Halo Wars: Definitive Edition early access kicks off today for some

Halo Wars: Definitive Edition is now live for anyone who pre-ordered the Halo Wars 2: Ultimate Edition. Early access lets fans of the original 2009 RTS to get a jumpstart on Halo Wars: Definitive Edition ahead of Halo Wars 2's February 2017 launch date.

So what does the Definitive Edition include? Other than being optimized to run on Xbox One and Windows 10, the game now packs improved visual, support for 4K and all of the DLC from the original release. There are also new bonus achievements and content to check out, if you're a fan of the original.

The game itself is included alongside the $80 Halo Wars 2: Ultimate Edition bundle (which also includes the season pass). As Halo Wars developer 343 Industries points out, those who pre-ordered the game digitally should start receiving redemption codes for Halo Wars: Definitive Edition today. Once received, you can redeem the code on your Xbox console or in the Xbox App relatively easily. Do note that the codes can take between 7 and 10 days to reach you after you've pre-ordered.

If you're interested, you can go ahead and pre-order Halo Wars 2 ahead of its February 17 launch date. Are you planning to catch up on some Halo Wars: Definitive Edition action over the holidays? Let us know in the comments!

See at the Xbox Store

Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl