Halo 3: ODST to cost $60, $100 CE GameStop-exclusive

After Bungie's public pronouncements of a budget expansion, game now full price; game retailer's bundle to include game-themed green controller.

Following a canceled E3 unveiling, Halo 3: ODST was formally announced at the 2008 Tokyo Game Show by Microsoft and Bungie Studios. At the time, the game had been billed as complementing the overall Halo 3 experience. Speaking to Game Informer magazine last fall, Bungie design lead Joe Bertone described the game as "a three-to-five-hour expansion pack," with cinematic director Joe Staten adding that "we do not view this as a $60 title."

What an extra $40 buys.

Apparently, Bungie's former owner Microsoft views things differently. Amidst the hubbub of the Electronic Entertainment Expo last week, the software colossus/game giant updated the fact sheet and official Halo 3: ODST page on Xbox.com with the game's price--a full $59.99.

In a statement provided to GameSpot, Microsoft explained its pricing decision thusly: "At the time [of Bungie's comments], the overall scope of Halo 3: ODST was not yet finalized, and since then, the project has grown increasingly more ambitious. We believe this stand-alone experience is much more than just an expansion. Halo 3: ODST provides a new campaign from the point of view of an entirely new character. Combine that with three new multiplayer maps, the entirely new cooperative mode called Firefight [shown below], and the complete Halo 3 multiplayer collection on a stand-alone disc, we feel this is a good value and tremendous addition to the Halo franchise."

Halo fans with extra cash to burn can choose an even pricier version of the game. GameStop is exclusively offering a $99.99 Halo 3: ODST Collector's Pack, which comes with a UNSC-green special edition Halo wireless controller (pictured).

All editions of Halo 3: ODST, however, have two other incentives. Besides three exclusive multiplayer maps, the game disc will contain the levels from the Halo 3 Mythic Map Pack, released in April for MSP800 ($10). It will also contain an invitation to participate in the 2010 multiplayer beta of Halo: Reach, Bungie's mystery-shrouded next chapter in the Halo saga.

852 Comments

  • bigbubba1417

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 2:21 pm PT

    actually you get the controller with the special edition and you get the the code for johnsen by pre ordering the regular or the special edition

  • SuperGamer45678

    Posted Jul 14, 2009 8:26 pm PT

    This game looks pretty fun, although I am pretty ticked off cause i just got the mythic map pack about a month ago and I find out that this game will come with it for free........ Anyways if you preorder the special edition will you still get Sergent Johnsen (sorry if i misspelled his name) in the firefight co-op mode? Anyways can't wait for Halo reach to!
    Oh checking out the controller deal.... it says it only ships to US andresses only.... Well asuming that the special edition will come out eventually after ODST's release, what's more important? Sergent Johnson or a Halo 3 ODST controller?

  • jumper-man

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 10:41 pm PT

    for bcp117
    Beta for reach is an online multiplayer beta for the upcoming bungie game Halo: reach

  • jumper-man

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 10:39 pm PT

    I will pick up the game just sucks they bumped up the price, but watcha gonna do

  • bcp117

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 2:53 pm PT

    what the hell is beta for reach?

  • bigbubba1417

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 6:59 pm PT

    thats a pimp controller but on the halo 3 odst disc will there be xbox live match making, custum games, and forge

  • xKratosAurionx

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 2:38 am PT

    Alright, Here's my opinion. When this was first announced i was way disappointed to hear that it was going to have a 3-5 hour Campaign and just some new features and not even have Master Cheif. I was very mad. Halo Wars was decent but it didnt give me my FPS fix that the Halo franchise has given me for so long. But reading this article and watching that video gives me some hope, i mean like they said they did alot more then they thought they were gonna do. So now it could be well considered a full game. The fact we're playing as OSDT drop units is pretty cool,i mean. The game will be harder because we aren't spartans. Therefore we wont have shields like Spartans do. I mean think about it. Halo 3 was cool with that whole 4 player co-op. But i rushed the entire game on Legendary in a day with a group of friends, even with skulls on it was no challenge. Maybe this would actually be more Challenging?? And i'm glad they're including a beta key for Reach with this game. I mean Bungie is on the right track!this game looks like a fun Halo Adventure and with Reach well on its way in 2010, like who knows what that game will hold!! All i can think of is more then one spartan (cause i read "The fall of reach") and not to mention Backstory,backstory, backstory. Bungie i like what your doing. Keep it up. Ill be buying the Limited for sure btw thats a sexy controller haha

  • KevDaMon626

    Posted Jun 29, 2009 1:47 am PT

    ok dont cuss me out for this but is this damn thing goona be an add on or a disc and do u have to wait for the maps if you dont get the collectors edition?

  • mayceV

    Posted Jun 29, 2009 12:20 am PT

    Why is everyone so pissed???? COD 4 as what, 4 hours? they say this gme will be 5-6 hours and you still get the hilaruouslly amazing multiplayer. Ifinity ward gets shaky after every question about length meaning the story mode is just as long as the previous AND People are still goin balistic to get it. now that M$ is charging full price you guys are goin crazy??? What make COD MW2 any difrent than the first other than another short campain and some new multiplayer modes.Halo ODST I think isn't that horribly priced atleast you'll get beta for another game as well. and I know that you guys have played Halo 3 multiplayer before but you also probably played the CODMW as well and its not going to chnage too drasticly in MW2.

  • ss3zolo

    Posted Jun 28, 2009 6:19 pm PT

    i will still be getting it but this is disappointing

  • ChudWarrior

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 6:13 am PT

    Hopefully they change things up a bit as far as weapons and gameplay go. I enjoyed all three Halo Campaigns, hopefully this one brings something meaningful to the table and is not only a couple of hours long. I think they should bring back the magnum from Halo 2, and trash the piece of garbage magnum from the third game. Halo 3 was essentially Halo 2,3, but I guess that makes sense since Halo 2 was a good game, and they did add a few things to spice things up a bit. Maybe I will pre-order the Special addition and sell the controller on ebay.....

  • FartMonkey65

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 7:46 pm PT

    Actually, the $60 price is good, you get a new campaign, the fire fight mode, a new map pack that would be $10, the previous map packs, and the Halo Reach Beta.

  • FartMonkey65

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 7:26 pm PT

    I preordered the limited yesterday. Now I find out that it's $100, but I do need a new controller.

  • xstaggerxleex

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 2:18 pm PT

    are you guys all morons... buy the $100 version u get a kicka$$ controller and the game for $40... since controllers cost $60... yes MS is chessn more $ out of us... but hey we all signed on for that once we bought a 360... stop complaining or buy the $100 version or rent the damn game... freakn crybabies

  • justaman10

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 6:56 pm PT

    +I HAVE HALO 3 DOSE THAT MEAN I HAVET TO GET IT WITH THAT!AND I HAVE ALL THE MAP PACKS!!!!

  • justaman10

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 6:52 pm PT

    WHAT THE F*** $60 RIP OFF!!!! I THOT IT WAS LIKE 50 OR 45!!!! F*** THAT!

  • tsyunami

    Posted Jun 20, 2009 11:43 am PT

    I love halo games...but seriosly, you take master chief out of a game, put some new guy in, and u put a silencer on some of the weapons, where's the new game at? Maybe they will add some more aliens(dif types of brutes..or whatever)...AND ACTUALLY, add some new weapons. But as far as gameplay its all the same...but for an expansion pack...I guess its still good enough for me to buy....

    And whats Wildstallion problem...does he not understand the concept of an opinion( not that im trying to criticize him in any way since its his opinion that he voiced) but was all that necessary to say to one guy that would most like not come back to this article and read any other comment????? People these days..............

