'Halo: Spartan Strike' Xbox One Release Date News: New Game Brings Back the Prometheans, 'Halo 4' Bad Guys

Microsoft has just released "Halo: Spartan Strike," a follow-up to "Halo: Spartan Assault." News of the launch last Thursday, April 16, came via the Xbox One website.

A major positive point in the new game is that it will again feature the Prometheans who were the bad guys in "Halo 4." The original game in the series, which was launched in 2013, was not received well by critics and players.

Microsoft announced that much like its predecessor, "Halo: Spartan Strike" would be a top down shooter.

While the "Spartan Assault" delved into the Spartan Ops program and its missions led by Commander Palmer, the current game is going to focus on a completely new storyline. Microsoft said it will be centered on the "events that take place in the Halo universe and it would be set during the events of Halo 2 on New Mombasa in 2552."

A Spartan super soldier is found in the game and players will get to experience a classified ONI simulation and over 30 missions. There is also going to be a variety of new "weapons, abilities and vehicles" in the game.

"Halo: Spartan Strike" will be released for Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, Steam, and iOS devices such as the iPad and iPhone. The game has been available on Steam since last December for Windows devices but its launch on other devices was delayed.

As for the pricing of the game, Microsoft announced that it could be purchased alone or as part of a bundle with "Halo: Spartan Assault." The price of the bundle is $9.99 while "Halo: Spartan Strike" when bought separately will cost $5.99.

The game is going to feature action in many places ranging from New Mombasa to Gamma Halo. Players will be able to use a number of weapons against the Covenant and Prometheans.

Those who play the new game will get an exclusive avatar, emblem and nameplate for "Halo: The Master Chief Collection."