Microsoft readying Halo trifecta?

Xbox owners who haven't played any of the Halo games are a dying breed. The franchise, which has sold more units than any other Xbox series to date (more than 13 million units through the beginning of the year), has been a major reason the Xbox has enjoyed renewed success in the past year.

Those remaining who haven't participated in Master Chief's heroic efforts to both prevent an alien invasion of Earth and prevent the destruction of the universe may find resistance futile. EBgames.com is listing a compilation pack that budget-minded gamers won't be able to resist.

The Halo Triple Pack, not yet confirmed by Microsoft, features Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, and the Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack. The three games will come packed in a special box (akin to a DVD trilogy box set) for $59.99. According to the product page, the game will be shipped on October 4.

The move makes sense from a business standpoint for Microsoft. Halo 2 is not only considered to be the benchmark for action gaming on Microsoft's console, but also it's a clear example of the capabilities of Xbox Live, the company's online gaming service and the foundation of its gaming future.

By releasing the game and its two brethren at a discounted price just before the launch of its next-gen Xbox 360 console (which is backward-compatible with Xbox games), Microsoft could pull over prospective buyers who are straddling the fence.

Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, and the Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack are all rated M for Mature.