On this 5th anniversary of the Halo video game franchise from Bungie and Microsoft, the MS Game Studios have made a surprising announcement for the third installment of the succesful shooter. Beginning spring 2007, Xbox Live gamers will have the opportunity to participate in a Live multiplayer public beta of the new title. The demo software will be live enabled and should act as an accurate stress test to the software and the tech enhancements Bungie and MS have made to satiate fans of the series.

This is huge news to gamers and a hallmark of sorts. Multiplayer demos aren't that unusual for Xbox Live (Battlefield, Lost Planet, etc...), but the hype and anticipation of this particular title could cause widespread network slowdown. Still, it should sate the hardcore crowd until Halo 3 comes out in full later next year. Bungie is hoping that the feedback from gamers during the beta will help to create a better game experience and give them a greater feel for how the player would refine the final product.

Not quite enough for you? On December 4th during ESPN's Monday Night Football, a 60-second Halo 3 ad will air that quote "will provide viewers with a unique and compelling look at Master Chief and the world of Halo 3". Yeah, well it IS just a commercial, but like it's predecessor, the ad should get a lot of attention and cause more than a few players drool.

Still not enough, you greedy little bastard? Remember that game...uhm...Haloooo....Halo 2? Yeah. Halo 2. Time to dig out that old disc, blow the dust off and throw it in your drive. Xbox Live is offering some exclusive new Halo 2 content next spring in the form of all-new multiplayer maps. Really?!?! New maps? And here I thought I was done with Monday night Halo tourneys. Now I've got to compete with Heroe's and Studio 60. No details on the maps other than they are coming, but that should be enough for now. More as we know.