Welcome to the Halo Wars 2 Blitz Beta! Please see below for an ongoing list of Frequently Asked Questions and Known Issues!
Q: When is the Halo Wars 2: Blitz Beta running?
A: The beta will officially 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:
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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__:
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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:
Bug Reports: https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/38bd6e2ebbb14e5b9b359bb029588800/topics/blitz-beta-%e2%80%93-bug-report-thread/ecbaafde-16ed-4179-b46b-9489f3caf99a/posts
Specific Leader Feedback: https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/38bd6e2ebbb14e5b9b359bb029588800/topics/blitz-beta-%e2%80%93-leader-feedback-thread/8470b7ba-4c3d-47e2-b88d-019c05ab40ef/posts
Gameplay Feedback: https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/38bd6e2ebbb14e5b9b359bb029588800/topics/blitz-beta-%e2%80%93-blitz-feedback-thread/83b8e7fb-0df8-48e1-80b0-481b84b1eeb6/posts
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 everything you need to know about playing Blitz including a detailed introduction to Blitz cards and unit abilities, check out this ARTICLE.
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 not included 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!