PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 multiplayer test for DICE military shooter downloadable a month before game's launch; beta features a single mode on a single map.
Electronic Arts wants Battlefield 3 combat-tested before the military first-person shooter hits stores October 25. To that end, the publisher today announced that an open beta test for the game's multiplayer mode will kick off September 29 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC versions of the game.
However, some players will be able to download the beta a little early. Those who preorder the PC edition of the game through EA's digital storefront Origin will be able to get into the action beginning September 27, as will those who preordered the Limited Edition of EA's 2010 military shooter, Medal of Honor.
Players will be able to play the game's Rush mode on the Operation Metro map, set in the subways of Paris. The Rush mode has two teams fighting over key strategic points on the map, with one squad designated as attackers and the other ordered to protect the locations.
Battlefield 3--which EA says has been in development for three years--will sport both a single-player campaign and an online component, which can be played with up to 64 players (for the PC version only). It will also support co-op play for its campaign and will let gamers pilot jets, among other vehicles.
For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of Battlefield 3.
[CORRECTION]: EA has indicated that the beta will end October 10. We regret the error.
Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.
Great game, really addicting but buggy as f**k. nad why the hell do they show us a video with ingame footage that has no hud on and is super realistic, but there is no option for me to do it!! bastards, the crosshair is the worst gamebraker for me, why the hell does it have to be always on when everybody aims down the sights anyway??? dont get it...
The beta is awful.. really surprised if they have fixed all the bugs when the game comes out.
The worst interface ever conceptualized for a multiplayer shooter. I remember Bad company 2 Beta was not that glitchy. I have my doubts to buy the game right away after what I saw. I do not think they will have the time to fix all those bugs and that terrible interface.
This Beta was like trying to swim through a bunch of bugs. This was glitchie and nice. Hope it never shows up in the full game.
As Buggy as Mr McBuggy in Bug town being pestered by a swarm of bugs while eating a bug sandwich and slurping on some bug juice! They better get their skates on to get this ready before shipping otherwise I'll be returning it as I did for Battlefield:MC when it came out! Nothing worse then being able to see a great game obscured by annoying bugs and glitches. I thought this might be a COD beater, but it looks like I was wrong!
@Emac44 No closed beta in sight either. Infinity Ward only had a beta for CoD:4. Treyarch only had a beta for CoD.WaW. So, considering how many CoD titles there are, and only two beta's ever released for the CoD series, I don't see them ever releasing one unless it's through CoD:Elite Premium services in 2012+.
@alzeer1 The beta is open to everyone today across all platforms. Go to the store on the PSN and it's on the Dashboard on the 360. PC users can get it by downloading Origin if they don't already have it.
didnt pre order the limited edition of MOH on the 360 but i bought it for 9.99 brand new at ebgames when they were having a big sale, so hopefully i get the beta.... waiting for my email EA :)
There is also going to be a live event on Monday September 26th at 5:00pm where we will be giving away beta keys. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6335428/battlefield-3-event-early-deployment
I have just downloaded origin for like no reason, but maby I did it because I want to see how my pc handle's the bf3 beta. :) oh, and btw, I now have steam and origin on my desktop, and (cough) there is nothing I see wrong.
sounds weird that people are so excited about jets, but I guess I haven't played battlefield since battlefield 2.
@dovonob bf2 never lagged for me but then again ive always had at least 10mb connection (only time i had less was on dreamcast with its crappy 56k modem).
Battlefield 3 Epicness=Game over for COD and craptovision.. Enjoy your "Elite" Nonsense, I will not be a sheep in your flock..
Can't wait to try out BF3 Beta for my PS3! It will be a busy next few months with MW3, BF3, Dark Souls, Skyrim! I might need to get a 2nd job just for those other games...
I'm seriously looking forward to BF3, but it's all about Gears 3 on XBL until the official release date. Gears 3 MP has so many modes, unlockables, and forms of gaming-mayhem-goodness that there's no need to spend time on pre-final BF3 code.
Hopefully they have a control set up option that resembles COD as my friends are always put off by that . I Love Battlefield and think they would too if they could let there small minded brains work out the controls. you can call it Crappy Control Set-up .
I preordered ps3 version of the limited edition of Battlefield 3 about 3 months ago. I think console players like me deserve a ticket to open beta as well, right?
Now they should do this with all FPS,RPG games so that the public would let the game developers know what is up with the game, so they could improve the game more in til it comes out! PC gamer here.
@Dierkus fraid not mate, main reason being its a Macbook and it's only coming out for windows....... @Draken_Domingo hhhmm i seem to remember that it ran pretty laggy online from battlefield 1942 up to battlefield 2, to be fair though BF1942 and BF:vietnam were back in the dark ages of the internet where everyone had a cack connection so fingers crossed BF3 will run sweet as with 64 players. Can't wait!!
I wonder what it would be like to play this game and listen to Led Zeppelin at the same time... But that would probably be too much awesomeness for the human brain to handle ;)
I was bummed out by the Alpha, especially with the spotting targets appearing on screen and not just on the map but i'm getting excited again. Lets hope the controls allow full customisation and that the target spotting can be set at server level so you can join servers with it off if you want. Shame it will never appear on Steam and you have to use Origin but needs must.
@ZoTrAcK ...Cause they weren't for the past decade right? If I remember correctly, every Battlefield game held 64 players flawlessly
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