Halo Wars: 2 PC Player population problems.

Games Halo Wars Series
1

This is a long good ol’ wall o’ text. So here’s basically what I’m trying to say: Halo on PC can not stay Windows 10 exclusive.

Halo Wars: 2 on PC has a big problem with player population. For the simple reason of it being Windows 10 exclusive. There aren’t enough people who:

1: Owns Windows 10
2: Is interested in Halo on PC.
3: Is interested in Halo Wars.
4: Has a good PC enough to run the game.
5: Can afford a $60+ game
6: Can put up with all the BS from Windows Store

These 6 things is everything we Halo Wars: 2 PC players have in common. People who is missing one of these 6 things is not playing the game. So obviously very few people are playing the game with this many requirements.

So there are very few players. And a lot of the players are friends with each other. Meaning they mostly play the game when they are in a party. And winning against people who has good communication because they know each other well, is almost impossible. Assuming the opposing team isn’t in a party as well. So naturally they win a lot of games. Meaning they level up faster than everyone else. And once they all reach max level. (50 i think it is)

(One thing before we continue with the last sentence)

And because most people are friends, and only play with each other in a party. That means both solo and partied players will most likely end up finding them in the matchmaking. Because those are 3 easy to find players just like that. And i don’t think the matchmaking is trying to balance the teams, by level and win rate. But if it is. Then this just proves that the lack of players and many partied up players is a big problem. Because a lot of times, in 3v3 i get people who are close to my level (15) and then in the enemy team i see 3 level 50. Obviously they are partied up, Otherwise there is no balancing in the matchmaking. And the reason the matchmaking chose to put us against those 3 level 50’s who were partied up. Was because there was no other players that had a good connection to you and everyone else in the game. So it prioritizes good ping over a balanced match. Which for over on Xbox is absolutely the right way to do things. Because on Xbox there are so many players, that you’ll very rarely run into partied up players. Cause there are so many other non-partied up players to choose from.

So basically. Halo Wars: 2 is a very bad PC port. It doesn’t even know it’s own player population. They only thought about Xbox when it came to these things. I don’t know why Microsoft thinks that everyone on PC will love and buy their games just because they finally allow them on PC. After Halo 5: Forge, (yeah that failure) a lot of people lost all faith in Halo on PC. And now after this… Well. I’m sure as hell not buying the next Halo game. Or ever spending money on anything from the windows store ever again. or this whole play anywhere BS.

If they decide to not make it Windows 10 exclusive, then i will probably wait and see how good the population, and performance is in the game, before i buy it.

Anyway… This is my experience on Halo Wars: 2, and Halo in general on PC/Windows 10. Definitely not enjoying the games like this. Most of the time when i see that partied up 3 level 50’s. I just leave the game, making everyone have to research for a new match. And i know other people do as well, as I’ve seen that happen.

So yeah…This can not be allowed in upcoming Halo PC games. Halo Online: Eldewrito has way more players than Halo 5: Forge. Mainly because Halo Online: Eldewrito is not windows 10 exclusive. And if you’re not aware. Halo Online: Eldewrito is a cracked modded version of Halo: 3’s custom games and forge. it has a lot of cheaters, and i’m sure people can track your IP and Ddos you as well. Yet people choose that over Halo 5: Forge. Good Job Microsoft.

And then there’s Project: Contingency. Which have a big fan base as well.
As well as Installation 01, me included in both of those fan bases.

