New Halo 3 beta entry paths revealed

Routes for gamers to play Halo 3 early include specially marked boxes of Crackdown, upcoming "Rule of Three" program.

Bungie Studios may be known to be obsessed with the number seven, but three seems to be the magic number for entry into the Halo 3 beta entry program. The third chapter of the franchise is headed to the Xbox 360 sometime later this year, but Bungie and Microsoft Game Studios are giving some lucky gamers three chances to help test out the multiplayer portion of the game when the Halo 3 beta program launches this spring.

Previously, the only confirmed method for gamers to be selected for the highly coveted testing period was to register at the Halo 3 Web site and hope fortune smiled upon them. Those who entered through this method and were accepted will be notified through e-mail this month, Bungie said today.

Recently, scans from the February issue of gaming magazine GamePro showed an ad for the upcoming Xbox 360 game Crackdown with the phrase "Includes invitation to Halo 3 multiplayer beta." At the time, Microsoft could not confirm the information, saying only that details would be announced at a later time.

Well, that "later time" was today. Microsoft confirmed that specially marked boxes of Crackdown will include Halo 3 beta keys. Crackdown will be available in North America on February 20.

The final way to get into the beta test is through the "Rule of Three" program. From February 1-3, gamers in the US who play three hours of Halo 2 over Xbox Live will qualify for entry. The first 13,333 gamers who have played Halo 2 over Xbox Live during the specified time period and who register at the Halo 3 Web site will be entered into the beta program. Gamers outside of the US should stay tuned for details on the "Rule of Three" program in their regions.

Only gamers with an Xbox 360 and a valid Xbox Live Gold membership will be considered for the program. For more information on Halo 3, read GameSpot's previous coverage.

337 Comments

  • grarap

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:18 am PT

    Exciting, but what about us poor Europeans? Do we get a beta?

  • Ilija_True_Game

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:21 am PT

    That's very cool. Can't wait for halo 3. I don't have a Xbox 360 so no beta for me but for whoever get's to play lucky them.

  • CVGCShubert

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:23 am PT

    I'm hoping I'll get a confirmation in the mail this month so I won't have to buy Crackdown. *shudders*

  • Razoroo

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:23 am PT

    Yeah, what the hell are we Europeans supposed to do? And how is this beta gonna be distributed? Live?

  • lafigueroa

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:26 am PT

    Xbox Live 3hours straight? No Problem.

  • judgenxcutioner

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:26 am PT

    Excellent this beta should hold off gamers until the actual release of Halo 3 in Q4 2008!

  • Progn0sticator

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:28 am PT

    3 hours of H2? Piece of cake XD

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:28 am PT

    The "Rule of Three" seems to lean towards American gamers in the Pacific time zone.

  • ianvalone

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:29 am PT

    From what timezone does the contest originate though? Eastern? I want to know what time I have to start playing. =P

  • fahad2mail

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:29 am PT

    3 hours. thats a great thing.

  • Anuebis

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:31 am PT

    MAN CANNON!

  • Greydawg

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:31 am PT

    Awesome------the beta comes out right when the Halo 2 maps that you can ONLY play on a 360 come out. Old software, new console, wait a second, that makes no sense at all!!

  • guisepppe

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:32 am PT

    People are setting themselves up for a letdown. Halo 3 is hyped beyond comprehention.

  • Re_ensurer

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:32 am PT

    It all depends on how good Crackdown turns out to be.

  • Kayrod29

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:33 am PT

    3 hours of halo 2? Pfftt .... I can do like 24!!! No problem, count me in that beta

  • nmandude

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:34 am PT

    uhh, is crackdown going to be any good?

  • player_leo

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:34 am PT

    I got the hook up at Best Buy to get that Beta !

  • R3DN1N3

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:36 am PT

    I can't wait. Seriously I've been waiting since '05 and I can't wait any longer! I hope Bioshock get's released soon to keep me happy

  • GOTHIK9s_CL

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:37 am PT

    Thanks for posting this !
    Great intel !!!

  • Cloud737

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:39 am PT

    Bungie sure liks to create myths and show their obsessions.
    I think that the 3 hours of Halo 2 on Live is the most possible solution of getting into the beta, as Bungie said that the first 13,333 gamers who play it and register at the Halo 3 page will automatically get into the beta.
    Plus, 3 hours is a piece of cake.

