Xbox Live gamers where a little surprised, but I am sure very pleased to see a beta version of the highly anticipated Mass Effect 3 game available as a download via Xbox live. The new Mass Effect 3 game isn’t officially being released until March 2012 and it now looks like the beta release was down to "human error”.

The beta release seemed to be particular available to those gamers who had who registered to be part of the Xbox Live Dashboard update. Allowing them to enjoy access to a playable version of Mass Effect 3. Unfortunately for its creators Bioware they were just as amazed to see their new game available in beta form without their authorisation.

Bioware explained:

"Microsoft has advised us that through human error at their end, content which was meant for internal beta testing was flagged incorrectly and released to individuals who had signed up for the beta of the Xbox Live dashboard update. It has since been taken down and deactivated,”

Bioware have also stated that the beta version was in a very rough state and not meant to be released for public viewing.

Source: VG247