Well, you've been waiting for it, you've been anticipating it and Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta will give you a taste of what is to come later this year. While still on track to be delivered exclusively to the Xbox 360 console this fall, Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta will be available as a preview on May 16 via Xbox Live. Microsoft has announced that the Halo 3 multiplayer beta will be opened to the users between May 16 at 5 a.m. PDT and run through June 6 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

Only certain members of the Xbox Live gaming and entertainment network will be able to play the Halo 3 beta. Microsoft has informed that not all the 6 million Xbox Live users will get their hands on the beta.

"The multiplayer beta for "Halo 3" will give anxious Xbox 360 gamers their first opportunity to get their hands on the new levels, weapons, vehicles and game types, as well as a chance to provide valuable data that Bungie will use in continued development," Microsoft informed in a press release.

Microsoft has made available several ways in which Xbox Live members can gain access to the Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta. One of them was the "Rule of Three" promotion, the other was through the special copies of "Crackdown" for Xbox 360.

"'Halo: Combat Evolved' and 'Halo 2' changed the face of console gaming forever," said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios. "Gamers from around the world have logged more than 800 million hours on Xbox LIVE playing 'Halo 2,' and years after its launch it remains the No. 1 title on our Xbox LIVE network. Bringing an early look at the multiplayer elements of 'Halo 3' to our passionate fan base is tremendously exciting for us."