Halo 2 PC details spring up on Bungie.net

Post on developer's official site addresses cross-platform play, DirectX requirements, big change to clan system for Xbox version of game.

An update on Bungie.net is giving hardcore Halo fans some new tidbits of information on the developer's upcoming projects, primarily the PC version of Halo 2.

First and foremost, Bungie has confirmed that even though gamers will need to upgrade their operating systems to play, they might be able to keep using their old graphics cards. While Halo 2 will require the upcoming Windows Vista operating system to play, it won't need a card compatible with Vista's 3D-graphics-generating counterpart, DirectX 10.

On top of that, it appears that cross-platform Halo 2 fragfests will remain a pipe dream for now. According to Bungie, Halo 2 PC will not be compatible with the Xbox version of the game for a few reasons. For one, the PC version of the game will include new maps and a map editor, which raises questions of how to handle play against Xbox players that have neither of these features.

Another reason to pass on the cross-platform play is because "a level playing field would be impossible." In addition to the Xbox players having more than two years' head start on the PC players, Bungie says that the controls and aiming have been fine-tuned for each system, and that matches between the systems would be "lopsided at best." However, the PC version of the game will support other options beyond the keyboard-and-mouse combo, should players feel more comfortable with another control method.

Another development that came to light in the posting is the elimination of Halo 2's clan playlist from the game's matchmaking. The developer cited low usage among players as a primary reason for the removal of the playlist. Clans still function for the most part as they did before, but players will no longer have a clan rank.

"Essentially, the reason some higher level clans are unable to find matches is because players aren't using clans as they were intended to be used," the posting explained. "By starting new clans so you can 'pwn noobs' again, you're defeating the purpose of having clan ranks in the first place. Not all users abuse the system in this way, but the vast majority does [sic] and it has caused the clan ranking system to lose its purpose."

159 Comments

  • imrlybord7

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 5:54 pm PT

    halo 2 with legit mods (new maps, weapons, characters, vehicles, game elements, single player content) and mouse and keyboard! The cheaters can suck me sideways, but otherwise this will definitely be awesome.

  • dan_3

    Posted Jul 8, 2006 4:59 pm PT

    The PC market has much better FPS games than Halo 2, the only reason for it is because they want people to buy Vista so they can play this "amazing game" which is not anywhere near as good as most PC games, screw Vista and screw Halo 2 (i prefer the first one)

  • XxKhmergamexX

    Posted Jun 22, 2006 3:55 pm PT

    First of all Halo 2 was the best on xbox. But 1 thing that i really hated were the modders. It was really dissapointing when i couldn't get passed level 34. Accounts; Skillzking, STP KHMERBALLA, XxKhmergamexX. I have played many rpg's and first person shooters on the pc. They all have 1 thing in common Modders,cheaters. I am sure there are going to be modders 4 the pc version. I wouldn't know how to do it, but im sure there are people who would hack through it or sumthin and cheat. The halo2 team have to do sumthin to stop it.

  • jaefrmbk2k

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 1:24 pm PT

    shutup stupid

  • Mohandas_Gandhi

    Posted Jun 14, 2006 7:42 pm PT

    This is great. I don't know of any other games I'm looking forward more too than this besides Resident Evil 4 for PC. I hope that They don't come out at the same time or I'll have to choose between the two. Can't wait!

  • panzr150

    Posted Jun 9, 2006 6:05 am PT

    It's probably some cheap marketing ploy to sell Vista to die-hard Halo fans. I hope the 360's wired controller will work well with it.

  • GeoFlame

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 9:33 am PT

    Y halo on PC is like wow...ummm we have like already better FPS's to play....why would we want to downgrade our FPS Experince..Halo MP (1&2) is your standed MP games nothing new...nothing great we have played that millions of times...
    But for those who want to get it...you wont need Vista to run..yes it says you do but how long to you think it will be till someone realses something to make it run on XP not long I tells ya...Plus Jade Emprie is coming probably with more extra stuff...so I can wait till like Gears of War and such come onto the PC..you know they will...you can say no they wont but then thats what people said about Halo 1 & 2 KOTOR, Fable, and Jade Emprie

  • NitroKat

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 7:27 am PT

    Hummm.... no thx. Counterstrike 4TW!!!

