Halo: Reach beta too late for Crackdown 2 release, says Ruffian's Cope

Crackdown 2 producer James Cope has told CVG that timing was the reason why the multiplayer beta for Halo: Reach was not included in the release of the Ruffian sandbox epic.

He told the site that the multiplayer taster, which has since finished, was considered to be included with the game, but in the end, it's summer release was considered to be too late for the beta.

"It was [in consideration]," said Cope. "We would've loved to have done it, basically. We would've absolutely loved to have had that opportunity but the timing just wasn't right for us."

The original Crackdown had the multiplayer beta of Halo 3 when the RealTime Worlds original was released back in early 2007, but despite the less-then-brilliant timing this time round, Cope says he'd like to see it happen again in the future.

"It would've been fun. I hope one day we get to return that favour," he said. "Maybe one day whatever Bungie does next we can offer them a bundle in with our next game."

Considering Bungie's shacking up with Activision for the next ten years, and Ruffian is first-party, we highly doubt that's going to happen.

Crackdown 2 releases on July 9 in the UK for Xbox 360. Go have a pop at winning the Ruffivan while you wait.