Halo 3 public beta, a first for Xbox!

According to a Bungie press release today, the insanely anticipated Halo 3 sequel to the best selling Halo 2 game on Xbox will be made available to the public in beta form on Xbox Live spring of 2007. This holiday season "Starting on December 15th, the special high-definition, 60-second "Halo 3" advertising spot will start running on 765 cinema screens across Canada." This ad spot may show us another side of Master Chief "Huraaa!" and the beautifully crafted Halo universe.

What to expect, "Next-generation high-definition visuals; enhanced artificial intelligence; an advanced real-time lighting engine; and new weapons, characters and challenges are just a few examples of the evolution of design and technology in "Halo 3." These improvements are designed to give gamers an unparalleled experience and tell an even more compelling and engrossing story. Working in concert with Xbox Live on Xbox 360, "Halo 3" builds on the unique social multiplayer experience of "Halo 2" and promises to expand the innovative and evolving online gameplay and community of "Halo 2" on Xbox Live. In this third chapter of the "Halo" trilogy, Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax."

An additional treat from Bungie, next spring we can also expect new Halo 2 multiplayer maps for download via the Xbox Live Marketplace.

The wait is so painfully long...