Microsoft released "Halo: Spartan Assault" on Thursday afternoon, marking the first original non-console video game entry in the franchise. The game, a dual-tumb shooter from a top-down perspective, is available for Windows Phone 8, Windows 8 and Windows RT.
The $6.99 game, developed by 343 Industries and Vanguard Games, can be downloaded from the Windows Phone Store, although in the U.S. the game is exclusive to Verizon Wireless customers until Aug. 16. Windows Phone 8 users in other territories can download the game regardless of wireless service provider. Windows Phone devices must have at least 1GB of RAM to run the game, but a version for phones with 512MB of RAM will be released next month.
"Halo: Spartan Assault" is also available for Windows 8 and Windows RT devices through the Windows Store. Unlike the Windows Phone 8 version of the game, "Halo: Spartan Assault" can be downloaded by all Windows 8 and Windows RT users in territories where it"s been released. Currently the game includes support for touch input as well as keyboard and mouse controls, but an update scheduled to be released in the coming weeks will add support for the Xbox 360 controller.
Because of the Windows Store and Windows Phone Store are separate entities, users must purchase the game twice to own it for each operating system. For those who do purchase the game from both stores, in-game progress will be synced between the two versions.
Source: Windows Phone Store, Windows Store | Image via Microsoft