Halo 3 release date confirmed? Yep. All we need to know now is when the PS3 comes out.

[blurredvision]

Gamespot article.

For months, the Web was rife with rumors that Microsoft would ship the sequel to Halo 2 for the Xbox 360 simultaneously with the launch of the PlayStation 3. Now, that has been confirmed--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], and they walk right into Halo 3.'"

While Microsoft reps were not available for comment as of press time, Gates' comments appear to confirm the theory that Microsoft will release Halo 3 either simultaneously or near the release of Sony's next-gen console. It also marks the first official confirmation that a third Halo is indeed in the works, and will be released for the Xbox 360.

Although such statements might be interpreted as grandstanding, such a maneuver definitely would have an impact. Halo 2 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 holiday season.

While we'll see how this turns out, it's very interesting indeed. I do not currently have hope that Bungie can turn around a worthwhile sequel in just a year and a half, however I do have faith in the Halo 2.5 rumors we've been hearing. IMO, it doesn't have to be Halo 3 to ruin the PS3 launch, it just has to be Halo something. A tweaked Halo 2 with extra content would fit that role perfectly.

 

[Staples]

If it is a spring launch of H3, sounds like it will coinside with the Japanese launch of the PS3.

 

[Bateluer]

Its too early for a Halo 3, it'd be a rushed, half-assed game . . . hmm, come to think of it, so were both Halos.

 

[Todd33]

AS if a game can ruin a console launch. Halo 1.5, eh 2 sucked. so what if every 15 year old bought it, what else were they going to play?

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Its too early for a Halo 3, it'd be a rushed, half-assed game . . . hmm, come to think of it, so were both Halos.

Excuse me? Seriously I know nobody who played Halo at a LAN and didn't like it & jones for it. PS2 fanboy much? lol

Originally posted by: Todd33
AS if a game can ruin a console launch. Halo 1.5, eh 2 sucked. so what if every 15 year old bought it, what else were they going to play?

That I do not totally disagree with. In fact I agree with it about 90%.

 

[tallest1]

wait a second, so Halo 3 is gonna be ready with only 1.5 years of development since Halo 2's release? I seriously don't expect it to be anything revolutionary then.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Halo2 wasn't revolutionary either so no big surprise.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Pr0d1gy

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Its too early for a Halo 3, it'd be a rushed, half-assed game . . . hmm, come to think of it, so were both Halos.

Excuse me? Seriously I know nobody who played Halo at a LAN and didn't like it & jones for it. PS2 fanboy much? lol

The single player wasn't finished, they copy-pasted a bunch of levels since they didn't have time to do it right. Everybody loves multiplayer Halo 1-2, not singleplayer.

 

[Insomniak]

The Halo franchise isn't meant to be revolutionary. It's meant to be the Xbox cash cow.

 

[AmbitV]

FPS on consoles is weaksauce

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

Originally posted by: AmbitV
FPS on consoles is weaksauce

Yes...


They need another *big* franchise anyhow. But everybody knows "halo" now...

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: ArmchairAthlete

Originally posted by: AmbitV
FPS on consoles is weaksauce

Yes...


They need another *big* franchise anyhow. But everybody knows "halo" now...

Would you say the same thing about Mario and Nintendo? Doubtful.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

Originally posted by: blurredvision

Originally posted by: ArmchairAthlete

Originally posted by: AmbitV
FPS on consoles is weaksauce

Yes...


They need another *big* franchise anyhow. But everybody knows "halo" now...

Would you say the same thing about Mario and Nintendo? Doubtful.

Metroid, Zelda, Donkey Kong, etc.

 

[aswedc]

Oh you're showing them now Bill Gates. Hey, what happened to that Longhorn thing?

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: Pr0d1gy

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Its too early for a Halo 3, it'd be a rushed, half-assed game . . . hmm, come to think of it, so were both Halos.

Excuse me? Seriously I know nobody who played Halo at a LAN and didn't like it & jones for it. PS2 fanboy much? lol

The single player wasn't finished, they copy-pasted a bunch of levels since they didn't have time to do it right. Everybody loves multiplayer Halo 1-2, not singleplayer.

I agree with most of that, although I didn't care for the MP either. UT, 2k3, 2k4, BF1942, MOH:AA, Desert Combat, etc, all had better MP than Halo 1&2 IMO.