Mow 'em down in the beta

When a company says "details will be available in the near future", the near future can be anything from weeks to months. Sony's just beaten the world land speed record for more details arriving, with the Killzone 3 beta details officially announced just days after being teased.

Launching on October 25th, the beta includes an all-new gametype, vehicles, jetpacks and the in-game party system allowing users to stick together. Only PlayStation Plus subscribers are eligible to enter, with the first 10,000 users within PAL territories to apply winning access.

Edit: Sony has clarified the situation regarding how many users can access the beta.

On October 19th, an exclusive Killzone 3 XMB Theme will appear in the Plus section of the PlayStation Store. The first 10,000 Plus subscribers to download this theme (5,000 SCEA Plus subscribers and 5,000 SCEE Plus subscribers) will receive access to the Public Beta Trial.

Full details on how to get involved are listed below. Good luck and give 'em Hell.

Sign up for battle: Killzone®3 Public Beta announced

Show the Helghast what you've got - sign up to PlayStation®Plus today for your place in the Public Beta Trial for Killzone®3 on PlayStation®3 (PS3TM)

London, 7th October: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today announced a Public Beta Trial for the upcoming Killzone®3 for PlayStation®3 (PS3TM) - putting the next iteration of the iconic first person shooter through rigorous testing at the hands of the toughest, most demanding critics in existence: the fans. On 25 October, fans of the franchise will have their chance to sample the multiplayer mode for Killzone 3, including the all-new ‘Operations' game type, party system, and jetpack and exoskeleton vehicles. Not only will participants get an exclusive look at the explosive cinematic experience and a chance to hone their skills ahead of launch, but they'll be able to shape the final experience themselves - the trial will call for fans to provide honest gameplay feedback, report any bugs and cheats they find, and help test the network code in large-scale, real-world scenarios.

But you've got to be quick! Access will only be granted to the first 10,000 PlayStation Plus subscribers in PAL territories - to secure a place and ensure you don't miss out, follow the steps below:

Become a PlayStation Plus subscriber: access is limited to PlayStation Plus subscribers, so if you're not enjoying the many benefits of PlayStation Plus membership yet, now is the time to sign up!

Download the exclusive Killzone 3 XMB Theme from PlayStation Plus section of the PlayStation Store on October 14

Check your email! If you're among the first 10,000 to download the Killzone 3 XMB Theme, you will receive an email on October 25th containing the Public Beta Trial promotion code and further instructions through the address you registered as your PSN Sign-In ID

Don't miss your chance to be part of the action. Exclusive to PS3, Killzone 3 is due to arrive later this year. Find out more at www.killzone.com.