All of Relic’s recent RTS titles – Company of Heroes (and all its expansions), Dawn of War (and all its expansions) and Dawn of War II – will be 50% off on Steam from now until the end of the weekend.

The whole thing is to celebrate the release of Dawn of War II’s “There is Only War” update (which is included if you pick up DowII), but really, we’re pointing this out because you can grab the best game of the bunch – the original Company of Heroes – for a crazy $7.50.

Of course you have. I mean, who hasn’t? Our friends over at Atomic are about to make one Aussie Warhammer fan’s wildest fantasies come true. They’re giving away an eight-foot tall Space Marine. Yes, you heard right, EIGHT FOOT TALL. What would you do with it? Where would you keep it? My mind is boggling.

Dawn of War 2: Win your own Space Marine! [Atomic]

This new Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II faction feature is heavy on orks and light on “Whaaagh.”

The vid shows of the melee brawling style of the faction, plus some of the spiffy robotic units and vehicles the Orks are so fond of building. My personal favourite is the rocket-launcher squad — but I have to call bullshit on this vid for making it look like a lone rocket-launcher squad can take down what looks like an Eldar avatar.

The only thing that could take one of those things out is another avatar. Preferably one flanked by rocket launcher squads.

A multiplayer beta for Relic’s Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II will be coming to Steam on Jan. 21, THQ announced today.

The beta will be available exclusively to Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm owners on Jan. 21, followed by a worldwide public release on Jan. 28. The beta will feature all four playable races, five multiplayer maps, and Microsoft’s Games for Windows – LIVE TrueSkill Matchmaking.

That’s right, Games for Windows Live is back. Kinda odd that this beta will use Live matchmaking but be made available through Steam, isn’t it?

Dawn of War II is scheduled for a Feb. 23 release on PC through worldwide retail and online outlets.

Actually, I can’t begin to imagine how hard it is to balance nine different sides – seven from the original games and previous expansions, plus the Sisters of Battle and the Dark Elder that come with Soulstorm. Madness.

You can grab the 1.2GB monstrosity from Internode Games Network, among other sites.

The game proper is due out sometime in March this year.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm Demo [Internode Games Network]

THQ recently joined the party, only to quickly deny Australian and Kiwi users the ability to purchase and download their games. If you check out the Steam knowledge base, you’ll find the following statement attached to all of THQ’s games, including Company of Heroes, Dawn of War and Full Spectrum Warrior:

This game is not available for purchase through Steam in Australia or New Zealand.

Feel free to speculate as to the reasons behind THQ’s decision while we chase an official answer, but for now, Oz Kotakuite Ross, who sent in the heads-up, has his own theory:

In what I can only assume is a move by these publishers to ensure that AU/NZ consumers have to resort to retail given the favourable exchange rate between the US and AU dollar.

Does that sound like a winner to you?

Steam Error: This subscription is not available for purchase in your country [Steam Powered, thanks Ross]

“Relic Entertainment has set the standard for technical excellence and innovation in the RTS genre,” said Bob Aniello, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, THQ. “Dawn of War – Soulstorm continues that tradition as a standalone title featuring all-new, brutally addictive single and multiplayer game-play that will hook newcomers and skilled Dawn of War veterans alike.”

The game also introduces air units as well as multiplayer medals for you to lord over your enemies. The Soulstorm is coming Spring 2008.

The Carnage Continues In THQ’s Warhammer® 40,000TM: Dawn Of War® – SoulstormTM

Standalone Expansion in Million-Unit Selling FranchiseScheduled for Spring 2008 Release

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. September 26, 2007 – THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) today announced Warhammer® 40,000â„¢: Dawn of War® – Soulstormâ„¢, the next standalone chapter in internal studio Relic Entertainment’s award-winning Real-Time Strategy (RTS) franchise, is scheduled for release on Windows PC in spring 2008. Featuring an extensive interplanetary campaign spanning an entire star system in the Warhammer® 40,000â„¢ universe, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm introduces two all-new factions for an unprecedented total of nine playable races.

“Relic Entertainment has set the standard for technical excellence and innovation in the RTS genre,” said Bob Aniello, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, THQ. “Dawn of War – Soulstorm continues that tradition as a standalone title featuring all-new, brutally addictive single and multiplayer game-play that will hook newcomers and skilled Dawn of War veterans alike.”

“In Dawn of War – Soulstorm, we’ve taken Games Workshop’s epic war from one planet to an entire star system,” said Tarrnie Williams, general manager, Relic Entertainment. “Allowing gamers to play nine unique races, introducing air units and providing multiplayer achievements for the first time creates a tremendous amount of new and challenging strategic gameplay for all players.”