Halo 3 release set for September 25

Microsoft and Bungie have announced that Halo 3 will be released in North America on September 25, with a European release a day later.

"Halo 3 is much more than a videogame release: it's the biggest entertainment event of the year," commented Peter Moore, corporate VP of Microsoft's game business.

"On September 25 we intend to deliver a finale that will go down in entertainment history and leave people around the world with an experience that will be shared and enjoyed for years to come."

News of the release comes on the day that Microsoft launches the beta testing of Halo 3 over Xbox Live, allowing consumers to play through multiplayer maps for the hotly anticipated shooter.

Microsoft has also announced the release of a limited edition Zune digital media player to go on sale next month, featuring Halo 3 videos, soundtracks, trailers and artwork.