  • wildstallion

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 12:41 pm PT

    Niccara - If you don't like Halo games then don't buy them. I don't understand your problem. This is a completely new game, an entire campaign, a new multiplayer mode, plus the bonus of all those maps that people have refused to buy. It is way more the DLC. If you disagree, that's your opinion. And yes I'm a fanboy. I play halo because I love it. I support the people who make halo with my money because I want them to make MORE games like Halo. Have you ever supported anything in your life??? Or do you just expect everyone to give you stuff for free? If you don't like Halo and don't want to pay money for it, I have no problem with that. But it is perfectly reasonable for me to do so. When they start charging more than they should, I too will stop paying for it.

  • TTDog

    Posted Jun 17, 2009 1:25 am PT

    @Breakitapart: Way to misquote/misread the article... go figure.

    Said line makes no mention of the old map packs... the ones people are moaning about being given away free that they've already paid for... it does make mention of new game modes and three new multiplayer maps... it also mentions that the project has increased in scale from the original expansion that was planned.

    Try reading past the first sentence... then read it again so that you understand... ask an adult if necessary... then comment.

  • breakitapart

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 5:31 pm PT

    TTDog -Quote: "Who says the map packs are there to justify the price?" Microsoft said it in thier own statement! Start with: "Microsoft explained its pricing decision thusly:"
    Did you read the article?

  • TTDog

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 4:28 pm PT

    @Breakitapart: Who says the map packs are there to justify the price?

    Where does it say that?

    If the game itself is 9 hours long, and no one knows how long it will really be until its released, then the game will be of similar length to Halo 3 which nobody had a problem paying $60 for.

    Yes it may have started out as an expansion, but it's obviously something much, much bigger now and has gone beyond the scale of an expansion into the realms of stand alone title.

    @ DifferenceEngin: Read the article... it says that the 3-5 hours was an old quote, and that the scale of the project has increased dramatically since... hence it will effectively be a game in its own right, and as I said above, if it hits 9 hours thats longer than the campaign in the game it was originally intended to be an expansion for... which retailed at $60 if not more for the collectors/bonus/special editions that drooling fools were so keen to get there hands on.

  • ga11a9h3r

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 4:08 pm PT

    OMG HALO CONTRO..and im bored of it already

  • Mini-15

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 3:48 pm PT

    I cant believe so many people think a froglike controller that says Halo is a "must have."

  • Agougwe1

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 1:48 pm PT

    If you guys read the entire thing instead of just the header you would notice that Bungie said that the game has greatly expanded meaning that it's no longer 3-5 hours now its more like 6-10. Lets break it down ok. Game- $20.00
    Firefight- $10.00
    Maps- $30.00 unless you already have two of them In which case its worth 10 or 20 dollars.
    Halo 3 multiplayer- Depends on whether you still have the game but lets say $10.00 if you don't I'm not even taking into account production costs and the percent that the store raises the price so if anything its a pretty damn good deal. So if you really want to buy the game if not stop ******** about it.

  • Jshaw71

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 1:24 pm PT

    I'll have to wait and see what the launch price will be, i don;t belive/trust gamestop on almost anything they say...

  • berkner_ram77

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 1:21 pm PT

    Can't wait to pre order this. I was going to preorder anyway, and I need a new controller, so win win for me. Plus it's $10 cheaper than buying them seperate.

  • breakitapart

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 1:20 pm PT

    TTDog - I would have NO problem with Microsoft releasing Halo 3 with all of the maps ect... I have no problem with Fallout 3 coming out with all of the add-on content I have already paid for. THE ISSUE is that they are releasing a NEW game with the OLD map content people like me have already paid for to justify an outrageous price point. It is a very underhanded thing to do to those fans who are looking for the add-on only option in today’s economy.

  • YoungDab

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 1:15 pm PT

    Wow a great green controller Lol,still wireless still dies fast!!!!