2

> 2535467690216197;1:
> This is a long good ol’ wall o’ text. So here’s basically what I’m trying to say: Halo on PC can not stay Windows 10 exclusive.
>
> Halo Wars: 2 on PC has a big problem with player population. For the simple reason of it being Windows 10 exclusive. There aren’t enough people who:
>
> 1: Owns Windows 10
> 2: Is interested in Halo on PC.
> 3: Is interested in Halo Wars.
> 4: Has a good PC enough to run the game.
> 5: Can afford a $60+ game
> 6: Can put up with all the BS from Windows Store
>
> These 6 things is everything we Halo Wars: 2 PC players have in common. People who is missing one of these 6 things is not playing the game. So obviously very few people are playing the game with this many requirements.
>
> So there are very few players. And a lot of the players are friends with each other. Meaning they mostly play the game when they are in a party. And winning against people who has good communication because they know each other well, is almost impossible. Assuming the opposing team isn’t in a party as well. So naturally they win a lot of games. Meaning they level up faster than everyone else. And once they all reach max level. (50 i think it is)
>
> (One thing before we continue with the last sentence)
>
> And because most people are friends, and only play with each other in a party. That means both solo and partied players will most likely end up finding them in the matchmaking. Because those are 3 easy to find players just like that. And i don’t think the matchmaking is trying to balance the teams, by level and win rate. But if it is. Then this just proves that the lack of players and many partied up players is a big problem. Because a lot of times, in 3v3 i get people who are close to my level (15) and then in the enemy team i see 3 level 50. Obviously they are partied up, Otherwise there is no balancing in the matchmaking. And the reason the matchmaking chose to put us against those 3 level 50’s who were partied up. Was because there was no other players that had a good connection to you and everyone else in the game. So it prioritizes good ping over a balanced match. Which for over on Xbox is absolutely the right way to do things. Because on Xbox there are so many players, that you’ll very rarely run into partied up players. Cause there are so many other non-partied up players to choose from.
>
> So basically. Halo Wars: 2 is a very bad PC port. It doesn’t even know it’s own player population. They only thought about Xbox when it came to these things. I don’t know why Microsoft thinks that everyone on PC will love and buy their games just because they finally allow them on PC. After Halo 5: Forge, (yeah that failure) a lot of people lost all faith in Halo on PC. And now after this… Well. I’m sure as hell not buying the next Halo game. Or ever spending money on anything from the windows store ever again. or this whole play anywhere BS.
>
> If they decide to not make it Windows 10 exclusive, then i will probably wait and see how good the population, and performance is in the game, before i buy it.
>
> Anyway… This is my experience on Halo Wars: 2, and Halo in general on PC/Windows 10. Definitely not enjoying the games like this. Most of the time when i see that partied up 3 level 50’s. I just leave the game, making everyone have to research for a new match. And i know other people do as well, as I’ve seen that happen.
>
> So yeah…This can not be allowed in upcoming Halo PC games. Halo Online: Eldewrito has way more players than Halo 5: Forge. Mainly because Halo Online: Eldewrito is not windows 10 exclusive. And if you’re not aware. Halo Online: Eldewrito is a cracked modded version of Halo: 3’s custom games and forge. it has a lot of cheaters, and i’m sure people can track your IP and Ddos you as well. Yet people choose that over Halo 5: Forge. Good Job Microsoft.
>
> And then there’s Project: Contingency. Which have a big fan base as well.
> As well as Installation 01, me included in both of those fan bases.

Makes sense to me. I mean, the OS does run it better and faster I’m sure but more playerbase would be great.

Also alliteration FTW

3

a lot of my friend interest in halo wars 2 but
because of window 10 required , $60 price

tbh if you are not really big halo fans you won’t give $60 to a game tho. even it is a very good game.

4

I have a gaming pc, and whats stopping me from getting Halo wars 2 is Windows 10. I would definitely buy it if I was able to play it on Windows 8.1. They should update the MS store or whatever else they are using, and make it that windows 8.1 users can use “play anywhere titles”. This would certainly increase sales, as I doubt anyone is willing to put up with MS store AND Windows 10. If i only had to deal with MS store, I’d be fine with it.

5

I think the amount of times people get disconnected is worth adding onto this list, aswell as how its not being addressed.

6

It’s just another reason to force people to update to Windows 10. Unless it sells really bad on PC it’ll stay there.

7

> 2535434977874265;3:
> a lot of my friend interest in halo wars 2 but
> because of window 10 required , $60 price
>
> tbh if you are not really big halo fans you won’t give $60 to a game tho. even it is a very good game.

