Halo 2 day one set to be bigger than Spider Man 2 or Harry Potter

Halo 2 on track to be the highest selling day one video game release in history

As anticipation grows towards the November 9 launch, US pre-sales for Halo 2 have eclipsed the 1.5 million mark. With phenomenal record-breaking video game pre-orders, Halo 2 is poised to generate more revenue in 24 hours than day one sales of any full feature movie in entertainment history, including Spider Man 2, Matrix: Reloaded and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

According to David McLean, regional director Microsoft Home and Entertainment Division Australia and New Zealand, "based on the pre-sales, we expect Halo 2 to be the biggest selling launch title in Australian video games history. Halo 2 will reset the benchmark for Australian video games sales," said McLean.

At midnight November 9 retail outlets around Australia will be the first in the world to open their doors and offer Halo 2 to consumers. Climaxing at official launch locations at Myer in Sydney and Melbourne, Halo 2 will go on sale amidst a carnival atmosphere with street performers, celebrities and leading Australian bands Regurgitator, 28 Days and Evermore entertaining fans as they scramble to purchase copies of the anticipated title.

"Halo 2 will generate the biggest 24 hour video game retail spending spree in Australian video games history and will further boost the Xbox console in its continued sales growth against its competitors," said McLean.

Developed exclusively for Xbox by Bungie Studios, part of Microsoft Game Studios, the original Halo has sold more than five million copies worldwide and spawned a legion of powerful devotees spanning all walks of life.