RUMOR #5: Halo 2 is being delayed until summer 2004.

Source: EBGames and GameStop have changed their release dates to June 1.

The official story: "We're going to ship it when it's ready." -- Xbox Xecutive Robbie Bach

What we heard: The Bungie folks stopped responding to e-mails long ago, and Microsoft isn't too keen on revealing the day the Master Chief will touch down. Reliable sources tell GameSpot that the Halo 2 news blackout is so real that Microsoft PR staff have long been under strict orders to stay clear of Bungie's work area. And while online stores sometimes post ballpark figures for release dates, they will often quietly blow the lid off of the information that tight-lipped developers have worked overtime to conceal.

Bogus or not bogus?: Unfortunately, not bogus.