Ever since the release of Halo 2 the rumours of the sequel have been flying round the internet. Whether the sequel was going to be Halo 3, or an updated version of Halo 2 (Halo 2.5) was not certain. Either way, most people predicted it would have some tie in with the next Microsoft console, the Xbox 360.

With the 360 now officially unveiled, the question became whether the new Halo game would be a launch title, or held back as a marketing strategy to combat the launch of the Playstation 3. The answer has now been made, and by none other than Bill Gates himself.

In next week's issue of Time Magazine, which features Gates holding the Xbox 360 on the cover, Gates mentioned plans for the release of the much-anticipated follow-up to the best-selling console shooter. In a parenthetical sidebar in the article, Time says the following:

"Note to the hard-core faithful: the next version of Halo will not, repeat not, be ready in time for the launch of Xbox 360. It will be part of the all-important second wave next spring. 'It's perfect,' Gates says, radiant with bloodlust. 'The day Sony launches the new PlayStation they walk right into Halo 3.'"

The impact this will have on sales cannot be questioned. Halo 2 has sold over 6.5 million copies to date, and is credited with doubling the subscriber base of Xbox Live from around 750,000 to over 1.5 million. It is also credited by industry-watchers as one of the main reasons for boosting sales of the original Xbox last season.




Source : TotalGaming