After three years of development, Halo 4, developed by 343 Industries as the latest installment in the Halo franchise, has reached the certification process, a stage of development known as "going gold." The developer announced the news accomplanied by a host of new screenshots, which showed the game's graphics in high-definition and confirmed features like th return of the Flood in multiplayer mode.

"We had a big piece of news yesterday back in the office, which is that the game is literally finished at this point. They are handing it off through the various certification processes and that, we're done. It's been three years of incredibly hard work by 300 people," 343 Industries said.

The developer revealed that the game will come in a two-disc form, with one disc for campaign and one disc for multiplayer modes. The overhauled graphics may have increased the size of the game. It was previously thought that only the Limited Edition would be in two-disc form to accomodate the extra content.

MLG also shared more details on the pre-release tournament for the game. Players include Instinct, Status Quo, and Ogre 1. The tournament will be in a four-versus-four format with players competing for $40,000 "in prizes," a wording that hints at more than a single cash prize. The competition begins on Saturday, Nov. 3, and ends on the following day. Passes are now available for purchase.

Frank O'Connor, Franchise Development Director at 343 Industries, presented the third level of the campaign at London's Eurogamer Expo on Sept. 27. This is probably the same level shown off to press earlier in September. The footage (below) shows off the game's blend of Covenant and Promethean enemies, who even fight against each other at some points, indicating more complex gameplay. Vehicular combat and the new Promethean weapons also feature. The first level of the campaign, shown to the media in Washington, was not shown at Eurogamer Expo. However, multiplayer mode remains on the show floor at Eurogamer Expo until Sunday, Sept. 30. Tickets and press passes are available now at Eurogamer Expo's website.

343 Industries seems to have just popped into existence, a fact admitted by O'Connor during Giant Bomb's E3 2012 podcasts. The trust of longtime Halo fans will be earned only by providing a solid game at launch and maintaining a competitive environment post-launch with patches and balances. 

Halo 4 launches on Nov. 6 for Xbox 360.