What took you so long?

It's good to have a hobby

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is going to use Kinect, though we're not entirely sure how just yet. What we can tell you is that if you pre-order the game you'll receive exclusive content to make your Xbox just a little more Halo-y.

For starters, you'll receive a Master Chief armour suit for your Avatar, something we're truly surprised hasn't made it to the Marketplace before now. There's also an in-game bonus: the Grunt Funeral skull, which is a much more explosive version of the favourite Grunt Birthday Party modifier. Kill a grunt and its methane tank explodes in a ball of incendiary destruction. Nice.

There's also a special Comic-Con panel this Friday entirely dedicated to Halo and its fiction, so head down to that if you can.

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary will hit on 15th November for a slightly reduced asking price of £34.99.

Pre-order “Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary” to Unlock Your Inner Master Chief and Pay Tribute to the Lovable Grunt

Join 343 Industries for a special Comic-Con “Halo” Universe panel on July 22

LONDON — 18 July, 2011 — Ten years ago “Halo: Combat Evolved” launched around the world and defined both the shooter genre and a generation of gamers. Microsoft Studios and 343 Industries are celebrating this epic milestone with the launch of “Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary” for Xbox 360 on 15th November and inviting fans to join the landmark celebration with a set of special pre-order bonuses*:

· Master Chief Avatar Armour – Heroes never die, and to honour the 10th Anniversary of John 117, you will finally be able to transform your Xbox LIVE Avatar into the iconic hero by outfitting it with Master Chief’s signature MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armour.

· “Grunt Funeral” Skull – An exclusive, game-modifying skull that changes the rules of the game for an explosively humorous experience, “Grunt Funeral” sends “Halo’s” most lowly and lovable enemy out in a blaze of glory. And plasma. And then more glory. Once the skull has been activated, every grunt’s methane tank will explode like a plasma grenade when killed. Watch out for the grunt chain reaction!

Be sure to check out the latest “Halo: Anniversary” behind-the-scenes feature on Halo Waypoint and HaloWaypoint.com for in-depth developer commentary on the creative process behind developing one of the year’s most highly anticipated games.

To learn more about the “Halo” series and the expansive fiction it helped inspire, drop by 343 Industries’ “Halo” Universe panel at San Diego Comic-Con, where the creative minds behind the franchise will be delivering exclusive insights into the “Halo” universe, answering fan questions and more.

“Halo” Universe Panel with 343 Industries
San Diego Convention Center, Room 6BCF
Friday, 22nd July, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Frank O'Connor, Kevin Grace, and others from 343 Industries, as well as special “Halo” guests Greg Bear and Karen Traviss, discuss the first 10 years of “Halo” and offer a sneak peek into what's next for this exciting sci-fi universe.

Developed by 343 Industries in collaboration with Saber Interactive and Certain Affinity, “Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary” immerses you in an authentic, next-generation re-creation of the award-winning campaign and genre-defining multiplayer that revolutionized the first-person shooter genre. Featuring a bounty of new features, including cooperative play over Xbox LIVE**, a bundle of some of the most beloved multiplayer maps in “Halo” history reimagined, a Classic mode that lets you play the original version, new challenges and a new story to uncover, “Halo: Anniversary” launches exclusively on Xbox 360 for an estimated retail price of £34.99 on 15th November 2011.

For more information about “Halo: Anniversary” and the “Halo” franchise, please visit HaloWaypoint.com and follow the 343 team on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/HaloWaypoint.