Halo 2 is released locally on June 13th according to BT Games. The most notable limitation of this game, it requires Windows Vista to play it. An interesting feature of the PC version though is what Microsoft have dubbed "Tray and Play" The game is playable streaming off the disc while it installs. An attempt to bring the no-installation aspect of consoles to the PC world. It will integrate with the XBox live network for multiplayer games as well.

I personally have some issues with this. While they have tried with the game, why insist on Vista? An unprincipled attempt at boosting sales of Vista, it will probably just hurt sales of Halo 2 though. And why the delay between the xbox version and the pc version? The graphics are impressive though, and given how much I liked the original, I may suck it up and load Vista onto my machine for this one, will need to think about that for a bit first though

I can guarantee they'll crack it for XP, probably before it's been officially released.

I don't like this idea of 'Tray and Play,' sounds like it'll increase load times and such and probably requires a boatload of RAM?

I can't see people sacrificing performance so they can start playing 5 minutes earlier.

waste of money... and released much too late... I for one won't be excited about htis installment but much rather get UT2k7 or Hellgate london

Yeah, the load times may be an issue, I hadn't thought of that. Hellgate London will only be available on October 26th here and UT2k7 will be in September. Halo 2 though is out June 13th, that's quite a gap that some may want to fill with a new game.