Ensemble Studios Closing Confirmed

Halo Wars should be a good game. At least, that's what the fine folks at Microsoft keep saying even after they've confirmed a long-standing rumor that the studio behind the project (Ensemble) will officially be closing its doors (via an interview with Gamespot). The leadership team at Ensemble is reportedly launching a new development studio and has agreed to support the Halo Wars franchise alongside other Microsoft Game Studios titles over the long haul. 

Halo Wars is the upcoming Xbox 360-based RTS set in the Halo universe that allows players to control large armies and "shrewdly direct them in realistic warfare." The game is set for release in February 2009.