This is a reblog from Halo Waypoint:
The Halo Wars 2 Blitz Beta is officially underway! From Jan. 20 through Jan. 30 players on Windows 10 PC and Xbox One can jump in and get PVP hands-on with Halo Wars 2’s brand new mode, Blitz.
The Halo Wars 2 development team needs your assistance to play Blitz on both platforms to help with critical datamining for various behind-the-scenes systems and services in addition to providing valuable feedback on the leaders, units and your overall Blitz gameplay experience.
ESSENTIAL READING
We know you’re eager to play (the download links are just below this sweet artwork!) but before you dive in, here are a few useful resources to get you fully versed on Blitz and what to expect with the Beta:
- “Blitz 101” – Check out this extensive guide covering everything you need to know to play Blitz! From leaders to cards to gameplay mechanics you’ll emerge from this class with a bachelor’s degree in Blitzing.
- “The Art of War(s)” – Go deep into the lore and awesome artwork behind some of the new and returning units you’ll encounter in Halo Wars 2 with the latest issue of Canon Fodder.
HALO WARS 2 BLITZ BETA DOWNLOAD LINKS
Download the beta right now for your platform of choice:
PC
XBOX One
Note that for the Blitz Beta specifically, you will need to download each platform version individually.
Please check out our FAQ below for everything else you need to know about the Blitz Beta!
Happy Blitzing!
HALO WARS 2 BLITZ BETA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & KNOWN ISSUES
Q: When is the Halo Wars 2: Blitz Beta running?
A: The beta will begin on Friday, Jan. 20 and end on Monday, Jan. 30.
Q: How do I sign up?
A: The beta is open to anyone on Windows 10 PC and to Xbox Live Gold Members on Xbox One. No signups are necessary!
Q: What platforms is the Halo Wars 2: Blitz Beta available on?
A: The beta is available to play on both Windows 10 PC and Xbox One.
Q: Does the Halo Wars 2 Beta support cross-platform play?
A: No, Halo Wars 2 doesn’t support cross-platform play. Xbox One players will play with Xbox One players while Windows 10 PC players will play with Windows 10 PC players.
Q: How do I download the beta?
A: On Xbox One, you’ll likely see banners on the dashboard or in the store that you can click to download but you can also jump right to the Blitz Beta in the store with this LINK.
On Windows 10 PC you can jump right to the Blitz Beta in the store with this LINK.
Please note that for the beta you’ll need to download each version of the game on each client individually – i.e. downloading it once on Xbox One will not automatically add it to your download queue on Windows 10 PC and vice-versa.
Q: What are the Windows 10 PC system requirements?
Halo Wars 2 Minimum Specs:
- OS: 64-bit Windows 10
- Direct X Version: DX12
- CPU-AMD: AMD FX-4350
- CPU-INTEL: Intel i5-2500
- GPU-AMD: AMD R7 260X
- GPU-NVIDIA: GeForce GTX 650 Ti
- GPU-INTEL: Intel HD 520
- VRAM: 2GB
- RAM: 6GB
- HDD Space: 25GB
Halo Wars 2 Recommended Specs:
- OS: 64-bit Windows 10
- DirectX Version: DX 12
- CPU-AMD: AMD FX-8350
- CPU-INTEL: Intel Core i5-4690K
- GPU-AMD: AMX RX 480
- GPU-INTEL: NVIDIA GTX 1060
- VRAM: 4GB
- RAM: 8GB
- HDD Space: 25GB
Q: What’s the purpose of the Blitz Beta?
A: The Blitz beta is an important step towards helping the team test and finalize crucial back-end systems to provide the best possible experience when the game launches on Feb. 21. Additionally, the design team will be data-mining and reviewing player feedback around leader and unit/card balance as well as general gameplay.
A: How do I report feedback to the Halo Wars 2 team?
Q: Players have two primary means of sharing feedback with the Halo Wars 2 team. First, please check out the official Halowaypoint forums:
Additionally, we encourage all Halo fans to please join the “Halo Community Feedback Program” to participate in periodic surveys to help provide valuable feedback and insights to the 343 team (spanning Halo Wars 2, Halo 5 and more!). You can get more info and join this program RIGHT HERE!
HALO WARS 2 BLITZ BETA CONTENT
Q: What modes and content are available in the beta?
A: The Blitz Beta includes our brand new card-based twist on RTS gameplay – Blitz. You’ll be able to play Blitz in 1v1, 2v2 or 3v3 configurations on the map, “Proving Grounds,” via Xbox Live Matchmaking on Windows 10 PC and Xbox One. All of the starting leaders and unit cards that will be included with Halo Wars 2 when it launches Feb. 21 are available to play in the Blitz Beta.
Q: What is “Blitz?”
A: Blitz is an all-new experience in Halo Wars 2, providing a unique twist on RTS gameplay that replaces the traditional aspects of resource collection, base building and tech tree planning with a new, streamlined way to build armies and jump straight into the action. In Blitz, players will use a card and deck mechanic along with resources spawned at random intervals to quickly bring units and Leader Powers onto the battlefield, resulting in fast-paced, explosive games that emphasize skilled card and unit play and map control.
Q: How do you play Blitz?
A: For a robust guide to Blitz including a detailed introduction to Blitz cards and unit abilities, check out this ARTICLE.
Q: What are the controls for Blitz?
A: Check out this in-depth PDF – BlitzControlsPDF (14MB) – that includes the default Blitz controls for both Xbox One and Windows 10 PC (note that many controls on PC can be re-mapped and customized!).
Q: How do I play Blitz online?
A: There are two ways to get into online games in the Blitz Beta:
- Quickmatch – This option automatically sets you to play with your “favorite deck” and automatically puts you into a 2v2 hopper.
- “Find Match” – This matchmaking option will let you pick 1v1, 2v2 or 3v3 configurations and select your leader and deck from all of your created decks.
Q: Can you play Blitz against AI bots?
A: Blitz is only offered in 1v1, 2v2 or 3v3 matches against human opponents. Blitz Firefight, which is available in the final game but notincluded in the Beta, will allow players to battle against waves of increasingly difficult AI opponents either alone or teamed up with a friend. The non-Blitz multiplayer modes of the full Halo Wars 2 game will also allow skirmishes against AI opponents.
Q: How do I create a deck?
A: Each leader in Blitz comes with a pre-made default deck to get you started but the real fun comes as you grow your card library and start to develop your own unique strategies and tactics. Each deck consists of 12 total cards and each leader can have up to three decks saved at a time. From the Blitz menu, select “Decks” and then choose a Leader. From here you can either edit an existing deck or select “Create New Deck.” Once you’ve made your choice you’ll be able to populate your 12 card slots with units of your choosing (and check out the “Deck Stats” to see how your custom deck balanced). Keep in mind that Blitz is a game of fast reactions and quick decisions and the card you can play at any given moment will be dependent on your available energy. As such it’s wise to strike a balance between cheaper, faster cards and more powerful, higher-cost cards.
Q: How do I earn additional card packs?
A: You can earn additional packs in the Blitz Beta by completing the tutorial, completing daily and weekly challenges, and improving your Spartan Rank by winning matches. When Halo Wars 2 launches in February, there will be even more ways to earn packs.
Q: Will my progress and card unlocks earned during the beta carry over to the retail version of Halo Wars 2?
A: No, cards you unlock and ranks you obtain while playing the Blitz Beta will not carry over to the retail version of the game when it comes out. However, by playing the Blitz Beta you can earn yourself two bonus card packs that will be waiting for you when the game launches on Feb. 21. You’ll earn one page simply for logging into the Blitz Beta and another for completing your first match. And of course, the experience and practice you get mastering your Blitz strategy is yours to keep forever!
KNOWN ISSUES
The Halo Wars 2 Blitz Beta is pre-release software and represents an in-progress subset of the final game. As such, various aspects are subject to change between now the retail release on Feb. 21, 2017.
The Blitz Beta has a few known issues that we’d like players to be aware of:
General
- Because this is just a beta you may get disconnected from a game prematurely. We hate that just as much as you do and we already have fixes made in the final game and will continue to watch for new issues and remedy problems that arise before the game launches.
- Initial loading times can take a while in some cases. Rest assured nothing is wrong, the game will launch soon!
- The in-game store is not hooked up yet, players are unable to buy cards in the beta.
- There won’t be any player/game statistics displayed on Halowaypoint.com during the beta.
Windows 10 PC
- In-game chat is not supported in the Blitz Beta. In the retail release players will be able send and view chat to teammates and/or all players in the game.
OTHER HALO WARS 2 QUESTIONS
Q: What other game modes will be available in Halo Wars 2?
A: Halo Wars 2 will include a variety of gameplay experiences when it launches on Feb. 21. First there’s a robust campaign – available to play individually or cooperatively – that drops players into an epic battle against a new foe, Atriox, and his armies, The Banished. On the competitive multiplayer side, Halo Wars 2 will offer three modes: Domination, Strongholds, and Deathmatch. Each of these gametypes can be played with or against human players and with or against AI controlled opponents. Blitz PVP will of course be included (1v1, 2v2, and 3v3 varieties) in addition to Blitz Firefight – a single player or cooperative gametype vs. waves of increasingly difficult AI opponents.
Q: How many leaders will be available at launch?
A: Six core leaders will be available at launch, each with unique strategies and cards, with additional leaders planned to be added over time. A seventh leader, Sergeant Forge, is also available as special bonus for pre-order/early access customers and will be available for purchase via the Marketplace.