  • Tribeskhas

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 2:55 am PT

    I dont see the point of porting i on to the PC.
    Halo overall in terms of PC standards sucks. Although yes i did rent the dam xbox for Halo2 i was quite bord by the game. I was also bored by Halo (PC) bu then since everyone was like OMFG HALO2 WILL PWN SOOOO BAD i got it.
    Anyway PC has far better FPS's, and Halo2 looked like arse when it came out so what the hell do they think they are doing when they are releasing it on a PC? lol damn dumb i must admit.

  • 70sdude

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 4:55 pm PT

    Awww, i really wanted to pawn some noobs on the pc version who have bad graphics, while im owning with a sniper rifle on my 360

  • Terdog

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 12:31 pm PT

    Halo 2 for pc.. yawn. By the time it comes out, Ill be knee deep in BF 2142, Crysis, and UT 2007 And MABEY Duke Nukem Forever

  • ktothed

    Posted Jun 5, 2006 9:19 am PT

    Halo 2 sucked anyway

  • WiseHorn

    Posted Jun 4, 2006 11:54 pm PT

    Gamespot seem to be implying that Xbox players will have in upper hand in a cross platform match. Personally, I think that PC players will have it, with them having the mouse and keyboard which offers a whole lot more control. People obviously haven't compared CoD2's online between platforms; on PC it's at a whole new level...

  • homiebo

    Posted Jun 4, 2006 11:44 am PT

    well theres map editor and new maps

  • RadBunny

    Posted Jun 4, 2006 11:39 am PT

    its 2006 now...Halo2 was made in 2004 dont you think alot of people have it aand played it?

  • tjdubbleu

    Posted Jun 4, 2006 10:36 am PT

    WOOT WOOT HALO 2 GONNA BE THE SHYTE

  • sheepysheepy

    Posted Jun 4, 2006 3:08 am PT

    finallllly halo2 map editor )

  • igl

    Posted Jun 3, 2006 10:22 pm PT

    who needs this mediocre fps, when we get ETQW! weeee

  • taouin

    Posted Jun 3, 2006 4:55 pm PT

    If this game is heayy and slow like the first one was... forget it

  • DarKNeT_ShadoW

    Posted Jun 3, 2006 3:17 pm PT

    You still need Windows Vista to play the game,

    "First and foremost, Bungie has confirmed that even though gamers will need to upgrade their operating systems to play..."

    The good news is that you won't need a newer graphics card that is compatible with DirectX 10 to play the game, but you STILL have to upgrade to Vista.

  • Makaveli2A

    Posted Jun 3, 2006 2:58 pm PT

    It took to long time to announced halo 3, Then they're announcing halo 2 for windows vista and it coming out for the pc before 3 comes out just so they can make a few extra . Would you be mad if they launched both games at the same time, no because some people have played halo2 already and wouldn't care for it beacuse of halo 3. Point blank halo 2 should been released a long time ago.

  • XtremePhsyco

    Posted Jun 3, 2006 12:42 pm PT

    i heart bungie

  • alphasol

    Posted Jun 3, 2006 12:32 pm PT

    hell yes finally!! lmfao [sic] xP

  • Wej_accept_it

    Posted Jun 3, 2006 6:34 am PT

    Well I got an AMD 3400+ clocked at 2.4ghz. My graphics card is 256MB but its over a year old, I'm buying a sweet new one so this should work great on my PC. Can't wait, we deserve to play this game after so long.
    PS - Mod Community start planning a Hang Em High map!

  • coltACP

    Posted Jun 3, 2006 4:39 am PT

    Microsoft seem to be using the success of the Halo series to try and force their new operating system upon people while it will be new and expensive. No one actually wants or needs Vista yet-no games are using it currently and those that will use it well will take 3 years to make. It's a cheap and arrogant tactic and i hope they choke on it and no one buys either(cheaper to buy second hand xbox an halo 2 if your that desperate for a 2 year old game).

  • CoudStrife

    Posted Jun 2, 2006 9:10 pm PT

    FEAR pwns halo

  • swirskytheman

    Posted Jun 2, 2006 5:18 pm PT

    Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • jazilla

    Posted Jun 2, 2006 2:13 pm PT

    I think this problem would be easily ironed out if they would just make the xbox 360 controller completely compatible with the PC. I was absolutely letdown when I couldn't use my 360 controller in the exact same way on the PC as the 360. It is totally ridiculous to think that game makers can make a game exactly the same for two different platforms, but can not get the controller to work exactly the same for said platforms.