  • gatsbythepig

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:42 am PT

    good find

  • SinfulSpikey

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:45 am PT

    DAMMIT! Now in order to actually GET Crackdown I'll have to freakin' preorder it. X_X SCREW YOU, BUNGIE.

  • oddworld7

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:45 am PT

    3 hrs not bad

  • xtremeg4m3r

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:46 am PT

    Rule of three is dumb. But halo 3 better dont dissapoint.

  • Buck_Hotep

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:49 am PT

    Really, those who keep saying the game is being overhyped wont get the game to begin and you're preaching to the wrong crowd here. Whether the game lives up to the hype or not it will sell, sell, sell. It's the same with the Madden games. Those games have stopped being cool and new with each release, but millions are sold because people are so used to having it in their hands. The same will happen to Halo and that is what Microsoft is counting on. And they will reap the profits from it.

  • CosmicChaos24

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:53 am PT

    This is good news. But is there any way to find out more about the specially marked Crackdown games with the beta key.

  • Eviltwin

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 11:59 am PT

    No hay quinto malo opps.... Good News xD

  • Flint247

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:01 pm PT

    I haven't played Halo 2 yet. lol

  • NeDi2004

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:02 pm PT

    wow..... thanks bungie screw everyone apart from the Americans thats just great..... you know there is a fan base outside of the US F**KING A!!

  • LowJo

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:03 pm PT

    The first people to logon rule...
    that just sounds like a cheap dumb way to dethrone Gears of War off of Live as the number 1 game.

  • Meskamo

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:04 pm PT

    once again preference is given to US consumers

  • SPARTAN-8342

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:05 pm PT

    We Europeans WNT THE F***ING BETA!!!!...
    i like halo more than all in US.
    i have all : halo books, halo 1 PC and XB . halo 2. halo 2 Colectors, halo 2 mmp......................................................

  • bdub20791

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:07 pm PT

    i don't care for the beta.

    i'll get the full game.

  • 1Wiifan

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:08 pm PT

    Sounds like a good way for Microsoft to sell copies of Crackdown.

  • keldog

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:11 pm PT

    SPARTAN-8342:
    ---------------------------------------------------

    I think I hold that title: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/promotions/ultimatehalofreakcontest-winner.htm

  • zintarr

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:12 pm PT

    You can keep the beta. I want the real deal.

  • d3funkt

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:16 pm PT

    One of the few times working in game store actually gives me an advantage.

    /me opens the box of Crackdown
    /me sets aside all the ones with Halo 3 keys

    Suckers.

  • BeNOwNz

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:18 pm PT

    Great news, i could go sign up for the beta but i rather wait for the full game. I have no time playing a beta of the awsome halo3. I will watitttttt

  • dukerav

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:19 pm PT

    Hmm, which way to go if I dont win one of the initial beta spots? Rule of Three, which maybe tough to do, or hope I score with one of those specially marked Crackdown games?

  • Thornscar

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:20 pm PT

    While you wait read the book the Fall of Reach! Its very good and pumps you up for Halo 3. Gives you a lot of backstory and explains who the kids are in the Halo commercial that just came out. John and Kelly that is.

  • Toadstool1969

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:20 pm PT

    Tim Surette wrote:
    first 13,333 gamers who have played Halo 2 over Xbox Live during the specified time period and register at the Halo 3 Web site will be entered into the beta program.


    Should have been the first "13,337 gamers"... then it would have been LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET, foo!

  • JLuke360

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:21 pm PT

    Word.

  • bdhoff

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:22 pm PT

    Crackdown looks freakin' sweet! Why haven't I seen that before now?

  • JLuke360

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:22 pm PT

    How much do you think I can get for selling a beta key on Ebay? *Sets up auction and slaps self in head for including a picture of the key*

  • HyperMetaDragon

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:23 pm PT

    How many hundreds of thousands of people are going to be playing Halo 2 that day in hopes for entering the BETA? And they're only accepting 13,333 people? That's a JOKE. Screw that, if I don't get accepted this month, I'll just buy Crackdown.

  • F1sTDaCuffS

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:24 pm PT

    lol, this game means nothing

  • davidtabor5

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:24 pm PT

    Hey all u people complaining about the beta first bungie can do what they want and thats why u can do all of the things on that list accept the first one so stop complaining .

  • cky1451

    Posted Jan 3, 2007 12:26 pm PT

    crackdowns about to sell a massive amount of copies

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