Gamers are invited to join the fight when the beta goes live this spring with Xbox Live and Crackdown providing the final two paths.

Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios are ringing in the year with a proverbial bang, as they announced today two new ways for gamers to receive an invitation to participate in the Halo 3 multiplayer beta program coming this spring through Xbox Live Marketplace.

Specifically, gamers will be able to receive an invitation by doing one of the following:

- Qualifying over Xbox Live and then being one of the first 13,333 Halo 2 gamers to register for the Rule of Three program at this link in early February
- Purchasing the upcoming game Crackdown, which hits store shelves in the U.S. on Feb. 20

The Halo 3 multiplayer beta, which is a pre-release version of the multiplayer experience of Halo 3, is scheduled for availability in spring 2007 exclusively on Xbox 360. The beta also represents an opportunity for gamers to participate in the testing and refinement of the multiplayer gameplay of Halo 3, the most anticipated game of 2007. Through the resulting feedback, Bungie Studios will be able to further hone the end result of Halo 3.

Beginning Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007, at 12:01 a.m. EST, all gamers need to do is participate in at least three hours of Halo 2 multiplayer sessions, via Xbox Live, before Feb. 3, 2007, at 11:59 p.m. EST and then be among the first 13,333 to register at this link. The Rule of Three program is currently planned for gamers in the 50 United States (includes District of Columbia) age 17 years and older who have access to an Xbox 360 Pro console or an Xbox 360 Core console with hard drive, a valid Xbox Live Gold subscription and the Halo 2 game. Gamers around the world are encouraged to visit this link in the coming weeks for more information on the Rule of Three program in their region.

As well, when Crackdown hits store shelves, gamers eager to take home a copy of the highly anticipated exclusive action title for Xbox 360 will find marked boxes of Crackdown that include an invite to participate in the coveted Halo 3 multiplayer beta program when it becomes available. When the Halo 3 multiplayer beta surfaces in spring 2007, owners of Crackdown with access to an Xbox 360 Pro console or an Xbox 360 Core console with hard drive and a valid Xbox Live Gold subscription simply need to load their copy of Crackdown into Xbox 360 and use the disc as a key to download the beta from Xbox Live Marketplace and join the battle in Halo 3 multiplayer. Crackdown will be available in the U.S. on Feb. 20, Asian territories on Feb. 22 and European markets on Feb. 23.