After being delayed to this month, the first micro-expansion for space strategy title Sins of a Solar Empire has finally launched.

Selling for $10 on Stardock’s Impulse service, the expansion adds new starbases, mine fields and other upgrades to the spaceship fleets. Dubbed “Entrenchment”, it marks the first of three planned micro-expansions to the game, all set to be released over the next year.

Stardock has already announced the next expansion, which will focus primarily on enhancing the diplomacy features of the game.

Stardock today announced that the first expansion to Sins of a Solar Empire has been delayed once again to February 25. This is due to the incorporation of beta feedback.

“The additional time will allow for Ironclad’s development team to incorporate feedback to date and allow for another round of beta testing,” said the company.

Ironclad’s Blair Fraser added: “It’s of paramount importance to everyone that what we’re releasing is the best and most robust content we can.”

Dubbed “Entrenchment”, the expansion will add defense platforms to each race, among other things. It is available for pre-order on Impulse, Stardock’s digital distribution platform, for $9.95.

The “Entrenchment” expansion for Sins of a Solar Empire has been constantly delayed – it was first expected late last year – and has now been pushed back one week to February 11 from the revised February 4 release date.

The expansion includes many new features, such as the Starbase defense platforms, new weapons and various civilian structures. It is currently available for preorder on Stardock’s digital distribution platform Impulse.

In more delay news, VE3D carries confirmation that Entrenchment, the upcoming microexpansion for Sins of a Solar Empire, has been delayed to January 2009.

While the retail release may have been delayed, those who pre-ordered the game will get to take part in a beta test to help balance the expansion. However, no date for the pre-order beta has been given.

Entrenchment is the first in a series of microexpansions for the game that will add new ships, technologies and more to the core title.