  • jaefrmbk2k

    Posted Jun 2, 2006 11:56 am PT

    buying halo 2 w/no DX10 support+windows vista=what's the point & too much money jus to play good ole halo 2

    let's wait 2 more years when i'm ready to buy my pc gaming beast. then maybe if i get araound 2 it. no promises.

  • otrdriver

    Posted Jun 2, 2006 11:06 am PT

    Whos going to shell out the $300 bucks for MS-vista just to play halo2????

    might as well go get an xbox 360 and get halo 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.................

    what in the heck are they thinking up there!

  • cikame

    Posted Jun 2, 2006 1:49 am PT

    ...wonder if they will release a patch for it to work on xp...im not getting vista...xp works the best so far, i dont see why i need to change it, unless they stop its security updates etc...

  • evilotto13

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 11:27 pm PT

    the new maps are going to be cool except backwash no one likes backwash

  • Yan1978

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 10:31 pm PT

    Quake Wars

  • amirmohsen

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 8:16 pm PT

    damn, some idoit said u dont need vist, but u do, u dont need a new graphics card. damn i hate it when i cant play against those xbox fanboys

  • g8summit

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 7:20 pm PT

    cypresskilla u have serious issues

  • cypresskilla_70

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 5:57 pm PT

    Halo sucks

  • CLDragonCL

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 4:42 pm PT

    are there graphic upgrades for h2 for PC?

    I hope this one will be optumized better than the first halo for pc...

  • mareaper

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 4:07 pm PT

    Hmmmm, if there is a demo for this one I'll try and may consider buying it if it is good but if it's anything like Halo 1 I will be uninterested. When I played the 1st Halo demo I was throughly unimpressed, especially after all the hype I kept hearing from my XBox owning friends. I guess on the XBox platform it is the best thing out but on the PC where there are more FPS games than anything else, it's just average.

  • fatzombiepigeon

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 2:24 pm PT

    I'll get it later on down the road.

  • jono111

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 10:31 am PT

    ^ noob

  • PteNomercy

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 9:31 am PT

    Halo 2 ?

    Ummm...I'm too busy playing FAR BETTER shooters for Pc!

    Halo 2...is ancient and for 5 year old kids...

    Why do they even bother!

  • eldoucho

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 1:52 am PT

    That kid is ..... yeah, not too bright.... They didn't make it crossed platform because people on the pc would own people on xbox. A mouse and keyboard is much easier to aim with that a analog controller. That is a great reason alone not to make it cross platformed. --_--

  • ether_real

    Posted May 31, 2006 9:22 pm PT

    Halo for PC was downright terrible. Cant see Halo 2 for PC breaking that trend.

    Silly gamer, consoles are for kids!

  • istillhappy

    Posted May 31, 2006 8:35 pm PT

    too bad you have to have vista to play...still may get it eventually if need to upgrade arrives

  • weaponx4

    Posted May 31, 2006 7:22 pm PT

    people still care about this game? there's so many better games for pc than this..

  • drollia

    Posted May 31, 2006 5:48 pm PT

    Pass,

    There are already a ton of better shooters on the PC then Halo 2 already, i don't think that I am going to pick it up

  • Kicken

    Posted May 31, 2006 5:03 pm PT

    how much will vista cost? and also to reply: some people dont play console games, thats why they come on PC, like (as someone already mentioned), the GTA series always came a year later for xbox and PC, I think that halo2 will be a hit for PC, IF vista doesnt come as a hefty amount, I personally cant wait for halo2 for PC

  • space-cowboy

    Posted May 31, 2006 4:25 pm PT

    Reply to faidon5987's post (find it on page eleven or page twelve):

    It would have sufficed for your post to say you are not a Halo series fan. Your specific comments sound like things a non-fan or a noob would say. Either you don't know very much about Halo, or you are just trash-talking.

  • DrKill09

    Posted May 31, 2006 2:46 pm PT

    Oh boy! Now pc gamers get to experience a crappy 2 year old game.

  • faidon5987

    Posted May 31, 2006 2:40 pm PT

    The entire halo series sucks comparred to most quality PC FPS. I.E.: Half-Life, Half-Life 2, F.E.A.R., FarCry. And the multiplayer is nothing special. You just spot a guy, and spray infinite bullets until one of u dies.

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