Halo 3 landing in UK on 26 September

Bungie Studios has revealed that Halo 3 will arrive nearly two months ahead of its anticipated mid-November launch. The Xbox 360-exclusive shooter will ship on 25 September in North America and Australia, and will ship in Europe the following day.

The game has not yet been given an age rating, but is available in three different retail packages: the standard edition, the limited edition, and the 'Legendary Edition' complete with a replica of the protagonist Master Chief's helmet. UK prices have not yet been announced.

After a light summer of games this year, the release schedule will grow very crowded come autumn. The packed calendar is topped by Grand Theft Auto IV, due on 15 October, and Metal Gear Solid 4, which has no firm release date, and Halo 3. The third instalment in Bungie's sci-fi shooter was given a 2007 release at last year's Electronic Entertainment Expo. Conventional wisdom has been that it would follow its two Xbox forebears and arrive in mid-November, three years after Halo 2 and six after the original Halo: Combat Evolved.

Halo 3's confirmed release date also calls into question the presumed release window for another of Microsoft Game Studios' top 360 titles of 2007. Most online retailers listed Mass Effect, the forthcoming Xbox-exclusive sci-fi RPG from celebrated Canadian developer BioWare, as coming in September. However, in light of the Halo 3 announcement, it seems unlikely that MGS would release two of its tent-pole titles within three weeks of each other, as it would cannibalise sales. However, Microsoft spokespeople had not answered inquiries about Mass Effect at time of publication.

The Halo 3 multiplayer beta test is scheduled to roll out throughout the day on Wednesday, and Microsoft is further fanning the flames of anticipation by releasing a special Halo 3 edition of its Zune MP3 player. When it goes on sale in the US next month, the Zune: Halo 3 Edition will come pre-loaded with content from the game, including videos, soundtracks, trailers, artwork and television spots.

You can read a hands-on preview with the Halo 3 beta at CNET.co.uk's sister site, GameSpot UK.