With the launch of Halo: Reach on the Xbox 360 on September 14th, Microsoft and Bungie are gearing up for tons of events before the release of the game. From authograph signings in Seattle and New York to TV and midnight store openings. Click through to read more!
The wait is almost over for the biggest entertainment launch of the year. In just seven days, millions of fans around the world will unite to celebrate the launch of “Halo: Reach,” the thrilling prequel to the blockbuster trilogy that became a global entertainment phenomenon and defined a generation of gamers.
Thousands of retail stores around the world will host midnight madness events to celebrate the release of “Halo: Reach,” the biggest installment yet in the video game franchise hailed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the No. 1 game series of all time. And at 12:01AM on Tuesday, Sept. 14, millions of fans worldwide will finally be able to experience the stunning prequel to one of the most iconic sagas in entertainment.
“‘Halo: Reach’ is without a doubt one of the most anticipated games of the year, and we felt there’s no better way to celebrate the launch than to partner with Microsoft to host a marquee event in Times Square at the Best Buy Theater,” said Chris Homeister, senior vice president and general manager of the home entertainment group at Best Buy. “Every ‘Halo’ game release has been a major entertainment event, and based on the level of excitement we’ve seen so far, ‘Halo: Reach’ could be the biggest of them all.”
“Halo” madness starts in New York City at a marquee launch event at the Best Buy Theater in Times Square. Fans who attend will have the opportunity to be among the first to play “Halo: Reach” before it goes on sale just after midnight on September 14, win special “Halo”-themed prizes, meet the creators of the “Halo” universe and experience a surprise musical performance.
West coast “Halo” fans will also have the opportunity to celebrate the arrival of this year’s most anticipated game on Sept. 13 at the Experience Music Project | Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle. Developers from Bungie and 343 Industries will greet fans and join the countdown to launch, while attendees can play “Halo: Reach” early and compete in tournaments to win coveted “Halo” prizes.
In addition to marquee events in New York and Seattle, thousands of retailers from coast to coast are hosting their own midnight madness celebrations, where fans can be among the first to bring home their copies of the game. Fans are encouraged to check with their local retailers for specifics, including Best Buy, GameStop, Wal-Mart, Toys”R”Us and many other retailers.
Beyond the United States, thousands of retailers around the world are planning launch celebrations for “Halo: Reach,” demonstrating the appeal of an entertainment phenomenon that has elevated video games into mainstream pop culture and permeated every corner of the globe.
Who else is on the hunt for “Halo: Reach”? Jeff and Lester from NBC’s “Chuck”
The burning desire to be among the first to play “Halo: Reach” runs across a wide range of fans. Today, Warner Bros. debuts a series of five original webisodes from the award-winning action-comedy series “Chuck” featuring the show’s hilarious duo Jeff (Scott Krinksy) and Lester (Vik Sahay), who embark on a quest to track down a copy of “Halo: Reach.” Fans can tune in today to catch the first webisode, which debuts on TheWB.com at 11:00AM PDT, and Xbox.com and Xbox LIVE shortly thereafter.
“Halo: Reach” Invasion Week Sweeps Xbox LIVE on Sept. 14
To celebrate the launch of “Halo: Reach,” Microsoft will unleash a dizzying array of “Halo” activities on Xbox LIVE from Sept. 14 through Sept. 20th, including new Avatar gear, exciting content, spectacular prizes and a chance to play with the game’s developers. As a special bonus, all fans who jump online will receive the “Halo: Reach” Invasion Week theme for free.
Invasion Week Activities & Programs:
* Connect to Xbox LIVE and receive a free “Halo: Reach” Invasion Week theme
* Game with Developer: Bungie will play with fans on Thursday, 16th from 5PM-7PM ET in the US, and Friday the 17th 8PM-10PM BST in the UK.
* Play & Win: Play “Halo: Reach” any time during Invasion Week and you will be entered to win tickets to the upcoming UFC 122 Fight*
* Community Events: Themed nights hosted by the community team to play “Halo: Reach,” including “Co-op Night,” “Xbox All Nighter” and “Community Playdate”
“Halo: Reach” is currently available for pre-order at participating retailers worldwide in Standard, Limited and Legendary editions. Additionally, a stunning lineup of custom-designed “Halo: Reach” hardware products are also currently available for pre-order. The Xbox 360 Limited Edition “Halo: Reach” Bundle will be available day and date with “Halo: Reach” on Sept. 14, along with the “Halo: Reach” Limited Edition Wireless Controller and Wireless Headset. As a special bonus, fans can receive a token to unlock an exclusive in-game Spartan Recon Helmet by picking up a copy of the game on launch day at North American retail stores.
Developed by award-winning studio Bungie exclusively for Xbox 360, “Halo: Reach” launches worldwide on Sept. 14, 2010, and in Japan on Sept. 15.