  • YoungDab

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 1:14 pm PT

    This is the same thing that happened to vista,now they have windows 7 and two more years Windows 8.STOP CHEATING PEOPLE

  • wildarmx

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 11:48 am PT

    and MS continually amuses me............ hey I think these guys like this product, how about we double the price? but dont you think that will piss them off? who cares were ms arent we?

  • Sins-of-Mosin

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 11:26 am PT

    Controller looks great! I'm quite excited for the co-op mode. Should be a awesome experience all around.

  • kytomasi

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 10:44 am PT

    WOW a halo controller.... WOWOWOW... i mean come on its the same as the rest geez.

  • DifferenceEngin

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 9:17 am PT

    Looks awesome, and that controller is a must have, but 60 bucks? TTDog said something to affect of quit **** over the price, but if you're gonna charge for a full game, then make it a full game. Not 3-4 hours of a campaign and some multiplayer which we all have not only in Halo 2 and 3 but other titles as well. I'm curious to see how this sells, and exactly how quickly the price drops.

  • Hvac0120

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 9:12 am PT

    I didn't purchase an original Xbox. When I bought my Xbox 360 Halo 3 was one of my anticipated titles because of the hype of the first 2 games.

    I'd played Halo 2 a couple times at some lan parties, but never enough to get any good or get a good impression of the game.

    I was in line at midnight to get Halo 3. That night I played for 2 hours and went to bed. Went to play the next day and got RROD. 2 weeks later I get my refurb. Refurb is DOA. 2-4 weeks later I get my replacement.

    Finally get to try Halo. Figured I needed to play Single player first to get used to the game. I got bored pretty fast, but made it through the entire campaign.

    I played Online for a little while, but also quickly got bored.

    -- Long story short -- I have found the Halo games to be overhyped. The online was revolutionary at the time, but now its the standard and many other games offer the same or better experience. I enjoy Single player too, so that marks Halo down lower for me.

    ODST looks to be more of the same, but with different characters and a little slower. No matter the price, I'm going to skip it (maybe a rental).

    I'm looking out to Reach for Bungie to do something revolutionary. Forget ODST, it's a filler for the wait between the "real" Halo releases.

  • Aaron_Knuts1

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 8:49 am PT

    Pre-Ordered and ready to pwn this game.

  • LithuanianGamer

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 8:30 am PT

    I need that controller when I get my 360.

  • LosDaddie

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 5:51 am PT

    Already pre-ordered!!

  • TTDog

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 4:49 am PT

    @Breakitapart: All I'm getting from the comments here are sobs that people are getting something for nothing you've already paid for... tough, it happens, deal with it.

    I've spent cash on the Fallout DLC that's going to be included in the GOTY edition for no extra charge, so what... to me I got the content when it came out, I've played through them several times and I consider them value for money... am I going to complain that someone will be able to buy the full game with the expansions in 5 months time for half the total price I've paid for all of them... of course not, I've been enjoying the game and all the extras for the last 12 months.

    No if you're a big enough Halo 3 fan to have bought the maps already chances are you'll have used them over and over since they were released, chances are more than enough times to warrant the price you paid for them.

    How many people bought consoles only for the price to drop a week or so later, it happens... if ODST is big enough of a game to warrant the full game price then fine, I've no problem with them charging full game price... so many of the complaints on here are just spoilt, miserable little kids who haven't had enough experience of life to realise this sort of thing happens all the time.

  • StarlightHunter

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 4:08 am PT

    @GCruz79, Nah I have a PS3 aswell as an XBOX. They only game I have for my PS3 though is Resistance because It looked and is awsome. I repspect your opinions on the matter and I agree Halo did get a bit repetitve and need a big change but I'm not a fan of KZ because of the first game. This Halo game looks it has the change and difference it needs but I'm not sure about paying that much for such a short lengh of gameplay.

  • MSG-Deathscythe

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 4:00 am PT

    lol! m$ has no problem doing this. they've been ripping off consumers (including myself) since time in memoriam ... and they always get away with it. won't happen to me on this one though, after COD and kz2, this expansion pack looks dated and boring.

