THQ have just announced that their hit RTS from earlier in the year, Dawn of War II, will be getting  an expansion pack.   Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising as its name hints will introduce the Chaos Space Marines into the fray.

For  veteran players of Dawn of War one of the best things about the Dark Crusade expansion pack for the original Dawn of War was you didn’t require to have the original installed, or even own it to play Dark Crusade, but if you owned both, and had both installed, you would get a treat in the form of the original four armies unlocked in the multiplayer.

Well, we can confirm that Relic has continued this way of thinking with Chaos Rising, as it will not need Dawn of War II for you to play it.   THQ’s Simon Watts refers to it as ‘expandalone’,  if you do have the original you will be able to carry over your squads into Chaos Rising but if you don’t then you can still play it standalone.

Other features Chaos Rising will be introducing include

• Upgrade your squads with new legendary wargear and unlock new special abilities, as your squads advance to level 30.  Will you remain steadfast to the Emperor or risk heresy to gain new dark and destructive powers?
• In multiplayer swear loyalty to the Chaos Gods and pit your bloodthirsty warband of Chaos Space Marines against the new units and reinforced armies of the Space Marines, Orks, Eldar, and Tyranids.