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DICE promises more Battlefield 4 DLC, surveys classic maps
Battlefield 4 developer DICE doesn't know when to stop Battlefieldin', as the game's latest map pack "Final Stand" won't be the last piece of content for the first-person shooter. "With Battlefield 4 Final Stand released, we hope and believe that you will enjoy it together with the rest of the game for a long time," the developer wrote in a blog this week. "However, there is one thing we want to assure you: There is more content coming for Battlefield 4." While DICE did not specify what it had in store for further DLC, it did acknowledge the "many requests of re-creating classic Battlefield maps within the Battlefield 4 universe." The developer opened a poll to the public to see which maps from the previous games in the series would be most popular among fans, available here. The next entry in the series, Visceral Games' Battlefield Hardline, was delayed to March 17, 2015. [Image: EA]
Killzone: Shadow Fall drops three new multiplayer maps
Sony dished out three free maps for Killzone: Shadow Fall today, the publisher's FPS that launched with the PS4 last November. One of the maps is The Statue, a competitive affair that takes place at a Scolar Visari memorial statue surrounded by scaffolding. A trailer for The Statue map can be found after the break. The other two maps, The ATAC Tower and The Canal, feature cooperative multiplayer action. Players that want to check out those two levels must also own Killzone: Shadow Fall Intercept, either in its add-on expansion form or the standalone version. The DLC launched in June, while the lone Intercept download arrived last month. For an extensive look at Intercept, check out our archived stream of the DLC from July. [Image: SCEA]
Battlefield 4 Second Assault out now for Premium members
The Second Assault DLC for Battlefield 4 is now available on PC via Origin as well as PS4 and PS3 for Premium members, and should arrive tomorrow on Xbox 360. The DLC first launched with the game on Xbox One, and is free with the $50 Premium service. Second Assault includes four new maps for the game: Caspian Border, Operation Metro, Operation Firestorm and Gulf of Oman. Each map is a "fan-favorite" from Battlefield 3, re-imagined in the Frostbyte 3 engine. The DLC will arrive on all consoles for non-Premium subscribers on March 4, as revealed last week.
Ryse $20 season pass grants access to four DLC packs
Microsoft announced a season pass program for Ryse: Son of Rome today. The $20 season pass will give players access to four DLC packs over the course of multiple months following the Xbox One exclusive's November 22 launch. Ryse's four pieces of DLC will feature a new mode, 14 multiplayer maps, six new skins for players, a new equipment tier and level events. The season pass is a 25 percent discount on the combined, as-yet-unannounced individual prices of the DLC packs, and will also come with a sword and shield exclusive to season pass holders. The Crytek-developed game will include 11 multiplayer maps at launch and an extra one specific to the Day One edition.
Rumor: Black Ops 2 'Revolution' coming January 29, bringing zombies along
An image promoting map pack DLC for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 recently popped up on Reddit, called "Revolution." The images show what seem to be five locations for the add-on content: Mirage, Downhill, Hydro, Grind, and Die Rise. Die Rise also sports a picture of a zombie-like soldier. Other pictures of the promotional materials for the DLC note that it will be a timed Xbox 360 exclusive set to launch January 29.We've contacted an Activision rep for comment on the leaked images, and will update once we learn more.
