Master Chief fans the world over may now rejoice via their preferred rejoicing method: Halo 4 has a release date. Confirming rumors that began popping up yesterday, Microsoft today let it be known that the forthcoming Halo sequel by 343 Industries will hit store shelves on November 6.

"We are beginning a new saga with ‘Halo 4' and embarking on a journey that will encompass the next decade of ‘Halo' games and experiences," said Phil Spencer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Studios. "Millions of fans worldwide have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to step back into the boots of Master Chief, and, with ‘Halo 4' leading the charge, we're confident 2012 will be the most successful year in Xbox history."

Folks involved with the production of Halo 4 will be on tonight's episode of Conan, which airs at 11pm on cable network TBS. The special segment is designed to help celebrate the release announcement, though exactly what they plan to show isn't yet known. If that isn't enough, comedian Patton Oswalt is also on Conan tonight, so even if you aren't a Halo fan, there's still a good reason to tune in.

Hilariously, November 6 is also Election Day in the US, meaning that at least a few people are guaranteed to skip out on the polls in favor of indulging in the latest entry of their favorite sci-fi shooter franchise. Or, perhaps that was Microsoft's plan all along? Truly, we are through the looking glass here, people.

Master Chief fans the world over may now rejoice via their preferred rejoicing method: Halo 4 has a release date. Confirming rumors that began popping up yesterday, Microsoft today let it be known that the forthcoming Halo sequel by 343 Industries will hit store shelves on November 6.

"We are beginning a new saga with ‘Halo 4' and embarking on a journey that will encompass the next decade of ‘Halo' games and experiences," said Phil Spencer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Studios. "Millions of fans worldwide have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to step back into the boots of Master Chief, and, with ‘Halo 4' leading the charge, we're confident 2012 will be the most successful year in Xbox history."

Folks involved with the production of Halo 4 will be on tonight's episode of Conan, which airs at 11pm on cable network TBS. The special segment is designed to help celebrate the release announcement, though exactly what they plan to show isn't yet known. If that isn't enough, comedian Patton Oswalt is also on Conan tonight, so even if you aren't a Halo fan, there's still a good reason to tune in.

Hilariously, November 6 is also Election Day in the US, meaning that at least a few people are guaranteed to skip out on the polls in favor of indulging in the latest entry of their favorite sci-fi shooter franchise. Or, perhaps that was Microsoft's plan all along? Truly, we are through the looking glass here, people.

I don't know if more Halo is a good thing.

I just KNEW this was a Navarro article

I'd vote for Halo. He's a pretty cool guy.

I still love Alex being Alex. RIP Screened.

Given that Election Day is always the first Tuesday in November, isn't there a AAA video game release on it every year?

Well, I'm getting really good at guessing which articles Alex posts based on the snide/sarcastic/asshole-ish subtitles. haha... No offense to Alex.

Same day as the elections. Think they'll delay the elections to get away from Halo?

@Wikitoups: You win this round.

I hope they end up doing an awesome job with the multiplayer because ever since I burned out on Call of Duty and after Reach was kind of a let down, I've been waiting for a good console shooter.

Don't people get a day off work to vote? I mean this could be genius. Unless that's a Canadian thing only. I know nothing about American politics.

I hope it will at least have an interesting story this time.

Skipped everything after Halo 3, thinking of jumping back in this year. Will probably check this out.

@andrew2696: We don't get the day off to vote. Some conspiracy theorists believe this is to keep undesirable lower class folk from taking time off work to vote, since they need their wages to live. Normally I'd call that cynical but, hey, American politics are fucked.

Don't people get a day off work to vote? I mean this could be genius. Unless that's a Canadian thing only. I know nothing about American politics.

@SomeDeliCook: Yeah, I can tell his annoying style every damn time. The article itself wasn't too bad this time though.

On topic: Will Conan viewers care about Halo? Do I care about Halo? Probably not.

@Winternet said:

Same day as the elections. Think they'll delay the elections to get away from Halo?

I was thinking they could blame Halo 4 for bad voter turnout.

I remember when the film industry blamed a bad box office month on the release of Halo 3 way back when it came out.

The Master-bating Chief? @Alex You are a horrible person.

@idiotic_genius1 said:

I don't know if more Halo is a good thing.

If it was Bungie it would be. This time it's questionable.

And now that seed is planted thanks Alex lol

The sad thing is that Masterchief would probably beat both Obama and Romney in an election...........

ALL HAIL THE CHIEF

@Govannan said:

@SomeDeliCook: Yeah, I can tell his annoying style every damn time. The article itself wasn't too bad this time though.

On topic: Will Conan viewers care about Halo? Do I care about Halo? Probably not.

and I just KNEW people were going to complain within the first page to get attention and start an argument, hur hur!

Hey everybody we got a great show tonight.

@idiotic_genius1 said:

I don't know if more Halo is a good thing.

The show is just called "Conan" now, not "Late Night With".

So is Conan O'Brien trying to give Jimmy Fallon a run for his money in the "awkwardly feature video games" department?

I just haven't seen video game coverage on a late night show that that didn't end up being incredibly jarring and weird.

Oh shit, election conspiracy.

I believe.

I like Conan and I like Mister Chief.

@SomeDeliCook said:

I just KNEW this was a Navarro article

You can just tell by the way the headline is written, it's great.

As an armchair moron I really agree with some youtuber I watched a while ago. "Do you really want to incentivise the people who don't care enough to vote to vote?"

Also I guess; Halo 4.... couldn't care less, it's predecessors along with the Xbox have already done all the damage to FPS games as it can.

Just can't give a damn about more Halo, despite enjoying Reach. Just don't want anymore Master Chief so I'll skip this one.

@lawalsha said:

@andrew2696

Don't people get a day off work to vote? I mean this could be genius. Unless that's a Canadian thing only. I know nothing about American politics.

@andrew2696 Nope, no day off. Usually leads to a flood of people to the polls before and after work.

Usually, at least where I work, we get the whole day off for Presidential election day. All other election days are work days with flexibility to allow people to go vote.

@Paindamnation said:

I still love Alex being Alex. RIP Screened.

Is Rorie still there?

So Microsoft is trying to undermine democracy? Clever bastards, as Cortana would say.

Anyway, I'm still a big Halo fan and hope we see some campaign action. Granted, E3 might be a better showcase than Conan.

@Gremmel said:

it's predecessors along with the Xbox have already done all the damage to FPS games as it can.

come on, that's not fair.

@mordukai: Rorie took a hike, but he's still writing.

If Black Ops 2 is also coming out on November 6, this could get very interesting.

@mordukai: Rorie left as well, they're currently balancing a whole bunch of seemingly freelance talent over there. They're trying to do some interesting things with the site and try to keep SOME tonal consistency, but it often falls flat. Here's hoping they figure something out soon; the Whiskey API is still awesome and a proper film site is something I'd still really like to have.

As for Halo 4, still not sure I care. Find it interesting that they're releasing on what will ostensibly be Call of Duty Tuesday, though.

reach was it for me, im done with halo

I had the impression that this would launch with the next console.

Great! Looking forward to seeing what 343 does with the series.

Pumped!

@Sweep said:

I'd vote for Halo. He's a pretty cool guy.

Best comment of life.

Finish the fight that has been finished.

@Sweep said:

I'd vote for Halo. He's a pretty cool guy.

Robert Halo III? He's just riding his dad's coattails.

I'm kinda surprised it's Conan and not Fallon.

1 fatigued shooter going up against another, should be good