Yes, you read correctly! Announced recently on the PlayStation Blog, the MAG open beta is now available to all PS3 and PlayStation Network users, giving you the chance to sample the massive 256-person online multiplayer carnage made possible by the game.

If you haven’t already gone through the steps of downloading the necessary files that will get you access to the beta, the following instructions will come in real handy:

• 1.) Log on to the PlayStation Store and download the MAG Beta file like you would any other freely-available PSN video or demo (37 MB)
• 2.) Launch the MAG Beta program from your XMB to download a special patch that will restart MAG once the update has been received (another 38 MB)
• 3.) After the reboot, the beta will reconnect and download the actual game data so that you can play (1.8 GB – 2.3 GB depending on your region)

You’d better hurry if you want in on this squad-based first-person shooter – the open beta only lasts until 07:59 GMT on the 11th of January in Europe, and 11:59pm on January 10th for North American users.

Go have a browse through El33tonline’s previous coverage of MAG to see what you can expect from the game. The full game releases later this month (January 26th in North America, and a little later in Europe) and exclusive to the PS3.

Source: European and US PlayStation Blog