Halo 2 Fans Prepare for Battle as Exclusive New Maps Expand the Most Popular Title on Xbox LIVE

Two of the most popular multiplayer maps from the original Halo: Combat Evolved will arrive as premium downloadable content for Halo 2 in April.

REDMOND, Wash. March 30, 2007 Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios today confirmed the upcoming release of two new, eagerly awaited downloadable maps for Halo. 2. The maps will be available as premium downloadable content for Xbox. and Xbox 360 on April 17.

Fans of the original Halo have long requested the addition of some of their favorite maps to the critically acclaimed multiplayer experience of Halo 2. These re-creations, developed by Bungie and Certain Affinity Inc., are a perfect way to thank fans for their support as they surpass 800 million hours of Halo 2 gaming on Xbox LIVE..

The two maps will bring new life to ancient battlefields and legendary skirmishes, as both are new, improved and redesigned remakes of fan favorites from the original Halo: Combat Evolved. For the price of $4 for the pair, these maps bring a fresh burst of action to the seminal Halo 2 online multiplayer experience. Both of the maps will be available through the Halo 2 in-game content downloader for both Xbox and Xbox 360.*

The king of Halo maps has returned at last. Hang Em High, arguably the most popular multiplayer map for the original title, has been reimagined for Halo 2 as Tombstone, with all-new graphics, features and a few hidden surprises. Now fans will enjoy the dangerous catwalks and trenches that made this the most requested Halo multiplayer map ever, with a modernized Halo 2 flavor.

The second map, Desolation, is a symmetrical, Deathmatch-oriented map and a beautiful remake of the original Derelict. With new graphics and effects and a massive gameplay overhaul, the old favorite is now faster-paced and more balanced than ever perfect for intense Halo 2 combat.

Halo 2 is the sequel to the highly successful and critically acclaimed Halo: Combat Evolved and represents the second chapter in the epic Halo trilogy. Since its launch in fall 2004, Halo 2 has maintained its place as the most popular Xbox LIVE title ever. To date, gamers have logged more than 800 million hours of Halo multiplayer action on Xbox LIVE, and they are eagerly awaiting Halo 3, slated for release this fall. The Halo franchise is among the biggest worldwide entertainment properties in history and continues to change the way people think about interactive entertainment.

About Bungie Studios

Bungie Studios was founded in 1991 with two goals: to develop games that combine brilliant technology, beautiful art, intelligent stories and deep gameplay, and then sell enough of those games to achieve its real goal of total world domination. Over the past 10 years it has produced games such as the Marathon Trilogy and the first two Myth games, hailed as classics by critics and gamers around the world. Bungie s Halo franchise is an international award-winning action title that has grown into a global entertainment phenomenon, selling more than 14.7 million units worldwide, logging over 800 million hours of multiplayer action on Xbox LIVE, and spawning action figures, books, a graphic novel, apparel and more. Bungie is currently at work on Halo 3, which represents the third chapter in this Halo trilogy and is slated for release in 2007. More information on Bungie can be found at http://www.bungie.net.

About Certain Affinity

Certain Affinity, Inc. was founded in 2006 by Max Hoberman, an industry veteran and former Halo 2 and Halo 3 multiplayer team lead. The Austin, Texas based company specializes in creating top-tier games and content in an efficient, no-nonsense manner. For more information about Certain Affinity, visit http://www.certainaffinity.com, or email info@certainaffinity.com.

About Microsoft Game Studios

Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game systems, the Microsoft. Windows. operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games), including such franchises as Age of Empires., Flight Simulator and Zoo Tycoon. ; Xbox and Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com), including such games as Gears of War and franchises such as Halo, Fable., Project Gotham Racing. and Forza Motorsport. ; and MSN. Games (http://www.games.msn.com), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as Bejeweled and Hexic..

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.

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Microsoft, the Microsoft Game Studios logo, Bungie, Halo, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, Windows, Age of Empires, Zoo Tycoon, Fable, Project Gotham Racing, Forza Motorsport, MSN and Hexic are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

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