Which studio developed Halo Wars, the 2009 real-time strategy game?

Ensemble Studios developed Halo Wars, the 2009 real-time strategy game set in the Halo universe.

Microsoft announced Halo Wars as a console-focused strategy title based on its major science-fiction franchise. Ensemble Studios was already known for the Age of Empires series, and it adapted real-time strategy controls for the Xbox 360 controller rather than designing the game primarily around a mouse and keyboard.

The campaign takes place decades before Halo: Combat Evolved and follows the crew of the UNSC Spirit of Fire during a conflict with the Covenant. Halo Wars includes UNSC units, Covenant units and several leaders with distinctive abilities. It was Ensemble Studios’ final game before the studio closed in 2009. Creative Assembly later developed Halo Wars 2, which was released in 2017.