Halo Wars Confirmed for March 3 on Xbox 360

Halo Wars is coming to the Xbox 360 in North America on March 3, Microsoft confirmed today. However, although the normally-an-FPS franchise hasn’t been as popular in the Asian market, the real-time strategy game will ship one week earlier, on Feb. 26, in Japan and the “Asia Pacific” region.

The European market will also get Halo Wars before their American counterparts. Halo Wars will ship in the EU on Feb. 27.

Halo Wars marks a return to the series roots for Halo, which Bungie actually envisioned as an RTS before Microsoft converted it to an FPS launch title for the original Xbox.

Fans who pre-order Halo Wars will receive an exclusive in-game Warthog with flame decals. The Halo Wars Limited Collector’s Edition, meanwhile, includes an in-game “Honor Guard” Wraith, a graphic novel, six Leader cards and a “Spirit of Fire” patch. LCE owners will also get early access to the Halo 3 Mythic Map Pack.

The Limited Collector’s Edition retails for $79.99. The standard edition is the oh-so-standard price of $59.99.