Universal Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox announced today that triple-Academy Award winners Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh will serve as the executive producers of Halo, the upcoming feature film based on Microsoft’s video game from Bungie Studios.

Last week Game Informer revealed that a Halo-related character was going to be unlockable in Team Ninja’s upcoming Dead Or Alive 4 for the Xbox 360, and while Bundie usually quickly dismisses, or simply doesn't comment, such rumors, this time they confirmed that it is indeed true. Bungie claims to be huge DOA fans, and when Team Ninja approached them they were more than excited to cooperate. What character will actually be featured in DoA 4 is still a well kept secret, but more details are promised to be revealed soon. Since there will not be a Halo 3 announcement at X05, we are looking forward to hear what Bungie has in store...

IN-FUSIO announced today that the company will publish mobile applications based on the Halo franchise created by Microsoft's premiere first party game development studio Bungie Studios.

Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios announced today the "Halo" Triple Pack, a compilation that combines Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 and the Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack into one impressive package. With an MSRP of $59.99, the Halo Triple Pack allows new gamers to experience the thrills and excitement of the Halo franchise at an attractive price point.

The Halo 2 multiplayer map pack which was previously a premium download only, is now free for Xbox Live members as of today. The download is available today, August 30th at 5pm ET/2pm PT. Some members may have access to the download before this time, but everyone will have it by 5pm ET/2pm PT. If you see the maps are still premium, wait until after 5pm ET/2pm PT to download them,t he system will show them as free at this time (thanks VE3D).

Fox and Universal have closed their deal to make a movie based on Microsoft's videogame "Halo," with plans for a tentpole in two years, paying the tech giant $5 million against 10% of the gross. Get ready people, Master Chief is gunning for the big screen in summer '07.

The Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack adds nine all-new multiplayer maps, additional bonus content showcases previously unreleased footage including an animated feature highlighting an unseen battle in Old Mombasa and a mini documentary showcasing the creative process behind the new multiplayer maps. The map pack disc also contains the Halo 2 Auto Update, providing non-Live gamers with the ability to enjoy recent gameplay enhancements and improvements.

On Wednesday July 20th, Bungie will release Autoupdate 4, a small file that updates your version of Halo 2 to mostly address cheating, strengthen security or minor, invisible bugs, but one thing you will notice right away, is that the Relic teleporter bug has been fixed, so you can no longer crouch jump to get through a locked teleporter. If you Xbox contains modded Xbox content, softmods, Action Replay saves, you will be permanently banned from matchmaking. Head on over here for more juicy details ...

The Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack, now avaiualble for $19.99 (U.S.), adds nine all-new multiplayer maps, previously unreleased footage including an animated feature highlighting an unseen battle in Old Mombasa and a mini documentary showcasing the creative process behind the new multiplayer maps. The map pack disc also contains the Halo 2 Auto Update, providing non-Live gamers with the ability to enjoy recent gameplay enhancements and improvements, as well as all previous Xbox Live updates.

The Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack adds nine all-new multiplayer maps, additional bonus content showcases previously unreleased footage including an animated feature highlighting an unseen battle in Old Mombasa and a mini documentary showcasing the creative process behind the new multiplayer maps. The map pack disc also contains the Halo 2 Auto Update, providing non-Live gamers with the ability to enjoy recent gameplay enhancements and improvements.

20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures are teaming up to make a feature film adaptation of the Microsoft video game Halo. Negotiations still were under way late Thursday, but under the deal, Universal will take domestic rights and Fox will handle international.

After last weeks Halo CE patch, Microsoft has now also issued a new patch for Gearbox/Bungie's first person shooter Halo: Combat Evolved. This upgrade brings your Halo retail to v1.07 and addresses a rare crash bug that could occur if a malicious individual (hacker) purposely imitates a game server and sends invalid data to clients who try to browse the server list. Read more for details and download links ...

Gamespot got the early scoop on an article that will run in next week's issue of Time Magazine, which includes an interview with Bill Gates about the Xbox 360 where he confirms earlier reports of a possible third Halo title : "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.'"

