So that Gears of War 3 game—it’s kind of a hit, what with it going on to go triple platinum, receive the critical equivalent of audiences throwing roses at it on stage and becoming the biggest hit of the year so far. Some might call that a success. And Epic isn’t done with the game yet.
Today Epic announced the first of four planned DLC releases. The add-on will be titled the “Horde Command Pack,” and hit Xbox Live on November 1 for 800 MS Points ($10). The DLC will include three new maps for Horde mode (which will also be available in Beast mode as well as private versus matches), new fortifications, new characters and new weapon skins.
• Three spectacular new maps:
o Blood Drive – The Jacinto Medical Plaza was overwhelmed by evacuated citizens after the government-sanctioned Hammer Strikes, and the ensuing riots quickly turned this safe haven into a dangerous inferno. An abundance of high ground and funneled choke points make this map a returning favorite to Horde.
o Rustlung – Once the pride of the Royal Tyran Navy, the foredecks of this decommissioned battleship are now riddled with bullet holes. Any team with the fortitude to hold the exposed central torpedo bay will find that the ship’s Loader has been replaced with a battle-ready Silverback mech suit.
o Azura – This island resort was once the exclusive domain of Sera’s educated elite, but the tranquil water gardens and lush foliage have become a hotly contested combat zone. Dual snipers overlook a powerful explosive weapon, while the defensive central platform may be your last resort of retreat.
• New fortification upgrades:
o Command Center – A brand new type of fortification that allows you to call in fire support from sniper teams, mortar strikes and even multiple Hammers of Dawn.
o Decoy Upgrade – A new fortification level that turns your decoy into an Onyx Guard bot that will fight in your defense.
o Sentry Upgrade – This upgrade adds a fire bolt sentry that deals much more damage and is very effective against Berserkers.
o Silverback Upgrade – This advancement allows you to upgrade your Silverback exo-suit with devastating rockets and extra levels of repair cost reduction.
• New characters:
o Onyx Guard
o Big Rig Dizzy
o Bernie
• New weapon skins:
o Team Plasma
o Jungle Camo
The DLC will be the first of four planned expansions, all of which are available as part of the Gears of War 3 Season Pass, available for a flat fee of $30. The remaining add-ons have not yet been announced, but at least one of them will feature an additional section of the campaign, featuring a new character taken from the graphic novels.
