The sequel to Dawn of War (One of the most fun RTS games ever) has officially been declared gold by Relic Entertainment, meaning the code is now complete and the master has been sent off to be manufactured.

Set in the Warhammer 40 000 universe, which is brutal as brutal can be, and is an intense visceral RTS. While it isn’t as hardcore as Supreme Commander, its a good ‘anyone can learn this’ game as most of the focus of the game is put on the best bit- the fighting. Resource management and all the other boring stuff is easy to comprehend and easy to accomplish (in theory) so you can spend more time killing instead of making money. The video above shows off one of the new races: The Tyranids

For some press release type info, check after the jump. Otherwise, bookmark February 19th.

“Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II will build on the critical acclaim and commercial success of the Dawn of War franchise, letting players experience RTS gaming like never before,” said Kevin Kraff, vice president of global brand management, THQ. “Combining non-linear gameplay, cooperative multiplayer, cinematic visuals, and destructible battlefields brings a new, innovative dynamic to the genre.”
“Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II stays true to the fast-paced, brutal heart of the Dawn of War series, while introducing branching single-player storylines and unique unit customization,” said Tarrnie Williams, general manager, Relic Entertainment. “The deep, tactical gameplay lets players develop and lead personalized elite units who gain experience and grow stronger with every ferocious battle.”

Mr Williams really isn’t kidding about ferocious battles, the death animations can be satisfyingly brutal.

Source: IGN.com