'Halo 2' Windows Vista out June

The game most PC users are eager to get hold of will be released June 8, Microsoft Game Studios has announced.

Halo 2 for Windows Vista, the sequel to Halo: Combat Evolved, will include an expanded range of vehicles and many more gameplay changes to its predecessor. This includes the on-screen health bar which is no longer visible; instead health regenerates slowly as long as the player does not stand the fireline of the enemy.

The game will also feature more than 14 human and alien weapons with players allowed to carry two weapons at a time, each weapon having advantages and disadvantages in different combat situations.

Halo 2 for Windows Vista, which will be the first PC title in the series to offer multiplayer modes, is expected to be one of the biggest selling PC games of the year so far.