London - Microsoft's anticipated Xbox 360 title "Halo 3" has been leaked online and is available for download from a number of file-sharing sites in advance of its official release, according to published reports.

The game is not scheduled for official release until next Tuesday.

The 6-7 GB file is playable only on Xbox 360 consoles that have been hacked with "mod chips" that can defeat Microsoft's security software.

Earlier this week U.K. retailer Argos also mistakenly began selling "Halo 3" in some of its stores. The company quickly stopped, and Microsoft told GamesIndustry.biz it would not punish the retailer over the incident.

In addition to the legitimate and illegitimate versions of "Halo 3" that were made available this week, the cinematic sequence that comprises the ending of the game has already been posted on YouTube.

Related Links:
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=28887

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=28860

http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201808156

http://www.argos.co.uk

http://www.halo3.com