Halo 2 was the first Halo game to feature online multiplayer on Xbox Live.
Released for the original Xbox in 2004, Halo 2 added matchmaking and online competitive play through Microsoft’s Xbox Live service. Players could join standard multiplayer modes, select maps and be matched with opponents over the internet, making the game a major milestone for console online gaming.
Halo: Combat Evolved included local split-screen and system-link multiplayer but did not support Xbox Live on the original console. Halo 2 also expanded the campaign by allowing players to control both Master Chief and the Arbiter. Its online success helped establish Xbox Live as a central part of Microsoft’s console strategy and influenced the design of later Halo multiplayer games.