Gears of War 3 multiplayer beta detailed, launches April

Thursday, 24 February 2011 23:24 Steven De Klerk

Start sharpening those chainsaw blades, Microsoft has finally revealed the first real details on the Gears of War 3 multiplayer beta, as well as narrowing down the release date at the Xbox February Games Showcase event in San Francisco.

The beta will include three Versus multiplayer modes - Team Deathmatch, Capture the Leader and King of the Hill - on four new maps, two of which have been confirmed as Checkout and Thrashball. As for the other two maps, well that's up to you, with Epic Games holding a vote over on their Facebook page to decide which maps will end up in the beta. The maps up for voting are: Overpass, Old Town, Mercy and Trenches.

On the weapons side, you'll have access to the Sawed-off shotgun, Hammerburst rifle, Lancer, Retro Lancer (when unlocked), and Gnasher, to name a few, for your standard load-out, but you'll also come across special weapons such as the Digger Launcher, One Shot, as well as classics such as the Mulcher and Mortar.

There will also be exclusive unlocks in the beta, including the Gold Retro Lancer - which will require players to complete 90 beta matches and 100 Retro Lancer kills - as well as the Thrashball Cole character model - which requires players to complete over 70 matches to unlock it, and then 13 matches wearing it to unlock it in the retail version (70 + 13 = 83. The number on Augustus Cole's Thrashball jersey).