Halo 3 Demo Planned For Spring 2007

Microsoft owned developer Bungie has revealed new details on next year's release of Halo 3, to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the launch of Halo: Combat Evolved on the original Xbox, with news of a public online beta and other promotions. The multiplayer public beta, which is described as a pre-release version of the multiplayer portion of Halo 3, is scheduled for release in spring 2007. Although not stated, it is implied that the game will be an Xbox Live Marketplace download, although no indication was given as to whether it would be made available for free. Also scheduled for next spring is a series of new multiplayer maps for original Xbox title Halo 2. The maps will be exclusive to the Xbox 360, where the game continues to be the most popular online title more than a year after the launch of the next generation console. No firm release date is available for Halo 3, with most analysts assuming a late 2007 launch. However, a new 60 second teaser trailer for the game will be show this year as a “one-time airing” on December 4, on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. The ad, created by advertising agency McCann Erickson, will also be available for download via Xbox Live Marketplace. “The Halo Nation has a nearly insatiable desire,” said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of global marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Corp. “We hope a taste of advance Halo 3 gameplay satisfies some of their appetite as we count down to the game’s launch later in 2007.”