Microsoft and 343 announce Halo 4 limited edition Xbox 360

During the 343 Industries panel at Comic-Con, Microsoft and 343 announced their new limited edition Halo 4 themed Xbox 360 set, costing $399.

The set contains the Xbox 360 with Halo-themed artwork, two limited edition Halo 4 controllers, a copy of Halo 4, a wireless headset, and download codes for the Halo 4-themed avatar items and in-game DLC. The HDD on the 360 in this set is 320GB. The console and controllers in the set seem to be slightly translucent. They also have blue LEDs on the power button and Xbox Guide button, instead of the standard Xbox green.

If the whole set, costing $399, seems too expensive, one can pick up just the limited edition Halo 4 wireless controller for $60.

Halo is a massive franchise. It has been one of the main driving forces behind the success of the Xbox, and the early success of the Xbox 360. It was one of the first First Person Shooter (FPS) games on consoles to get the controls right, though some games before it such as the GoldenEye for the Nintendo64 got it right, but weren’t successful.

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The limited edition Xbox 360 bundle

The development of Halo 4 has been taken over from Bungie by 343 Industries that helped out with the game “Halo: Reach” and provided fans with an HD remake of “Halo: Combat Evolved”. It’s about time the Xbox 360 got a solid first party game. It seems since the past few months as if Microsoft has been targeting the casual gamer over the hardcore ones.

Halo 4, Microsoft’s next iteration in the Halo franchise will arrive exclusively for the Xbox 360 by November 6, 2012. Halo 4 takes place nearly four years after the events of Halo 3 and will mark the return of Master Chief who was absent from both Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach. Coincidentally, this game also marks the beginning of a brand new Halo trilogy.

The previous game released by the franchise was the HD remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, named Halo: Anniversary. “Halo has made an indelible impact on gaming and pop culture over the past ten years,” said Bonnie Ross, General Manager of 343 Industries. “Whether you’ve followed the story from the beginning or want to experience it for the first time, ‘Halo: Anniversary’ offers everyone a chance to relive the iconic classic before they embark on a brand new adventure with Master Chief next year in ‘Halo 4.”