October 14^th, 2004 (12:01pm) - It’s not uncommon for a game to be released on the internet days or even weeks ahead of launch. Knowing this, the underground software pirating community has been waiting with mouse click buttons poised for the leak of Halo 2. And last night, the unthinkable happened, and Halo 2 leaked out onto the internet. Beginning on newsgroups and then quickly migrating to torrent websites as these files typically do, the only thing spreading faster than the code may be the rumors about it’s leak.

GamersMark has learned that this leak is indeed the PAL version of the game, a French language version with English subtitles. There are even rumors that this version of the game may be infected with an Xbox virus but this has yet to be verified by GamersMark. Screenshots and digital camera pics of the game’s single player campaign are popping up on forums around the world, and spoilers are everywhere you turn. As a warning to any Halo 2 fan that might be reading this – do NOT click on a Halo 2 thread in the next couple weeks if you do not wish to have someone ruin more than a few surprises for you. You have been warned.

Speaking of warnings, Microsoft has issued their own statement, as expected:

"Microsoft has learned that a version of Halo 2 has been posted to various newsgroups and web sites. We consider downloading this code or making it available for others to download as theft."

"We are currently investigating the source of this leak with the appropriate authorities. Microsoft takes the integrity of its intellectual property extremely seriously, and we are aggressively pursuing the source of this illegal act."

At the time of this writing, Bungie has yet to make a public statement. However the forum moderators at Bungie.net posted the following:

”Is it true? Is Halo 2 really leaked?

It seems to be that way, yes. It would seem that the french PAL version of the game has surfaced on the internet.

Did Bungie get hacked or something?

Of course not. This is almost positively the work of some jerk in the manufacturing plant who pocketed the game is it is being printed in mass for world release on the 9th of November.

What can I do about it?

For starters:

STOP POSTING LINKS TO LEAKED INFORMATION WHERE THE PUBLIC HAS EASY ACCESS TO IT.”

Microsoft insists that Halo 2 will still launch as scheduled on November 9th. More on this story as it develops.

**UPDATE: Bungie comments. Head over to the GM forum here to check up on the latest info.