Tor Books has released Halo: Primordium, the second novel in acclaimed science fiction author Greg Bear’s Forerunner Saga, a prequel series to the hugely successful Halo video game franchise for the Xbox 360.  An unabridged audio book edition will publish simultaneously with the novel.

Earlier this evening at the New York Comic Con event, a Halo panel was held, where 343 Industries discussed some of the newer features that would be going into the game.  Not surprisingly, these features are actually Kinect enabled, which means you'll be able to use your motion-sensing device for some cool things.  While they aren't entirely gameplay related, they are interesting, to say the least.

Microsoft, Bungie and Tor Books have enlisted Karen Traviss to write a new trilogy of Halo books that will explore the Halo Universe in the wake of the final events of Halo 3.  Halo novels published by Tor have sold over a million combined copies to date, and the entire Halo catalogue is now available in mass market paperback from Tor.  Along Karen's debut Halo novel, Tor is also publishing the second novel from legendary science fiction author Greg Bear's Halo Forerunner trilogy in 2012.  Halo: Glasslands will be published on October 25, 2011. An unabridged audiobook edition will publish simultaneously with the new novel.

As a pretty consistent reader of Electronic Gaming Monthly back during middle school and high school, I’ve seen a fair share of April Fools’ Day video game centric jokes. And I admit, Cheat Code Central got me with one back in elementary school when they used to post upcoming games under the parody developer “Sloof Lirpa.” Pretty sure I sent an e-mail to their fake developer e-mail address begging for Cheat Code Central vs Capcom on the Sega Dreamcast. I refuse to be fooled again.

During a Microsoft earnings call, the company announced that Halo: Reach generated $350 million during the first 16 days of launch worldwide. The game earned $200 million in its first 24 hours. While Microsoft did not specify the number of units sold in the first 16 days, the game likely topped 5 million copies factoring in the three different price points for special editions of the new title. Bungie talks about its final Halo game in this exclusive interview.

SEATTLE -- The wait is almost over for one of the biggest entertainment launches of the year. Microsoft is pulling out all of the stops to celebrate the launch of Halo: Reach, the prequel to the blockbuster trilogy that became a global entertainment phenomenon and defined a generation of gamers. Bungie was on hand at PAX Prime 2010 to discuss the culmination of the franchise in this exclusive video interview. 

The wait is almost over for millions of Halo fans who’ve been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to sample the biggest blockbuster game of 2010. Beginning later this morning, Halo fans around the world will be able to download the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta via their Halo 3: ODST game discs and help make entertainment history by participating in the biggest console beta ever. Starting today and concluding on May 19, the beta is a chance for millions of people to experience a portion of the competitive multiplayer offering in Halo: Reach, and an opportunity to test and help perfect the definitive multiplayer experience.