The wait is almost over. �Halo 3,� the final chapter in the groundbreaking �Halo� trilogy and the most anticipated game release of 2007, has been released to manufacturing. Three years in the making by renowned developer Bungie Studios, �Halo 3� is now finished and will begin its journey to store shelves around the world in less than four weeks. �Halo 3,� which has already set new records as the fastest preordered game in history, has exceeded one million presales in North America alone. The title is set to shatter day-one entertainment sales records when it is released worldwide beginning Tuesday, Sept. 25.

�This is a huge milestone for us and a big cause for celebration at Bungie and Microsoft Game Studios,� said Harold Ryan, Studio Head at Bungie Studios. �This is the game we�ve always wanted to make and certainly the best game our studio has developed. We can�t wait for gamers to get their hands on it on Sept. 25.� Created by legendary developer Bungie Studios and exclusive to the Xbox 360� video game and entertainment system, �Halo 3� will set a new standard for interactive storytelling and social gaming by engaging consumers worldwide in Master Chief�s epic battle to save humankind. In November 2004, the world�s view of video games changed forever with the release of �Halo 2,� which generated a record-setting $125 million (U.S.) in sales within the first 24 hours and changed the way people think about interactive entertainment. Three years later, it remains the most-played game on Microsoft�s Xbox LIVE� online gaming and entertainment network, with nearly 1 billion hours of online gaming logged to date.