Microsoft released a flurry of Halo 4 information today. The 343 Industries-developed entry will launch on November 6 in a standard edition as well as a Limited Edition. The decked-out premium version, detailed below, was announced alongside details about the expanded multiplayer component, now known as Halo Infinity Multiplayer.

Halo 4′s multiplayer will feature a hub system, with players venturing out into the online world from the UNSC Infinity. The starship will be the nerve center for multiplayer, providing a station where players can customize their own Spartan-IV. The Infinity is more than just a command center, though, and will serve a role in the storyline. Following the events in Halo 4, the Infinity will star in a “story-driven experience” dubbed Spartan Ops, “an episodic adventure that blends immersive storytelling, high-quality cinematics, and action-packed gameplay to deliver an unprecedented serialized experience.” Weekly episodes will follow the crew of the ship, as well as a new team of Spartans, Majestic Squad. These episodes will serve as preludes for playable missions that will comprise a second campaign. The Spartan Ops missions, as with the regular campaign, will be playable solo or with up to three friends cooperatively.

The other half of multiplayer are the versus modes, now known as War Games. These take place on the combat deck of the Infinity, though the new modes referenced weren’t detailed. Finally, both Spartan Ops and War Games will share a progression system where players can kit out their Spartan with weapons, armor abilities, and combat-augmenting enhancements called Specializations.

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“Halo 4” Limited Edition

Available for preorder today, the “Halo 4” Limited Edition maximizes your multiplayer experience and puts you in the boots of a Spartan-IV aboard the UNSC Infinity – the hub of your “Halo” multiplayer career.

The “Halo 4” Limited Edition (MSRP $99.99) includes:

- War Games Map Pack Access: The Limited Edition includes access to nine maps – three future competitive multiplayer map packs, each including three locations, available for download post-launch on Xbox Live. (A detailed release schedule for the map packs will be announced at a later time)

- Specializations: Receive early access to six Specializations, available at launch on Xbox Live, to achieve higher ranks in your Spartan career. In addition to gaining access to new ranks, Specializations unlock new customization options. Purchasers of the “Halo 4” Limited Edition will get access on launch day, while others will have to wait as Specializations are released over time.

- The Limited Edition also contains the UNSC Infinity Briefing Packet, which includes an armor customization schematic, a blueprint of the massive ship itself, and insight into what it means to be one of humanity’s finest warriors: the Spartan-IVs.

- Bonus digital content through Xbox LIVE:  Unique in-game Spartan-IV armor skin, unique in-game weapon skin for the Assault Rifle, an exclusive in-game emblem, Xbox Live Avatar prop, Xbox Live Avatar Spartan-IV armor set

- “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” Special Edition – An extended 90-minute version of the live-action digital series that will bring the “Halo” universe to life as you’ve never seen it, and provide an enthralling backstory leading up to the events of “Halo 4.”

- “Halo 4” Limited Edition also includes the following exclusive videos: Bonus in-fiction content expanding the characters and stories of “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn,” special featurette Bringing Gaming into Reality, and making of “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn.”

Official Site: Xbox.com – Halo 4

Atelier fans will have to wait a bit longer for their fix due to a delay in manufacturing. NIS has sent word that the latest in the series, Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland, has been given a slight seven-day bump from its original ship date of May 22 to May 29.

Mental note: synthesize a delicious piece of Avoid Delay cake in advance next time.

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The tiny kingdom of Arls, located on the northeastern border of the Arland Republic, is where Princess Meruru calls home. Ever since she was exposed to alchemy by famed adventurer Totori Helmold, all she could think about was becoming an alchemist. With Totori’s guidance, Meruru sets out to develop her home kingdom of Arls using the power of alchemy. On her way, Meruru will encounter new adventures, obstacles, mysteries, and friends, and discover what life is like outside the castle walls. How you choose to guide her through the advancement of her land will determine the final outcome in the tale of Atelier Meruru.

Official Site: NISAmerica.com – Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II and Episode Metal will be hitting the portable scene later this month and throughout the summer. The iPad and iPhone version will be available on May 17 for $6.99, while Android devices will get them in June and Windows Mobile Phones in July.

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Official Site: SonictheHedgehog4.com

Cave fans itching for some bullet-hell action (or, to get a bit jargony, Pew! Pew! Pew! action) should keep their eyes out for their latest 360 shooter, Akai Katana. Publisher Rising Star Games has shipped their North American debut to retail, which will soon be transporting players to an alternate dimension where a bloodthirsty Japanese emperor is sacrificing his people to power his katana. The game features three modes (Arcade, Slash, and Cimax), original Arcade settings, online leaderboards and replays, and local two-player co-op.

Akai Katana carries a suggested price of $39.99. For more information on what it takes to be a mighty rebel warrior pilot, check out Rising Star’s Pilot Training series on Youtube.

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“As our first North American title, Akai Katana solidifies our global position in the interactive entertainment industry,” said Martin Defries, president of Rising Star Games. “The support from fans and the community, combined with our future plans has been fantastic to see as the newest publisher on the block.”

