Demos are so last generation. These days if you really want people to trial your game and feel useful doing it, you have to launch a beta! Glorified demos or not, they’re certainly gaining popularity, and Treyarch’s Call of Duty: World at War is but the latest game to ride the crest of this beta-shaped wave.

Last year only Xbox 360 and PC owners managed to get in on the Call of Duty 4 multiplayer beta, as is the case this year — Activision has today announced that both a 360 and PC multiplayer beta will begin this October, preceding the game’s November 11 launch — leaving the PS3 out in the cold somewhat. However, it seems that the tide may have turned this year! After a quick query on the possibility of a PS3 beta, Activision told MTV’s Multiplayer Blog, “We will have more information on that coming soon.” So fingers crossed!