'Halo Wars 2' release date news: Game to have eSports vibe

If "Halo Wars 2" will feel like an eSports title and a "Halo 5" extension to players, that is because collaborating studios Creative Assembly and 343 Industries want it to be.

343 Industries studio head of strategy games development Dan Ayoub revealed in an interview with Red Bull what influences "Halo Wars 2" in terms of its eSports vibes and gameplay.

"You've probably noticed our commitment to eSports through all the things we do with Halo 5. That absolutely extends to Halo Wars 2," the 343 executive said.

"You always develop with [eSports] a little bit in mind. The way we're approaching it is demand will come from the community, and if it's there, we're going to have all of the tools to be able to support it," he added.

Ayoub said that the Blitz mode in "Halo Wars 2" has the most eSports potential. It was described as a digital card game like "Hearthstone" but with Multiplayer Online Battle Arena-level and action-heavy real-time strategy (RTS) gameplay.

"When we look at the modes, we just natively go to Blitz," Ayoub said of the newly introduced more for the highly-anticipated "Halo Wars 2."

"A deathmatch mode can last easily two hours, and that can be a little tricky from a viewing perspective, whereas we've seen Blitz matches end in as little as four minutes, which kind of lets you do a few interesting things," he added.

Ayoub also said that with the new "Halo Wars 2" mode, players can play best of seven game types while enjoying "a level of professionalism from an eSports standpoint."

"Halo Wars 2" will be made available on the Xbox One and the Windows 10 personal computer (PC) on Feb. 21, 2017.

It will be the first of the upcoming "Halo" titles to be made playable on both platforms. "Halo 6" is the one that is rumored to follow suit.