Rumors of Halo Wars PC now officially squashed

by Dustin Burg { Jan 31st 2008 at 10:15AM }

Sorry PC fanboys, you can consider the rumor officially squashified. After word hit the intertubes that Microsoft and Ensemble Studios were developing Halo Wars for the PC to participate in some cross platform play with the Xbox 360 version, Microsoft felt the need to step in. Step in and deny Halo Wars PC's very existence.

After being confronted with the rumor, Microsoft told IGN that "Halo Wars is being developed from the bottom up for the Xbox 360 and its control scheme to ensure that we deliver a groundbreaking console RTS experience. Given that, we have no plans to develop 'Halo Wars' for Windows Vista at this time." Well, that's a pretty blunt statement ... so ... no Halo Wars PC then. Sounds good.

Tags: ensemble, ensemble-studios, halo-wars, microsoft

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

David W. @ Jan 31st 2008 10:31AM

That makes me sad inside...haha

xenocidic @ Jan 31st 2008 10:35AM

good, cross-plat play would have been a complete disaster.

Tr3y MoNey @ Jan 31st 2008 10:39AM

Makes Sense. There's too many cheaters on PCs anyways.

itsburnsie @ Jan 31st 2008 10:46AM

That's why I'd like to see more PC developers go with Valve for Steam distribution and Steam integration in their games.

Valve's VAC (Valve Anti-Cheat) system does a very good job of squashing cheaters, and keeping things fair for everyone.

Josh @ Jan 31st 2008 10:42AM

I have a good feeling about Halo Wars for some reason. C&C3 for 360 was a lot of fun so I hope they just improve a little on their control scheme. I can't wait to create an army of Master Chiefs and go kick some Covenant ass.

JakubK666 @ Jan 31st 2008 10:44AM

Gee, isn't that what they said about Gears of War?

Royale @ Jan 31st 2008 10:46AM

You mean "Good RTS Control" Fanboy? I've been mostly converted from PC FPS control to xbox FPS control but have yet to be convinced on the RTS front. Perhaps this game can convince?

itsburnsie @ Jan 31st 2008 10:48AM

This is actually good, IMO.

I want to see someone perfect the RTS control scheme on the console... because it's pretty much the one and only genre of game that still doesn't control quite right on the console.

C&C 3 was close... but still way behind the PC in terms of control scheme.

HazyCloud @ Jan 31st 2008 10:51AM

This may be the first game to pop my RTS cherry.

SkyNet @ Feb 1st 2008 3:51AM

You pop it, you clean it.

JHTM @ Jan 31st 2008 10:59AM

whilst i think they MAY look to port the title to help galvanize the G4W brand, i truly believe that RTS' are best played on the PC and 'belong' on a PC.

I just cant see World in Conflict playing as good on the XBOX as it would on the PC IMO.

I once said the same about the FPS genre so theres always a way for dev's to perfect RTS on the console, thus with Halo Wars, End War, Sup Com and maybe indeed WiC, the control scheme is being designed specifically FOR the console which MAY not work well on the PC without much re-work.

Still, i cant see the Total War Series coming to a console soon.

mattclarkie @ Jan 31st 2008 11:13AM

Just like Gears of War was an Xbox 360 exclusive.

I say that it is coming to 360 first, and to prevent people waiting for the PC version they are saying it is exclusive.

Tr3y MoNey @ Jan 31st 2008 11:17AM

Since everything is USB now, shouldn't we be seeing a keyboard and mouse soon? Hell, even wireless?? I mean, if they can make a freaking drum kit(which I love) for the Xbox, you'd think that would be a No-Brainer.

If not... I think the Bumpers and D-Pad will be playing a BIG role in the quickness of building and attacking. Or who knows, maybe the messenger attachment could be an option?

J @ Jan 31st 2008 11:19AM

B-B-But, I'm only going to play COD4 Wars... wah wah wah ;)

amart @ Apr 10th 2008 5:13PM

I lol'd :)

neok182 @ Jan 31st 2008 11:26AM

well that sucks. i can live without cross-platform but we need a new RTS to last us PC gamers until Starcraft 2.

as for the control scheme of halo wars on the xbox. theres a video up on xbox marketplace showing how it works. it's actually pretty easy. keyboard/mouse still better though.

nizzy1115 @ Jan 31st 2008 1:38PM

Regardless of what platforms it comes out on, I'm getting it on the 360.

PeterF @ Jan 31st 2008 4:16PM

haha, hopefully that is because your PC is not adequate, and not because you think the 360 would control better on an RTS.

Philip @ Jan 31st 2008 4:30PM

Well with this horrible news, they better add keyboard and mouse support to this game to make up for it.

Deck @ Jan 31st 2008 4:48PM

"we have no plans to develop 'Halo Wars' for Windows Vista at this time."

Given that statement, I don't really give a shit now whether its developed for the PC or not. Vista is garbage and I am staying with XP. If their games wont work on XP then forget it, no need to develop it for the PC. With all their new "VISTA ONLY" crap (new Office with .docx etc. and games for vista) when the operating system still sucks... is just stupid.

So... oh well... would have been awesome if it would have still worked with xp but.. thats out of the picture.