Halo 4 will be the "biggest release this year", Microsoft has claimed.

"It's the return of Master Chief," said Microsoft Game Studios' head Phil Spencer, speaking to GameTrailers TV following Microsoft's E3 press conference earlier this evening.

"It's been a while since we played as Master Chief. 343 Industries bringing Master Chief back to the Halo franchise. It's going to be the biggest release this year.

"Halo's been one of those things that's been us with the beginning of Xbox," he continued.

"Our fans will show up, definitely."

Microsoft opened its E3 2012 press conference with a first look at Halo 4's campaign, and released 10 new stunning screenshots.

Halo 4 launches exclusively on Xbox 360 on November 6, 2012, one week before Call of Duty: Black Ops II goes on sale.