Microsoft has set the release date for its highly anticipated Halo 3 multiplayer beta as 16 May.

Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios confirmed the multiplayer beta will debut to audiences worldwide via Xbox Live on 16 May at 5 am PDT and run until 6 June 11:59 pm PDT.

Halo 3 is the third chapter in the Halo trilogy from developers Bungie. Halo was the 'killer app' that helped launch the Xbox to become a real competitor to the PlayStation 2.

Halo 3 lets gamers experience Master Chief’s greatest battle as he launches an epic mission to stop the Covenant, destroy the impending Flood threat and ultimately save mankind, again.

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.

Being a beta version, the game is still in development and players will be encouraged to provide feedback that Bungie will use in continued development.

Gamers who secured their admission to the multiplayer beta either through the 'Rule of Three' promotion or by purchasing a specially marked copy of 'Crackdown' for Xbox 360 will be able to don their Spartan armour, download the beta on Xbox Live, and jump online to battle other gamers from around the world.

Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios, said: "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 number one 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."