Activision just announced that Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 will be getting a staggering amount of DLC over the next 9 months. Specifically, there will be 20 DLC packs (twenty!) for Modern Warfare 3 in the next 9 months. That’s more than one DLC every second week.

Which begs the question: how much DLC is too much? How much of this DLC was supposed to be in the game in the first place? A game which wasn’t that much different from previous CoD titles to begin with. And at one point do gamers just stop caring? While 20 DLC packs will no doubt generate a lot of revenue for Activision, it’s easy to assume that a large chunk of gamers will just get lost in all the content that’s available, and the fragmentation that could occur: if there are 20 map maps out there, it’ll spread the player base quite a lot, even with a game as popular as Modern Warfare 3. Want to play with your friend? You’ll need map pack #12. Want to play with another friend? You’ll need map pack #17 for that. And so on.

“Want to play with your friend? You’ll need map pack #12. Want to play with another friend? You’ll need map pack #17 for that.”The announcement of so many DLC packs also seems like a selling point for Activision’s Call of Duty Elite service. Elite membership costs $50/year and includes free DLC, but that’s $50 on top of the regular game’s $60 bucks. And on top of the Xbox Live subscription, which is another $50/year. Yes, gaming is getting very expensive. At least multiplayer gaming on the Xbox 360.

While we can’t say that we’re surprised over this (it’s Activision and Call of Duty, after all), hopefully it won’t be a direction that other publishers take. Depending on how gamers respond to this, it has the potential to become the norm — a somewhat lackluster game, coupled with a ton of DLC and a “premium” service sprinkled on top.

Remember when maps used to be free? Remember when instead of a few maps for $15, we got huge expansion packs for $20? Those were the good old days…

Epic games have announced that Gears of War 3 will be getting a new DLC called “Fenix Rising”, which is slated for arrival on January 17, 2012. The DLC will retail 800 MS points, or $10, and will include 5 new multiplayer maps. On top of that, Fenix Rising will include new multiplayer skins and an updated experience system called Re-Up, which gives players over the level 100 a chance for another tour of duty. The five new maps are called “Academy”, “Anvil”, “Depths”, “Escalation” and “The Slab”.

We recently mentioned that Resistance 3 has gotten a new DLC called Brutality, and now developer Insomniac Games have released a trailer promoting the new DLC. Resistance 3 Brutality is available now on the PSN store for $4 bucks.

Battlefield 3 is getting its first DLC, called Back To Karkand, which brings back old Battlefield 2 maps, weapons and vehicles into the Battlefield 3 era. We’ve gotten our hands on Back To Karkand, and we’ve got a review for you.

First the basics: if you pre-ordered or own a copy of Battlefield 3 Limited Edition, you’ll get Back To Karkand for free, otherwise, it’ll cost you $15. Now the contents: Back to Karkand includes 4 new maps, 10 new weapons, and 3 new vehicles. Hardly a lot for $15 bucks, but as we found out, there’s a lot of quality in Back To Karkand.

First, the maps: Strike At Karkand, Wake Island, Sharqi Peninsula, and Gulf of Oman. If you’ve played BF2, you’ll know that these are classics, and when it comes to Strike At Karkand, it’s one of the most popular multiplayer maps over the past 10 years in any game. The Battlefield 3 versions of the maps add destruction, and of course, much better visuals. Gameplay wise, the maps retain their well known paths and choke points, and feel very familiar. One thing we liked is that some of the maps, like Karkand, include more than the 3 usual capture points that are found in regular BF3 maps.

There are 10 new weapons to be unlocked, but in order to unlock them, you have to complete one “assignment” per weapon — 10 in total. We liked this idea of having to actually earn a weapon rather than just rake in kills in unlock. Vehicle wise, we have one new jet, the F35, a new APC, the BTR-90, and the DPV buggy. Not a lot, but it’s still better than nothing.

Overall, Back To Karkand is an awesome add-on for Battlefield 3, especially if you’re getting it for free. Some of the maps, like Wake Island, felt noticeably smaller than their original counterparts, and the new vehicles, besides the F35 jet, don’t feel like enough to justify a $15 price tag. But the maps, the Battlefield gameplay, and the new weapons are just what Battlefield 2 veterans need.

