Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 3 finally hits the battlefield on April 27, but if you can't wait to get you hands on the latest installment of the popular RTS franchise, then clear your weekend from April 21-24 for an open beta.

To participate, you will need to create a Relic Link account, but that will get you access when the beta kicks of at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET on April 21. Once you sign up, confirmations will go out on April 12. You will be able to preload the beta on April 18.

The open beta will give players limited access to various aspects of the game vs the whole game:

• 5 Elites (9 in the full game)
• 6 doctrines per faction (20 in the full game)
• 3 multiplayer maps (8 in the full game)

In addition, the premium Eldar, Space Marine and Ork Masters of War skins will be unlocked for players to try. If you pre-ordered Dawn of War 3, you will get them for free. If not, they will be available for purchase when the game launches.

A very limited closed beta is planned from April 7-10 to help the dev team iron out any kinks before the open beta begins two weeks later.