Bungie and Microsoft have released details of their Halo 3 beta test … it’s to run from May 16 to June 6 and will include a few extras.

The beta is open to gamers who have secured one of the routes in, namely by buying a copy of Crackdown or by the Rule-of-Three promotion.

The beta test will bring the lucky few three new multi-player maps, along with new vehicles and weaponry.

"Bringing an early look at the multi-player elements of Halo3 to our passionate fan base is tremendously exciting for us", said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Games Studios.

In addition to this news release, Microsoft also have put a new behind-the-scenes video on Xbox Live Marketplace.