Post edited 18:47 – Sep 20th 2011 by Norfolk Jesus

The BF3 beta date is 29 Sep 11 – that's now official apparently. The min spec for the PC is also out – looks quite reasonable. Details here, but essentially:

"The Battlefield 3 multiplayer beta will be available for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system and PC. Gamers who pre-order the digital PC version of the game at Origin (powered by EA) will be granted early access to the beta starting on September 27, 2011. In addition, all customers that pre-ordered a Limited Edition of Medal of Honor will also receive early access to the beta starting on September 27, 2011.

Gamers in the beta can also log onto Battlelog, the game's free social media network that allows gamers to communicate and compete with friends, track their stats and share their progress. Battlelog extends the in-game experience to be accessible anywhere, whether on a PC, console or handheld device.
Players are also invited to join the EA Gun Club for the latest shooter news, and to receive in-game benefits including access to the M1911 pistol and distinct badges in Battlefield 3. The M1911 pistol will also be available to registered Battlefield veterans."

It's running until 10th Oct. 2 weeks of madness! Bring it on…….

Yey for beta. Boo for operation metro on rush mode only . It's exactly the same as the damn alpha >.< albeit with less bugs. Oh well… will still hammer the hell out of it ^_^

Looking forward to this, but can't believe I have to take the good lady away this weekend to a cottage in the lakes with no internet access (there better be some benefits in us both been away alone :-p )

Downloading it on the PC now. They really changed the map. No LAV anymore, so all the roads and open area's you used to attack over are now so full of scenery that it would make any vehicals impossible to drive. To be honest thought its probably a good thing. People used to just drive down to one of the ncom stations get out and let it be stolen by the defenders, making it totally impossible for the attackers.

Really can't wait to get stuck in again. Currently on 62% downloaded… Might get a couple of games in before i go to bed. Not really a 48 hour head start though…. seeing as im spending the first 24 hours downloading it. Apparently the full game with be pre-loadable though so that's always a bonus.

The one thing i really remember from the alpha was the sound being utterly phenomenal. Can't wait ^_^

I'm stuck in a hotel in the Fens so my boy is using my beta key. All that playing of MoH was for nothing!!

Will be downloading the open beta for a weekend of nonsense though.

Roll on the Caspian Map. If the promo video is to be believed it will be vehicle-action a-go-go

See you on the battelfield!

I'm enjoying the recon class as well – never really had much joy with it either in previous BF games or COD so it's a refreshing change. I like the lens flare showing you roughly where the buggers are as well!

Sadly its not about demoing the game to potential purchasers, its EA stress testing their servers to see how they run under load, whats glitching and breaking and how their Battlelog holds up in advance of launch further evidenced by the fact they are even opening the beta access to no Gold Live members… its all about the numbers.

I guess they are holding the big open landscapes, vehicles and planes back as they will be the headline grabbers when the game launches day one and don't want to have peoples enjoyment of the biggest and most important parts of the game marred by glitches before launch.

The PC version looks utterly beautiful with the settings on ultra and the 64 player makes the 360 24 player version feel almost deserted when I switch back,  just a shame almost every game I have played so far has been me as Assault and the rest of my team consisting of 31 recons 

There's a danger in reading too much into what's in the beta imho…it's a beta! I got about 3 hours in at the weekend, and it's really grown on me. There's a large community already building around the game in terms of squad play, leagues etc etc, which is something that COD doesn't really have to the same extent, and which is something that the Battlefield games are well known for. I'm more than happy to put up with a few niggles for the community side of things.

Not a great fan of Rush mode, Conquest is where it's at for me. Giving us a map with vehicles and choppers would have been a much sounder way to stress test the servers.

I know it's just open beta.. designed to weed out glitches etc, but I still think they failed. All my hardcore COD friends were in agreement at work. I tried to tell them that it's all about the vehicles and squad tactics, but the beta just strengthened their 'battlefield is shit' argument.

The whole squad issue seems to be a hot potato at the moment – let's face it, proper squad play (and of course vehicles!) are what sets the game apart. In-game squad management does seem to be coming in though, according to this blog anyway.