Combat is balanced by a ' rock–paper–scissors' counter-attack system, in which ground vehicles are effective in combat against infantry, infantry are effective against aircraft, and aircraft are effective against ground vehicles. The primary goal during a battle is typically to destroy an opponent's bases or to capture and control territories on the battlefield. In Halo Wars 2, players construct a base of operations, accumulate resources to produce infantry and vehicle units, and command their armies from a bird's-eye view of the battlefield. Conflict breaks out between the UNSC forces and an alien faction known as the Banished over control of the Ark. Spirit of Fire arrives at the Ark, a Forerunner installation responsible for constructing and remotely controlling the titular Halo rings. The story follows the crew of Spirit of Fire, a United Nations Space Command (UNSC) ship. The game is set in the science fiction universe of the Halo franchise in 2559. It was published by Microsoft Studios and released in February 2017 on Windows and Xbox One. Halo Wars 2 is a real-time strategy video game developed by 343 Industries and Creative Assembly.
