Thirteen years ago, Xbox made gaming history with the release of Halo: Combat Evolved. Then, ten years ago, Halo 2 changed the face of gaming forever. To date, more than 60 million copies of Halo games have been sold worldwide, driving over 6 billion hours of gameplay by fans connected to Xbox Live.



Now, on November 11, the seminal first-person shooter saga gets the deluxe Xbox One treatment with the release of Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Celebrating three generations of the franchise and giving both new and longtime Halo fans the chance to experience all of the action on one consoles, this will kick off a new era in the Halo universe.



Starting today, you can pre-order and pre-download The Master Chief Collection on Xbox Live. Let’s take a closer look at what this $59.99 package gets you.



The Entire Master Chief Saga – Halo: The Master Chief Collection includes all of the critically acclaimed adventures of the Master Chief, from the original Halo: Combat Evolved: Anniversary, to Halo 2: Anniversary, and on to Halo 3 and Halo 4. You can even play a selection of the most treasured campaign levels across all four games using curated playlists – and once you’ve finished the fight, you can dive into the online fray on over 100 multiplayer maps, including six completely remastered favorites from Halo 2.





Halo 2: Anniversary – In commemoration of Halo 2’s 10th anniversary, it’s received the special edition treatment in the form of dazzling HD graphics, all-new audio, smooth 60 fps gameplay, and nearly a full hour of brand-new cinematics. In addition to being able to find new terminals and flip on new skulls for some added challenge, you can instantly switch between the remastered Halo 2: Anniversary visuals and sound and the classic Halo 2 graphics and audio.





Halo: Nightfall – The inaugural installment of the episodic series from Executive Producer Ridley Scott and Scott Free Production will debut day-and-date with The Master Chief Collection – and you’ll be one of the first to see it. Giving players a look into the backstory of Agent Locke, who plays a key role in the events of Halo 5: Guardians, the five episodes of “Halo: Nightfall” will help to usher in a new era in the Halo universe.





Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta – Jump into the long-awaited Halo 5 multiplayer maps before anyone else, during an exclusive three-week beta period that runs from December 29, 2014 through January 18, 2015. By taking part in the event, you’ll get the chance to help shape the face of Halo’s multiplayer future!



As one of the most innovative and beloved names in multiplayer gaming, Halo is enjoyed by millions of players around the globe. Since its launch in 2001, it has been synonymous with the Xbox brand. Halo: The Master Chief Collection is a grand love letter to all those fans – a nostalgic look back at the series’ storied past, as well as a bridge to the future, to Halo 5: Guardians and beyond. Whether you’re a card-carrying Halo super-fan or a brand-new Xbox One gamer, there has never been a better way to play Halo than The Master Chief Collection. Pre-order your copy today, and experience the adventures of Master Chief on November 11, and through the holiday season with the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta.



Here’s how pre-order and pre-download works. When a title becomes available for digital pre-order in the Xbox Store, select “Pre-purchase” to buy and download the game. You will be charged the full amount upon transaction and may use any supported payment method, including an existing Microsoft account balance or credit card. The game will download, along with any updates issued before the release date, so the game is up-to-date and ready to play. Then, when the game is officially released to the Xbox Store, timed with local launch availability, simply go to the game in My Games & Apps, go to your pre-pinned tile, or say “Xbox, go to Halo: The Master Chief Collection” to start playing. Titles will be available after midnight local time on the release date in your corresponding country, though some countries with multiple time zones will align to one release time.



Similar to other digital downloads, you will need a consistent Internet connection to download a pre-ordered game and your Xbox One will need to be turned on or in connected standby (Instant On) mode. Of course, you can check the download progress at any time in your download queue, My Games & Apps, or on the game details page. And if you have multiple games loading simultaneously, you can prioritize titles, pause, and resume downloads in your queue.



Now that you’ve got all the intel you need, you can head over to the Xbox Store to grab Halo: The Master Chief Collection and begin downloading one of the year’s biggest Xbox One games. We’ll see you on the battlefield!