Halo 3 public beta announced

360 News | Halo 2 premium maps coming too.

Today is a momentous day for Microsoft and Bungie, it is both the 5th year anniversary of Halo and the fifth year anniversary for the original Xbox. To celebrate the occasional, Bungie has announced that they have plans to do a public multiplayer beta on Halo 3 early next year.

So, you'll be able to play some multiplayer action from Halo 3 and provide your feedback to Bungie, which should stop Halo 3 from needing to be patched when it comes out. This doesn't mean that Bungie has given up on Halo 2 though, they even have plans to release some premium content for Halo 2 early next year, exclusive to the Xbox 360 - Halo 2 is still the most played game on Xbox Live, so this is definitely going to keep a lot of people happy.

On the 4th of December there will also be a small teaser trailer for Halo 3 appearing on US television, we assume it will make it to the marketplace later on, but it just shows the Halo 3 hype machine is already in progress. We're hoping that more information on Halo 3 is revealed shortly, we'll report back if we hear anything else.

Related Halo 3 Content

Halo 3 to get new map pack next month
21 Jan, 2010 More multiplayer Halo on the way.

Halo 3 Mythic Map Pack now on the Marketplace
10 Apr, 2009 The wait is over for those who want to download.

Halo 3 and Gears of War 2 map packs dated
24 Mar, 2009 Within the next few weeks.

23 Comments

Lord Halo Nerd

5 years ago

OOOOOH Lord Halo Nerd is excited

Spanca

5 years ago

They haven't said the beta will be free, and I could imagine people would pay a small amount for the opportunity...

Luke

5 years ago

Spanca wrote

They haven't said the beta will be free, and I could imagine people would pay a small amount for the opportunity...

I reacon maybe a pack like this:
Halo Beta - 800 points
Halo 2 Content - 800 points

Halo BUNDLE with gamerpic - 1500 points.

Spanca

5 years ago

I'd hate to see it, but at the end of the day I think they could get away with it. I'd probably fall for it too

Luke

5 years ago

Spanca wrote

I'd hate to see it, but at the end of the day I think they could get away with it. I'd probably fall for it too

Me too, though TBH i'd rather rather pay 800 points for the Halo 3 beta than say 1200 for Lumines Live, i'd get better value. Though a subscription service would suck.

Spanca

5 years ago

I still have 800 left over from when I bought the points pack for Lumines

Lord Halo Nerd

5 years ago

Does this mean it will be downloadable content or like the Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack?

Spanca

5 years ago

^ The beta or the maps? I doubt either of them would get a retail release like the Halo 2 map pack. They'll almost certainly be done through the XBL Marketplace.

Ellegarden

5 years ago

Is it me, is Master chief a miltary version of robocop?

Lord Halo Nerd

5 years ago

Spanca wrote

^ The beta or the maps? I doubt either of them would get a retail release like the Halo 2 map pack. They'll almost certainly be done through the XBL Marketplace.

Oh man Lord Halo Nerd doesn't have XBOX Live

Luke

5 years ago

You could just use a network cable, it should be available for silver users too.

Its exclusive to the marketplace.

Lord Halo Nerd

5 years ago

Luke wrote

You could just use a network cable, it should be available for silver users too.

Its exclusive to the marketplace.

I don't know how to and I haven't got an account and my XBOX is further away than my Computer Room

Jim Dash

5 years ago

Well you've got a problem with plenty of time to work it out.

I hope they don't charge for the beta - we are testing it for free after all. What kind of a gift is it to us if we have to fork out cash for it?

Spanca

5 years ago

Lord Halo Nerd wrote

Luke wrote

You could just use a network cable, it should be available for silver users too.

Its exclusive to the marketplace.

I don't know how to and I haven't got an account and my XBOX is further away than my Computer Room

You have a 360 right? You need a 360 to use these new maps.

LeonJ

5 years ago

Good idea IMO, will make for a better finished product.

Bugsimus

5 years ago

Great idea... hopfully i will have a sporting chance in getting included in the beta

Lord Halo Nerd

5 years ago

no i don't have a 360 may get a Wii for xmas but not a 360 maybe 31/10/07 i will get it for my bday

Echo

5 years ago

Lord Halo Nerd wrote

not a 360 maybe 31/10/07 i will get it for my bday

Halo 3 will be out by then, so this is the least of your worries, as you need a 360 to get the beta...

Lord Halo Nerd

5 years ago

Echo wrote

Lord Halo Nerd wrote

not a 360 maybe 31/10/07 i will get it for my bday

Halo 3 will be out by then, so this is the least of your worries, as you need a 360 to get the beta...

damn, I hope it get realesed on my BDAY like Halo 2 in WA but two days before......they don't call me Lord Halo Nerd for nothing lol

Zarnoss

5 years ago

This little article a while back from 1up regarding paying for participating in beta testing of games seems like it may be the case that paying for participating in the beta for Halo 3 could be a possibilty.

Also I love the look of that arcade stick for Xbox live arcade games, sexy.Oh and that backlit 360 control..mmm..

forgot link..
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3155037

Jim Dash

5 years ago

Where is this backlit control? Do you mean an official one?

I was thinking about having to pay to participate...and I'd probably do it, obviously depending on how much $$$ it would cost. I'd set my limit beforehand..

Edit: Oh, there we go. Wow..I'd be willing to pay more for a new controller...imo the D-pad is the 360's controller's weakness..

Zarnoss

5 years ago

Yeah I like the idea of that arcade stick as the D-pad just doesn't cut it, I just hope it also has a swivel feature (if it ever eventuates that is) for games like midnight resistance etc.Now that would be mind blowing for me.
Remember those swivel arcade sticks?Where you could move in the 8 directions digitally with the stick but you could also twist the 'stick' so you could move your characters gun or whatnot.Was a brilliant feature back in the day.

thebigm

5 years ago

Halo 3 beta sounds very nice, and can't wait to get my hands on it (paid or not paid for)

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Halo 3

Pre-order or buy:
PALGN recommends: www.Play-Asia.com

Australian Release Date:
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Standard Retail Price:
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Publisher:
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Genre:
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Year Made:
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Players:
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