Read the headline. That's really the gist of this whole story (as headlines tend to be). Microsoft announced this morning that the much anticipated Halo 3 beta will begin on May 16th, 5AM PDT, and will run for three weeks ending June 6th at 11:59PM PDT. The beta will come equipped with the three of the maps we already know about, Valhalla, Snowbound, and High Ground. It will also give players a chance to try out the Mongoose and many of the new weapons including the MA5C Assault Rifle, the Brute Spiker, the Spartan Laser, and the Spike Grenades. Finally, as a sort of hors d'oeuvre for the beta, a new ViDoc is now available at Bungie.net and Xbox Live Marketplace. Titled ""Is Quisnam Protero Damno!," the ViDoc gives some behind the scenes info on the new multiplayer maps and their design process.
The fine lads here at X3F are all in the beta, so you can be sure you'll see us on there. If you haven't already, hurry up and sign up for the X3F Halo 3 beta leaderboard. The leaderboard should be a great place to find party members and some friendly competition when the beta launches. In the meantime, watch the ViDoc and dream of Halo 3 goodness.
"Halo 3" Multiplayer Beta Hits Xbox LIVE Worldwide on May 16
Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios offer gamers exclusive first experience of one of 2007's most anticipated entertainment releases.
REDMOND, Wash. - April 10, 2007 - Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios today confirmed the multiplayer beta of "Halo® 3" will debut to audiences worldwide via Xbox LIVE® on May 16 at 5 a.m. PDT and run through June 6 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Coming exclusively to the Xbox 360™ console this fall, "Halo 3" is the highly anticipated third chapter in the groundbreaking "Halo" trilogy from legendary developers Bungie. "Halo 3" lets gamers experience Master Chief's greatest battle as he launches an epic mission to stop the Covenant, destroy the impending Flood threat and ultimately save mankind.
Made possible through Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox LIVE gaming and entertainment network, which provides a robust online service for more than 6 million gamers worldwide, the multiplayer beta for "Halo 3" will give anxious Xbox 360 gamers their first opportunity to get their hands on the new levels, weapons, vehicles and game types, as well as a chance to provide valuable data that Bungie will use in continued development. Starting May 16, gamers who secured their admission to the multiplayer beta either through the "Rule of Three" promotion or by purchasing a specially marked copy of "Crackdown™" for Xbox 360 will be able to don their Spartan armor, download the beta on Xbox LIVE, and jump online using their Xbox LIVE Gold account* to battle other gamers from around the world.
When gamers gather online to play the multiplayer beta via Xbox LIVE in May, they will be treated to three richly detailed, action-oriented maps: Snowbound, High Ground and Valhalla, which represent a mixture of large- and medium-scale combat environments and are brand-new to "Halo 3." Each map will test gamers' mettle as they are placed behind the controls of new "Halo 3" vehicles such as the agile Mongoose all-terrain vehicle, and armed with deadly weapons such as the new and improved Assault Rifle, the ferocious Brute Spiker, the devastating Spartan Laser and the treacherous new Spike Grenades. This is just a taste of what gamers will experience later this fall when "Halo 3" goes on sale.
"'Halo: Combat Evolved' and 'Halo 2' changed the face of console gaming forever," said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios. "Gamers from around the world have logged more than 800 million hours on Xbox LIVE playing 'Halo 2,' and years after its launch it remains the No. 1 title on our Xbox LIVE network. Bringing an early look at the multiplayer elements of 'Halo 3' to our passionate fan base is tremendously exciting for us."
Gamers worldwide who did not participate in the "Rule of Three" promotion but are interested in joining the multiplayer beta of "Halo 3" can still participate through the purchase of the critically acclaimed Xbox 360 title "Crackdown," which was launched in February. "Crackdown" sets players loose in a free-form, persistent city for action-packed crime fighting that requires a bigger, faster and stronger hero that evolves as a more efficient weapon through continued gameplay. Each copy of "Crackdown" has been specially marked with a "Halo 3" beta sticker prior to the beta period, and starting May 16 the game will act as a key for gamers to download and participate in the "Halo 3" multiplayer beta.
In addition, gamers who can't wait for the multiplayer beta this May can get an even earlier look at "Halo 3" with a new, behind-the-scenes video feature available at http://www.bungie.net and in high definition over Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Starting today, viewers can go behind the scenes at Bungie Studios to learn about the people, technology and process that are making "Halo 3" an unforgettable multiplayer experience, and to get a taste of what to expect from the upcoming "Halo 3" multiplayer beta. The latest multiplayer video documentary, titled "Is Quisnam Protero Damno!," will offer a glimpse at how "Halo 3" multiplayer maps are being designed, built and architected, and how these amazing spaces are converted into fun places in which to play. Gamers can also catch the first-ever glimpse of brand-new "Halo 3" multiplayer levels in their early stages of evolution and construction.
