Liechtenstein transformed for Halo 4 launch

Microsoft has announced that the country of Liechtenstein will be transformed for the launch of Halo 4.

A selection of the country's most iconic landmarks, including castles and mines, are being converted to real-life replicas of the Halo universe for one day only.

Fans and media members were taken to the off-world environment to take part in the theatrical experience, which recreated brutal battlegrounds through pyrotechnic explosions, sound effects and cinematic set builds.

"Halo is a $3 billion USD blockbuster franchise which has shaped entertainment history and defined a generation of gamers," claimed Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business vice president, Chris Lewis.

"From the world's first ever red-carpet premieres for a video game to sending a man strapped to a jet-pack 50-foot above London's iconic skyline, Halo launches have continually broken the mold and we are back with a colossal bang for Halo 4, transforming a country on the biggest scale imaginable."

Microsoft also announced that the Halo franchise has sold an impressive 46 million copies since it launched in 2001.