Microsoft said on Thursday that its new videogame "Halo: Reach" had racked up $200 million in sales on its launch day, boding well for the November debut of the Xbox 360 console maker's new gaming system.
"Halo: Reach" is the latest version of the blockbuster "Halo" game series and went on sale this week. The franchise has sold more than 34 million copies in the nine years since its debut, boosting the popularity of Microsoft's Xbox console.
"That's more than any game, any movie, any entertainment experience that was launched in 2010," Phil Spencer, vice president of Microsoft Game Studios, told the audience at the Tokyo Game Show about the "Halo: Reach" debut.
He added that the "Halo: Reach" launch had also helped lure millions of gamers to Microsoft's online game system Xbox Live.
The "Halo" series has grossed nearly $2 billion in sales over its lifetime. The game is made by Bungie and Microsoft owns the rights to the franchise.
The basic version of the game costs $60, with special editions priced at $80 and $250. Microsoft is also selling a special Xbox console plus the new version of the game for $400. An Xbox normally costs $200 or $300 depending on memory size.
Microsoft and its archrivals Nintendo and Sony Corp are looking to reinvigorate the $60 billion game industry that has seen dwindling console sales. U.S. gaming sales in August hit their lowest in four years.
Microsoft will begin selling its "Kinect" full-body motion-sensing game system from November 4, while Sony launched its "Move" motion-controlled gaming system on September 15.
Nintendo will sell a new version of its DS handheld device that can play games and show movies in 3D without glasses sometime before March 2011.
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