Rumors about it have been around for for a while already, but now we have the official word - Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II, the sequel to the well-known RTS game from Relic Entertainment and THQ, has been officially confirmed.

Gamers will get to experience both cooperative multiplayer and single player, plus a nonlinear campaign all running on Relic’s Essence Engine 2. Any owners of WH 40K: Dawn of War: SoulStorm will be happy to know that they’ll have the chance to take part in an invitations-only multiplayer beta of Dawn of War II, the dates and details of which will be announced at a later date.

THQ’s Brad Carraway said they’ve definitely set some high standards for the game: “Dawn of War II will re-define RTS gaming to gamers worldwide, delivering brutal frontline action and tactics, and allowing players to get straight to the action with unprecedented fast-paced RTS gameplay and a full co-op campaign, all in stunning cinematic detail.”

Dawn of War II is set in a dark sector of the WH 40K Universe with a post-apocalyptic setting accompanied by, you guessed it, aliens, technologically advanced warriors, Space Marines and savage Orks. The player will be put into a futuristic, in depth world with fully destructible environments, fast RTS action and crazed combat scenarios.

The first glimpses of Dawn of War II will be shown at the Relic Community Appreciation Day on June 6 in Vancouver.

[See also: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II gallery]