'Halo Infinite' multiplayer beta test kicks off on July 29

Microsoft is hosting a short Halo Infinite multiplayer technical preview starting today, July 29, until Sunday, August 1. It's the first of many technical previews for the game, as Microsoft prepares to launch this free multiplayer game mode later this year.

This first preview includes testing gameplay against AI bots, with a bot arena that lets 343 Industries "gather feedback on Bot behaviour and online performance." This arena has a slayer mode across three maps and different challenges throughout the weekend.

"The Bots still have their quirks, which is why we're flighting them, but they certainly aren't pushovers. Be prepared," warns 343 Industries.

You can also try Weapon Drills to test out weapons before entering arena battles, with a range of guns to test like snipers, pistols, the MA40 ARm and classic needler. You can also check out the UI, including how to unlock battle passes, interact with challenges, and use the store. It has a "truncated Battle Pass and a small fraction of the Customization options planned for launch."

The test also includes the new Halo Waypoint web and mobile app, which lets you customize a spartan and view battle pass progress and challenges.

If you're interested in testing Halo Infinite, you'll need to sign up to be a Halo Insider to receive an invite to participate in the testing.