A French retailer ‘accidentally’ sold Halo 3: ODST a whole month early, Microsoft naturally threw a massive wobbler over the incident and is clamping down hard and fast.
The corporate giant will also ”take action against” Xbox Live users who they believe are playing illegitimately ”procured copies” of Bungie’s latest. Has ”nothing further” to say.
”We are investigating a very small breach in our distribution process around the early delivery of ‘Halo 3: ODST’ units,” a Microsoft spokesman told Kotaku.
”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. We have nothing further to share at this time.”
Exactly what this ‘action’ they take against offending Xbox Live users is unknown, but you can expect it to be bad. Apparently Microsoft France threatened gamers with a ban from Live if they fired up Halo 3: ODST early, reports fan site Halo.Bungie.Org.
Halo 3: ODST is being exclusively released on Xbox 360 this September 22nd. Take note France.