Microsoft targets German market with Halo Wars

A Microsoft executive has revealed that Halo Wars, the recently announced Xbox 360 RTS from Ensemble Studios, is being developed specifically with the European market in mind.

Speaking to our sister site, Eurogamer, at Microsoft's post-X06 party, the executive conceded that although the company is extremely pleased with how the 360 has performed so far, the console could still use a further push in certain territories. And Halo Wars, which is being developed at the studio behind blockbuster series Age of Empires, could be the answer.

"It's for the Germans," the exec confided. "We think this genre of game is perfectly suited to Germany, northern and eastern Europe. It illustrates our desire to release games that are appropriate for gamers in all markets."

Microsoft has adopted the same strategy for Japan, where Xbox 360 titles Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey are currently in development at Mistwalker, the studio established by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi. The US firm hopes these titles will affect a dramatic turnaround in the console's ailing fortunes within the territory.

A release date for Halo Wars has yet to be announced.