Halo Wars is now gold, Microsoft’s announced, describing the RTS as “genre-defining”.

The Live demo will release on February 5 prior to launch on February 27.

Halo Wars is Ensemble’s last game: the studio will now close.

A series of vidocs is to be released in the run up to the game’s release, the first of which can now be downloaded from Live. Check Nelson for details.

Genre Defining Xbox 360 Exclusive “Halo Wars” Goes Gold
New video documentary series and Xbox LIVE demo details revealed

LONDON – 23 January 2009 - Microsoft Game Studios and Ensemble Studios announced today that “Halo Wars,” the highly anticipated action strategy game based on the legendary “Halo” universe, is finished and sent to manufacturing! Created from the ground up for the Xbox 360 console and controller, “Halo Wars” combines a peerless control scheme and gameplay with an incredibly rich, epic story set 20 years prior to the story told in “Halo: Combat Evolved.” The result is a commanding experience that is a must-have for “Halo” fans and a title that is sure to become a classic amongst fans of strategy games.

As fans eagerly await launch day, a video documentary series announced today will explore defining themes of “Halo Wars” and give viewers a behind the scenes look at the game’s development and some of the people involved in its creation. The premier episode captures key elements that frame “Halo Wars” gameplay: the controls, perspective and strategy. The “Halo Wars” video documentary is available for download on Xbox LIVE and can be viewed at Xbox.com/Halo.

In addition, the recently announced Xbox LIVE public demo for “Halo Wars” will be available beginning on 5th February at 9:00 am GMT on Xbox LIVE in the UK. In the demo, players will be able master Ensemble’s groundbreaking control scheme in optional beginner and advanced tutorials or jump right into the action to experience the beginning of the “Halo Wars” story with the first two campaign missions. The demo will also include “Chasms,” one of “Halo Wars’” 14 multiplayer maps, wherein players can battle it out in Skirmish mode vs. A.I., playing either as the UNSC with Captain Cutter’s leader powers, or as the Covenant with the Prophet of Regret’s own unique abilities. Don’t forget to set your Xbox to download this demo!

“Halo Wars” is rated 16+ PEGI and on 27th February will be available exclusively on Xbox 360 with an ERP of £44.99 for the Standard Edition and £49.99 for the Limited Collector’s Edition, which includes early access to the “Halo 3’’ new, downloadable content called ‘’Mythic Map Pack’’.

For more information, visit www.xbox.com/halo or www.halowars.com .

Link to site Here

Give it to me !!!!!!!!

Whats the difference with this game and the other halos?

@reask, halo main series is a fps . and halo wars is a rts. thats the difference and u get to see the war before master chief showed up, also halo started its life as a rts .

I will definitely download the demo... Smart move MS.

Would that mean I would still like it having loved h3 I am a shooter guy at heart but would love to move with something I am familiar with if you get what im saying.

I still skeptical that they can make a great RTS using a gamepad, but I'll download the demo and keep an open mind.

I really wonder what the control scheme will be. Halo made FPS really enjoyable on consoles. It wasn't as precise and tight as PC franchises but it was really refreshing. I remember they introduced the shield system when Call of Duty still had you rely on med-packs...


It's going to be harder for RTS, pointing random spots on the screen is really more of a mouse thing than orienting a gun/ character. Different moving speeds perhaps ?