Microsoft announced this morning that sales for highly anticipated Xbox-exclusive title Halo 2, due for release in three weeks, have reached record setting levels in the United States with over 1.5 million copies pre-ordered.

"Halo 2 is poised to generate more revenue in 24 hours than day one sales of any full feature movie in entertainment history, including Spider-Man 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Matrix: Reloaded," boasted the company in a statement.

More than 6,500 US retailers are planning to open their doors at midnight on 9th November to let gamers get their hands on the title as early as possible, and more than 1,125 retailers around the world will be running launch celebrations, the company said.

The game is currently number one on Gameplanet Store's New Zealand sales charts, and Gameplanet is planning a launch event for the game at its Auckland store.

Halo 2 will be available in standard and limited collector's edition flavours. A third option of the standard version bundled with an Xbox Live Starter Kit will also be offered, Microsoft announced yesterday.