REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 6, 2012 —
The Master Chief is back. Poised to become the biggest entertainment
launch of the year so far, “Halo 4” is the first chapter of a brand-new
saga in the genre-defining, US$3 billion franchise that has shaped
entertainment history and sold a staggering 46 million games worldwide.
Hailed by NBC News as “breathtaking, heart-breaking and
awe-inspiring,”[1] “Halo 4” has garnered universal acclaim as one of the
top-rated video games of 2012, according to Metacritic.[2] In a year
jam-packed with record-breaking Hollywood movies and games, “Halo 4” is
expected to break all previous day-one entertainment sales records in
2012, cementing its status as the must-have blockbuster of the year.
Excitement for the return of the Master Chief has swept the globe.
In London, a massive illuminated glyph soared over the River Thames, a
symbol of the new threat that has awakened in “Halo 4.” The glyph, which
measures 50 feet in diameter and weighs 3.2 tons, was illuminated by
113,096 LED lights and represents one of the largest objects ever to be
flown by helicopter as a lighting art performance. On Oct. 30, the
European country of Liechtenstein was reimagined into a real-life
replica of the “Halo” universe, marking the first time a brand has taken
over an entire country for an entertainment launch. For one day only,
Xbox 360 transformed some of the country’s most iconic landmarks,
including a 13th-century castle and a working mine, to create a
mysterious alternate universe in the heart of Europe — all inspired by
“Halo.”
Around the world, midnight madness swept more than 10,000 stores
in more than 40 countries, as hundreds of thousands of fans lined up
around city blocks to count down to the game’s release. At marquee
launch events in Seattle, Paris, London, Berlin, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong
Kong, Dubai, Sydney and other major cities, throngs of fans, celebrities
and athletes flocked to be among the first to play “Halo 4” and
participate in other launch activities, such as meeting the creators of
the game, viewing private screenings of the live-action digital series “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn,” and taking photos with the Master Chief.
“‘Halo 4’ marks a rebirth and a new beginning for one of the most
beloved and iconic franchises in the modern history of entertainment,”
said Phil Spencer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Studios. “Over
the past decade, the ‘Halo’ franchise has become a bona fide pop culture
phenomenon, and ‘Halo 4’ promises to take the franchise to a new level
and set the stage for the next decade of ‘Halo.’”
Master Chief Joins Fans by Tower Bridge in London
November 06, 2012
The
Master Chief joins fans by Tower Bridge in London on Nov. 5, 2012 for
the spectacular flight of the “Halo 4” Glyph to celebrate the
blockbuster video game’s launch on Xbox 360.
Download: Web
With the launch of “Halo 4” coinciding with Election Day,
Microsoft Corp. is amplifying its get-out-the-vote campaign, which
kicked off earlier this year in collaboration with Rock the Vote, to
encourage “Halo” and Xbox LIVE fans to exercise their civic duty before
jumping into “Halo 4.” The campaign began with voter recruitment efforts
at major consumer events as well as a voter registration program on
Xbox LIVE and expanded to major launch events and more than 100 college
campuses nationwide yesterday.
Developed by Microsoft Studios’ 343 Industries exclusively for the
Xbox 360, “Halo 4” is set nearly five years after the events of “Halo
3” and follows the Master Chief and his faithful artificial intelligence
(AI) companion Cortana as they venture into a mysterious new world and
discover an overpowering ancient evil that threatens to annihilate
mankind. “Halo 4” takes the series in a bold new direction by delivering
its most epic and explorative campaign yet, alongside a groundbreaking
multiplayer offering unlike anything before it, known as Spartan Ops.
This story-driven, episodic, cooperative adventure blends immersive
storytelling, stunning cinematics and action-packed gameplay to deliver
an unprecedented serialized experience. Through a weekly series of
cinematic episodes, Spartan Ops continues the story beyond the main
campaign by introducing new characters, storylines and gameplay missions
over a 10-week season, akin to a high-quality, interactive TV show.[3]
Coupled with breathtaking visuals, heart-pounding audio,
emotionally cinematic performances and a sweeping musical score by
acclaimed composer Neil Davidge of Massive Attack fame, “Halo 4”
delivers a riveting experience that resonates as powerfully as an epic
Hollywood blockbuster. Some of entertainment’s best and brightest have
joined the effort to make the launch of “Halo 4” a landmark pop culture
moment, including legendary Hollywood director David Fincher (“Fight
Club,” “The Social Network,” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”) and
acclaimed visual effects lead Tim Miller (“The Girl with the Dragon
Tattoo,” “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World”), who produced and directed the live-action launch trailer for the game, respectively.
