Halo 2 For PC Packed With Editors, Coming In ...

Halo 2 For PC Packed With Editors, Coming In Early 2007?

GamePro's meeting with a couple of Microsoft higher-ups at last week's E3 2006 revealed some new tidbits about the PC adaptation of Bungies' massively popular Xbox shooter, Halo 2. As previously noted, the game will be running on Windows Vista, which first and foremost means that it will only come out in Spring 2007, at best (since Windows Vista itself is currently scheduled for public release in the first quarter of 2007). Second of all, it means that the PC version of Halo 2 will make full use of DirectX 10's exotic graphic effects, hopefully making it look a little more like... oh, I don't know, say, Halo 3?

Another thing about Halo 2 for Vista is that, according to both Microsoft reps questioned by GamePro, cross-platform multiplayer matches are highly unlikely at this point, due to the fact that the Xbox version (or the Xbox 360 backwards-compatible one, if you will) would have to be re-coded in order to support clients running the PC version. So even though Microsoft is making the Xbox 360 / PC cross-platform gameplay a central focus of its new "Live Anywhere" initiative, chances are that you won't be able to challenge Xbox players with your PC version of Halo 2. And vice versa.

Last, but certainly not least, GamePro also learned that "the Windows Vista version of Halo 2 would include a built-in map editor and modding system - a feature that Microsoft is especially keen to promote, given the massive success of the homebrew mod-turned-retail-juggernaut that is Counter-Strike".

All in all, it's great to see that PC games are once again beginning to receive the promotion they deserve, as Microsoft's marketing machine shifts into gear, in preparation of their upcoming operating system. I can't say I'm particularly excited about changing my Windows all over again... But hey, if that's what it takes for PC games to remain in the spotlight!

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)