New Halo alert. New Halo alert. New Halo alert!
No, this isn’t about a new Halo for Xbox One. Something that huge–if it happens–won’t be revealed until Microsoft’s E3 presser. Halo: Spartan Assault is a new series installment in development at 343 Industries and Vanguard Games exclusively for Windows 8 PCs and tablets and Windows Phone 8. It’s a top-down twin-stick shooter sandwiched between the events of Halo 3 and Halo 4.
Windows gamers will do battle against the Covenant as Commander Sarah Palmer or Spartan Davis, blasting through 25 campaign missions from bird’s eye view. Integration with Halo 4 will allow players to earn experience and unlock emblems for their Xbox 360 Spartan career, while leaderboards and weekly challenges will provide a nonstop source of online competition.
Halo: Spartan Assault will be available starting in July for $6.99, supported by in-app purchases for players who prefer to pay their way through the grind of unlocking new upgrades and weapons.
Money-grubbing microtransactions aside, Spartan Assault looks spectacular. To be perfectly honest, Halo as a top-down shooter is way cooler than Halo as an FPS if you ask me. Too bad the game’s only coming to Windows 8 and Windows Phone, because those are two platforms I currently have no interest in owning. I get that they want to push their new Windows 8 devices, but why Microsoft isn’t also launching this on Xbox Live Arcade, where it would no doubt rake in big bucks, is beyond me. If only because a twin-stick shooter is best on a console controller with, you know, twin sticks.
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Matt Litten is the full-time editor and owner of VGBlogger.com. He is responsible for maintaining the day to day operation of the site, editing all staff content before it is published, and contributing regular news, reviews, previews and other articles.
Matt landed his first gig in the video game review business writing for the now-defunct website BonusStage.com. After the sad and untimely close of BonusStage, the former staff went on to found VGBlogger.com. After a short stint as US Site Manager for AceGamez, Matt assumed full ownership over VGBlogger, and to this day he is dedicated to making it one of the top video game blogs in all the blogosphere.
Matt is a fair-minded reviewer and lover of games of all platforms and types, big or small, hyped or niche, big-budget or indie. But that doesn't mean he will let poor games slide without a good thrashing when necessary! 
