LOS ANGELES--Even though founding Halo developer Bungie Studios is no longer creating Halo games, the series is far from dead. Today at Microsoft's 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo media briefing the company officially announced an overhauled rerelease of the original Halo: Combat Evolved. Microsoft is officially bringing Master Chief's first adventure back to life.

　　It had been widely rumored for months, but today Microsoft ended the speculation and announced Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary for the Xbox 360. The title is a rerelease of the original Halo game with a fully remastered campaign, Xbox Live co-op support, and seven bundled multiplayer maps.

　　Additionally, according to developer 343 Industries' David Ellis, gamers will be able to "switch between classic and new graphics in real time" in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

　　Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary will ship on November 15, 2011, exactly 10 years after the release of the critically praised Halo: Combat Evolved in 2000.

　　Also announced during Microsoft's media briefing this morning was word that 343 Industries--which has been on a hiring spree as of late--is currently developing Halo 4. Unfortunately, further details concerning that game are not available, but the game is expected to ship by holiday 2012.