Halo 2 Release Date - November 11th in UK?

Posted by: Jake 'ev98' Billo at 00:26 AM 

Picture the situation: You're working at a video game retailer in November 2004. A large majority of your customers have pre-ordered Halo 2 and are demanding copies as soon as they arrive. In order to get the copies by Bungie's promised release date of November 9th - a Tuesday - though, they have to be shipped out earlier in the previous week.

There's a huge incentive for stores to sell the copies as soon as they arrive for shipment, though. The store can be known as the first in the area to have the game available, selling copies and getting more value on their investment upfront. This article at MSN GamesRadar purports that Halo 2 will be released on November 11th in the United Kingdom, so that copies of the game can be shipped to stores at a later date. Bungie has apparently confirmed the retailer distribution method.

As a result -- you may not get the copy of Halo 2 that you want on November 9th, regardless of your location in the world. It'll be interesting to see who ends up with the first legitimate retail copy; and what Microsoft might enforce as penalties towards retailers that might release the game early.

• Permalink to HBO - Halo 2 Release