Arma 2 Package Combinations

This page explains differences & combinations of various Arma 2 distributions (both content and MP compatibility).

Distributions

Arma 2: Free = A2:F - contains Arma 2 Lite MP content, mission editor, compatible with any A2 MP mission
Arma 2 = A2
Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead = A2:OA - any distribution (contains Lite variants of A2:BAF + A2:PMC DLC)
Arma 2: Combined Operations = A2:CO - DVD compilation of full(SP+MP) A2:OA, full(SP+MP) A2 (contains Lite variants of A2:BAF + A2:PMC DLCs)
Arma 2: Combined Operations = A2:CO - user combination of full(SP+MP) A2:OA, full(SP+MP) A2) installs (contains Lite variants of A2:BAF and A2:PMC DLC)
Arma 2: Reinforcements = A2: RFT - DVD compilation of (MP non-Lite) A2:OA, full(SP+MP) A2:BAF, full(SP+MP) A2:PMC
Arma 2: British Armed Forces = A2:BAF - DLC for A2:OA with full(SP+MP) content
Arma 2: Private Military Company = A2:PMC - DLC for A2:OA with full(SP+MP) content

Possible Combinations

A2:F = A2-LiteMP
A2 = A2-FullSP&MP
A2:OA = A2:OA-FullSP&MP
A2:OA+A2 = A2:CO, A2:OA-FullSP&MP, A2-FullSP&MP, A2:BAF-LiteMP, A2:PMC-LiteMP
A2:RFT+A2 = A2:CO, A2-FullSP&MP, OA-FullMP, A2:BAF-FullSP&MP, A2:PMC-FullSP&MP
A2:RFT+A2:OA = A2:OA, A2:OA-FullSP&MP, A2:BAF-FullSP&MP, A2:PMC-FullSP&MP
A2:RFT+A2:CO = A2:CO, A2-FullSP&MP, OA-FullSP&MP, BAF-FullSP&MP, PMC-FullSP&MP

Table with Arma 2 distributions and theirs content
Distribution	A2:F content	A2 content	A2:OA content	A2:CO content	A2:RFT content	A2:BAF content	A2:PMC content
A2:F	MP Lite	SP&MP full	-	-	-	-	-
A2	MP Lite	SP&MP full	-	-	-	-	-
A2:OA	-	-	SP&MP full	-	MP full	MP Lite	SP&MP Lite
A2:CO	MP Lite	SP&MP full	SP&MP full	SP&MP full	MP full	MP Lite	SP&MP Lite
A2:RFT	-	-	MP full	-	MP full	SP&MP full	SP&MP full
A2:BAF	-	-	-	-	-	SP&MP full	-
A2:PMC	-	-	-	-	-	-	SP&MP full

ⓘ

Any distribution could be combined like A2 retail with A2:OA STEAM etc.
DLCs on STEAM can be purchased only if Your account owns A2:OA on STEAM

Multiplayer Compatibility

ARMA2free.exe binary is MP compatible only with A2:F and A2 games
ARMA2.exe binary is MP compatible only with A2 and A2:F game
ARMA2OA.exe binary is MP compatible with A2:OA and A2:RFT games
ARMA2RFT.exe binary is MP compatible with A2:OA and A2:RFT games

ARMA2OA.exe binary in A2:CO mode is compatible with A2:CO(A2:OA+A2 or A2:RFT+A2) and A2:OA games
ARMA2RFT.exe binary in A2:CO mode is MP compatible with A2:CO(A2:OA+A2 or A2:RFT+A2) and A2: OA games

Table of Arma 2 distributions and theirs MP compatibility (default content)
Distribution	A2:F host	A2 host	A2:OA host	A2:CO host	A2:RFT host	A2:BAF host	A2:PMC host
A2:F client	Compatible	Compatible	-	-	-	-	-
A2 client	Compatible	Compatible	-	-	-	-	-
A2:OA client	-	-	Compatible	-	Compatible	Compatible	Compatible
A2:CO client	-	-	Compatible	Compatible	Compatible	Compatible	Compatible
A2:RFT client	-	-	Compatible	-	Compatible	Compatible	Compatible
A2:BAF client	-	-	Compatible	Compatible	Compatible	Compatible	Compatible
A2:PMC client	-	-	Compatible	Compatible	Compatible	Compatible	Compatible

ⓘ

A2:BAF & A2:PMC do not have standalone binary - they loaded by arma2oa.exe / arma2rft.exe binaries
Dedicated servers must avoid using Full DLC content (Lite content in OA dataset is enough)
BattlEye is unified across both A2 and OA engines (A2, OA, CO and RFT just use different installer filenames)

Content Comparison

Content	Arma 2: Combined Operations	Arma 2	Arma 2: Free
Mil-Sim
Multi-Player
Dedicated server
Mission Editing
High Definition Graphics
User modifications
Story Driven Campaign ^[1]
A2:OA content
A2:BAF & A2:PMC content
Buy needed

Abbreviations

'SP'- SinglePlayer
'MP' - MultiPlayer
'Lite' - SinglePlayer content mostly removed, lowered quality of textures and sounds, MP compatible with Full
'Full' - Full version of game including both MP and SP content and maximal quality

↑ Custom Campaigns are considered addons thus don't work

[1] Custom Campaigns are considered addons thus don't work

[1]