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On the fifth anniversary of the release of the landmark Xbox^. video game Halo^., Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios today celebrated the milestone by announcing an exclusive hands-on experience with Halo 3, one of the industrys most anticipated sequels. The Xbox Live^. multiplayer public beta, which is a pre-release version of the multiplayer experience of Halo 3, is scheduled for availability in spring 2007 exclusively on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system.

In addition, Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie confirmed today that consumers will be able to experience the Halo universe this holiday season through a one-time airing of a stirring, 60-second Halo 3 teaser ad. Finally, it was announced that new, premium downloadable content for Halo 2, exclusive to Xbox 360, is scheduled for release in spring 2007.

The Halo Nation has a nearly insatiable desire, said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of global marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Corp. We hope a taste of advance Halo 3 gameplay satisfies some of their appetite as we count down to the games launch later in 2007.

Expanding on everything that has made the Halo franchise so widely recognized, the final version of Halo 3 will provide a wealth of technical and gameplay advancements, available only through Xbox 360, the leading next-generation video game entertainment system. Via the Xbox Live multiplayer public beta, a first of its kind for the Halo franchise, gamers will be able to play online via Microsofts premier online entertainment network and participate in a pre-release version of the multiplayer experience of Halo 3. This beta also represents an opportunity for gamers worldwide to participate in the development of Halo 3. Through the resulting feedback, Bungie Studios will be able to further refine and hone the end result of Halo 3.

Unveiled earlier this year at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, Halo 3 represents the third chapter in the Halo trilogy, an international award-winning action series that grew into a global entertainment phenomenon, selling more than 14.7 million units worldwide, which equals nearly $700 million in sales, and logging in excess of 800 million hours of multiplayer action on Xbox Live.

On Dec. 4, the special 60-second Halo 3 advertising spot will be broadcast, one time only, on ESPNs Monday Night Football. The ad, created by advertising agency McCann Erickson, will provide viewers with a unique and compelling look at Master Chief and the world of Halo 3. It is easily one of the most anticipated ads of the year and promises to be the biggest event in appointment advertising this year. It underscores the innovative approach and driving influence the Halo franchise has commanded. The television spot will also be available for download exclusively for Xbox 360 users via Xbox Live Marketplace.

In addition, gamers who have jumped in to Xbox 360 will be able to join legions of Xbox fans next spring in all-new multiplayer maps for Halo 2 available for download through Xbox Live Marketplace. The exclusive Halo 2 content will bring new experiences and excitement to the seminal sequel that made entertainment retail history in its first 24 hours  with $125 million in sales  and that boasts more than four billion online matches since its release in November 2004.

Since its original release, Halo 2 has redefined online play, delivering superior multiplayer capabilities in addition to an incredible social experience, and nurturing a constantly growing community through Xbox Live, said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios. After five years of rabid fan interest in the Halo franchise and with more than 4 million users and counting on Xbox Live worldwide, this is the perfect time to invite fans to join the global Halo phenomenon.

Next-generation high-definition visuals; enhanced artificial intelligence; an advanced real-time lighting engine; and new weapons, characters and challenges are just a few examples of the evolution of design and technology in Halo 3. These improvements are designed to give gamers an unparalleled experience and tell an even more compelling and engrossing story. Working in concert with Xbox Live on Xbox 360, Halo 3 builds on the unique social multiplayer experience of Halo 2 and promises to expand the innovative and evolving online gameplay and community of Halo 2 on Xbox Live. In this third chapter of the Halo trilogy, Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax.