Watch: Halo Wars 2 launch trailer hits the web

Microsoft’s Halo Wars made for quite an impression upon launch in 2009, offering a refreshing strategy take on the Halo formula. Of course, Halo was originally intended to be a strategy game, so Halo Wars was really about bringing the series to its roots, in a sense.

In any event, Microsoft has published the launch trailer for Halo Wars 2, set years after the events of the first title.

“After experiencing a pyrrhic victory following the events of the first Halo Wars, Captain Cutter and the brave crew of the UNSC Spirit of Fire wake up after 28 years of cryosleep to discover themselves orbiting a familiar Forerunner construct; Halo 3 fans, you know what it is,” reads a description on Xbox Wire.

Halo Wars 2 is the first major Xbox exclusive of the year, coming more than seven years after the original

“After receiving a distress signal and sending down some Spartans to investigate, the crew meets Atriox — an incredibly dangerous Brute who is as intelligent as he is strong. He poses a grave threat to humanity, and it’s up to you to stop him and his Banished.”

Halo Wars 2 launches on 21 February for Xbox One and Windows 10. And in a smart move, it’s a Play Anywhere title, which means you only need to buy it once to own it on both platforms.

Check out the trailer below.