343 Industries and Vanguard Games jointly developed the top-down shooter.

Halo: Spartan Strike is an upcoming top-down shooter that opens up an all-new story set in the Halo universe. The title is slated to release on December 12, 2014 for Windows 8/8.1, Windows Phone 8/8.1, and Steam.

You are a Spartan IV in this classified ONI simulation of New Mombasa set during the events of Halo 2. Lead UNSC troops through numerous missions and battle against your enemies to save Earth. Test your Spartan skills against Covenant and Promethean enemies. Delve into 30 challenging missions using an all new arsenal of weapons, abilities, and vehicles.

Features include:

• Crush your enemies using the iconic Warthog jeep, or sweep them from the battlefield using the all-new Kestrel VTOL
• Face off against new Promethean enemies; deadly mechanical warriors who seek mankind’s annihilation
• Use all-new weapons (Suppressor, Scatter Shot, Binary Rifle and Incineration Cannon) and armor abilities (Proximity Mine, Bubble Shield, Teleport, Shock Chain and Airstrike) to dominate on the battlefield
• Experience an all-new story that will take you from New Mombasa on Earth to the enigmatic Gamma Halo located at the edge of charted space
• Pick and play through shared progress between Windows 8 devices or between PCs/Tablets on Steam via Steam Cloud
• Complete weekly challenges and take the top position in leaderboards that showcase your Halo gaming skills
• Take control! Choose between keyboard and mouse, USB Xbox controller, or touch-based virtual joystick.
• Win 8/8.1 & Win Phone 8/8.1 only: Earn achievements in Halo: Spartan Strike to unlock an exclusive emblem, nameplate, and avatar in Halo: The Master Chief Collection on Xbox One

Ann "Cyliena" Hosler, Managing Editor