Bungie has announced the specific beta timing for its upcoming "shared-world shooter" Destiny. On July 17, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 players can begin playing the beta, which picks up from the beginning of the game and includes a handful of Story missions, a Strike mission, and a selection of PvP Crucible maps. The beta will then go offline for maintenance on Monday, July 21, and return on PS4, PS3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360 on Wednesday, July 23. The beta ends on Sunday, July 27.

We're covering Destiny all month long on IGN First, our new initiative that takes you deeper into the games you care about most. We'll have thousands of beta keys to give away on IGN if you haven't already gotten a key from pre-ordering the game.

Our first piece of Destiny IGN First content is an unboxing of the just-announced Ghost Edition, which includes:

-A steelbook disc case and disc copy of the game

-A field manual with "handwritten" notes

-An "antique" star chart

-A Guardian folio

-4 postcards from the Golden Age (i.e. Earth before the Darkness decimated it)

-The Destiny Expansion Pass ($34.99 value; good for Expansion I and Expansion II)

-Collector's Edition Digital Content (an in-game Ghost skin, player emblem, and ship skin)

-And the centerpiece: a life-size replica of the Ghost robot, complete with lights and Peter Dinklage dialogue samples.

The Ghost Edition will cost $149.99 and Bungie says it will truly be a limited production run and availability. Meanwhile, the $99.99 Limited Edition includes everything in the CE except the illuminated, talking Ghost replica.

Finally, there's also an $89.99 Digital Guardian Edition for those looking to skip the disc version of the game. It includes a digital download of the game, early access to Vanguard armory and player emblem pre-order bonuses, a reservation for upcoming Destiny expansions "The Dark Below" and "House of Wolves" (each of which includes new Story missions, cooperative and competitive multiplayer arenas, and a "wealth" of new weapons, armor, and gear), and the aforementioned Collector's Edition Digital Content.

Be sure to stay tuned all month long to IGN First, as we'll be bringing you multiplayer map tours, the first beta impressions, late-game sneak peeks, and more! Oh, and don't miss our livestream of the beta on Wednesday, July 16 before you can play it!