Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath was released in North America today for the PC and each game box has a prize at the bottom: a beta key for Red Alert 3. Gamers who purchase Kane's Wrath through an online store will receive an e-mail with the key.

When you get your key, just mosey over to the beta website to enter in your name, country, and e-mail address. When the beta version of RA3 is ready, EA will contact you with instructions on how to download the beta client software. Access is granted on a first-come, first-serve basis so the earlier you register your key, the better.

The beta sign-up website also mentions that "You are guaranteed a chance to play the multiplayer Beta before Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 releases if you registered successfully before September 15th, 2008." This seems to fit with the prognosis of a fourth quarter 2008 release.

It might irk some people that the beta key is being bundled with an expansion pack but it could be worse. If EA really wanted to be dicks about it, they could've bundled it with EUFA Euro 2008.