Halo 4 is a 2012 first-person shooter video game developed by 343 Industries and published by Microsoft Studios for the Xbox 360 video game console. It is the seventh video game installment in the Halo franchise. The game was released in most territories worldwide on November 6, 2012. Halo 4 '​s story begins four years after the ending of Halo 3. The player assumes the role of a cybernetically enhanced human supersoldier, Master Chief. The story is mainly set on a Forerunner planet, where Master Chief encounters the collection of alien races known as the Covenant and ancient warriors of the Forerunner empire known as the Prometheans. Master Chief is accompanied by the artificial intelligence construct Cortana.