Crysis 3 open multiplayer beta starts next week

Two maps and modes available, including Hunter mode

With Crysis 3 launching on February 19 in North America and Feb. 21 in Europe, next week’s open multiplayer beta seems a bit last-minute, but we’ll take it. Available on PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3, the beta contains two modes and will run from January 29 to Feb. 12.

Hunter mode involves two players with Nanosuits and bows tracking down 10 CELL troopers (14 troopers in the PC version) before the time runs out. Slain opponents will then join them as hunters in typical “infected”-game-type fashion. The other mode, Crash Site, takes a less interesting point-based, capture-and-defend approach to multiplayer.

Two maps, Airport and Museum, will be accessible, and the beta also has Crysis 3‘s New York Feed feature, an in-game social feed that tracks dynamic challenges among your friends. Worth a look for Hunter alone, I’d say.