Halo: Reach

London – August 24, 2010 — With the worldwide launch of the biggest blockbuster game of the year just three weeks away, Microsoft is calling all “Halo” fans to participate in a one-of-a-kind experience: the creation of a monument of light commemorating the heroes of Noble Team and the planet Reach. Over the next three weeks, visitors to RememberReach.com can contribute a point of light that will help form a dramatic monument to “Halo: Reach.” Along with the monument’s formation, a collection of three live-action short films from acclaimed director Noam Murro will be unveiled to bring to life glimpses of what it was like living on Reach just prior to the Covenant invasion.

Visitors can explore and contribute to RememberReach.com, where a continually regenerating sculpture composed of thousands of points of light will take form, produced by a state-of-the-art robotic installation. By guiding a robotic arm to their chosen coordinates, visitors will add another light to the sculpture, honouring the heroic Spartans in the most anticipated game of 2010. The monument is constructed by special camera equipment which captures and composites the movements and light pulses from the robotic arm, which visitors can see in action on the website.

As the community bands together to create a monument to the highly anticipated launch of “Halo: Reach,” they will also be able to access other content, including a collection of dramatic live-action shorts that capture a poignant snapshot of life on the planet Reach just before the arrival of the dreaded Covenant. The stirring vignettes offer an intimate look at the lives of citizens and soldiers on Reach prior to the legendary battle that set the epic “Halo” saga in motion.

The live-action shorts are directed by Noam Murro, the award-winning director of the “Halo: Reach” “Birth of a Spartan” cinematic short and the 2008 feature film “Smart People.” A five-time nominee and 2005 winner of the Director’s Guild of America’s Director of the Year award, Murro was also recently named the U.K.’s #1 director by Campaign magazine.

Fans also won’t want to miss the world premiere of the final “Halo: Reach” live-action short, titled “Deliver Hope,” which debuts this Thursday, Aug. 26 on Halo.Xbox.com, Halo Waypoint and www.bungie.net.

“Halo: Reach” is now available for preorder at participating retailers worldwide in Standard, Limited Collectors’ and Legendary editions. The Standard Edition has an estimated retail price of £49.99, and the Limited Collectors’ and Legendary editions of the game will retail for £59.99 and £99.99 respectively, and are packed with bonus content and collectibles.

Additionally, a stunning line-up of custom-designed “Halo: Reach” hardware products are also currently available for pre-order. The Xbox 360 Limited Edition “Halo: Reach” Bundle has a suggested retail price of £249.99, and will be available on Sept. 14 exclusively at GAME and gamestation. The “Halo: Reach” Limited Edition Wireless Controller and Wireless Headset will be available on Sept. 3 for the estimated retail prices of £39.99 and £34.99, respectively.

Developed by award-winning studio Bungie exclusively for Xbox 360, “Halo: Reach” launches worldwide on Sept. 14, 2010.

-Ends-

For consumer media enquiries, please contact:

Baz Singh / 020 3047 4024 / balraj_singh@jcpr.com

Nik Thakkar / 020 3047 4087 / nik_thakkar@jcpr.com

For specialist media enquiries, please contact:

Dominic Carey / 01189 095334 / v-docare@microsoft.com

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is a premier home entertainment and video game system. This November, with the addition of Kinect, Xbox 360 will forever transform social gaming and entertainment with a whole new way to play — no controller required. Xbox 360 is also home to the best and broadest games as well as the largest on-demand library of music, standard- and high-definition movies, TV shows and digital games, all in one place. The entertainment center of the living room, Xbox 360 blends unbeatable content with the leading social network of 25 million Xbox LIVE members to create a limitless entertainment experience that can be shared at home or across the globe. More information about Xbox 360 can be found online at http://www.xbox.com.

About Xbox LIVE

Xbox LIVE is the online entertainment service for your Xbox 360, connecting you to an ever-expanding world of games, movies, TV, music, sports and social entertainment. Xbox LIVE lets you play the best games, enjoy the largest on-demand library on any console, listen to millions of songs and share the fun with friends around the world. Xbox LIVE is also the exclusive home of controller-free online entertainment through Kinect, making your Xbox 360 more intuitive and interactive than ever before. With an active community of 25 million people across 26 countries, expanding to 35 this fall, Xbox LIVE, together with Xbox 360, provides you with instant access to the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about, wherever you are. More information about Xbox LIVE can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/live.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.