Bungie still has one more thing to do before it can move on to its new Activision-backed--possibly action role-playing--universe. That thing, of course, is getting Microsoft's Halo: Reach out the door and onto gamers' Xbox 360s. Today, the Kirkland, Washington-based development house took one substantial step toward seeing that happen, opening up the promised multiplayer beta-testing window to those who purchased last year's Halo 3: ODST.

　　The Halo: Reach beta can be accessed through ODST's menu screen and will initially include three different rotations that players can experiment with. While a variety of new and old match types will be covered on the rotations, they will feature the game's new four-on-four Team Deathmatch Arena mode. Bungie will add in a fourth playlist, which focuses on large-scale Spartan vs. Elite matches and introduces the "Generator Defense" match type, on May 14.

　　The Halo: Reach multiplayer test is a go. For most of the beta, access will be limited to Xbox Live Gold subscribers, as is typical for multiplayer gameplay on the Xbox 360. However, Xbox Live Silver members will get a chance to play the Reach beta (as well as Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST) online for free from 9 a.m. PDT on May 14 through 9 a.m. PDT on May 17. The beta concludes for everyone else on May 19.

　　Additionally, all players who finish a full game in the Halo: Reach beta will be able to claim free hoodies for their XBL Avatars by going to the Halo Waypoint area of Xbox Live and accessing their career stats.

　　The full version of Halo: Reach is set for launch this fall. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

　　[UPDATE] Microsoft has expected a record turnout for Bungie's multiplayer beta test, and that player load is apparently causing problems for Halo: Reach's servers. In a brief post to its official Web site, Bungie acknowledged that the beta is experiencing technical difficulties, noting that it hopes to have the situation resolved as soon as possible.

　　"Yup, the backend servers are getting hammered," Bungie said. "We're aware and working to resolve slow matchmaking times and inaccessible playlists. As soon as we're back up and running at full capacity, we'll make some noise. Stay tuned for more information and thanks for your patience."

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