According to online reports, Microsoft Game Studios aim to ship Halo 3 in September. Citing anonymous game industry sources, IGN revealed that Microsoft intends on beating this year's stacked holiday rush with a September release, rather than the assumed November timeframe.

The huge popularity of Halo 3' could boost the sales of Microsoft's Xbox 360 game console.

The original Halo shipped with the launch of the first Xbox in November 2001. The sequel, Halo 2, shipped in November 2004.