UK retailer Tesco may have dropped the ball for a second time today, listing a product titled as "Upcoming Halo." Unsurprisingly, the page has since been pulled, but not before it was spotted by multiple sources.
Unlike the Call of Duty: Ghosts page however, this one did not include any box art, only a 2013 release date. This shouldn't be a huge surprise, as Microsoft previously confirmed a Halo 5 and Halo 6 as part of the "Reclaimer Trilogy" set up in November's Halo 4. However, if a 2013 release is accurate, this may mean that Microsoft intends to use this game as a launch title for the rumored Xbox 720.
Gamespot notes that a new Halo game has been released every year since 2009, beginning with Halo 3: ODST in 2009, and continuing with Halo: Reach, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, and Halo 4 this year.
Microsoft gave no comment, but Tesco updated Gamespot saying the "listing is not indicative of a Halo product launch." The Tesco representative added, "We have no news to share of future Halo titles."
That doesn't mean much one way or the other however, as it could very well be that Microsoft asked them to stay quiet on the issue. Just as likely, it's also a possibility that it was simply a placeholder in case a Halo 5 is officially announced in the upcoming months.
Still, with the Call of Duty: Ghosts leak earlier today, it is a bit strange that this listing is purely a placeholder. If nothing else, it might be indicative that Tesco may know a little more than it's letting on.
Recent reports suggest that Microsoft will be unveiling its next-gen console on May 21, we may learn a bit more about the next Halo then.