Id Software's Quake III Arena beta programme has sprung a leak. Yesterday, an early test version of the highly-anticipated 3D network shoot-'em-up appeared on the Quake fan Web site ClanForums. The 16MB download is believed to have been developed for hardware manufacturers to test compatibility, released to them by Id under a non-disclosure agreement. However, according to Register sources, the Clanfest download contains no licensing information or other notification that it is a restricted release. With previous versions of Quake, Id has released such compatibility software to the public to enable users with unusual system configurations to test the game's graphics engine and report glitches. It seems likely then that this leak is the Quake III public test release that has simply emerged from Id's HQ a little too early. Our sources also report that the download contains three basic levels that simply show off some of the game engine's features, including curved walls, animated architecture and environmental elements, such as fog. The release also contain three of the game's weapons, including the machine gun and the rail gun. The levels sound like those shown by Id's John Carmack when he ran the Mac version of the game during the keynote at MacWorld Expo in January. ®