It may be a rarity nowadays outside of special edition releases, but the upcoming Halo Wars 2 is all set to receive a physical release on Windows 10 by way of a partnership between Microsoft, 343 Industries and THQ Nordic. As per Video Gamer, THQ Nordic’s CEO Lars Wingefors says it’s “stoked to start the year with another partnership” with Microsoft, adding that “being able to deliver such a big franchise to RTS and Halo fans alike, the opportunity to buy and own this game in a beautiful physical shape is something we appreciate a lot.”
Both Standard and Ultimate editions of the spinoff strategy title will be available in physical form for Windows 10, with both versions including a free digital copy of Halo Wars 2 by way of Microsoft’s Xbox Play Anywhere program. You can expect to pay the usual price for the Standard Edition, but for those that opt to spend a little extra, the Ultimate Edition will include a four-day early access period to the full game, as well as a copy of Halo Wars: Definitive Edition – a retweaked and enhanced version of the original Xbox 360 game.
Announced with little more than a teaser trailer at the climax of Microsoft’s E3 conference in 2015, Halo Wars 2 is set almost 30 years after the original and sees the UNSC Spirit of Fire awake after years in cryosleep only to be confronted with a new threat – The Banished, led by the Brute warlord Atriox.
Halo Wars 2 is scheduled for release for Xbox One and Windows 10 on February 17.