Halo 3 never did look like the sharpest game on the shelf, now confirmed that Bungie got a bye on the 720p requirement as stipulated by Microsoft.Since the Xbox 360 launched in 2005 Microsoft has required that game developers adhere to a stringent set of ground rules when submitting a game. One of these required all developers to make their games in a minimum of 120×720 (720p) resolution. News has come today that Microsoft has now lifted that hurdle allowing games to arrive on the Xbox 360 in lower resolutions.

Apparently not so breaking news is that fact that Bungie’s Halo 3 never has run at the required 720p instead clocking in at the altogether standard definition of 1152×640 (640p). This si not the first time an exception has been made considering that launch title Perfect Dark Zero ran at the same resolution and Bizarre Creations’ Project Gotham Racing 3 even lower at 600p. The oficial reason given in each case is that the compromise in resolution was made in order to get a “steady and smooth frame rate”.

I can accept that launch titles may have to make some compromises to achieve a smooth gaming experience but for one of the most eagerly anticipated and biggest selling games of all time? It is not critically important that Halo 3 never could match the visual fidelity of many other 720p capable games such as Ghost Recon and Gears of War however not outputting in HD is very disappointing indeed. Here’s hoping Bungie redeem themselves with Halo 3 ODST.