Hot off the heels of the Halo 4 Limited Edition package announcement, 2K Games and Gearbox revealed the various special editions gamers can expect when Borderlands 2 launches later this summer. In addition to the regular version of the upcoming shooter, there will be two additional versions available at launch, which include bookoos of extra content. Hit the jump for a breakdown of all of the extras in both of the special editions.

The Deluxe Vault Hunter’s Collector’s Edition (pictured above) will retail for $99.99 and includes an authentic Marcus Kincaid bobble head, map of Pandora, hardbound art book, comic book download and a four sticker set.

The Ultimate Loot Chest Limited Edition (pictured above), will retail for $149.99 and includes an exclusive Steelbook case, numbered certificate of authenticity, creatures of Pandora wide format ID chart, four lithograph postcards, Marcus Kincaid bobble head, hardbound art book, cloth map of Pandora, comic book download and four sticker set.

Also revealed today, in a press release from 2K Games and Gearbox, was that pre-ordering the game in any edition at “participating retailers” will grant access to the Borderlands 2 Premiere Club. This will allow gamers to download the Gearbox Gun Pack, Golden Key, Vault Hunter’s Relic, and the Mechromancer character class when the game is released on September 18.

Microsoft unveiled the Halo 4 Limited Edition package today. Fans willing to drop a Benjamin ($99.99) on the LE edition can expect to receive an impressive array of extra goodies come November 6th. Some highlights of the package include free access to nine DLC maps, unlocked Specializations, and an extended version of the Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn live-action series. Hit the jump for a complete run down of all of the bonus material.

• War Games Map Pack Access – Access to nine maps (three future competitive multiplayer map packs, each including three locations) available for download post-launch on Xbox Live.

• Specializations – Receive early access to six Specializations, available at launch on Xbox Live, to achieve higher ranks in your Spartan career. In addition to new ranks, Specializations unlock new customization options.

• UNSC Infinity Briefing Packet – An armour customization schematic, a blueprint of the ship itself, and insight into what it means to be one of humanity’s finest warriors: the Spartan-IVs.

• Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Special Edition – An extended 90-minute version of the live-action digital series that will bring the “Halo” universe to life as you’ve never seen it, and provide an enthralling backstory leading up to the events of Halo 4.

• Special Video Featurette – Bonus in-fiction content expanding the characters and stories of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn

• Special Video Featurette – Bringing Gaming into Reality

• Special Video Featurette – Making of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn

• Unique in-game Spartan-IV armor skin

• Unique in-game weapon skin for the Assault Rifle

• Exclusive in-game emblem 

• Xbox Live Avatar prop 

• Xbox Live Avatar Spartan-IV armor set

The Limited Edition Halo 4 package is available for pre-order now.

In recent years we’ve become used to seeing the latest and greatest games running alongside a shiny new 360 dashboard. In fact, I’ve become so accustomed to seeing one every E3 that I almost expect it. This year’s show pulled no punches.

Using the Metro UI, made famous in Windows Phone 7 and Zune products, the new dash looks to line the 360 up with the upcoming Windows 8, as well as the rest of the Microsoft family. I’m a fan of the Swiss-inspired user interface and judging by these screens, it carries across well on the console, giving the dashboard a refreshing but familiar look and feel.

Also carried over from the Microsoft product line is Bing, which brings search to the 360 in a big way. Using Kinect’s voice recognition, finding games, movies and music on both the Xbox Live Marketplace and your console has never been easier.

What if you could find your favorite games, music, movies and TV shows, just with the sound of your voice? The solution: voice search with Bing on Xbox 360. Bing on Xbox searches Netflix, Hulu Plus and ESPN, as well as music, video and Xbox LIVE Marketplace to find exactly the entertainment you want to enjoy. With Bing on Xbox and Kinect for Xbox 360, you can effortlessly find the games, movies, TV shows, sports and music you want. You say it, Xbox finds it.

Microsoft have also cosied up with YouTube and plans to have the video service running on the 360 later this year.

Available fall 2011, YouTube on Xbox LIVE will deliver access to great Web original content from around the world, including the latest videos, gaming tips and more.

While the news of YouTube coming to Xbox Live is exciting, I’m less excited about its implementation. Like other services on Xbox Live, I fear they’ll only be accessible outside of games. I won’t go into this now but expect more on this in an upcoming post.

As the years tick on it’s undeniable that Microsoft have turned the Xbox 360 into the ultimate entertainment device, and I believe they’ll continue to do so if they keep striking up great partnerships, as they’ve been doing. The new dashboard launches this fall.