Official Site: AkaiKatana.com

Adventurers can begin their own quest through the lands of Westeros today with Atlus and Cyanide’s Game of Thrones for 360, PC, and PS3. Based off of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, the game includes an original story and an experience that is said to offer “the authentic political intrigue and complex narrative the acclaimed fantasy series is known for.” The game also features the likenesses of several characters from the HBO series.

Game of Thrones is available in retail for the 360 and PS3, and via digital outlets for PC.

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Official Site: GameofThrones-TheGame.com

The Jagged Alliance team has been working on more than (extensive) patches, and today the first round of DLC has hit Steam. The Shades of Red Pack, available for $4.99, includes a new mission based on the German-only Jagged Alliance novel by I.M. Wong, Shades of Red, which is estimated to add another hour of playtime as well as detail the backstories of three of the mercs.

Note that Shades of Red is not a standalone release and does require Back in Action. For more information on Jagged Alliance: Back in Action, check out our review.

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The threat of a nuclear destruction has never been greater! The nefarious terrorist Ante Silevic has captured an atomic weapon and plans to attack a meeting of the world leaders in Eastern Europe. Three hardened mercenaries are our only hope to save the world from total chaos. Ivan Dolvic, Kyle “Shadow” Simmons and Cynthia “Fox” Guzzman must infiltrate the enemy base deep in the woods and put a stop to his activities. But in an unfortunate turn of events, Fox is captured by Silevic’s henchmen before the mission even starts. Can you manage to free Fox, complete the mission and save the world?

Official Site: SteamPowered.com - Jagged Alliance: Back in Action Shades of Red DLC

GoldenEye 007: Reloaded, the latter remake of GoldenEye featuring Daniel Craig, is now available for download off the PS Store for $59.99. Reloaded is an enhanced re-release of the 2010 Wii reimagining, complete with new Mi6 Ops Missions, new maps and weapons for the 16-player online and four-player offline multiplayer mode, and Move support.

For more information on Reloaded, check out our review of the Xbox 360 version.

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GoldenEye 007: Reloaded was built on a brand new engine that delivers the gritty, lethal action of Daniel Craig’s James Bond at 60 frames per second with stunning visuals, lightning fast gameplay and the ability to play using the PlayStation Move sharp shooter. The game is brought to life with an updated story penned by the Hollywood screenwriter from the original GoldenEye film, Bruce Feirstein; the voices of Daniel Craig as James Bond and Judi Dench as ‘M’; and combat animations motion-captured by Daniel Craig’s film stunt double, Ben Cooke.

Official Site: GoldenEyeGame.com

Oh, what’s that? You’d like to explore the world of Final Fantasy by way of melodies and smooth basslines? Then sit back, kick up your feet, and enjoy these screenshots of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, an upcoming 3DS title that features rhythm-based action. The latest images are of the unlockable Chaos Shrine.

The Chaos Shrine allows access to randomly generation field and battle songs known as Dark Notes, which can also be shared with others through StreetPass or Local Play. The shrine also allows players to unlock new characters and songs, as well as rare items.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy will be tap-tap-tapping its way to the 3DS on July 3.

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Official Site: Theatrhythm.com

Max Payne has officially returned with the release of Max Payne 3 for the 360 and PS3. Now a down-and-out bodyguard for the rich in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Payne must bring out his inner noire Denzel in a Man on Fire-style paynefest (ha!) on some mysterious kidnappers.

In addition to the return of bullet-time, Max Payne 3 includes partners and sidekicks, a new cover system, destructible environments, bullet-cams, and Natural Motion’s Euphoria character behavior system for more realistic shoot-dodge moves. The PC version will be coming out later this month on the 29.

Rockstar also announced the availability of the melodic Tears, the song from Health that is featured in the prominent TV ad, on iTunes.

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Max Payne 3 picks up the story of fallen former New York City detective Max Payne – several years after the events of the original games. Close to washed up and addicted to painkillers, Max accepts a job offer of private security work in São Paulo, Brazil, protecting wealthy businessman Rodrigo Branco and his beautiful trophy wife Fabiana in the hopes of an escape from his tragic past. When Fabiana is abducted while under Max’s protection, Max finds himself caught up in something much larger than a simple kidnapping, looking for answers on the streets of an unfamiliar city as his personal demons return to haunt him once again.

Official Site: MaxPayne.com

It’s time to man the guns and face the alien hordes. The game adaptation of the movie adaptation of the boardgame Battleship has set sail for 360, 3DS, DS, PS3, and Wii. Players get to lead a fleet against an alien threat using a hybrid system of strategy and first-person action as they battle their way out of a dome surrounding the Hawaiian Islands. Fleets comprised of destroyers, carriers, and even the U.S.S. Missouri must face off against aliens on land, in sea, and in the air.

There are two versions of Battleship, one for the 360 and PS3 and another for the 3DS, DS, and Wii. The 360 and PS3 version features Cole Mathis, a Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician who can call in air strikes, utilize radar sweeps, and unload with machine guns and missile launchers. The Nintendo version features turn-based combat with cruisers, submarines, and patrol boats piloted by a team of commanders.

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Official Site: BattleshiptheVideoGame.com