Add this to your list of must-see summer blockbusters: The first Halo game in franchise history for Windows Phone.
Microsoft today unveiled Halo: Spartan Assault, a new single-player shooter coming exclusively to Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8. The game is scheduled to be released in July with an expected price tag of $6.99. It’s the first Halo title designed for touch screens.
The new game should appeal to both hardcore fans and Halo newbies. Played from a top-down (as opposed to first-person) perspective, Halo: Spartan Assault mines some rich storytelling territory. Set in the years between Halo 3 and Halo 4, it offers new insights into the first missions of the Spartan Ops program, the history of the Human-Covenant wars, and the rise of Commander Palmer. Check out the trailer:
In the game, which spans 25 missions, you play either Commander Palmer or Spartan Davis aboard the UNSC Infinity. The title features weekly challenges, leaderboards, and more than 40 in-game achievements and medals. You can also shop for better weapons, armor, or abilities within the game. Beyond storyline, there’s another cool Halo 4 tie-in: Playing Spartan Assault canearn you Halo 4 experience points and unlock new achievements and emblems for your Spartan.
Another great thing about Halo: Spartan Assault is that it’s designed to work hand-in-hand with Windows 8. If you’ve played Skulls of the Shogun, the cross-platform Xbox hit released this year, you know what I mean: You’ll be able to pause Halo: Spartan Assault on the phone and pick up where you left off on your PC or tablet. (My colleague Brandon talks more about the Windows side of things over on Windows Experience Blog today.)
Today’s announcement isn’t the only big Halo news of late, either. Last month, Microsoft announced that it was planning a live action Halo TV series for Xbox Live, with Steven Spielberg signed up as executive producer. Here are a few more screenshots to whet your appetite—and don’t forget to try out the Xbox SmartGlass and Halo Waypoint companion apps for Windows Phone.
What do you think?
