Xbox 360 exclusive 'Halo Wars' now available

By Hector Cortez Mar 3, 2009, 17:18 GMT

The wait is finally over as the highly anticipated action strategy game, “Halo Wars,” hits retail shelves in North America today.

The wait is finally over as the highly anticipated action strategy game, “Halo Wars,” hits retail shelves in North America today. Developed exclusively for Xbox 360, “Halo Wars” is a real-time strategy game that allows players to experience the early battles between the UNSC and Covenant.

To celebrate the worldwide launch of “Halo Wars,” a new Xbox LIVE theme is available starting today to Xbox LIVE Gold subscribers for 250 Microsoft Points. This theme will only be available until March 10 to celebrate the “Halo Wars” release. Also live today is the official game statistics resource for “Halo Wars” at www.halowars.com. Players can track their victories and defeats, evaluate friends’ performances and see who the top "Halo Wars" players are.

That's not all, the two remaining acts of the “Halo Wars: Universe Expanded” video series, offering insights from the creators, critics and fans of the “Halo” franchise, will also be available this week on Xbox.com/Halo and Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The second act, “Evolution,” is available today to all Xbox LIVE members. The third act, titled “Ascension,” will be available first to Xbox LIVE Gold subscribers on March 4 and then all Xbox LIVE subscribers on March 5.

“Halo Wars” is available in Standard and Limited Collector’s editions. The Standard edition has an estimated retail price of $59.99 and the Limited Collector’s Edition will retail for an estimated price of $79.99.

“Halo Wars” Limited Collector’s Edition features tons of extras, including a code to download the “Halo 3” Mythic Map Pack before it becomes available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace later this spring.