Halo Reach appears on filesharing sites a month early

gizmo

As the thread title says, it seems Reach has leaked over a month early. While the release is for devkits/jTAG consoles only it's still a bit embarrassing for MS.

Full article from gamesindustry.biz

Latest Halo reaches filesharing sites a month early

Upcoming Xbox 360 exclusive Halo: Reach has been leaked, arriving on public filesharing sites almost a month ahead of its official release date.

Microsoft admitted that a "security exploit" had enabled hackers to obtain all 7 GB of the game's code from Xbox Live Marketplace, where it was hosted for reviewers.

The download had carried a mock pricetag of 99999 Microsoft points (approximately £860), but also required a specially-provided code issued to select reviewers. However, an anonymous party was able to bypass these security checks.

Following the leak, which swiftly spread to public BitTorrent sites, Microsoft issued the following statement: "We are aware of claims being made regarding a security exploit related to Halo: Reach and are aggressively investigating the matter. We have no further details to share at this time."

Developer Bungie offered more comment, primarily intended to discourage storyline spoilers (which have already appeared on fansites).

"Posting to Discuss, Request, or Link To information or campaign spoilers from illegitimately obtained sources - including illegitimately obtained copies of Halo: Reach - before the game is officially released will be considered a leak and will be treated as such," read a statement on the studio's official forum.

"The moderation team is doing their best, but if you want to stay 100 per cent spoiler free, our best advice is to 'go dark' by staying off all internet gaming forums until you have played through the game."

Whether Microsoft will continue to offer review code via download may now be in doubt. A spokesperson had previously told Joystiq that "While we are thrilled to be able to take advantage of the technology to provide media with a more accessible and convenient review experience, there are no plans to launch Halo: Reach to the public through Games on Demand."

Halo: Reach is due for public release on September 14.

robby^5

Embarassing to say the least, thought it was a very strange way to release a reviewers copy in such a public fashion. They basically asked for it.

It wont have any effect on sales whatsoever as Halo is driven by multiplayer, the only worrying aspect is singleplayer spoilers imo.

Such as

REACH FALLS!

TechnoPool

well ive read the books so i know d oul storyline

Zeouterlimits

TechnoPool wrote: »

well ive read the books so i know d oul storyline

They said that much in the announcement trailer.
It's the specifics of what happens to the characters, to Noble team, that are the spoilers. Who you fight, where, what's the gameplay of the ending, etc.

A stupid hole left by Microsoft, another example of why it's good that Bungie are finally out of their grasp.

ThatsOurGaming

all we can do is just wait and see microsoft should'nt of left a lopp hole like this lying about they'll know for again

iMuse

You need a Jtagged console to play it and if you go on xbox live you will be banned within hours guaranteed so all people who have it can do is play the Single Player

Mikeyt086

robby^5 wrote: »

They basically asked for it.

I reckon they did. Microsoft can now see everyone who has played REACH via their gamercards, therefor they have a list of people who have JTagged xboxes. These people will promptly be banned from xbox live.

You would have to be mental to play a "leaked" Microsoft game this early before release.

gizmo

Mikeyt086 wrote: »

I reckon they did. Microsoft can now see everyone who has played REACH via their gamercards, therefor they have a list of people who have JTagged xboxes. These people will promptly be banned from xbox live.

You would have to be mental to play a "leaked" Microsoft game this early before release.

People with JTagged consoles don't bring them online therefore there'd be no way MS could see their updated gamertags unfortunately.

Riesen_Meal

I got a retail copy of Halo 3 a whole week before its actual release, couldnt play multiplayer of course as the servers had not gone live, I never got a ban out of it in fairness, but I did get a lot of irate messages from fellow gamers crying and whinging about how was I playing H3 so early!

GTR63

Has anyone here played it yet or do you know anyone who did.I've only ever had a Modded PS One which broke fairly quickly so i'd never risk doing it again.

Helix

only debug code

wont work in retails that arent jtagged