Microsoft Details First Halo Wars DLC News

Publisher Microsoft has released information on its first portion of DLC for its Halo Wars RTS, which is being readied for release in the "coming weeks" under the title 'Strategic Options'.

Three new modes will grace the multiplayer component of Halo Wars with the 'Strategic Options' add-on, as well as four new achievements worth a grand total of 100 Gamerscore points.

The three new modes will be Tug of War, Reinforcement, and Keepaway. The following are Microsoft's explanations of them:

• Keepaway Mode is the Halo Wars adaptation of Capture the Flag. Teams will battle it out to capture a free-roaming Forerunner Sentinel to score points before the other team. Capture three sentinels to claim victory.
• Tug of War Mode is all about having a stronger army than the opponent. Defeating enemies is essential, but success is determined by a combination of the army, buildings and resources left standing in the end.
• In Reinforcement Mode, all active battle units are provided in successive waves. Players must adapt their tactics and use the ever-changing set of units to outwit and outlast the enemy.

Keepaway and Reinforcement sound fairly promising but Tug of War is a bit of a head scratcher. What's all this talk of the mode being, "about having a stronger army than the opponent" and, "Defeating enemies is essential"? We'd have assumed that much, although it'll be good to see the mode promote a more conservative plan of attack with the final tally of units and resources playing a more decisive role.