Fans have been waiting for the release of the battle simulation game "Halo Wars 2," which is currently slated on Feb. 12, 2017. Developed by 343 Industries and Creative Assembly, the upcoming strategy game is expected to launch on PC and XBox One; unfortunately, it won't be available on PlayStation 4. But despite that, what can players expect from the upcoming title? Here's everything you need to know about "Halo Wars 2": new features, updates and upgrades, quests and missions, and more.
New lead characters on 'Halo Wars: 2'
New installments mean big changes, and by that, we mean new lead actors for the main characters in "Halo Wars 2." Cutters is now played by Gideon Emery (from Battlefield 3), who was chosen to reflect the 28 years that has since passed after the first Halo Wars, while Fay Kingsley (Mirror's Edge Catalyst), will be playing Anders, as reported by International Business Times. Both actors are expected to bring a lot into their new roles as they breathe life into the game's two main characters.
New villain for 'Halo Wars: 2'
Of course, it's not a sequel without a new villain. For "Halo Wars 2," the new menace comes in the form of Atriox, who leads a violent group of mercenaries called "The Banished." Their group, notorious for their use of classic weapons, make them a lethal force to reckon with.
Microtransactions in-game
One of the new features in "Halo Wars 2" is the introduction of a microtransaction system, which allows player to collect pack from the game's campaign, multiplayer and blitz mode to make a deck, GameSpot reported. These can be used whichever way the players like, but the studio does worry about "pay-to-win" scenarios where players merely opt to buy entire packs instead of mounting a full campaign in-game. Stay tuned for more "Halo Wars 2" news and updates.