
Spirit	O
of	O
Fire	O
arriving	O
at	O
a	O
Forerunner	O
station	O
tracked	O
by	O
Anders	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2007	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
formed	O
an	O
internal	O
division	O
,	O
343	O
Industries	O
,	O
to	O
develop	O
Halo	B-Application
products	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
studio	O
searched	O
for	O
a	O
developer	O
to	O
partner	O
on	O
a	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
sequel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2014	O
,	O
343	O
Industries	O
began	O
developing	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
after	O
approaching	O
UK-based	O
developer	O
Creative	O
Assembly	O
,	O
a	O
development	O
studio	O
owned	O
by	O
Sega	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
studio	O
had	O
considered	O
creating	O
an	O
RTS	O
for	O
console	O
and	O
PC	B-Device
for	O
a	O
long	O
time	O
,	O
so	O
the	O
prospect	O
of	O
working	O
on	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
viewed	O
as	O
a	O
perfect	O
opportunity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
development	O
team	O
within	O
Creative	O
Assembly	O
was	O
composed	O
of	O
people	O
who	O
worked	O
on	O
Alien	B-Application
:	I-Application
Isolation	I-Application
(	O
2014	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
Total	O
War	O
series	O
,	O
and	O
new	O
employees	O
hired	O
for	O
the	O
project	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Creative	O
Assembly	O
is	O
a	O
PC-centric	O
developer	O
,	O
staff	O
from	O
the	O
Alien	B-Application
:	I-Application
Isolation	I-Application
team	O
were	O
able	O
to	O
provide	O
experience	O
in	O
producing	O
games	O
for	O
consoles	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Creative	O
Assembly	O
's	O
studio	O
director	O
Tim	O
Heaton	O
said	O
the	O
gameplay	O
of	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
would	O
not	O
be	O
similar	O
to	O
their	O
Total	O
War	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Their	O
approach	O
was	O
to	O
build	O
upon	O
the	O
foundation	O
established	O
with	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
hoped	O
to	O
introduce	O
new	O
players	O
to	O
the	O
strategy	O
game	O
genre	O
while	O
appeasing	O
experienced	O
gamers	O
by	O
including	O
a	O
range	O
of	O
multiplayer	O
modes	O
that	O
a	O
wide	O
spectrum	O
of	O
players	O
could	O
enjoy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Creative	O
Assembly	O
thought	O
the	O
game	O
needed	O
more	O
artillery	O
units	O
capable	O
of	O
performing	O
long	O
range	O
attacks	O
,	O
however	O
there	O
were	O
currently	O
no	O
suitable	O
vehicles	O
in	O
the	O
Halo	B-Application
universe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Creative	O
director	O
Alistair	O
Hope	O
viewed	O
staying	O
true	O
to	O
the	O
source	O
material	O
as	O
an	O
important	O
factor	O
for	O
all	O
of	O
Creative	O
Assembly	O
's	O
games	O
,	O
but	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
team	O
were	O
given	O
more	O
freedom	O
to	O
explore	O
and	O
expand	O
the	O
Halo	B-Application
universe	O
than	O
they	O
had	O
anticipated	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hope	O
praised	O
the	O
control	O
scheme	O
used	O
in	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
and	O
aimed	O
to	O
enhance	O
the	O
system	O
by	O
ensuring	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
would	O
be	O
intuitive	O
to	O
play	O
on	O
a	O
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
common	O
control	O
feature	O
included	O
in	O
many	O
PC	B-Device
RTS	O
games	O
but	O
absent	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
is	O
control	O
groups	O
,	O
which	O
lets	O
sets	O
of	O
units	O
be	O
manually	O
assigned	O
to	O
a	O
key	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
for	O
console	O
and	O
PC	B-Device
,	O
the	O
designers	O
were	O
keen	O
to	O
include	O
the	O
feature	O
for	O
both	O
versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
343	O
Industries	O
had	O
initially	O
considered	O
supporting	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
between	O
Windows	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
devices	O
but	O
the	O
feature	O
was	O
ultimately	O
excluded	O
from	O
the	O
game	O
at	O
launch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blitz	O
was	O
influenced	O
by	O
the	O
Warzone	O
game	O
mode	O
from	O
Halo	B-Application
5	I-Application
:	I-Application
Guardians	I-Application
and	O
Blizzard	O
Entertainment	O
's	O
collectible	O
card	O
game	O
Hearthstone	B-Application
,	O
taking	O
design	O
cues	O
from	O
the	O
card	O
collecting	O
and	O
deck	O
building	O
systems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Halo	B-Application
franchise	O
development	O
director	O
Frank	O
O'Connor	O
explained	O
that	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
would	O
be	O
more	O
integrated	O
with	O
other	O
fiction	O
in	O
the	O
universe	O
than	O
its	O
