Bungie today announced that Halo 2, easily the most anticipated game in the Xbox's history, has passed all the critical phases in development and has reached the final stage in its production process: It's gone "gold."

Gone gold isn't actually what happens anymore to most final discs. "Gold discs" are in fact digital tapes that get transferred to a master disc that is then copied onto millions of discs. But putting technical explanations aside: Halo 2 has been shipped to retail manufacturing and it's being duplicated for millions worldwide as you read this.

So, Halo 2 will not be delayed, it will not be tangled up in legal issues, it will hopefully not be stolen or shipped into the black market for secret $1 versions in Brazil, China or Korea. It's done; right on time for its Monday, November 8 ship date in North America. Actually, it will be in stores on Tuesday, November 9, though hundreds of smart game retail stores around the nation will be open to sell it at midnight.

Here's Halo 2's worldwide release schedule.

US -- November 9, 2004
Europe (France) -- November 10, 2004
Europe (Germany) -- November 11, 2004
Europe (Italy) -- November 11, 2004
Europe (Spain) -- November 11, 2004
Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan (Asia) -- November 9, 2004
Source: IGN