Halo Wars 2 has been out for exactly a month, and developer Creative Assembly has a few updates they want to make. Coinciding with the release of the Kinsano DLC that launched today, a new patch was pushed out today bringing more than a few fixes, tweaks, and modifications to gameplay.
Posted on the Halo Waypoint Forums, 343 has given a hefty explanation of all the changes you can expect to see.
DualShockers reviewed Halo Wars 2 on Xbox One where we awarded the game a 7.5 out of 10, noting that it may "not capture the same hype and build that other Halo titles bring, by no means should Halo Wars 2 be dismissed."
Halo Wars 2 is available exclusively on PC and Xbox One -- check out the fill patch notes below:
Crashes / Errors / Performance
- Fixed a crash that occurred in Skirmish against AI opponents
- Fixed some error handling with Xbox live service messages
- Fixed a crash that can occur in a LASO play through
- Fixed a hardlock that could occur when loading into “Lights Out”
- Fixed a desync that could be hit in Firefight
- Fixed a crash that could occur while watching the prologue cinematic
- Fixed a crash that could occur while a user signs out while loading into a certain game mode
- Fixed a crash that could occur when transporting newly deployed units
- Fixed an Win 10 specific issue with the game hanging sometimes when restarting a mission
- Fixed some suspend/idle issues that caused infinite loads
- Fixed some Intel Iris Graphics 520 issues that could cause a crash
- Improved performance when running on various Intel integrated GPUs
- Fixed some improper localization strings in controller layout while playing the Basic Tutorial
- Fixed an issue that could cause a crash when a Wolverine is destroyed by a Lightbridge toggling off while it was on it
- Improved stability by fixing a large variety of one-off crashes
- Fixed some performance hitches in Campaign that were caused by scripted events triggering
Gameplay
- Fixed an issue where players were sometimes able to quickly assign one Leader Power point to two different Leader Powers
- AI now garrisons a bit more often in Legendary when low on health
- Nightingale Smoke bombs now stop Turrets shooting outside of the smoke, identical to how units behave
- Damage against Bases show as soon as it happens
- Fixed an issue with Hornets sometimes not responding to Banished unit attacks
- Fixed an issue with pressing the ‘Q’ key twice did not select all units, if there were no units on the screen
- Fixed an issue with Challenges sometimes not progressing in Solo/Team War or Team Objective Playlists
- Fixed Shift-Right-clicking to set multiple waypoints not working in some cases
- Fixed an issue with AI ignoring Sentinel recaptured Control Points
- Fixed some units getting stuck on the campaign mission “The Halo”
- Fixed a bug where the enemy AI retreats too often on Normal
- Fixed an issue where the AI would sometimes kill its own units by toggling a Lightbridge
- Fixed an issue with units doing no damage in a specific scenario
- Fixed an issue with “Departures” video being unlocked after completing “The Halo”
- Fixed a bug with “Just the Facts” and “The full story” achievements not triggering properly
- Fixed an issue where players would get their Favorite Leader instead of the one picked
- Various unit animation fixes
- Added three new achievements unique to the upcoming “Kinsano” leader DLC
Cosmetic
- Fixed some text truncation that could occur in some Campaign missions
- Fixed some text in a few Phoenix logs
- Fixed some UI callouts for failed objectives in a previously played mission showing in a different mission
Audio
- Fixed some cases of audio corruption when multiple sound effects were played at the same time
- Fixed an issue with vehicle engine audio stuttering when on the edge of battle
- Fixed an issue with clipping/corruption occurring in higher waves of Blitz Firefight
Design & Balance Changes
Note: Balance changes affect units in standard and Blitz multiplayer modes unless otherwise noted.
LEADER POWERS:
- Shipmaster’s Scout mines cannot be dropped on buildings anymore
- The Banished Cleansing Beam speed slightly reduced
- ODSTs cost increased from 600 to 800, HP slightly decreased
ECONOMY:
- Adjusted the Supply income curve to give less of a bonus income on the first few Supply Pads/Warehouses, but less limiting as player’s build additional pads.
LEADERS:
- Sgt. Forge: Removed the discount on Supply Pads and Reactors in the “Rolling Economy” leader power
- Sgt. Forge: Accelerated Assembly and Lotus mines swapped places
UNITS:
- Jump Pack Brutes:
o Increased HP
o Incased basic DPS
o Slight increase to move speed
- Hellbringers:
o Significant increase to HP
o Significant increase to fire damage dealt to basic infantry units
o Move speed slightly increased
o Cost reduced from 80/50 to 80/40
o Reduced pre-attack and post-attack cooldown to improve responsiveness
- Suicide Grunts (NOT Blitz Suicide Grunts)
o Increased HP
o Base damage decreased
o Base AOE range increased
o Move speed slightly increased
o Charge distance increased
o Charge speed decreased
o Cost reduced from 100/25 to 100/20
- Elite Rangers
o Significantly increased HP
o Armor type changed to be more resistant to small arms fire from Marine & Grunt squads
o Cost reworked from 80/110 to 125/90
o DPS increased
- Jackrabbit
o Cost reduced from 220/15 to 200/12
- Ghost
o Cost reduced from 265/20 to 230/15
- Chopper
o Cost reduced from 280/20 to 245/15
- Hunters
o Cost reduced from 150/200 to 160/160
o DPS reduced
- Cyclops
o Cost reduced from 120/150 to 120/120
o DPS reduced
- Wraiths
o HP significantly increased
o Shields significantly increased
o Build time reduced
o Cost changed from 550/40 to 525/70
o Plasma Cannon DPS increased
o Plasma Mortar DPS increased
o Plasma Mortar Fire rate increased
o Y ability initial damage increased significantly
o Incoming healing reduced
- Scorpion
o HP increased
o Cost changed from 650/50 to 600/90
o Machinegun DPS increased
o Cannon DPS increased
o Cannon AOE size decreased
o Canister shell DPS increased
o Canister shell AOE size increased
o Incoming healing reduced
- Grizzly
o HP increased
o Machinegun DPS increased
o Missile pod DPS increased
o Cannon DPS increased
o Missile Barrage ability damage increased
- Grunts
o Grunt squad build time reduced
o Overall DPS increased for basic and mine-upgrade squads
o Overall DPS increased for pack brother upgrade squads
- Marines
o Grenade DPS decreased significantly
o Grenade large AOE size reduced
- Anders’ Sentinels
o Move speed decreased
o No longer has a huge damage bonus vs. buildings
o General DPS decreased
o Lockdown Bolt damage decreased significantly
- Banshees
o Banshee Plasma Torpedo damage reduced
- Locusts
o Basic DPS slightly reduced
o Line of sight range reduced
o Weapon range reduced
- Base Turrets
o UNSC and Banished upgraded turrets DPS increased
o Banished turrets HP increased
o UNSC turrets build time reduced
o Banished turret build time reducedStrongholds
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UNSC and Banished HQ HP increased to a constant, high HP amount across all tech tiers