In an ironic twist, Microsoft is extending an offer to replace some of the discs for its just-launched Halo 3 video game because game packaging can damage the discs before players ever get a chance to launch the game.
The replacement program detailed on Microsoft’s Xbox Web site covers the Halo 3 Limited Edition Game Disc and Essentials Disc, following a spate of reports that the Limited Edition packaging was scratching the discs. Microsoft will replace the discs free of charge through December 31, 2007; before that point, the company apparently hopes to have the disc-scratching packaging out of retail channels.
Impacted customers must compete a form (available in PDF format) for each damaged disc and mail it to Microsoft’s disc replacement program. Microsoft says replacement discs should arrive in two weeks.