You can get the free Upgrade for Win10 by using the Version for disabled People and you can get the game in a Key Shop for 35€.
But I get why people don’t want to use Win10 just because of a game

8

I feel super lonely on Halo Wars 2 on the PC. I waited 30 minutes before getting into an actual match, and it ended within like 5 minutes because they rushed me.

9

> 2535434977874265;3:
> a lot of my friend interest in halo wars 2 but
> because of window 10 required , $60 price
>
> tbh if you are not really big halo fans you won’t give $60 to a game tho. even it is a very good game.

Indeed. Myself i pre ordered Halo Wars: 2 Ultimate Edition. Because i wanted Halo Wars: 1 Definitive Edition. But my bank denied the purchase, but Microsoft sent me a code for Halo Wars: 1 anyway. So i got Halo Wars: 1 for free.

Then later i bought Halo Wars: 2 standard edition on greenmangaming (sells games cheaper) for $42, instead of $60. So i got a pretty good deal.

10

Bump. Just keep losing ranks because of dc.

11

i Agree too…PC population is dead. it takes ages to connect to an online game

12

Microsoft will push for all their store games to be compatible only with Windows 10. They’re trying to push their product down consumers throats. If you don’;t take what they’re offering they will cut you off.

They tried this with Halo 2 on the PC if I remember correctly. It was the same scenario but with Windows Vista. Lo and behold, that game never took off either and Games For Windows Live, (The Windows Store type gimmick at the time), failed as well.

To long didn’t read, Microsoft being greedy, as always.

13

> 2533274904261244;12:
> Microsoft will push for all their store games to be compatible only with Windows 10. They’re trying to push their product down consumers throats. If you don’;t take what they’re offering they will cut you off.
>
> They tried this with Halo 2 on the PC if I remember correctly. It was the same scenario but with Windows Vista. Lo and behold, that game never took off either and Games For Windows Live, (The Windows Store type gimmick at the time), failed as well.
>
> To long didn’t read, Microsoft being greedy, as always.

Pretty much this. Microsoft are doing lots of things to try to force people to use Windows 10.

14

How big is the chance of putting HW2 on Steam and/or getting a refund? :confused: I haven’t found a game in two days, wtf MS?!

EDIT: at least bring the population counter on so that I don’t have to lose time when I see 0 people online. Love the game, but if there are no players it’s useless. Put this -Yoink- on Steam already or refund us!

15

> 2535417180496827;8:
> I feel super lonely on Halo Wars 2 on the PC. I waited 30 minutes before getting into an actual match, and it ended within like 5 minutes because they rushed me.

I feel your pain I started on PC but switched to Xbox and there are waaaaaaaay more players. Find a game in less than a minute regardless of day and time

16

> 2533274904261244;12:
> Microsoft will push for all their store games to be compatible only with Windows 10. They’re trying to push their product down consumers throats. If you don’;t take what they’re offering they will cut you off.
>
> They tried this with Halo 2 on the PC if I remember correctly. It was the same scenario but with Windows Vista. Lo and behold, that game never took off either and Games For Windows Live, (The Windows Store type gimmick at the time), failed as well.
>
> To long didn’t read, Microsoft being greedy, as always.

Not greedy. Well in a way yes. They want to own everything. And not have to rely on anyone else. So they’re looking at Play Anywhere and Windows 10 Exclusive, not in the Now. But in the future. In the future when everyone have committed and bought windows 10 for it’s exclusive games. And then there will be lots of players and no one will be angry anymore. Because they know they wont lose anything from what they see in the Now. Which is a bunch of angry customers.

That’s the thing about Microsoft. They’re rich enough to do whatever the f**k they want. And we are poor enough to not ask any stupid questions.

(Totally just quoted Devin Weston, from GTA: V. But i thought it really fit Microsoft so why not?)

