Agoura Hills (CA) - THQ, the video game publishing company behind the popular online game Warhammer 40,000 : Dawn of War, today announced its second expansion pack to the game. "Dark Crusade" has reached the gold master stage, meaning all of the code programming is finished. The game is slated to be shipped nationwide on 9 October.

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Although the game is deemed as an expansion pack for Warhammer 40,000, it will also be playable as a standalone game, according to THQ. Warhammer 40,000 is a real-time strategy game that can either be played on a single-player campaign, or in a multiplayer version online.

Developed by Relic Entertainment, Dark Crusade will expand on the game by adding new areas, characters, and weapons, as well as new single-player and multiplayer campaigns. People with all versions of the game will also receive "bonus content", according to Relic.

Warhammer 40,000 : Dawn of War was released on 21 September 2004. The first expansion pack, Winter Assault, was launched last year, in September of 2005. The newest expansion, Dark Crusade, will be on store shelves on 9 October.