Halo 3 Set to Debut September 25

At a special event in Los Angeles late Tuesday, Microsoft announced that its highly-anticipated "Halo 3" title for the Xbox 360 will hit store shelves on September 25. A multiplayer beta for Halo 3 begins today, and Microsoft is launching a Halo-styled Zune next month.

Halo 3 is the final installment in Microsoft's most popular gaming franchise, which was created by developer Bungie Studios. The game promises to "set a new standard for interactive storytelling and social gaming by engaging consumers worldwide in Master Chief’s epic battle to save humankind." Multiplayer support through Xbox live is a major selling point.

Peter Moore, the head of Microsoft's entertainment division, says that Halo 3 isn't just game, but "the biggest entertainment event of the year." While its easy to shrug off the hype, it's clear the title is of critical importance to Microsoft.

Company executives hope that Halo 3 will spur sales of the Xbox 360, which is seeing increasingly fierce competition from its competitors, especially the Nintendo Wii. The title is to be released in the fall, right before the crucial holiday season.

Halo was largely responsible for making the first Xbox a success, and Halo 2 was a huge hit for the company, selling some 2.5 million copies in just the first day of availability. Microsoft expects a similar reception for the third installment.

Those interested in joining the multiplayer beta of Halo 3 must purchase a specially-marked copy of the game "Crackdown," which was released in February. Crackdown will serve as a "key" to access the beta on Xbox Live, Microsoft said.

Three maps will be made available within the beta: "Snowbound," "High Ground" and "Valhalla." Gamers would also be able to play with the new weapons, vehicles and game types that are to become part of the larger Halo 3 release due this fall.

Beyond the beta, Microsoft is releasing a special edition Zune portable music player to aid in promoting Halo 3. The $249 USD 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." The Halo Zune will go on sale exclusively at GameStop on June 15.