The Good:
Solid Battlefield gameplay
Great nostalgia feel with old BF2 maps
Maps are well made, look great and play great
Free (if you own a Limited Edition copy of BF3)

The Bad:
Doesn’t feel like enough content if you’re paying $15 for it.
A few gameplay glitches here and there.

Overall score: 9/10

Resistance 3 is getting some brand new DLC today, in the form of “Brutality”, which is a co-op pack with emphasis on “survival”, and is set in the Wales setting of the main campaign. But unlike the regular campaign, Brutality is set to be much darker, according to developer Insomniac.

The DLC also features a new weapon, the Sledgehammer, which is an actual sledgehammer the player will need to fight hordes of Grims. The DLC is available now for the price of $10.

Battlefield 3′s first expansion pack has finally received a release date: it lands on December 14, 2011. But since PlayStation 3 owners will get Battlefield 3 DLC one week earlier, that means they’ll get to enjoy Back To Karkand on December 7.

Back To Karkand is the first Battlefield 3 expansion and will include class map remakes from battlefield 2, including Strike At Karkand, Wake Island, and more. In addition, the expansion pack includes a set of 10 new weapons, 3 new vehicles and some new awards as well.

Killzone 3 is one of the harder hitting exclusives that the PlayStation 3 currently has despite receiving mixed receptions. Having been launched just a few months ago it’s no surprise that Guerrilla Games continues to support the game releasing DLC packs here and there. In fact, it was just made known that Killzone 3 will be getting yet another DLC pack dubbed From the Ashes come June 21st for $5.

From the Ashes will bring with it 4 brand new maps for the game’s multiplayer component two being dubbed Missile Base and Mobile Factory. Unfortunately neither Sony nor Guerrilla Games would comment on what the final 2 maps will be called but we’re sure to hear more as the time goes on.

If you missed out on previous Killzone 3 DLC but are looking to remedy that you’re in luck as Sony also took the time to let us know that all previous DLC will be included in a pack (along with From the Ashes) on June 21st for $10.

Valve has seen hit after hit make it big on the market and their latest release Portal 2 is no different. This game expanded on the first title and gave gamers a full fledged arena to make their way through utilizing the iconic portal gun. However, while the second game is considered by most everyone to be a great game, some have said that it’s a bit short. Luckily, thanks to the emergence of online virtual retail outlets that’s nothing a little DLC can’t fix.

In fact, despite just hitting the market gamers are already wondering when Valve will get around to releasing the first Portal 2 DLC pack. Well, Valve’s VP of marketing Doug Lombardi has just come forth to say the following:

“We will be announcing some DLC for it, so folks can keep a look out for more content coming this summer.”

While this isn’t set in stone, Valve has been known to be good about releasing DLC for their titles so the summer is ddefinitely something to look forward to.

If you have Portal 2, how are you liking it?

Call of Duty is without a doubt one of the most iconic game franchises to ever hit the scene. First released back in 2003 Call of Duty has gone through many different development studios amassing countless titles. In fact, the most recent title to hit store shelves, Call of Duty: Black Ops, has managed to sell like hot cakes.

Now that the game has been on the market for quite some time it’s time to start thinking about DLC. Then again, the First Strike DLC pack has already been released so I suppose it’s time to start thinking about the next DLC pack. We’ve known for quite some time thanks to a leak that the next Black Ops DLC pack would be entitled Escalation including some of the maps that will included is said DLC pack.

However, now that the pack has gotten a bit more official Treyarch is coming forth with their own information regarding the pack. In fact, they have just come foward today with a preview video for the pack which we’ve included above for your viewing pleasure.

Check it out and let us know what you think. The Call of Duty: Black Ops Escalation DLC pack will be made available for the Xbox 360 on May 3rd of this year and other platforms on June 3rd.

We just got done telling you that Valve would not be including PS3 Move support with Portal 2 so you may be a bit discouraged. If you are, there’s some good news coming out of the company today too in the form of a DLC pack announcement for the critically acclaimed Left 4 Dead 2. While there doesn’t seem to be a specific name for this new pack it will feature the three remaining campaigns from Left 4 Dead 2 and will feature ‘Cold Stre’am – a campaign developed by community modder Matthew Lourdelet.

Unfortunately there was no price date pinned with this announcement with Valve only saying it will be out “when it’s ready”.

We’ll keep you posted with any further news.

via tvg