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
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