Halo Wars add-on in "coming weeks"

By Robert Purchese Published 21 April, 2009

DLC expands modes, Achievements.

Microsoft has unveiled the first add-on for Halo Wars titled Strategic Options, which is due sometime in the "coming weeks" and offers three new modes and four new Achievements.

A specific date and price, however, are still under wraps. "Regarding the price and the date confirmation, we don't have any details to share at this time," a spokesperson for the platform holder told Eurogamer this afternoon. "Please stay tuned for further announcements."

Keepaway mode is a twist on Capture the Flag and involves two teams racing to capture three free-roaming Sentinels. Tug of War totals a combination of army, buildings and resources remaining at the end of a battle to declare a winner. And Reinforcement mode provides ever-changing waves of units that require quick-thinking to use effectively and outlast the enemy with.

The Achievements add-up to 100 Gamerpoints. One and Done (30) is awarded for scoring the winning Keepaway point against Legendary difficulty AI; Pull Hard, Pull Deep (20) is gifted for winning and never trailing during Tug of War; Freak on a Streak (20) can be gotten after getting 15 population from a single Reinforcement wave; and Living Loving Bug (30) is dished out to players who obtain a Scarab during a Reinforcement match.

Halo Wars spread the rabidly-followed IP into the RTS genre earlier this year, and has become the best-selling console game of its type ever.

Head over to our Halo Wars review to find out why.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (18) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • DFawkes #1 3 years ago

    I was personally hoping for a single-player level or two, but this'll do nicely I suppose :)
    Edited by 1 at 21/04/09 @ 16:28

  • Reihn #2 3 years ago

    i dont like halo its notany good

    . . . . Sorry, just thought I'd get in before the rush.
    Edited by 2 at 21/04/09 @ 16:50

  • Reihn #3 3 years ago

    I'm a console RTS virgin, but with Halo Wars and Red Alert, I think that's gonna change soon!

    I like the sound of doing some RTS strategising from the couch, watching the action on my epic HDTV. : ) Plus, as for Red Alert, I'm sure it'd really bring out the beauty of Tim Curry/Jenny McCarthy's cut scene work. My TV/360 definitely beats the old 486 pc / 13 inch monitor I used to play C&C games on!

  • Eraysor #4 3 years ago

    "Tug of War totals a combination of army, buildings and resources remaining at the end of a battle to declare a winner."

    So basically it just adds up the points? Anybody with a good brain can do that on their own.

  • RedSparrows #5 3 years ago

    Yes but Eraysor, such an angle might change the approach players make to a game.

    As it is, however, most people go for stealing bases asap etc.

  • Eraysor #6 3 years ago

    My point was if the change was that simple, it hardly needs to be something you pay for.

  • GamesConnoisseur #7 3 years ago

    Reihn: You may not like Halo but you apparently do Left 4 Dead?

    Halo is much more appreciated at the time of the orginial launch, as it was indeed ground breaking and responsible for moving fps in a new direction away from boring 1st aid pick ups to refill health bar and memorising same spawn points of enemies and their fixed attacking paths and so on.

    I know gamers who loved Halo series but hated Halo War, personally I think its a good addition especially if you are also interested in RTS as well. Not the best example but a good console example, that stand out well compared to a few other console RTS.

    PC RTS is always going to be the real thing, sure but i also prefer to play RTS via armchair and big HDTV thanks!

  • liverpoolfc #8 3 years ago

    This has to be the worst game ive played this year. It has put me off halo games. Should have listened to ign and gamespot. Traded it in for resident evil 5 in the first week and that was just as bad.
    Edited by 2 at 21/04/09 @ 19:22

  • Xerx3s #9 3 years ago

    Really? I think it's one of the most entertaining games out there. Just because you suck at it, doesn't mean it's a bad game. Maybe you should consider something lighter like a wii.

  • miiiguel #10 3 years ago

    This new modes sound very interresting.
    Now, if you excuse me I'm going to sit down and try to understand what Halo Wars has to do with Resident Evil.

    It might take... a while.

  • xandoodle #11 3 years ago

    I think it's pretty disgusting having to pay for this actually..

    Pretty much just put me off having this even announced. PC is the way to go.. addons, skins, maps, modes.

    For free.

  • miiiguel #12 3 years ago

    The plot thickens... now we have a "PC FTW" comment on a console exclusive game.

  • FWB #13 3 years ago

    Being charged for a couple of achievements and a few game modes? While DLC can be a good approach, this is a prime example of it being used to rip you off.

  • bratmandu #14 3 years ago

    We need a Covenant Campaign.

    I'm quite enjoying this game, haven't played an RTS since Red Alert 1, and I HATED the Red Alert 3 demo - the controls killed it, whereas clearly a lot of thought was put into Halo Wars controls, and it benefits from it.

    I want to finish Halo Wars single player, but I can't stop playin Multiplayer - it's too much fun.

  • migasUK #15 3 years ago

    @bratmandu

    Same with me...sometimes I get frustrated when I play with random people who quit in the middle of the game, but apart from that is 10/10, is the only game that made me stop be so addictive to COD4.

    btw looking forward for this DLC
    Edited by 2 at 22/04/09 @ 12:25

  • bratmandu #16 3 years ago

    @ migasUK

    Yea I usually only played 1v1 in multiplayer, but 3v3 is a lot of fun if ur teams work well together and no one quits.

    Teamwork is really essential in multi team games - if your team mates defend you well early on whilst you build up super units and money, you can repay them later.

    Nothing like using ur cryo bomb to freeze a prophet, and get your team to follow it up with a carpet bomb, shattering the ice. Kick ass.

    The tiny animations on the units are really impressive too, feels a lot like real epic halo battles!

  • Quak #17 3 years ago

    Who's developing this now that Ensemble is disbanded?

  • RedSparrows #18 3 years ago

    'It has put me off halo games. Should have listened to ign and gamespot.'

    There is so much wrong with these two sentences.
    Edited by 1 at 23/04/09 @ 11:53