By Tom Ivan
Microsoft is investigating “a very small breach” in its Halo 3: ODST distribution process that has resulted in a number of French gamers receiving the title almost a month ahead of its release.
Videos of consumers unwrapping the highly anticipated shooter cropped up on the internet before being pulled, and Microsoft has warned that it will “take action” against those who it feels have procured the game illegitimately. The exact number of copies that have been released into the wild hasn’t been specified, but it’s thought to be over 100.
"We are investigating a very small breach in our distribution process around the early delivery of Halo 3: ODST units,” a Microsoft spokesman told CVG.
"We are also investigating Xbox Live accounts that show activity related to Halo 3: ODST and will take action against those we believe have procured copies of the game illegitimately.”
In an update on his Twitter site, Stephen Toulouse, who heads up Xbox Live policy at Microsoft's Live Services Group, said that the company “will not be banning legitimate customers from Xbox Live who play early.”
ODST, which is likely to be developer Bungie’s penultimate Halo title, is set for a worldwide release on September 22. The game is one of the highlights of Microsoft’s second half Xbox 360 line-up. Research firm Nielsen said that it was the leading title in terms of "consumer purchase interest" following E3 last month, ahead of the likes of God Of War III, Wii Sports Resort and Guitar Hero 5.