Mysterious Gears of War 3 maps revealed by leaderboard, no you can't play them
Gears of War 3 may not see its first infusion of downloadable goodness until November, but the xenophobic chainsaw sculpting simulator may have already given us a glimpse at the battles yet to come: Tucked away in the leaderboards are listings for three unannounced and currently inaccessible maps: Rustlung, Azura, and Blood Drive. Now, we're not entirely prepared to call this thing a duck, despite its rather convincing quacking. These maps could be part of a future DLC pack, true, but they could just as easily be developer levels used for testing; maps which will never, ever be released to the public. For now, all we can do is wait, and speculate. [Thanks, Laurence!]%Gallery-134817%
Section 8: Prejudice Overdrive Map Pack coming June 1
Are you familiar with the nooks, crannies and sweet, skydiveable air above each of the maps included in TimeGate Studios' beefy downloadable shooter, Section 8: Prejudice? Next Tuesday, June 1, the game will receive the Overdrive Map Pack, a bundle which includes two new maps which will be playable in all game modes: A magma-covered battlefield known as Abaddon, and a decidedly colder frozen wasteland called Sky Dock. The two new maps will launch on Xbox Live Marketplace and Games for Windows Marketplace for 320 Microsoft Points ($3.99). Sounds like a fair price for the raw, visceral thrill of plummeting into a pool of volcanic rock. Yes, that's not the smartest strategic move, but c'mon.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 'First Strike' map pack strikes Xbox Live first on Feb. 1
The Major Nelson podcast brings the first details of the initial, inevitable Call of Duty: Black Ops map pack. "First Strike" will be released on Xbox Live on February 1, 2011 -- as a timed exclusive, so give it about a month if you want it on another platform. The pack includes four competitive maps: "Discovery," based on the Reznov mission and taking place in an Antarctic research station; "Kowloon" set in, of course, Kowloon, this time on rooftops; "Berlin Wall," a fight at Checkpoint Charlie; and "Stadium," set in an American hockey rink. It also includes a Zombie map, "Ascension." The DLC will sell for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15), the customary Call of Duty map pack price point. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Civ 5 'Cradle of Civilization' DLC maps available on Steam
Does your copy of Civ 5 need just a tad more civilization up in it? Perhaps you'd just like to visit your own brand of global domination on your real-life hometown of Duluth, Minnesota? Whatever your motivation, you can now add the Americas, along with Asia, Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean, to your stomping grounds with the "Cradle of Civilization" map pack, now available on Steam. The four new maps can be added for $2.99 apiece or as a single bundle for $9.99 to the PC version of the game. Or, you could hold off and finish your campaign to conquer the entirety of Greece. Sorry, Napoleon -- no dessert until you finish your supper, young man.
Conquer Azeroth in Civilization 5
Civilization Fanatics forum-goer Maze has designed a map pack for the recently released Civilization 5 that looks very familiar, and for good reason: the map mimics that of classic World of Warcraft, with the two main continents and the Maelstrom in the center. The map is actually very accurate, with precisely placed bodies of water and coastlines and small details like purple creep in Silithus. There are also details like Thoradin's Wall and the Deeprun Tram pointed out. Maze has created two versions of the map, with differing sizes for faster- or slower-paced games. Even if you aren't a fan of the game and don't plan on playing it, the graphics and attention to detail are pretty awesome. Check out some shots of the map in our gallery below. %Gallery-106850%
New Settlers 7 multiplayer maps added to UbiShop
Are you and your globe-conquering friends losing that competitive edge over Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom's catalog of expansive multiplayer arenas? Today, Ubisoft added three new competitive maps for the game to its online storefront: Tempest Taiga, Fiery Chasm and the Battle of Tanholm.
Two more Lost Planet 2 multiplayer maps coming next week
Looking for a wider range of environments to get your customizable Lost Planet 2 character knocked around in? According to a recent Capcom press release, two new maps for the game's competitive multiplayer component will go on sale on the PlayStation Store for $4.99 on June 1, and on Xbox Live Marketplace for 400 on June 2. The map pack will include "Frozen Wasteland," a renovated version of a map from the original Lost Planet, and "Dockyard Battle," a 16-player arena modeled after the factory level from Episode 4 of the game's campaign. We were hoping for a multiplayer version of the railway cannon level, but ... well, that would lead to some awfully one-sided battles, wouldn't it?
Modern Warfare 2 Resurgence Map Pack detailed [Update: Now with screens!]
Click image to amuse yourself with some new screens Xbox Live's Major Nelson had Infinity Ward "creative strategist" Robert Bowling on his podcast recently to talk about the upcoming Resurgence Map Pack for Modern Warfare 2. Set to release on June 3 on Xbox Live, the pack will be priced at 1200 ($15) -- the same as its predecessor, the Stimulus Pack. Resurgence will feature maps old and new, including two Call of Duty 4 maps and three new locations: Vacant -- the wide open Russian office complex from CoD4 Strike -- the urban town surrounded by hotels from CoD4 Carnival -- an abandoned carnival area with a Ferris wheel, fun house and other attractions Trailer Park -- full of "super tight corridors" and featuring a pool ("Mobile Estates," Bowling calls it) Fuel -- a "sniper haven" based in and around an oil refinery Bowling says that the new maps will be tied to specific playlists, just like the Stimulus maps. With the Resurgence collection, however, it's possible that all of the maps will be available in every playlist, as long as "demand is high." And, as with the previous pack, the new maps will be exclusive to Xbox 360 for a short time before coming to PC and PS3. Update: We've got images of all five maps, which you can check out in the gallery below or by clicking the image in the post. Enjoy! %Gallery-93049%
