Halo 4 launch gallery: Master Chief visits Liechtenstein, drives Warthog through medieval castle

I'm no expert on the twists and turns of international politics, but I'm pretty sending a giant, ostensibly well-armed man in enormous rocky plate armour to the heart of Europe aboard a high tech buggy constitutes an act of war. The Americans are invading! Sorry, what I meant to say was: Halo 4 launch event!

"In a ground-breaking world first, Xbox 360 yesterday became the only brand to ever transform the Principality of Liechtenstein by taking over some of the country's most iconic landmarks, including a 13th century castle and a working mine, to create a real-life replica of the "Halo" universe within the heart of Europe to mark the launch of Halo 4," notes a release. We will fight them on the beaches! We will fight them in the hotel lobbies! We will fight them at the lunchtime buffet!

"For one day only, the mountainous landscapes of the normally tranquil Liechtenstein countryside became a stage for an epic sci-fi saga as Xbox 360 created a mysterious alternate universe inspired by the video game franchise which has sold a staggering 46 million copies worldwide since launch in 2001," continues said release.

"Super fans and worldwide media from 16 different countries were catapulted into this off-world environment to take part in a theatrical experience which saw them travel to a top secret location before being unexpectedly thrust into a war zone which recreated brutal battle grounds through pyrotechnic explosions, thunderous sound effects and cinematic set builds."

You can view pictures of all this catapulting, thrusting and thundering in the gallery below. We weren't there. Just as well, really, or somebody might have had to phone an ambassador of some description.

PS. Turns out we were there, but I wasn't. Wise move, Microsoft. Wise move.