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Microsoft has announced a brand new Halo game will be launching on PC/Windows 10 next year, as well as Xbox One.
The company made the announcement during a conference at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany.
Halo Wars 2 – a sequel to the strategy game released on Xbox 360 in 2009 – marks the first time a major Halo game will arrive on PC in more than ten years.
Halo 2 was the last game in the series to launch on PC, way back in 2004. Halo: Spartan Assault launched on PC in 2013, however, that was designed predominantly for mobile devices and wasn’t intended as a full PC title.
The game is separate to Halo 5 Guardians, which will launch for Xbox One this October. Whether that will arrive on PC at a later date is unconfirmed.
Microsoft also announced its ‘biggest investment in Xbox eSports history’ – the Halo World Championship is coming this winter with a prize pool of more than $1 million.
The news comes following PCR’s report back in May, stating that more Xbox games will be coming to PC in the future, as Microsoft focuses on growing its Windows 10 platform.
Windows 10 features DirectX 12, which means developers will be able to create cross-platform Xbox One-PC games. Microsoft also said that Xbox One will be updated to Windows 10 this November.
During E3 earlier this year, Microsoft confirmed that Killer Instinct and Gears of War: Ultimate Edition will both be rolled out for PC, while its Elite Controller will be available for both Xbox One and Windows 10. The company also announced a partnership with ValveVR and Oculus to bring VR to Windows 10.
During its Gamescom conference, Microsoft also demonstrated other upcoming Xbox One games including Rise of the Tomb Raider, Crackdown 3, Scalebound and more.
Xbox One will also get a TV DVR feature next year. Windows 10 will allow users to download TV shows to their device and watch them back without the need for an internet connection.
Microsoft also revealed a chat pad that slots into the bottom of the Xbox One controller and lets the user type messages to friends while gaming.
