Halo 3 to hit store shelves September 25th

Cory Bergman May 15th, 2007

Microsoft and Bungie promise the release of Halo 3 will “shatter day-one entertainment sales records” and “set a new standard for interactive storytelling and social gaming” when it’s released on September 25th. And given Halo’s history, it probably will.

PRESS RELEASE — Los Angeles — In a year when Hollywood
is launching its biggest blockbusters ever, a video game is set to conquer
them all. “Halo(R) 3,” the final chapter in the groundbreaking “Halo”
trilogy, is set to shatter day-one entertainment sales records when it is
released worldwide beginning Tuesday, Sept. 25. Created by legendary
developer Bungie Studios and exclusive to the Xbox 360(TM) video game and
entertainment system, “Halo 3″ will set a new standard for interactive
storytelling and social gaming by engaging consumers worldwide in Master
Chief’s epic battle to save humankind. “Halo 3″ will be available to
audiences around the world starting Sept. 25 and will release in Europe on
Sept. 26.

“‘Halo 3′ is much more than a video game release; it’s the biggest
entertainment event of the year,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice
president of Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business. “On Sept. 25,
we intend to deliver a finale that will go down in entertainment history
and leave people around the world with an experience that will be shared
and enjoyed for years to come.”

Fueling the early buzz around “Halo 3,” Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT)
unveiled the multiplayer beta on the eve of its release at a star-studded
event in Hollywood. Beginning tomorrow, May 16, Microsoft Game Studios will
kick off the “Halo 3″ multiplayer beta, which provides audiences worldwide
with an exclusive, early look at some of the multiplayer elements of “Halo
3″ on Xbox LIVE(R). Adding to the excitement, Microsoft is also announcing
a special edition Zune(TM) digital media player inspired by the hugely
successful “Halo” franchise. On shelves next month, the Zune-Halo 3 edition
comes loaded with a collection of “Halo” content, including videos,
soundtracks, trailers, ads and artwork.

In November 2004, the world’s view of video games changed forever with
the release of “Halo 2,” which generated a record-setting $125 million in
sales within the first 24 hours and changed the way people think about
interactive entertainment. Three years later, it remains the most-played
game on Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE online gaming and entertainment network, with
nearly 1 billion hours of online gaming logged to date.

The unveiling of the “Halo 3″ launch date comes on the eve of the
release of the “Halo 3″ multiplayer beta, which will debut to audiences
worldwide via Xbox LIVE on May 16 at 5 a.m. PDT and run through June 6 at
11:59 p.m. PDT.* The “Halo 3″ multiplayer beta will provide audiences
worldwide with an exclusive early look at some of the multiplayer elements
of “Halo 3″ on Xbox LIVE. Gamers who are interested in experiencing the
multiplayer beta of “Halo 3″ can still participate through the purchase of
the critically acclaimed, Xbox 360-exclusive title “Crackdown(TM),” which
was launched in February. Starting May 16, the specially marked copies of
“Crackdown” will act as a key for gamers to participate in the “Halo 3″
multiplayer beta. In addition to giving gamers their first opportunity to
get their hands on the new levels, weapons, vehicles and game types, the
multiplayer beta will also provide valuable data that Bungie will use in
continued development.

The “Halo” franchise has expanded beyond video games into The New York
Times’ best-selling books, graphic novels, collectible merchandise and now
a new, special edition Zune digital media player. Encased in collectible
packaging, the Zune-Halo 3 edition digital media player comes pre-loaded
with artwork, trailers and music from all three “Halo” games, as well as an
exclusive new episode of “Red vs. Blue” from the fan-adored machinima
creator Rooster Teeth Productions LLC. The Zune-Halo 3 edition (estimated
retail price $249) will be available exclusively at GameStop starting June
15.