Source: The blogs of two Belgian Xbox Ambassadors, PlatoniX (English translation) and YLA G.

　　The official story: Microsoft rep: "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation." [UPDATE] Bungie has debunked the rumor in the studios' Weekly Update. There is, however, a documentary coming "sometime next week" that will reveal some elements of the single-player campaign.

　　What we heard: One of the big surprises in 2004's blockbuster Halo 2 was the ability to play as a member of an alien race. Gamers suited up as the Arbiter--one of the Covenant's Elites bestowed with a special title--in the single-player campaign and could skin themselves as Elites in the multiplayer portion.

　　Now word is spreading that another alien race will be playable in the upcoming Halo 3, due for release sometime next year. The race in question is the Brutes (the character on the right in the image), the gorilla-like berserkers who became the bodyguards of the Prophets.

　　According to a post on a few blogs out of Europe, a new Halo 3 video will be headed to Xbox Live Marketplace on December 20 showing Brutes as playable characters. The alleged seven-minute video will also feature two and a half minutes of gameplay, which would make it the first time the public has gotten a look at the game in action.

　　These blogs belong to members of Belgium's Xbox Elite Team, a group of Xbox 360 gamers who are regional ambassadors for the system. Xbox Ambassadors are sanctioned by Microsoft but aren't actually employed by the company. Typically, Ambassadors are active community members willing to go the extra mile to help out others.

　　Both PlatoniX and YLA G, the owners of the two blogs, are listed as Xbox Ambassadors on Xbox.com, but this doesn't mean they are directly tied to Microsoft or have any insider information. The two also don't cite their source for the Halo 3 details.

　　There are no doubt going to be some surprises in Halo 3, but Bungie managed to keep the ability to play as the Arbiter secret until the game came out. Why would it choose to spill the beans early this time around?

　　Bogus or not bogus?: Based on the fact that no source is named, we have to say bogus for now, but we won't really find out until next week.