Microsoft has defended the core game offerings for Xbox 360. It should be judged on the "quality and impact, not number of releases in a year," says Corporate VP Phil Spencer.

It isn't "an easy thing" to create core IP, he argues, knowing firsthand all the "sweat, time, and effort" that goes into it. They'll continue to buddy up with studios like Crytek.

Fans of Halo will get a chance to see some of the characters and vehicles that will be appearing in Halo 4, including a 14inch Warthog model, at the 2012 Toy Fair in London.

Toy specialist Re:creation will be at the show presenting highly detailed die cast models, which will give us a chance to see what the Warthog looks like in Halo 4.

Frank O'Connor has posted in NeoGAF to dispel rumors that Halo 4 will be a title for the next-generation Microsoft console.