As we get closer to the end of the year, all the big releases are going to start ramping up their promotions to make themselves look more appealing than the other guy. To that end details have surfaced regarding some of the pre-order bonuses for Battlefield 3 as well as some information on the Open Beta which will be taking place sometime in September.

Depending on where you pick up the game and whether you get the special edition or not you'll have access to a variety of extras ranging from the awesome (Back to Karkand map pack) to the incredibly lame (a helmet for your avatar). If you pre-order the Limited Edition of the game through Origin or if you're a first-hand owner of Medal of Honor you'll get 48 hour early-access to the beta, which will be open to everybody on all platforms after that point.

For more details see the Battlefield 3 FAQ blog post and keep your eyes peeled for more information on the Beta.