Tomorrow Halo 2 fans with Xbox Live access will be able to get a sneak peek at the Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack. The multiplayer expansion pack contains nine new multiplayer maps to push gamers' skills to their limits. Xbox Live subscribers will be able to preview the four maps, and by late summer, all maps will be available for free. Read more for some screens ...

Bungie's Frank O'Connor has put up his weekly "What's Update" in which he reveals that Halo 2 player will be getting an Xbox Live Auto Update on Monday, addressing various cheats, bugs, glitches and implement some important weapon balance issues in order to smooth out the Xbox Live and System Link experience. The fuse on grenades has been shortened, and they are now also more powerful, melee attacks will do more damage, and various cheats like the standby cheat, flag bouncing, the ability to grab a flag through walls and sword flying have all been eliminated. People who are not on Xbox Live will still be able to get this auto update when they purchase the multiplayer maps retail version, scheduled for June 28.

Microsoft Game Studios has announced a June 28 release date for the highly anticipated Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack. The multiplayer expansion pack contains nine new multiplayer maps to push gamers' skills to their limits. The retail package also contains two new videos: an animated side-story from the single-player story in New Mombasa and a mini-documentary that includes interviews with the map designers, combat strategies and fly-throughs of the new maps. Xbox Live subscribers will get a four-map sneak peek in April, and by late summer, all maps will be available for free. Read more for details ...

Revealed on the Korean Xbox website, it seems Microsoft and Bungie are gearing up to release a previously unannounced addon for Halo 2. Speculation has it that the Halo 2 X-Pack addon will feature eight new maps, but there is no confirmation from Microsoft in any way on the validity of the information. We contacted the Powers That Be and got the usual "no comment" reply, which could either mean it's bogus information or that an announcement is imminent and no details are supposed to be released yet. Sources also claim that after its initial retail debut, the addon will be released through Xbox Live at a pace of two maps at a time.

Yes, today is the day to answer the call to save Earth and all of humankind in the tournament we've all been waiting for. Gamers have two weeks from today, 7th March, to register in what is the first stage of the Halo 2 Championship, hosted on the Xbox Live service. Registration closes on 20th March when eight winners will battle to win the title of UK Halo 2 Champion and, ultimately, the chance to take part in the Xbox Live Halo 2 Worldwide Finals in April.

Variety is reporting that Microsoft recently completed a million dollar deal to secure the services of Alex Garland, 28 Days Later and The Beach writer, who is now in the process of penning a screenplay for Halo The Movie. Once the script is complete and signed off by Microsoft, it will be sold to a studio with ex-Columbia Pictures President Peter Schlessel keeping a close eye on the proceedings (thanks VE3D).

Kicking off the start of the frenzied holiday shopping season, retailers welcomed hordes of Xbox consumers over Thanksgiving weekend. Gamers flocked to purchase the Xbox video game system, Xbox Live subscriptions and Xbox games, not the least of which was the blockbuster "Halo 2."

Bungie and Microsoft have issued yet another Halo 2 auto-update via Xbox Live mainly making significant updates to the Xbox Live Matchmaking Playlists. Read more for details ...

Bungie and Microsoft have issued a Halo 2 auto-update via Xbox Live today addressing a few issues with its FPS which will improve the functionality of Halo 2, such as addressing Matchmaking issues, 480p resolutions on a wide range of HDTV and EDTV displays and unlocking the Foundation multiplayer map. Read more for details ...

Microsoft has issued a new patch for Gearbox/Bungie's first person shooter Halo: Combat Evolved. This upgrade brings your Halo retail to v1.06 and addresses a rare crash bug that could occur if a malicious individual (hacker) purposely imitates a game server and sends invalid data to clients who try to browse the server list (thanks Joe). Read more for details and download links ...

Halo 2 broke entertainment retail records in its first 24 hours on store shelves. Microsoft Game Studios today announced that the highly-anticipated game sold through 2.4 million units in the U.S. and Canada, driving cash register receipts to the $125 million mark.

Halo 2 is the sequel to the highly successful and critically acclaimed Halo: Combat Evolved. In Halo 2, the saga continues as Master Chief—a genetically enhanced super-soldier—is the only thing standing between the relentless Covenant and the destruction of all humankind.