“Halo: Reach” Videogame Does $200M on First Day

Game is latest in Microsoft's blockbuster series

"Halo: Reach" defied the slump in videogame sales, posting more than $200 million in sales on its first day on shelves.

Microsoft's latest in the $2 billion blockbuster "Halo" series, could build sales momentum for consoles heading into the holiday season, say experts.

"We feel really good about where the 'Halo: Reach' numbers are," Phil Spencer, vice president of Microsoft Game Studios, told Reuters.

Spencer said the $200 million figure made "Reach" the biggest launch of any game or movie this year. "Halo 3" garnered more than $300 million globally in its first week.

"Halo: Reach lives or dies by its team battles and free-for-alls," said a review in Wired. "Not surprisingly, they’re still awesome."

"Reach", a prequel to the main "Halo" narrative, pits players against murderous aliens in a variety of settings, and provides better graphics, more complex fighting scenarios and new ways of playing with others online. The "Halo" franchise has sold more than 34 million copies in its nine-year history, boosting the popularity of Microsoft's Xbox console.

The basic version of "Reach" costs $60, with special editions priced at $80 and $250. 

Selected Reading: Reuters, LA Times, Wired.

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