  • KBABZ

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 11:46 pm PT

    If the game really has gotten as long as a $60 game would be then I could see it being justifiable. However, the map thing is a bit silly. Why don't they have a code you can enter so you can download the maps for free? That way you can save space on the disk for more important content than pre-existing maps.

  • jessmaster13

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 9:32 pm PT

    Man, i thought Microsoft only overpriced accessories

  • Crabs4sale

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 6:46 pm PT

    Meh, controller doesn't look worth it. Wait 5 months and it'll be in the used accessories bin.

  • jarvis008

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 6:29 pm PT

    I was planning on buying this on release but not for that much. I guess I'll just wait and pick it up second hand 6 months down the line instead.

  • alcari posted Jun 15, 2009 3:55 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    alcari

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 3:55 pm PT (hide)

    And here's another crappy game set in a pretty awesome universe. If only people stopped starting at the name (Zomg, it's HALO, is must be good) and realised it's actually pretty mediocre, maybe there'd be some better games coming out.

    Well, as with all things Microsoft, I'll acquire my copy over bittorrent. 0$ means the price/quality ratio is still somewhat acceptable.

  • GCruz79

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 3:50 pm PT

    StarlightHunter, have U even played KZ2, or are U just saying this because you only have a 360? KZ2 is way better than F.E.A.R., and a lot more fun in general than Halo. I own both systems, and have played all 3, so I feel pretty safe in saying that. I base my suspicion on the fact you attacked the one game exclusive to PS3, whereas you didn't mention COD or OB. I'm pretty sure anyone who has actually played KZ2 wouldn't say it's "rubbish", at worst its a fun game with a lot of variety, unlike Halo 3, which has hit a repetitive wall like a crash test dummy.

    Like I said in my first post, if the fanboys want to pay $60 for a glorified add-on, go right ahead. All I'm gonna say is I agree with kb8618, if Bungie had it their way (and didn't have to answer to M$), they'd prolly only charge 30 or 40 for the game, which would still be overpriced, but a lot more reasonable for an expansion pack.

    There are a lot of games I love for both systems, but Halo 3 is garbage, and all M$ is doing now is rehashing the same thing over and over to make a $, which in reality I can't blame them for if they can get away with it. I mean seriously, who puts out a CE that the bonus is a controller??? That just reeks of greed. But they know fanboys will buy it, so why not? Like I said before, and will be my stance against Halo until they come out with something original (and not a Horde mode from G.O.W. ripoff):

    You support mediocrity, you get mediocrity, period.

  • Nihonomaru

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 3:34 pm PT

    @Shamemiss: There isnt just any originality left in the world. One thing that shows this even though it's irrelevant is America's Unoriginality to remake every foreign film remade their way =3=. When they always Suck Anyway ;P.

  • breakitapart

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 3:22 pm PT

    TTDog - The issue here is if the price is justifiable. The problem I and many others have is that we are being forced to purchase a game at a premium $60 because they are including a lot of stuff we have already purchased (The complete map collection being the main culprit here)
    I would rather MS and bungie come to an agreement for a game only (no maps) price point of $40 for those halo fans who already bought the maps. It makes no sense to resell the maps to those people who will be picking up the game day one as they are more than likely the SAME PEOPLE who already purchased the maps. To me including the complete map package is a lame attempt to justify a $60 price point - nothing more than that. Basically what the fans are being taught is not to buy the maps online as they will eventually be included in future iterations of the halo franchise. Way to cater to your fan base MS/bungie...

  • TTDog

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 3:10 pm PT

    How can ANY Sony fans come on here and say its been overpriced when they were charged to get the GT5 demo last year?

    The 3-5 hour time span was last year when it was still planned as an expansion, chances are it's going to be considerably longer than that, hence the quote "the project has grown increasingly more ambitious."

    Seriously the number of people that can't/won't read articles before rushing in to comment is mind boggling.

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