Gamers looking forward to re-starting the fight have a new option to consider, as Microsoft today announced the Halo 4 Limited Edition.

The Halo 4 Limited Edition will set you back $100.

The premium bundle includes access to the War Games map pack, which includes nine new environments spread across three future multiplayer add-ons. A release schedule for the map packs will be unveiled at a later date.

A Microsoft representative told GameSpot this afternoon that the map packs will be available for purchase separately after launch through Xbox Live. Pricing information was not made available, but the company said this will be announced later.

Additionally, the Halo 4 Limited Edition grants gamers early access to six specializations, which unlock additional customization options. The six specializations available in the Halo 4 Limited Edition will be made available at a later date to all gamers.

On top of that, the Halo 4 Limited Edition packs in the UNSC Infinity Briefing Packet, which includes an armor customization diagram, a blueprint of the Infinity ship, and additional “insight” into what it means to be a Spartan-IV soldier.

The premiums don’t end there. The Halo 4 Limited Edition also includes various digital content offerings delivered through Xbox Live, as well as the special edition of upcoming 90-minute live-action film Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn.

On top of announcing the Halo 4 Limited Edition, Microsoft today also formally took the wraps off Halo 4’s Spartan Ops offering. This mode will offer a weekly series of episodes through Xbox Live that tells the story of the UNSC Infinity and its crew after the events of Halo 4. The episodes will also introduces players to a new team of Spartans called Majestic Squad.

According to Microsoft, the episodes will provide a backdrop for the Spartan Ops game missions, which will also release on a weekly basis. Gamers can take on these objective-based missions either alone or with up to three friends. Further specifics were not offered.

Halo 4 is due for a worldwide release exclusively on the Xbox 360 on November 6. It is a sequel to 2007’s Halo 3, and takes place nearly five years after the events of that game. Halo 4 is currently in development at Microsoft’s new Halo label 343 Industries, the shop that recently took over for series creator Bungie.

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Okay so let’s look at this.

For the extra $40 you get:
• 9 more maps
• 6 “specializations” (custom options, but what? Armor? Weapons?)
• UNSC Infinity Briefing Packet – which itself includes:
• Armor Customization Diagram
• Blueprint of Infinity
• “Insight” into what it means to be a Spartan IV (What the hell? Sounds not so intelligent, but okay)
• Special Edition 90-minute “Halo4: Forward Unto Dawn” (Okay, I assume this is all 5 of the 15 minute shorts that will be shown the 5 weeks prior to launch, plus another 15 minutes worth of footage not seen. After all 5 15-minute shorts only equals 75 minutes…)
• and finally “various digital offerings” – what is this you may ask? Likely special armor perms or add-ons like the flaming helmet was for Reach. Also possibly other armor unlocked through HaloWaypoint with a code you’d get in the limited edition set.

So is that extra $40 worth it? I’d say yes. We all know map packs will come out for this. Too bad we won’t have a huge amount to start without buying the limited edition. But then, have we ever known Microsoft to give away map packs? Usually a map pack of 3 costs $10. So with 9 maps that already $30 of the $40 right there. Add up all the other stuff and it’s definitely worth the $10 left. Besides all this, not mentioned is the Limited Edition case. (See pic above) It would be great if that was a TIN case. Even so, it’s still different and more special than the regular edition.

Having access early to some things is definitely a draw for long time Halo fans. I for sure am one of them.

Now the question begs to be asked…So what of a Legendary Edition? If that is to come, I hope it comes with a polystone cast of the Infinity. Maybe 8-10″ long. I’m goign to bet there will be a Legendary edition. That will likely cost another $30-40. We’ll see…