About Bungie Studios
Bungie Studios was founded in 1991 with two goals: to develop games that combine brilliant technology, beautiful art, intelligent stories and deep gameplay, and then sell enough of those games to achieve its real goal of total world domination. Over the past 10 years it has produced games such as the "Marathon Trilogy" and the first two "Myth" games, hailed as classics by critics and gamers around the world. Bungie's "Halo" franchise is an international award-winning action title that has grown into a global entertainment phenomenon, selling more than 14.7 million units worldwide, logging over 800 million hours of multiplayer action on Xbox LIVE and spawning action figures, books, a graphic novel, apparel and more. Bungie is currently at work on "Halo 3," which represents the third chapter in this "Halo" trilogy and is slated for release in 2007. More information on Bungie can be found at http://www.bungie.net.
About Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox® and Xbox 360 video game systems, the Windows® operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to
creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games), including such franchises as "Age of Empires®," "Flight Simulator" and "Zoo Tycoon®"; Xbox and Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com), including such games as "Gears of War" and franchises such as "Halo," "Fable®," "Project Gotham Racing®" and "Forza Motorsport®"; and MSN® Games (http://www.games.msn.com), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as "Bejeweled" and "Hexic®."
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-10-2007 @ 9:39AM
Platinum Ninja said...
WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
OMFG!!!! My heart has stopped! mjkdnhufdabf
hadls
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4-10-2007 @ 9:42AM
jules c said...
Just give us the damnn game mannnn! tired of allll the previews and build up, this game might suck (pause) nahhhh that was earth defense force!!
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4-10-2007 @ 9:43AM
kris said...
Abbout time they at least put a date on it.
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4-10-2007 @ 9:46AM
j00n said...
BOH!! in the middle of my exams :( (bye bye exams :P)
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4-10-2007 @ 9:55AM
KilgoreTrout XL said...
If we're able to form custom games in the Beta, we should hold a X360F tournament.
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4-10-2007 @ 10:02AM
Twenty5 said...
Here is the ViDoc btw....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbtKbtuX7fs
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4-10-2007 @ 10:12AM
Drav said...
Joined your leaderboard thing (gt: Dravz). I'm in via Crackdown.
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4-10-2007 @ 10:21AM
Andrew said...
finally a reason to live....oh wait i already had like 3. Anyway joined the leader boards.
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4-10-2007 @ 10:21AM
ANt said...
Big deal, Halo is so overblown, I'd rather play R6V anyday.....
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4-10-2007 @ 10:27AM
Toph said...
..I'm just waiting to hear people gripe that it's only three weeks long! I'd have assumed a month, but there's some hard and fast believers that thought it'd last two, three months...
Anyway, I'm looking forward to checking out the snow and water:)
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4-10-2007 @ 10:40AM
Jude Brown said...
How fast are they going to get my red ring fixed?
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4-10-2007 @ 10:45AM
Muffin_man said...
I remember teasing one of the Bungie.net moderators because his broadband speed was really bad by playing the viDoc through my headset.
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4-10-2007 @ 10:51AM
BIG JG 1 said...
Halo 3 will be so sweet. this is great news. 3 weeks is not long but it is a good enough. I'm not complaining at all. It will be a fun 3 weeks and then it's time to visit Margaritaville until launch.
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4-10-2007 @ 10:54AM
Michael said...
Thats it 3 weeks. WHAT BULLSHIT!!#@#$@#$#@
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4-10-2007 @ 10:54AM
Grant said...
finally,
took them more than 3 months just to give us a date, then it will only last for 3 weeks, i was kinda hoping for a month myself.
at least it starts the day before my last final, hope that one is not important.
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4-10-2007 @ 11:10AM
Eric G said...
Stop complaining about 3 weeks. It's a beta, which means it's not for us, it's for them.
This is badass -- thanks Bungie.
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4-10-2007 @ 11:24AM
GRT said...
*Yawn* Totally not interested.
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4-10-2007 @ 11:47AM
Aaron said...
Looks good and anything has to be better then Annex in Gears, bring on H3 and 3 weeks is plenty dont complain remeber its a beta .....
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4-10-2007 @ 1:59PM
SigEp418 said...
People not interested = Born after 2001. Its like saying, "I won to lottery, but I am not interested. Because I have to troll." Three weeks is great. And Eric G. is right.
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4-10-2007 @ 2:43PM
spartan029 said...
WTF....3 weeks...bought crackdown for the beta. After playing crackdown I'd say 30$ for crackdown but still 30$ for "THREE WEEKS" of beta is still a rip off. Pathetic microsoft!!!
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