Bad Company 2 to offer free March 30 'mapathy' cure
Oh man, EA's pursuit of Modern Warfare 2 just got hot, as DICE has announced via the Battlefield Blog that on March 30 -- the same day the Stimulus Package DLC will boost Modern Warfare 2's map count -- Battlefield: Bad Company 2's VIP members will receive the free "VIP Map Pack 2," which adds a Conquest mode scenario to the Arica Harbor map and Rush mode to Laguna Presa. Both maps aren't new to the game, however neither has been available for play in the "unlocked" game modes noted above. So, that kinda qualifies as a "map pack," right? Regardless, it's free, as DICE boldly proclaims in its jab at Activision and Infinity Ward: "How to avoid 'mapathy' without paying!" [Thanks, Qwaint]
Aliens vs. Predator's first DLC revealed as 4-map pack
This morning, Sega announced that the first DLC add-on for Aliens vs. Predator will be a four-pack of multiplayer maps -- the same four maps that came included in the European Collector's Edition of the game. Specifically, Europeans will be able to pick up "Docks" and "Machine" (the regular multiplayer maps) and "Outpost" and "Hive" (the Survival Mode maps) as a set for 560 ($7), according to the Sega of Europe website. (Sega of America told us that there will be more info on the North American release this week.) Unfortunately, no firm release date has been given, though the map pack is said to arrive "shortly" for all three platforms. And yeah, we're also hoping this isn't the only AvP DLC that Sega's putting out "soon after release." %Gallery-63762%
SOCOM: Confrontation 'Cold Front' trailers arrive, DLC coming later today
Detailed a couple months back, SOCOM: Confrontation's DLC pack "Cold Front" arrives later today on the PlayStation Network for the introductory price of $10 ($15 after December 20), though we're just seeing it in action today with a couple of gameplay trailers. The DLC includes not just five new maps, but snow effects, a new gameplay mode and ... wait, what's this? Fancy new clothes! Nothing says "tactical warfare" like goose down jackets! Get a taste for the DLC, then test your mettle against the urge to get fashionable, just after the break. [Thanks, Edgar]
Modern Warfare 2 map pack planned for Spring 2010
If our trusted sources on, um, this box of Modern Warfare 2–branded Monster energy drinks are to be believed, we'll be seeing at least one map pack arriving for the game by next spring (cue: shock and awe). The Monster boxes arrived this week at various game industry folks' locations, and GameSpot spotted the details on the box of an upcoming contest where 5,000 lucky folks will receive, "MW2 Map Pack codes" with a "planned release" of Spring 2010.The only thing more exciting than the map pack reveal? Dashboard themes -- confirmed. You ever chug down four Monsters and just look at one of those, man? You can see everything!
The evolution of a Team Fortress 2 map explained
Ever wondered about how Team Fortress 2's oft-visited battlegrounds are created? We assure you, it's not as simple as "insert spawn point, insert spawn point, insert weapons, publish." In fact, in a recent TF2 blog post, Valve explains that the game's mapmaking process is extremely exhaustive, involving countless hours of playtesting, revisions, and special care to ensure no map favors one class over another (except for the Mecha-Heavy, who's pretty much unstoppable on every map).If you're interested in the fine craftsmanship, check out Valve's blog post. They've got a couple of neat time-lapse videos showing off the mapmaking process, as well as some info pertaining to a completely free King of the Hill community map pack! (That is to say, the King of the Hill gametype, and not the hee-larious Mike Judge cartoon.)
Halo Wars Historic Battle DLC available now
click to Brute-size Always there with a friendly reminder, Major Nelson sends word that the Historic Battle Map Pack for Halo Wars is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. The new content includes four new multiplayer maps: Barrens (1v1), Blood River (1v1), Memorial Basin (2v2) and Glacial Ravine (3v3). The DLC also adds four new Achievements worth a total of 100 points. If you need some new space to rock out with your tiny Spartan death squad, the Historic Battle Map Pack will run you 800 ($10). Check out some fresh images of each map in the gallery below.Download the Historic Battle Map Pack to your Xbox 360%Gallery-68426%
Halo Wars getting four new maps, four new achievements
Are your miniscule, impressionable Spartans developing powerful cases of wanderlust? Are they growing antsy and restless -- sure signs of boredom with their tired stomping (and shooting) grounds? You'll be able to whisk them off to new, yet-to-be-bloodstained areas soon enough -- on July 21, Microsoft is dropping four new maps and four new achievements for Halo Wars.The "Historic Battles" map pack (which will cost 800) includes two 1v1 maps, a 2v2 map, a 3v3 map and four new achievements which tack 100 extra gamerpoints to the strategy title. We've got descriptions of each map and 'cheevo listed after the break for all you cautious consumers.
