Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft on Friday announced plans to spin-off its Bungie Studios game development unit, creators of the "Halo" franchise, while retaining an undisclosed stake in the company.

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft announced on Thursday that "Halo 3" for its Xbox 360 video game console racked up over $300 million in sales during its first week, which figures as one of the biggest entertainment product launches of all time.

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft has announced that its "Halo 3" video game for the Xbox 360 console racked up $170 million in U.S. sales on Tuesday, more than any movie or album has generated on its first day on sale, making the game's release "the biggest day in entertainment history," the company said.

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.

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft said on Thursday that pre-orders for its "Halo 3" game for Xbox 360 in North America have now surpassed one million, making it the fastest-selling pre-order video game ever, according to the company. The company, which will release the game in September, also announced upcoming promotions with partners including Mountain Dew, 7-Eleven, Pontiac, Comcast and Burger King.

Los Angeles - Microsoft Game Studios and developer Bungie Studios announced on Wednesday that the final chapter in their "Halo" game trilogy, "Halo 3," will ship to retailers on Sept. 25. The companies launched the multiplayer beta of the game on Wednesday, alongside a special Halo-themed edition of Microsoft's Zune portable media player. The previous installment of the game, "Halo 2," generated a record $125 million in sales in its first day on sale.

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft-owned game developer Bungie Studios announced on Thursday that its "Halo 2" game has now amassed 5 million players on the Xbox Live online game service, two and a half years after its launch. The company added that it is nearing 700 million unique multiplayer games on Xbox Live, as well as 5 billion player-games -- where each game counts once per player in it.

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios announced on Tuesday that the multiplayer beta for their forthcoming Xbox 360-exclusive title, "Halo 3," will become available via the Xbox Live online game service on May 16, and run through June 6. Three multiplayer maps will be available to gamers who secured admission to the "Halo 3" beta through various promotions.

New York - Microsoft has signed a music publishing deal with Warner Music Group's Warner/Chappell Music, for the rights to license compositions from Microsoft video game titles.