predecessor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
story	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
is	O
set	O
20	O
years	O
before	O
Halo	B-Application
:	O
Combat	O
Evolved	O
and	O
is	O
largely	O
isolated	O
from	O
other	O
games	O
within	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
was	O
to	O
prevent	O
it	O
from	O
interfering	O
with	O
other	O
projects	O
(	O
Halo	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
Halo	B-Application
:	I-Application
Reach	I-Application
)	O
that	O
were	O
also	O
in	O
development	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Consequently	O
,	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
contemporary	O
fictional	O
timeline	O
following	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Halo	B-Application
5	I-Application
:	I-Application
Guardians	I-Application
,	O
and	O
is	O
said	O
to	O
have	O
a	O
"	O
sense	O
of	O
scale	O
"	O
that	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
was	O
missing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
decision	O
also	O
opened	O
a	O
narrative	O
thread	O
in	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
returning	O
characters	O
are	O
placed	O
in	O
an	O
unfamiliar	O
universe	O
with	O
outdated	O
technology	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Narrative	O
director	O
Kevin	O
Grace	O
said	O
they	O
took	O
most	O
of	O
their	O
inspiration	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
tone	O
from	O
Halo	B-Application
:	O
Combat	O
Evolved	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Inspiration	O
for	O
the	O
character	O
was	O
drawn	O
from	O
folklore	O
legends	O
such	O
as	O
Excalibur	B-Application
and	O
stories	O
of	O
an	O
underling	O
rising	O
to	O
power	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
Banished	O
have	O
been	O
referenced	O
in	O
previous	O
Halo	B-Application
media	O
,	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
marks	O
their	O
debut	O
as	O
the	O
primary	O
enemy	O
faction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
wanted	O
to	O
make	O
sure	O
the	O
visual	O
style	O
remained	O
consistent	O
with	O
the	O
Halo	B-Application
universe	O
,	O
by	O
preserving	O
the	O
recognizable	O
traits	O
of	O
the	O
units	O
and	O
structures	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
in-game	O
cutscenes	O
for	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
were	O
created	O
by	O
animation	O
company	O
Blur	O
Studio	O
;	O
they	O
previously	O
created	O
cutscenes	O
for	O
some	O
Halo	B-Application
games	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
original	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
scenes	O
were	O
directed	O
by	O
Dave	O
Wilson	O
,	O
who	O
was	O
the	O
visual	O
effects	O
supervisor	O
on	O
the	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
cutscenes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
343	O
Industries	O
explained	O
that	O
alterations	O
to	O
the	O
appearance	O
of	O
returning	O
characters	O
were	O
a	O
result	O
of	O
upgraded	O
technology	O
,	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
performance	B-Application
capture	I-Application
,	O
and	O
casting	O
new	O
actors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wilson	O
said	O
advances	O
in	O
technology	O
allowed	O
the	O
animation	O
team	O
to	O
capture	O
body	O
motion	O
,	O
facial	O
motion	O
,	O
and	O
audio	O
simultaneously	O
for	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
unlike	O
during	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
where	O
each	O
of	O
these	O
performances	O
was	O
recorded	O
separately	O
and	O
later	O
combined	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
open	O
multiplayer	O
betas	O
ran	O
during	O
the	O
production	O
of	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
so	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
could	O
gather	O
data	O
and	O
make	O
adjustments	O
based	O
on	O
community	O
feedback	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
ran	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
from	O
June	O
13	O
–	O
23	O
,	O
2016	O
,	O
and	O
included	O
the	O
Deathmatch	O
and	O
Domination	O
game	O
modes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
second	O
beta	O
featuring	O
the	O
Blitz	O
mode	O
ran	O
from	O
January	O
20	O
–	O
30	O
,	O
2017	O
,	O
on	O
Windows	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
earned	O
rewards	O
for	O
Halo	B-Application
5	I-Application
:	I-Application
Guardians	I-Application
for	O
participating	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
beta	O
and	O
Blitz	O
card	O
packs	O
for	O
participating	O
in	O
the	O
second	O
beta	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Changes	O
made	O
to	O
game	O
following	O
the	O
betas	O
included	O
resolving	O
connectivity	O
issues	O
,	O
tuning	O
the	O
gameplay	O
,	O
and	O
adjusting	O
the	O
control	O
scheme	O
and	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Paul	O
Lipson	O
served	O
as	O
audio	O
