Halo 3 Beta Set to Start May 16

The highly-anticipated Halo 3 multiplayer beta will be made available across Xbox Live starting May 16, the company said on Tuesday.

Beginning 5:00am PT on May 16 and running through June 6 at 11:59pm PT, the download will be offered through the Xbox Live Marketplace. Access to the beta will only be provided to those who registered either through the "Rule of Three" promotion or by purchasing specially marked copies of the game Crackdown.

Three maps will be made available within the beta: "Snowbound," "High Ground" and "Valhalla." Gamers would also be able to play with the new weapons, vehicles and game types that are to become part of the larger Halo 3 release due this fall.

"Bringing an early look at the multiplayer elements of 'Halo 3' to our passionate fan base is tremendously exciting for us" Microsoft Game Studios vice president Shane Kim said, noting Halo 2 still remains the #1 played game over Xbox Live.

New registrants for the beta are still being taken, although those interested would need to purchase Crackdown, Microsoft said. The game would act as a 'key' to access the Halo 3 beta download.

Microsoft also will provide sneak previews of the game from the Bungie Web site and through high-definition content in the Xbox Live Marketplace.