Halo 3: ODST PC/Xbox One Beta Has Been Extended

The ongoing Halo 3: ODST beta test on PC and Xbox One for The Master Chief Collection will run for longer than expected. Developer 343 Industries has confirmed that the beta test, or "flight," will now run through Monday, August 31.

The beta remains closed, so you will need an invitation to get in. Just recently, 343 sent over 100,000 more invitations on PC alone, so be sure to check your email. To get into the beta you need to be a member of the free Halo Insider program--you can sign up here.

Those who are selected for the beta test on PC can try out six campaign missions and seven Firefight maps, plus some of the new changes and improvements coming to the Master Chief Collection, including new weapon skins and guns for Halo 3.

The situation is slightly different on Xbox One--the ODST campaign has been available on the Xbox One version of the Master Chief Collection since 2015, but Firefight, the wave-based multiplayer mode, is making its long-awaited debut. Both the campaign and Firefight are heading to PC for the very first time.

ODST was originally released back in 2009 for the Xbox 360. Critic Tom McShea awarded it a score of 9/10 in GameSpot's Halo 3: ODST review, saying, "The delicate construction of the story adds a new wrinkle to the typical Halo plot, and the action-packed campaign levels are full of intense battles and surprising encounters. Firefight mode is a standout addition, crafting highly addictive cooperative battles for players to experience."