"Halo: Reach" rings up 200 million dollars on first day

"'Halo: Reach' is the biggest game Microsoft has ever released, and its launch has already surpassed every game, movie and entertainment launch this year," said Phil Spencer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios.

US sales alone made "Halo: Reach," which hit stores on Tuesday, the biggest entertainment launch of the year, surpassing the three-day opening weekends of Hollywood blockbusters "Iron Man 2," "Alice in Wonderland" and "Toy Story 3," Microsoft said.

"Every major installment has grown in scope and popularity, firmly cementing the 'Halo' franchise as one of the most popular entertainment properties in the world over the past decade," Spencer said in a statement.

"Halo: Reach" is a prequel set before the main "Halo" trilogy, which focuses on a super-soldier called "Master Chief" and his artificial-intelligence companion battling to save humanity from an alien alliance called the Covenant.

The first title, "Halo: Combat Evolved," was released in 2001 and the franchise has attracted a cult following and inspired novels, action figures, comic books and clothing.

© Copyright AFP Agence France-Presse GmbH - All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed. All reproduction or redistribution is expressly forbidden without the prior written agreement of AFP.

 

• Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception Review - PS3 - 9.3»
• RAGE Review - PC, Playstation 3, Xbox 360 - 7.9»
• Battlefield 3 Open Beta Impressions - PC»
• Sony PlayStation network users face password change»
• Sony rebuilding PlayStation Network after breach»
• Sony scrambles to revive PlayStation Network»
• Sales of Microsoft's Kinect top 10 million»
• Videogame makers seek footing on shifting landscape»
• Review: Medal of Honor - PC, PS3, Xbox 360 - 7.8»
• Nintendo issues age warning on its 3D games»
• Tokyo Game Show opens with focus on 3D videogames»
• 'Mafia Wars' online game triumph marked with a blast»
• Final Fantasy maker Square Enix reports quarterly profit»
• EA Posts Crysis 2 Countdown Site»
• Review: Left 4 Dead 2 - PC, Xbox 360 - 9.2»
• Review: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - PC, PS3, Xbox 360 - 9.0»
• Review: Section 8 - PC, Xbox 360 - 7.0»
• Capcom: PC Gaming's Savior?»
• Review: Wolfenstein - PC, PS3, Xbox 360 - 7.4»
• Review: Prototype - PC, PS3, Xbox 360 - 8.2»