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Black Ops 2 Uprising maps are free for Xbox, double XP for all this weekend
Ahead of the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2's next DLC pack on PC and PS3 this coming week, Treyarch is offering double XP in online matches this weekend on all consoles. What's more, Xbox 360 players will have access to a free trial of the game's Uprising DLC for the weekend. Uprising offers players four maps: Magma, Encore, Vertigo and Studio, as well as the Mob of the Dead zombies map set in Alcatraz. The DLC first launched in April for Xbox 360, later arriving in May for PS3 and PC, and is normally priced at $14.99.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 'Uprising' DLC rallies on PS3, PC May 16
Black Ops 2's Uprising DLC pack will be available on Windows PC and PS3 on May 16 for $14.99. The DLC has been available on Xbox 360 since April 16, as part of Microsoft's exclusivity deal with Activision.Uprising includes four multiplayer maps: Magma, a Japanese village at the base of an erupting volcano; Encore, a vacated London music festival; Vertigo, a map atop an Indian skyscraper; and Studio, a modern remake of the original Black Ops map, Firing Range. In addition to the multiplayer maps, Uprising also includes the Mob of the Dead Zombies mode variant, where Hollywood stars Chazz Palminteri, Michael Madsen, Ray Liotta and Joe Pantoliano fight to survive waves of the undead while stuck on the island prison of Alcatraz during the Prohibition era.%Gallery-185837%
PSA: Black Ops 2, Dishonored, Forza Horizon DLC out today
Today is the day that the game about military battles in 2025 also becomes about Mafiosi battling zombies in the 1930s, and our world becomes incrementally stranger in the process. Black Ops 2's "Uprising" DLC is available on the Xbox Live Marketplace now for 1200 MSP.Other noteworthy, perspective-shifting DLC today brings "The Knife of Dunwall" to Dishonored. It's available now on Xbox and will be released today on PS3 and PC. And Forza Horizon's "1000 Club" expansion offers new challenges for every car.%Gallery-185837%
FIFA 13 storms back up to first on UK charts
The new year kicks off with FIFA 13 seated first on the UK all formats sales chart. The game hadn't been in the top spot since that naughty Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 showed up, followed by a surprisingly strong showing by Far Cry 3. Blacks Ops 2 and Far Cry 3 currently hold third and second place, respectively.If the historical pattern holds up, FIFA and Just Dance franchises will show strong in the weeks ahead as the year gears up. Just Dance 4 is currently in seventh.New games entering the top 40 (thanks to discounts) are Batman: Arkham City - Game of the Year Edition at No. 25 and Saints Row: The Third - The Full Package at 40. Yes, you want to play Saints Row if you've yet to indulge.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 hosting double XP this weekend, League Play now live
Just in case you aren't already earning double XP in Max Payne 3 or Red Orchestra 2 this weekend, here's one more option for you to get twice as many progression points. Treyarch and Activision are hosting a double XP weekend in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, starting right now through Monday December 17 at 10am. The dev team also introduced League Play into the game this week, so you can now ladder up and play against opponents matched to your skill, and there are various Clan Ops and other challenges available to go after as well. Saddle up!
Report: Some Black Ops 2 retail discs contain Mass Effect 2 info
Players who bought retail PC copies of Black Ops 2 – some of the same people who waited in line for hours on a cold November night during the midnight launch – popped in the second installation disc to find that it's for Mass Effect 2. Reports on Steam, Reddit, 4chan and the Black Ops 2 forums describe the same problem, and the video below shows it in action (along with some NSFW language).This prevents these players from installing Black Ops 2 with the discs, but each retail copy comes with a Steam key and the entire game can be installed digitally. It will take a while, but it is at least, eventually, playable; this process largely negates the entire "waiting in line for a retail version" thing, though.We've contacted Activision for more information.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II limited editions unveiled, $180 'Care Package' includes aerial drone
Activision never disappoints when it comes to limited edition Call of Duty release bundles, and for the upcoming Black Ops II, it actually may have outdone itself. Besting the RC-XD from its predecessor, $180 will let you snag the Care Package edition for Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3. This massive bundle is actually boxed as an in-gamed care package (aerial drop-off not included) that's loaded with a remote controlled MQ-27 Dragonfire quadrocopter drone (!) -- we really wish we'd picked up those Modern Warfare 2 night vision goggles now (not at all for full-fledged, after hours recon of our Aol office-mates...). Naturally, it also comes loaded with the requisite DLC goodies; namely, two extra maps (Nuketown Zombies and Nuketown 2025), exclusive weapon camo, a pair of Player Card backgrounds and copy of the soundtrack. Furthermore, PS3 owners will get a pair of dynamic themes, while those with 360s will receive an XBL Zombie avatar and Claw prop. Lastly, you'll also receive a couple more tangible items in the way of an art book and a duo of "Challenge" coins. Not looking to terrorize your local airspace? Shave off the $100 premium for the drone and case (not too shabby if the AR.Drone is expensive for your budget) and you'll be able to grab the Hardened edition packed with everything else. Last, and seemingly least in this case, Activision is putting out a Digital Deluxe for PC users -- similar to the Hardened variant, but with a download code for the aging World at War in place of the physical goodies and PSN / XBL content. Wallet already prepared for the future of secret warfare? You'll find details to place your own pre-order ahead of the November 13th launch at the source links below and trailer courtesy of Joystiq after the break. %Gallery-163580%
