Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer will be playable at Gamescom

343 Industries has announced that fans attending Gamescom 2014 in Germany next week will be the first to get their hands on Halo: The Master Chief Collection. It will come in the form of a playable build of Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer.

"We are nearly ready to give you your first hands-on experience with Halo 2: Anniversary, and we are nearly ready to show you new things that you haven’t yet seen," 343 said in a blog post.

"With each late night, we get closer to showing you more of what’s to come. With each build of Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer, we come nearer to the version of the game that will be playable on the Gamescom floor in just seven days. Next week, we’ll hand the controller to you for the first time, and you’ll hear from fellow Halo fans as they share their impressions of Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer with the world."

Halo 2: Anniversary's playable multiplayer will consist of 4v4 matches on Ascension and a yet-to-be-announced map. Multiple game types will be available to choose from.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection will offer graphical updates to all of the original Halo 2 multiplayer maps; however, six of the maps have been remastered for Halo 2: Anniversary. So far, four of the six maps have been revealed: Ascension, Coagulation, Zanzibar and Lockout. It can be assumed that the fifth map will be announced at Gamescom, with the sixth coming at PAX Prime later this month. Last month at San Diego Comic-Con, 343 Industries gave fans a first look at some of the improved cinematics of Halo 2: Anniversary.