It was announced today that the rumored remake of Halo: Combat Evolved will be launching this holiday season for Xbox 360 with a dramatic visual overhaul. Dubbed Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, the game is much more than another rehash running at a higher resolution. This new reimagining of the original game will feature new art assets and an updated control scheme similar to more recent configurations.

In addition to the new visuals, the game will feature “seven of the greatest multiplayer maps of all time”, as well as online co-op over Xbox Live. However, the multiplayer maps from Halo: Combat Evolved will only be playable in Halo: Reach’s online multiplayer along.

Interestingly, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is being developed by Saber Interactive (TimeShift, Will Rock) rather than 343 Industries, the studio behind the recently announced Halo 4.

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary will be released ten years after the original game on November 15, 2011. Until then, you can spend your time wondering if Halo 2 is next in line for a revamp.

Alan Wake’s first add-on episode, The Signal, was released on the Xbox Live Marketplace today – hurrah! If you bought the game “new” you should have received a token, allowing free access to the game’s first episode of downloadable content – double hurrah!

The problem with this was loads of people (including myself), scratched away the strip and redeemed their free code right away after opening the game at launch – something the token never warned against might I add.

Well those unlucky few that redeemed too early were suffered to wait today until Microsoft sent out the new codes. Some received their replacement code straight away while others, like me, still haven’t received anything.

For those of you still waiting, make sure your email address is tied to your Xbox Live account and keep checking back for updates. Oh and don’t forget to check out The Signal’s official trailer after the break, we should be in for a treat judging by the look of it – I wouldn’t know though.

Update: New day. No code. Microsoft have really dropped the ball on this one. People are fuming over being forced to wait for these codes, some people have even finished it and are waiting on the game’s second DLC, The Writer.

Here’s something I found over on the Alan Wake Forums that’s worth a try, I didn’t work when for me but I hear its working for some.

On your Xbox 360, press the Guide/Home Button
Go along to Settings and down to Account Management
Then click on Download History
Find “Alan Wake Downloadable Content” in your history and download again

Let us know if you manage to get it working.

Update 2: Remedy sent me code early this morning, followed by Microsoft. Looks like I’ll finally get around to playing this DLC afterall.

One of the more quieter announcements this afternoon was that Limbo, a game I’ve had my eye on for a while now, would be here just in time for this year’s annual Xbox Live Summer of Arcade.

In Limbo the player assumes the role of a young boy, uncertain of his sister’s fate he enters “Limbo” and sets off on a journey of unproportional magnitude through a hauntingly beautiful world. Check out the game’s trailer after the break.

Limbo will be available via Xbox Live Arcade this July launching alongside Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, Hydro Thunder Hurricane, Lara Croft and the Guardian of the Light and Monday Night Combat as part of Xbox Live’s Summer of Arcade.

One of the most impressive announcements from today’s Microsoft briefing was the inclusion of ESPN programming to Xbox Live. Joining Facebook, Twitter, Last.FM, and Netflix, ESPN will be offering up to 3500 live events including NBA, MLB, Soccer, and college football and basketball. Using the newly announced Kinect, users will be able to take part in polls, trivia, and instantaneously switch between games. The service will be available to all Xbox Live Gold members free of charge, as long as they also subscribe to Internet service through a cable company that provides ESPN3.

Whether you like it or not, USA Today has confirmed the inevitable re-branding of Project Natal. You can now start referring to the motion sensing device by it’s official name, “Kinect.”

The article, which is slated to hit shelves tomorrow, also included a few examples of some upcoming Kinect titles:

• Dance Central – a game being released by MTV Games that, you guessed it, dance
• Kinectimals –a virtual animal simulator featuring over 20 different pets to raise
• Joyride – controller-free racing
• Kinect Sports – think Wii Sports, only Kinect
• Kinect Adventure – river rafting and obstacle courses similar to this

In addition to the above, Kinect will include games from LucasArts and Disney. A price point and launch date were not detailed in the USA Today piece. Now go try to use “Kinect” in a sentence without feeling an awkward longing for the familiar.

Update: USA Today seems to have had a hiccup and since removed the revealing article.

The eagerly awaited Split/Second demo was made available on Xbox Live this morning, not too shabby for a Monday, ay?

A timed exclusive for the 360, PlayStation 3 owners will have to wait until May 11 to get their hands on Disney Interactive’s intense arcade racer. For those without a time machine or a Gold Subscription we’ve compiled this montage just for you – enjoy!

At midnight tonight gamers who are still clinging to their original Xbox titles will lose Live service. Though Microsoft gave the official warning months ago, it’s still sad to see the first successful online service for consoles slip into the history books. So bid adieu to the framework that helped set up the Live service you enjoy today and dust off those classic Xbox games because this is the grand finale.