Epic Expects Gears 3 Beta Players 'Around The 1 Million Range'

Epic Games said it expects this month's Gears of War 3 multiplayer beta to attract a number of players "around the 1 million range." Executive producer Rod Fergusson told CVG the company is "not trying to set any records, we're not trying to beat anybody for highest number of players on a beta." The company's goal is to "get enough data to help us make a better game," he said. Last year's beta for Halo: Reach -- Bungie's largest multiplayer beta yet -- attracted 2.7 million players, most of whom received access via a prior purchase of Halo: ODST. Xbox 360 owners that purchased Bulletstorm: Epic Edition will get first access to the Gears of War 3 beta on April 18. Xbox Live Gold subscribers who pre-ordered the game from GameStop (in the U.S) or GAME and GameStation (in the U.K.) will get beta access on April 25. The highly anticipated follow-up to 2008's Gears of War 2 was originally planned for a full release this month, before being delayed to a fall 2011 release window and later pegged for a September 20 launch date. Fergusson has previously said the delay was made partly to give the development team a chance to incorporate feedback from the beta.