The Halo 3 Beta launched yesterday with a problem that some considered very serious. Users who had purchased Crackdown in an effort to secure a Halo 3 Beta invite were unable to download the game as promised. Although the problem has since been fixed, Microsoft and Bungie have extended the beta period by a few days to June 10, 2007. This allows one more weekend of play before their free multiplayer testing is complete.

No one's going to complain about another weekend of free online multiplayer in one of the hottest games coming out this year, and any more time for Microsoft and Bungie to get gamers hooked is good for them.

For screenshots from Halo 3, visit our Halo 3 Gallery, and for pictures from the Beta process, visit our Halo 3 Beta Gallery