If you’ve pre-ordered Battlefield 3 over EA’s Origin digital distribution service, or purchased the Medal of Honor Limited Edition, you’ll want to keep a surveillance drone on your email inbox today – beta codes are shipping out for you lot as of around about right now. Everybody else, you’ll have to wait until Thursday, sorry.
“Please don’t ask about “when do I get my email” etc.,” writes DICE’s Gustav Halling on his blog. “We don’t know, this is an automated system that sends a bunch out every hour starting around lunch today.”

Here’s the official press stuff:
The beta is set in Paris on the Operation Metro map, where players work their way from lush parks on the outskirts of the city to a dark, bombed-out metro station, to the vibrant streets around the Paris stock exchange.
Two elite tactical units square off in the series’ popular Rush Mode. One side takes the offensive by attacking M-COM stations while the opposing squad defends and protects.
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.

We’ve found a torrent going around sharing the PC beta files, which one then copies into their Origin install directory. Instructions here.
A key will obviously be required to join the beta before 29 September. At the time of publication we are still downloading the file so we can’t verify it works. Let us know in the comment and on the MyGaming forum.
A guide to getting the beta up and running on PC can be found on the MyGaming/iGame forum.
Battlefield is scheduled to launch on 28 October 2011.
Battlefield 3 beta keys start shipping out today << Comments and views