director	O
on	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
White	O
and	O
Trifon	O
had	O
collaborated	O
with	O
Lipson	O
on	O
the	O
music	O
of	O
previous	O
Halo	B-Application
projects	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Halo	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Master	I-Application
Chief	I-Application
Collection	I-Application
and	O
the	O
Halo	B-Application
Channel	O
application	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
wanted	O
to	O
incorporate	O
the	O
customary	O
components	O
of	O
Halo	B-Application
scores	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
a	O
large	O
orchestra	O
,	O
a	O
choir	O
,	O
and	O
electronic	O
music	O
,	O
while	O
also	O
taking	O
the	O
music	O
in	O
a	O
new	O
direction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
considered	O
a	O
spin-off	O
to	O
the	O
core	O
Halo	B-Application
games	O
,	O
the	O
composers	O
were	O
not	O
as	O
beholden	O
to	O
Martin	O
Donnell	O
's	O
established	O
sound	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
opening	O
track	O
of	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2s	I-Application
soundtrack	O
,	O
"	O
Recommissioned	O
"	O
,	O
is	O
an	O
adaption	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
Spirit	O
of	O
Fire	O
"	O
theme	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
soundtrack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
Original	O
Game	O
Soundtrack	O
,	O
featuring	O
21	O
tracks	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
retail	O
stores	O
on	O
February	O
17	O
,	O
2017	O
,	O
and	O
digitally	O
on	O
February	O
21	O
,	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
Gamescom	O
in	O
August	O
2015	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
Studios	O
announced	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
for	O
Windows	O
PCs	B-Device
and	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
video	B-Device
game	I-Device
console	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
343	O
Industries	O
and	O
toy	O
maker	O
Mattel	O
announced	O
a	O
partnership	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
new	O
line	O
of	O
Halo	B-Application
toys	O
based	O
on	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
2017	O
,	O
Dark	O
Horse	O
Comics	O
published	O
the	O
first	O
issue	O
of	O
Halo	B-Application
:	O
Rise	O
of	O
Atriox	O
,	O
a	O
five-chapter	O
comic	O
book	O
limited	O
series	O
about	O
the	O
games	O
 '	O
primary	O
antagonist	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
initially	O
scheduled	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
for	O
Windows	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
in	O
2016	O
,	O
however	O
it	O
was	O
delayed	O
until	O
February	O
21	O
,	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
first	O
Halo	B-Application
game	O
to	O
launch	O
simultaneously	O
on	O
console	O
and	O
PC	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
Play	O
Anywhere	O
program	O
which	O
allows	O
a	O
digital	O
purchase	O
to	O
be	O
playable	O
on	O
both	O
Windows	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
THQ	O
Nordic	O
handled	O
distribution	O
of	O
the	O
European	O
retail	O
PC	B-Device
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
Ultimate	O
Edition	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
included	O
a	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
(	O
DLC	B-Protocol
)	O
season	O
pass	O
,	O
access	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
four	O
days	O
early	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
copy	O
of	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
:	I-Application
Definitive	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
—	O
an	O
enhanced	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
for	O
Windows	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
debuted	O
in	O
second	O
place	O
on	O
the	O
UK	O
's	O
weekly	O
retail	O
sales	O
chart	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
a	O
demo	O
,	O
featuring	O
the	O
campaign	O
's	O
opening	O
mission	O
and	O
the	O
Blitz	O
Firefight	O
mode	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
and	O
Windows	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
343	O
Industries	O
and	O
Creative	O
Assembly	O
supported	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
post-release	O
with	O
additional	O
content	O
and	O
updates	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
DLC	B-Protocol
included	O
new	O
units	O
,	O
leaders	O
,	O
Blitz	O
cards	O
,	O
and	O
two	O
extra	O
campaign	O
missions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
late	O
October	O
2017	O
,	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
received	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
visual	O
enhancements	O
for	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
X	O
.	O
Additionally	O
,	O
cross-platform	B-Application
play	I-Application
between	O
console	O
and	O
PC	B-Device
