Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War goes gold

Relic Entertainment, one of publisher THQ's internal studios, announced today that Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War has gone gold. The latest PC game based on the popular tabletop war game from UK-based Games Workshop will ship worldwide on September 20. It is rated "M" for Mature and will cost $49.99. Preordering Dawn of War from either EBGames or GameStop will net players a stack of bonus goods, including a poster, a strategy guide, and a CD featuring the game soundtrack, screenshots, and a making-of video.

Dawn of War will follow a fractious contingent of space marines struggling to defend a colony in a far-flung corner of the of the Warhammer universe. It will feature an 11-mission single-player campaign with approximately 10 to 15 hours' worth of gameplay. The game will also feature an extensive online multiplayer component, and it will allow players to play on one of four sides: the space marines, the orks, the eldar, and the chaos space marines.

Acquired by THQ earlier this year, Relic Entertainment is the creator of the critically acclaimed Homeworld series of science-fiction real-time strategy titles. "We are confident that the visually stunning, epic battles create a distinctive and totally accessible RTS experience," said Ron Moravek, general manager of Relic Entertainment. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's extensive previous coverage, including a series of designer diaries.