Today, Microsoft Game Studios and Ensemble Studios announced that the much-anticipated strategy game Halo Wars will be landing at retailers worldwide this February in both a standard and Limited Collector’s Edition format. Taking the Halo battle beyond the first person element that is it’s heritage, Halo Wars puts players in command of the battlefield in an RTS style with a new story that precedes the events of Halo: Combat Evolved.

The standard edition of Halo Wars will have an estimated retail price of $59.99 and the Limited Collector’s Edition will retail for an estimated price of $79.99. Halo Wars is rated “T” for Teen.

The Limited Collector’s Edition, available through participating retailers, will feature:

• Three New Halo 3 Multiplayer Maps – Be one of the first to experience the Mythic Map Pack from Bungie which includes three new maps, Assembly, Orbital and Sandbox
• Halo Wars: Genesis – a beautiful graphic novel by Phil Noto, Graeme Devine and Eric Nylund chronicling the first military campaign against the Covenant. The novel centers around the Sprit of Fire on a mission to discover why the Covenant are so interested in the world of Harvest
• Unique In-game Vehicle – “Honor Guard” Wraith
• Six Leader Cards – Leaders possess elite skills which can turn the tides of battle
• Spirit of Fire Patch – Start the journey as an official Spirit of Fire crew member

As an added bonus, fans eager for their chance to battle the Covenant will be able to pre-order Halo Wars and receive a pre-order card to download a special in-game Warthog vehicle with flame decals from select participating retailers.

More information on Halo Wars can be found online at www.Xbox.com/HaloWars or www.HaloWars.com.