Electronic Arts studio DICE has announced the multiplayer beta test for the Xbox 360 version of Battlefield: Bad Company. In the beta, gamers can battle through two different maps and try out the game's new infantry kits and vehicles.

IGN Founders’ Club and IGN Insider will be offering beta keys to both members and the general public in North America and Europe. Beta keys can also be obtained from IGN.com and its affiliated websites including GameSpy, TeamXbox, Planet Battlefield and Voodoo Extreme.

Interested gamers in North America can also get beta keys by pre-ordering a copy of Battlefield: Bad Company from GameStop. There are only 5,000 beta keys available from the store, though, so you better hurry if you want to grab one.

The beta will commence on March 17 while the game itself (also available on PlayStation 3), launches in June.