Call of Duty: BlOps 3 beta due late-August

An update to the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 website reveals that the bombastic sequel will start beta testing on PC in late-August. Thanks to a new deal between Activision and Sony, PS4 users get first dibs with the beta on August 19. PC and Xbox One users will be ushered through the gates a week later, on August 26.

BlOps 3 is an interesting one. It's zombies mode looks pleasingly ridiculous, and the main campaign seems like an attempt to build upon some of the best systems of Advanced Warfare. But then, it's a Call of Duty—surely it won't break too far from the series' basic template.

Unfortunately, you have to pre-order to get beta access. Generally our standing advice is not to pre-order anything. That said, this is the 12th Call of Duty. You probably already know whether BlOps 3 is a game you're going to get.

Thanks, Blue's News.

Phil has been writing for PC Gamer for nearly a decade, starting out as a freelance writer covering everything from free games to MMOs. He eventually joined full-time as a news writer, before moving to the magazine to review immersive sims, RPGs and Hitman games. Now he leads PC Gamer's UK team, but still sometimes finds the time to write about his ongoing obsessions with Destiny 2, GTA Online and Apex Legends. When he's not levelling up battle passes, he's checking out the latest tactics game or dipping back into Guild Wars 2. He's largely responsible for the whole Tub Geralt thing, but still isn't sorry.