Whole lotta Halo hokum

On November 15 the Xbox turns two and Xbox Live celebrates its first birthday. The occasion has sparked rumors that Microsoft will use the anniversary to launch a new version of Halo, the wildly popular sci-fi shooter that helped launch the console in 2001.

So far, the most outrageous claim is that Microsoft will announce Saturday that Halo 2 will be available for the holidays. Another variation says that the company will use the date to announce a new "Halo Deluxe" with Xbox Live capability. Still another version says that the 15th will see Microsoft bundle the Halo Deluxe game with the Xbox as a way of boosting the console's Christmas sales while generating hype for Halo 2's March 2004 release.

Problem is, Microsoft says there is no product announcement planned for Saturday. "As you know, November 15th is an exciting benchmark as the anniversary for both the console and Xbox Live," a spokesman told GameSpot. "To date there are no planned activities." (Bungie, Halo's notoriously recalcitrant developer, didn't respond to inquires.)

Microsoft's statement means one of two things: 1) the rumors are bogus, or 2) the software behemoth is keeping the lid clamped tight on a big holiday surprise.