"Halo: The Master Chief Collection" is Complete, Now Ready for Digital Preorders

Attention Xbox One users: Microsoft announced today that it has completed development of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, which includes all four of the original Halo titles starring the iconic Master Chief. But here's the best news: This absolutely massive game is now available for digital pre-order and pre-download from your console, so you can be ready to start playing on Day One.

And to be clear, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is massive. Microsoft notes that it clocks in at a full 45 GB—the size of a Blu-Ray—but it will also need a further 20 GB of "content updates" on launch day. So maybe you won't actually be ready to play right away on Day One. Hm.

Anyway, here are the pertinent bits about this game collection.

November 11. That's Day One, and while Microsoft originally intended to launch Halo: The Master Chief Collection in North America only and in other regions on November 14, it will now launch on November 11 virtually everywhere.

November 12. Day One for Belgium.

November 13. Day One for Japan.

November 14. Day One for France, as part of their typical Friday release schedule.

What's included? Halo: The Master Chief Collection includes the full games Halo, a remastered version of Halo 2, Halo 3, and Halo 4 plus every multiplayer map ever released (including DLC from console and PC) across each game, and "a revolutionary user interface."

More later. Spartan Ops, the episodic co-op experience from Halo 4, will release in December. All ten episodes will be available at the same time.

What's up with the 20 GB of additional downloading on Day One? Microsoft says that you will be able to start playing Campaign and more as the content is installing, with some features and multiplayer content being added via the update. "Yes, the update is large, but we weren't about to cut corners to save disc space," the company notes. "This ensures that you are getting every bit of Halo goodness we can fit in."

Cost: $59.99 in the US

I'm going to have to get this, if only to slog through the campaigns one more time.