Halo 2 blasts PCs May 8

While Xbox 360 owners pine over the release date of Halo 3, PC gamers are still waiting for Halo 2. The keyboard-and-mouse crew has yet to feel the joy of dual-wielding a Plasma Pistol and a Plasma Rifle, and even the latest release date given at last week's Game Developers Conference is for the first half of this year.

Today, with the official announcement of Games for Windows Live (the PC equivalent of Xbox Live), Microsoft revealed that Halo 2 for the PC will be released on May 8. The game will require Windows Vista and is in development by Hired Gun, an internal Microsoft Studio working with Bungie.

Gamerscore addicts take note: Halo 2 for PCs will include 1,000 achievement points. The game can also be played with either the mouse and keyboard or the Xbox 360 controller for Windows and will include a map editor. As stated previously, multiplayer gaming will be limited to like platforms; PCs will only be able to play against other PCs.

Halo 2 for PC is rated M for Mature and will retail for $49.99. For more information, read GameSpot's previous coverage. For more on Games for Windows - Live, read coverage of today's announcement.