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We may have led you astray when we said that Halo 3 would possibly go live before the end of 2006. I guess we didn’t completely go wrong…

On December 4, yup, yesterday (you we are already late), Bungie and Microsoft launched a public beta signup for you to play the game before anyone else. The Beta is only available to American Microsoft Xbox 360 owners and I am sure the offers will not come in the hundreds of thousands. It is not too often that you see open beta testing for a game, let alone one of the most anticipated games of all time. It should be interesting to see how this all works out before the release in 2007.

Read [Halo 3] VIa [CrunchGear]

Gamers rejoice, the most anticipated game of all time has begun to show some light. BestBuy.com has a product page and pre-order option available for the long awaited Halo 3, for Xbox 360. It is currently listed at $59.99 with a release date of 3/1/2007. Valid sources have told Gadgetell that we can expect the game much sooner than that, possibly even this fall, assuming the release schedule does not change.

Here is the hype:

The much-anticipated final chapter has arrived. Master Chief returns to finish the fight once and for all in order to finally end the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood and the entire human race. Experience a heart-pounding, dramatic climax to this popular video game franchise.

Next-generation graphics and technological advances, such as an enhanced artificial intelligence and an advanced real-time lighting engine, make the story come to life with stunning realism. Experience all-new weapons and characters as you struggle through tough challenges. You can even log online with Xbox Live and battle in exciting multiplayer action.

Update: Amazon also lists Halo 3 available for pre-order for $59.99 but for release on March 31, 2007. Why do I have a feeling that Halo 3 will be released way before these two dates…

Halo 3 [Best Buy]

Here is the Halo trailer for you that was shown earlier today during the MS press conference.

Of course the trailer itself is a teaser - with no multiplayer, a single Earth-based locale, none of our sweet new AI or gameplay technologies. No physics to speak of, no new features other than a sneak peek at the graphics and audio engines…but the other stuff is there, and we’ll reveal more as time goes on.

Read more about Halo 3 and the trailer [Bungie.net]

Halo, one of the biggest game series of all time, may get some limelight at their year’s E3, next week in LA. IGN reports that a 2 minute clip of the much anticipated Halo 3 for Xbox 360 will be shown on May 9. You won’t have to be in LA to see it, Microsoft recently announced that its key E3 content (trailers, demos, etc) will be available to Xbox 360 owners via Xbox Live’s Marketplace. However it is still about year before fans will get to play Chief again and kick Alien butt.

Diehard Halo fans shouldn’t be too surprised. Bungie is notorious for taking its time, and the game is not likely to come out until 2007. Microsoft’s most valuable franchise has been out of the limelight since last year’s Map Pack, a set of additional multiplayer maps for 2004’s Halo 2.

Little is known about Halo 3 at the moment. The game hasn’t been seen in action, and no release date has been announced – although Bill Gates has hinted that it might arrive about the same time as Sony’s PS3 (hows that for timing). It was also reported last year the third installment of Halo series will have a different name.

Read [DailyTeach]
Read [T3]
Image via Kodaku