17

> 2535467690216197;16:
> > 2533274904261244;12:
> > Microsoft will push for all their store games to be compatible only with Windows 10. They’re trying to push their product down consumers throats. If you don’;t take what they’re offering they will cut you off.
> >
> > They tried this with Halo 2 on the PC if I remember correctly. It was the same scenario but with Windows Vista. Lo and behold, that game never took off either and Games For Windows Live, (The Windows Store type gimmick at the time), failed as well.
> >
> > To long didn’t read, Microsoft being greedy, as always.
>
> Not greedy. Well in a way yes. They want to own everything. And not have to rely on anyone else. So they’re looking at Play Anywhere and Windows 10 Exclusive, not in the Now. But in the future. In the future when everyone have committed and bought windows 10 for it’s exclusive games. And then there will be lots of players and no one will be angry anymore. Because they know they wont lose anything from what they see in the Now. Which is a bunch of angry customers.
>
> That’s the thing about Microsoft. They’re rich enough to do whatever the f**k they want. And we are poor enough to not ask any stupid questions.
>
> (Totally just quoted Devin Weston, from GTA: V. But i thought it really fit Microsoft so why not?)

This might be true, but with this attitude they’re just losing customers over customers. MS is never going to create a gamer-userbase on PC by building walls, especially not with the PC community! We love our personalization, our mods, our freedom. And Play Anywhere was supposed to be exactly that: an additional possibility! However with all restrictions UWP brings with it, closing the userbase on one platform, the terrible UI of the marketplace, a mind-breaking badly made downloader page (for often did I reinstall Halo 5 Forge and GoW4 already?) and refusing to implement their services to Steam like Ubisoft and EA already did there is no way MS plans will come to fruition on PC.

If they don’t resolve this problems soon they lost another customer. It saddens me, I love their games! I wouldn’t be here in first place if that wouldn’t be the case! But after this I refuse putting more money to this terrible store. :confused:

18

> 2533274795098161;17:
> > 2535467690216197;16:
> > > 2533274904261244;12:
> > > Microsoft will push for all their store games to be compatible only with Windows 10. They’re trying to push their product down consumers throats. If you don’;t take what they’re offering they will cut you off.
> > >
> > > They tried this with Halo 2 on the PC if I remember correctly. It was the same scenario but with Windows Vista. Lo and behold, that game never took off either and Games For Windows Live, (The Windows Store type gimmick at the time), failed as well.
> > >
> > > To long didn’t read, Microsoft being greedy, as always.
> >
> > Not greedy. Well in a way yes. They want to own everything. And not have to rely on anyone else. So they’re looking at Play Anywhere and Windows 10 Exclusive, not in the Now. But in the future. In the future when everyone have committed and bought windows 10 for it’s exclusive games. And then there will be lots of players and no one will be angry anymore. Because they know they wont lose anything from what they see in the Now. Which is a bunch of angry customers.
> >
> > That’s the thing about Microsoft. They’re rich enough to do whatever the f**k they want. And we are poor enough to not ask any stupid questions.
> >
> > (Totally just quoted Devin Weston, from GTA: V. But i thought it really fit Microsoft so why not?)
>
> This might be true, but with this attitude they’re just losing customers over customers. MS is never going to create a gamer-userbase on PC by building walls, especially not with the PC community! We love our personalization, our mods, our freedom. And Play Anywhere was supposed to be exactly that: an additional possibility! However with all restrictions UWP brings with it, closing the userbase on one platform, the terrible UI of the marketplace, a mind-breaking badly made downloader page (for often did I reinstall Halo 5 Forge and GoW4 already?) and refusing to implement their services to Steam like Ubisoft and EA already did there is no way MS plans will come to fruition on PC.
>
> If they don’t resolve this problems soon they lost another customer. It saddens me, I love their games! I wouldn’t be here in first place if that wouldn’t be the case! But after this I refuse putting more money to this terrible store. :confused:

Yeah, definitely. I wont spend anymore money on their Windows Store.

When you look at it this way:

They finally put their games on PC.
But only for one OS.
And only for one Marketplace.
And that marketplace is half–ar*ed
And they don’t try to improve it.
But still they try to sell their products on that marketplace.
Even when there are million times better marketplaces out there. Like Steam.
It just seems like they really don’t care. At least that’s the only conclusion i come to when i put all of this together.