Official Black Ops II gaming headsets unveiled by Turtle Beach, coming 'weeks' ahead of game release (hands-on)
The crowds that filed towards the hulking Call of Duty: Black Ops II stand at Gamescom prove it deserved all that floor space and nearby, Turtle Beach was finally showing off its range of companion gaming headphones, ranging from in-ear buds to top-of-the-range wireless gaming cans with some heavy-duty audio customization options in tow. We managed to take a look at the whole selection (which repackages several models from the XP series and the incoming Seven series). While these were still developmental models (the Call of Duty decals will be painted on, not the stickers seen here), it should give you a good idea how the headphones will appear when they arrive in the next few months. We've got details on all the headsets (and the press release) after the break. %Gallery-162533% %Gallery-162520%
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2: What we know thus far
This morning's Acti acci-reveal of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, ahead of tonight's big scheduled announcement, is just one more instance in a long line of Black Ops 2-related leaks. But today's leak is a biggie, revealing not just the game's title and launch date, but also new information on the game's setting. "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 propels players into a near future, 21st Century Cold War, where technology and weapons have converged to create a new generation of warfare," the site reads, outing Blops 2's new future setting.The site also unveiled the game's box art, which depicts a pensive gentleman holding a handgun and a hunting knife. Beyond that, a tipster this morning sent over four screens of the game itself that were apparently snagged from the site's backend (the images section of the site has been stripped of any images for now). As the screen above indicates, drones seem to play some role in Blops 2. And those were teased less than a week ago by ... uh ... this crazy YouTube video.There's also a debut trailer, albeit one that Acti still has set to private, which we're guessing will roll tonight during the NBA playoffs. What we can tell from the still thumbnail is that you'll either be watching someone else pilot a heli through Los Angeles, or taking the reins yourself (it's unclear from the image). Either way, we're totally psyched at the idea of destroying the site of E3 from a helicopter. Retribution, finally!The site's pre-order page only lists options for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, seemingly eschewing the variety of other platforms that previous Call of Duty games launched on. It is, of course, possible that Acti is holding other platform announcements for the future, which we'll just chalk up as synergy with the game's near-future setting.%Gallery-154417%
New Call of Duty set for world reveal during NBA playoffs on May 1
Like Madden and Punxsutawney Phil, the annual reveal of a new Call of Duty game isn't what we'd call surprising. It is, however, quite a thrilling notion to many millions of people the world over, which is why we're here to tell you that, yes, another Call of Duty game is getting ready for its big reveal. According to a new countdown timer on Call of Duty's official website, said game will be revealed during the NBA playoffs on May 1 via TNT (apparently the station's "Drama, period" slogan also applies to sports playoffs).Given the nature of the Call of Duty series, it's very likely that 2012 will see the launch of the next Treyarch-developed CoD title (2011's Modern Warfare 3 was a collaborative effort lead by Infinity Ward). And what might Treyarch be working on? Many (many) indications point to a sequel to 2010's immensely successful Black Ops, but we'll see for sure on May 1.
'Activision doesn't blacklist journalists,' working on resolution with Gameblog
Earlier this week, France's Gameblog posted a screenshot of Amazon France's premature listing for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, a story that we and other gaming sites picked up immediately. We later found further support for the claim in a Treyarch employee's resume.A new Call of Duty title -- or a second Black Ops -- wasn't particularly surprising, but apparently Activision wanted to keep the news quiet, and it called the site to take down the story, Gameblog wrote in a follow-up post. Gameblog said the reporter refused and that Activision took a strangely extreme route, "blacklisting" the site, uninviting it from events, declining to send it any more review titles and removing all advertisement.Activision has now publicly responded to Gameblog's claim: "Activision doesn't blacklist journalists. We believe this was a misunderstanding and are working towards a resolution." That sounds like a more reasonable response than the all-out journalistic warfare Gameblog reported; then again, this is all about a Call of Duty title, so maybe "warfare" was the angle they were comfortable with at first.
Treyarch contract art studio employee lists 'Black Ops 2' among current projects [update: pulled!]
Hugo Beyer has worked on some major titles over the years (Beatles Rock Band, Anno 1404), including some still unreleased ones (Doom 4, Aliens: Colonial Marines), at a variety of studios (Terminal Reality, Liquid Development). What stands out to us, however, is his current work with Nerve Software on what he refers to as "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2," as seen on his public LinkedIn page."But who is Nerve Software?" you're probably wondering. Nerve has done a bunch of contract work for Activision in the past, including Treyarch-developed James Bond title Quantum of Solace, as well as ... Call of Duty: Black Ops (the first one).So, there's one more lead in the "Activision and Treyarch are probably gonna release Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 this year" news cycle. Between domain registrations and reported retailer listings in Europe, we're thinking an announcement can't be too far off. Activision and Nerve Software had yet to respond to request for comment as of publishing.Update: Mr. Beyer (or someone on his behalf) has taken down his LinkedIn page, it would seem. We've still yet to receive responses to comment requests from him, or Nerve Software, or Activision.
