Microsoft Studios has announced that Halo 4, the newest entry for one of the Xbox 360′s biggest exclusive franchises, will launch around the world on November 6.

Halo 4 will be the first numbered released for the series since 2007, as well as the first new game release to be shipped by developer 343 Industries, which took over the first-person shooter property from Bungie several years ago.

Since opening in 2007 as a subsidiary of Microsoft Studios, 343 Industries has shipped a remake of 2001′s Halo: Combat Evolved and the Halo Waypoint Xbox 360/mobile app. It’s also released updates for 2010′s Halo: Reach developed by Bungie.

Halo 4 is meant to be the first of a new trilogy for the franchise. Microsoft Studios’ corporate VP Phil Spencer says the game starts a journey that will encompass the next decade of Halo games and experiences.

Since its debut a decade ago, the Halo series has sold more than 40 million games around the world. Microsoft has capitalized on its popularity with licensed novels, live-action shorts, comic books, apparel, action figures, and other Halo merchandise.

Microsoft claims Halo 3 had the biggest consumer launch of all time when it released in 2007, after the Bungie-developed game generated some $170 million just 24 hours after going on sale in the United States.

Media research group Nielsen recently polled gamers and found that Halo 4 is their most anticipated title for Xbox 360 in 2012, followed by Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed III, Rockstar’s Max Payne 3, and Electronic Arts’ Madden NFL 13.

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