In some ways it is similar to what developers like Blizzard does when they launch patches on the PTR for gamers to test and try before they release it for the actual game. That being said it seems that plans for the public beta of the patch has since been cancelled. According to 343 Industries, it seems that while the beta was a good idea, it would ultimately lead to a longer wait for the release of the actual patch itself.
According to the Halo blog, “It was determined that the additional time and work devoted to the beta would’ve actually postponed the public availability of the content update. Lastly, there were some added challenges surrounding the CU beta – including an extra series of required updates and rollbacks – that made us take a step back and reexamine the CU beta.”
What this means is that 343 Industries will be conducting the final testing of the upcoming patch internally. Hopefully with the internal testing, the developers will be able to find and deal with the problems surrounding the game since its launch. The release date for the patch has yet to be determined but we will be keeping our eyes peeled for more info.