After Delay, Microtransaction-Free Halo: Spartan Strike Arrives Today

Although Halo fans will need to wait until October to play Halo 5: Guardians on Xbox One, they can play an all-new Halo game starting today in the form of Halo: Spartan Strike.

A spiritual successor to 2013's Halo: Spartan Assault, Spartan Strike was announced in October and was originally slated to launch by the end of 2014. However, Microsoft delayed the game in December 2014 so that 343 Industries could prioritize fixing the issues with Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

Spartan Strike is a top-down, twin-stick shooter, available now for iOS, Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, and on PC via Steam. The game was co-developed by 343 Industries and Vanguard Games and can be purchased for $6. It is set during the events of Halo 2, and--unlike Spartan Assault before it--does not include any microtransactions.

Everything in-game can be purchase via credits you unlock through gameplay.

Spartan Strike comes with 30 missions where players, controlling a Spartan soldier, will lead UNSC troops through a variety of locations, including cities and jungles. New weapons, abilities, and vehicles not found in Spartan Assault are available in Spartan Strike.

Microsoft also says that Spartan Strike features "improved touch controls" along with updated graphics compared to the earlier game. For a closer look at the game, see the images in the gallery below.

On top of its campaign mode, Spartan Strike--for Windows 8 devices at least--will offer weekly challenges and leaderboard support, allowing players to track their progress against friends. In addition, players can earn achievements that will in turn unlock an emblem, nameplate, and avatar in The Master Chief Collection.

Microsoft has also announced a new "Halo: Spartan Bundle" for iOS and Steam that comes with Spartan Assault and Spartan Strike. This bundle costs $10 and is also available from today.

Looking ahead, Halo 5 launches October 27 exclusively for Xbox One.

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