And maybe they’ve already made up their mind. Like: ''Hmm. Yeah, there really aren’t a lot of players in our windows 10 exclusive games, are there? Maybe we should remove the windows 10 exclusive’’.
But that doesn’t matter. Sure I’m happy that they decided to do something at all. But the fact that they decided to make it windows 10 exclusive, and bait people into buying windows 10, is just hurting their reputation in the first place. Because it’s not a secret that, that’s what they were trying to do. It’s obvious. I didn’t even have to mention that they tried to bait people to get windows 10, in my post. Everyone started talking about it in their replies as if it was common knowledge, and that’s exactly the kind of replies i expected. Also why i didn’t mention it. Because it’s common knowledge at this point.

But yeah. I just think it’s a real d*ck move to bait people like that. Especially when they’re aware of the fact that their games would have a big population problem. And i assure you they were aware. They didn’t become the richest company in the world because they forgot a minor detail like that. Something that an average person might forget. Like myself. I didn’t really think about it that way, like ''Oh if it’s windows 10 exclusive, that means there will be a huge population problem’'
I mean i was aware of it, in the back of my mind. That windows 10 exclusive meant less customers. And i couldn’t figure out why Microsoft would willingly miss out on a big selling opportunity like that. If it wasn’t for the simple fact, that they’re greedy, and they just do not care at all. As nonchalant and simple minded as that sounds. It’s honestly my best theory at this point. Which is really sad.

Well, there’s another theory i came up with as well. And that is that the only reason they made ‘‘Play Anywhere’’. is so that they could make it as obnoxious as possible. Basically forcing people into saying ‘‘Eh, screw this. I’m better off getting an Xbox One instead’’

So it’s a bait for people to buy Windows 10. And the game. Only to buy an Xbox One in the end.

19

> 2535467690216197;18:
> > 2533274795098161;17:
> > > 2535467690216197;16:
> > > > 2533274904261244;12:
> > > > Microsoft will push for all their store games to be compatible only with Windows 10. They’re trying to push their product down consumers throats. If you don’;t take what they’re offering they will cut you off.
> > > >
> > > > They tried this with Halo 2 on the PC if I remember correctly. It was the same scenario but with Windows Vista. Lo and behold, that game never took off either and Games For Windows Live, (The Windows Store type gimmick at the time), failed as well.
> > > >
> > > > To long didn’t read, Microsoft being greedy, as always.
>
> [CUT]Well, there’s another theory i came up with as well. And that is that the only reason they made ‘‘Play Anywhere’’. is so that they could make it as obnoxious as possible. Basically forcing people into saying ‘‘Eh, screw this. I’m better off getting an Xbox One instead’’
>
> So it’s a bait for people to buy Windows 10. And the game. Only to buy an Xbox One in the end.

If that’s the end-goal they are in bad luck, at least with me. I already had a Xone (and a PS4 for what that maters) and my consoles have developed into costly dust-collectors in less than a month. More choices, retro gaming, better online experience for free, getting games for much less and mods. Hell! I still play Skyrim to this day thanks to mods! It sucks that HW2 basically died -> third day, I’m searching a game for over 15 minutes now, still nothing - but overall PC is still the way to go imho.

Open letter to MS Studios: do an Ubisoft/EA move and put your games on Steam already. Use the -Yoink- marketplace of yours as a middleware if you really want, but give up the Win-store exclusivity already. It’s just hurting your gamer community.

I really was looking forward playing HW2 for months to come, more than any other game this year believe it or not! However, now I have to find another MP RTS, and it saddens me to death saying it because I love the Halo verse. Creative Assembly designed something wonderful, but HW2 fail to shine because of such stupid decisions. It’s a shame!

20

Hmm, I think MS knows about this issue and therefore the price for the Ultimate Edition dropped to 50 bucks. Maybe during easter a lot of new users will come to us :slight_smile:

btw: I found this growing community Discord

cheers