Uncharted 3 multiplayer beta dated, detailed

The Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception beta kicks off in just a few weeks, and Naughty Dog has outlined exactly what it will contain. Colour me extremely excited.

IGN had all the details of the beta, which begins on June 28 for those with a PS Plus subscription or beta code obtained from purchasing a new copy of InFamous 2. Everyone else can join the fun on July 4.

It's a short one, running till July 13 only - making those early-entry options even more attractive - and caps out at level 25.

Nine multiplayer modes will be included. Five-player Team Deathmatch, Plunder and Team Objective; the six-player 3-Team Deathmatch; and eight-player modes Free For All and High Stakes have been revealed so far, with three more co-operative modes still under covers but expected to appear at E3.

Only two maps will appear, one set in an airfield and another in a chateau in France. Both include dynamic events which alter the battlefield.

Characters include Drake, Sully, a treasure hunter, and on the villainous side, pirates. You'll be able to customise these avatars.

Weapons making an appearance include the AK-47, G-Mal, Dragon Sniper, RPGs and pistols. Long guns can be modded with clip size or the ability to locate enemies, while pistols can increase ammo capacity and rate of fire.

When players earn enough medals, they'll have the opportunity to use an ability chosen pre-match. The beta will include four: Smoke Bomb, Speedy G, RPG!!!, and Cluster Bomb.

Eight boosters will be available in two slots. The first slot will play host to Come Here (tracks the player who last offed you until his or her next death), Retaliation (respawn with the weapon which killed you), Cloaked (silent, invisible on radar), and Weapon Expert (adds more mod capacity to weapons).

In slot two, you'll eventually be able to pile on Back in the Saddle (decreased respawn time), Bargain (cheaper medal kickbacks), Power Hunter (locate power weapons), and Daredevil (ammo from taunting defeated opponents).

If all that's not enough to give you an edge, Uncharted 2 also features Power Plays, which give the losing team an increased chance at victory in short bursts. Four will be found in the beta:

• Marked Man - A person on the winning team is marked, and the losing team gets 3 points if they kill him. Meanwhile, the winning team gets double cash for each kill and a special medal if the Marked Man doesn't die.
• Cursed - The winning team sees all characters as skeletons and friendly fire is turned on. Each time the losing team gets a kill or the winning team kills one of its own, the losing team gets two points. Meanwhile, the winning team gets double cash for each member of the losing team killed.
• Exposed - The winning team's location is revealed to the losing team. The winning team gets double cash for each losing team member killed.
• Double Damage - Losing team inflicts double damage. Winning team earns double cash for each kill.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception is a PlayStation 3 exclusive due in early November.

Thanks, 1UP.