Xbox 360 Takes Over London’s Skies to Launch 'Halo 4'
November 06, 2012
At
Tower Bridge on Nov. 5, 2012 in London, fans and spectators were
treated to a spectacular aerial lighting performance. The “Halo 4” Glyph
symbol is one of the largest and brightest man-made structures to ever
fly over a capital city. It measures 50 feet in diameter and weighs over
three tons.
Download: Web
The Standard Edition of “Halo 4” is available for US$59.99 ERP[4],
and the Limited Edition, which includes an extended 90-minute version
of the live-action digital series “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn”
and additional bonus content, is available for US$99.99 ERP. Fans can
also pick up the Xbox 360 Limited Edition “Halo 4” Console Bundle for
US$399.99 ERP and a standalone Xbox 360 Limited Edition “Halo 4”
Wireless Controller for US$59.99 ERP. In addition, the “Halo 4” Original
Soundtrack, which broke the record for the highest-charting video game
soundtrack ever on the Billboard 200 chart the week of Oct. 29[5], is
available for purchase for US$13.98 ERP. A special limited edition and
individually numbered three-disc box set, which includes the original
soundtrack, a remix album featuring remixes from 14 of the world’s most
renowned electronica producers, a 70-minute DVD called “Composing a
Universe” and additional exclusive content, is available for purchase
for US$74.99 ERP starting today at http://www.halo4soundtrack.com.
About “Halo”
The “Halo” franchise is an award-winning collection of properties
that has grown into a global entertainment phenomenon. Beginning with
the original “Halo: Combat Evolved” (2001), the critically acclaimed and
record-shattering series of games has since inspired multiple New York
Times bestselling novels, comic books, action figures, apparel and more.
Published by Microsoft Studios, the “Halo” franchise of games is
exclusive to the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and the
Xbox LIVE online entertainment network. To date, more than 46 million
copies of “Halo” games have been sold worldwide, driving more than 5
billion hours of gameplay by people connected to Xbox LIVE.
About 343 Industries
343 Industries is the publisher and developer of the blockbuster
“Halo” series of videogames and, as part of Microsoft Studios, oversees
the “Halo” franchise, including novels, comics, licensed collectibles,
apparel and more. 343 Industries is home to world-class developers
working on the Reclaimer Saga, which commences with the arrival of “Halo
4” on Nov. 6, 2012, exclusively on Xbox 360.
About Xbox 360
Xbox 360 is a premier home entertainment and video game system.
Thanks to the addition of Kinect, Xbox 360 will forever transform social
gaming and entertainment with a whole new way to play — no controller
required. Xbox 360 is also home to the best and broadest games as well
as one of the world’s largest on-demand libraries of music, standard-
and high-definition movies, TV shows and digital games, all in one
place. The entertainment center of the living room, Xbox 360 blends
unbeatable content with a leading social entertainment network of more
than 40 million Xbox LIVE members to create a limitless entertainment
experience that can be shared at home or across the globe. More
information about Xbox 360 can be found online at http://www.xbox.com.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader
in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses
realize their full potential.
[1] Source: NBC News: “Halo 4” makes the Halo series even more epic
[2] As of Nov. 1, 2012. Source: http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/halo-4/critic-reviews
[3] Spartan Ops also requires Xbox LIVE Gold Membership and an Xbox 360 hard drive or an 8GB USB drive (sold separately).
[4] Estimated retail price. Actual retail prices may vary.
[5] Source: Billboard: Chart Moves: “Halo 4” Sets Record as Highest-Charting Video Game Soundtrack Ever
Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news.
Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of
publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance,
journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or
other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.
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