You also need LIVE account and LIVE client to play the beta and game. :D

Apart from Winter Assault, which requires the original game.
BTW, does this beta require the Steam version of Soulstorm, or can I use the retail version?

You must activate Soulstorm from Steam with your retail Cd-Key to enter the beta. Then DoW 2 Beta will be shown on your Steam games list.

WTF ? lookslike i will stick to WoW (get back online last week :) ) and sacred 2 (bought yesterday, but it's intro.... well.... i have never seen anything like it for long time, expecialy that metal arrival of seraphine :-D ), i wanted to download DoW2 beta today, but i do not want another stupid program on my PC, so bye bye DoW2

Live's no problem for me, I already pay for xbox live gold (well okay my mum did but thats what christmas is for damnit) so I've already got the gamertag (If you get pwned in gears of war 2 online by an Aliasalpha well... it'll be as much of a shock for me as it is for you, I suck), just need the app.
As long as the GFWL service is as reliable as the XBL one I'll be happy

Really bummed because I have it on a disc, and you need the Steam version in order to donwload the beta. PISSED OFF.
By the way, Warhammer Online sucks.

eh? this seems to imply otherwise:
January 20, 2009 -- In celebration of THQ and Relic Entertainment's highly anticipated Warhammer® 40,000™: Dawn of War® II multiplayer beta, Steam is now offering Warhammer® 40,000T: Dawn of War® - Soulstorm™ for 75% off the suggested price. Anyone with an electronic or retail copy of Dawn of War - Soulstorm and a valid CD key may register their game with Steam and join the early access to the Dawn of War II beta today.
http://store.steampowered.com/news/2169

OK, thanks!
Now to murder my "friend"...

I said this before you can activate your retail copy on Steam.

Anyone from Czech Republic tried it? Moonfear? When I try to log on my Live! account, it says my country is probably not supported... Which makes me pretty angry at Live!, because ANY OTHER FUCKING SERVICE WORKS!

In Turkey too LIVE service is not available but I can play. I have an United States account and I change my regional settings to US from Control Panel in Windows. It worked. And yes LIVE is so stupid they must support all around the world, they are supporting only 26 countries.

Fine, that's totally idiotic. Thanks for advice!

well it's works fine for me been killing all sorts of things today orks, eldar and possibly tynids too

Oh well I don't know... Am I the only one who now thinks old engine actually suited Warhammer more than the new one? Lots of eye-candy, sure, but battles on the old engine kinda seemed more brutal, more beleivable, more... You know... Warhammer :D

i think the new engine better reflects actual 40k tabletop better than the original with the tabletop game you only have x amounts of squads and perhaps a tank or 2