was	O
enabled	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
version	O
of	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
received	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
"	O
reviews	O
from	O
professional	O
critics	O
,	O
while	O
reception	O
of	O
the	O
PC	B-Device
version	O
was	O
"	O
mixed	O
or	O
average	O
"	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
review	B-Application
aggregator	I-Application
website	O
Metacritic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
general	O
consensus	O
among	O
critics	O
was	O
that	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
provided	O
an	O
accessible	O
strategy	O
game	O
experience	O
befitting	O
newcomers	O
but	O
that	O
it	O
either	O
lacked	O
tactical	O
depth	O
or	O
was	O
too	O
conservative	O
in	O
its	O
design	O
to	O
appease	O
veteran	O
RTS	O
players	O
who	O
had	O
access	O
to	O
alternatives	O
on	O
PC	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
writers	O
recommended	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
console	O
players	O
,	O
in	O
part	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
dearth	O
of	O
RTS	O
games	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
AI	O
behavior	O
in	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
drew	O
some	O
criticism	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
few	O
reviewers	O
described	O
the	O
pathfinding	B-Algorithm
of	O
units	O
as	O
subpar	O
,	O
and	O
others	O
considered	O
the	O
enemy	O
AI	O
to	O
be	O
too	O
easy	O
on	O
the	O
normal	O
difficulty	O
setting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Critics	O
thought	O
the	O
enhancements	O
made	O
to	O
the	O
gamepad	B-Device
control	O
scheme	O
were	O
smart	O
and	O
welcomed	O
additions	O
like	O
controls	O
groups	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
some	O
cases	O
they	O
still	O
regarded	O
the	O
gamepad	B-Device
as	O
a	O
suboptimal	O
control	O
method	O
,	O
largely	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
nature	O
of	O
analog	O
sticks	O
being	O
imprecise	O
in	O
comparison	O
to	O
a	O
mouse	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
led	O
to	O
some	O
frustration	O
among	O
several	O
writers	O
as	O
they	O
were	O
unable	O
to	O
avoid	O
enemy	O
attacks	O
because	O
maneuvering	O
units	O
was	O
slow	O
with	O
a	O
gamepad	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
mouse	B-Device
and	O
keyboard	B-Device
controls	O
were	O
seen	O
as	O
superior	O
for	O
performing	O
precise	O
actions	O
quickly	O
,	O
some	O
reviewers	O
considered	O
the	O
control	O
method	O
to	O
be	O
unpolished	O
and	O
believed	O
concessions	O
had	O
been	O
made	O
for	O
the	O
gamepad	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
unresponsive	O
minimap	O
,	O
unintuitive	O
default	O
keybindings	O
,	O
and	O
unfitting	O
radial	O
menus	O
were	O
highlighted	O
as	O
problems	O
with	O
the	O
mouse	B-Device
and	O
keyboard	B-Device
controls	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
thought	O
the	O
highest	O
points	O
of	O
the	O
campaign	O
missions	O
were	O
the	O
sequences	O
that	O
borrowed	O
elements	O
from	O
the	O
main	O
Halo	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
were	O
also	O
surprised	O
by	O
the	O
frequent	O
bugs	O
,	O
which	O
included	O
crashing	O
and	O
mission	O
events	O
failing	O
to	O
trigger	O
,	O
that	O
they	O
experienced	O
during	O
their	O
playthrough	O
of	O
the	O
campaign	O
on	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
found	O
the	O
plot	O
to	O
be	O
interesting	O
because	O
it	O
explored	O
different	O
parts	O
of	O
the	O
Halo	B-Application
universe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
they	O
remarked	O
that	O
characters	O
were	O
underdeveloped	O
and	O
the	O
story	O
did	O
not	O
contribute	O
much	O
to	O
the	O
main	O
Halo	B-Application
arc	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
PC	B-Device
Gamer	O
complimented	O
the	O
variety	O
of	O
multiplayer	O
game	O
modes	O
available	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GamesRadar	O
called	O
Blitz	O
the	O
most	O
forward-thinking	O
area	O
of	O
Halo	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
in	O
contrast	O
to	O
other	O
parts	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
which	O
they	O
thought	O
were	O
formulaic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Year	O
Award	O
Category	O
Result	O
Ref	O
2016	O
Game	O
Critics	O
Awards	O
Best	O
Strategy	O
Game	O
Gamescom	O
2016	O
Best	O
Strategy	O
Game	O
2017	O
Gamescom	O
2017	O
Best	O
Add-On/Downloadable	O
Content	O
Develop	O
Awards	O
Visual	O
Design	O
Sound	O
Design	O
Golden	O
Joystick	O
Awards	O
Studio	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
(	O
Creative	O
Assembly	O
)	O
Xbox	B-Device
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
Hollywood	O
Music	O
in	O
Media	O
Awards	O
Original	O
Score	O
-	O
Video	O
Game	O
The	O
Game	O
Awards	O
2017	O
Best	O
Strategy	O
Game	O
2018	O
21st	O
Annual	O
D.I.C.E.	O
</s>
