14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft and 343 Industries have just released the Crimson Map Pack add-on for Halo 4 via Xbox Live for the Xbox 360, bringing three new maps as well as a new game mode to the multiplayer of the popular shooter.
Halo 4 once again set new sales records on the Xbox 360 console when it appeared one month ago, marking the very successful return of the popular franchise.
Now, after launching episodic DLC for the Spartan Ops co-op mode, developer 343 Industries has just released the first full-fledged add-on for the game, in the form of the Crimson Map Pack.
The DLC includes three new maps for the multiplayer mode as well as a new game mode called Extraction that's going to be released as part of a special playlist only for those who own the Crimson DLC.
Now, the actual add-on is finally available for download via the Xbox Live online service for all Halo 4 owners.
Regular players need to pay 800 MS Points for the DLC while those who got the War Games Season Pass, which covers access to the Crimson DLC as well as to the next two map packs, get the add-on for free.
In case you forgot about the actual contents, check them out below, via the blog of Xbox community manager Larry Hryb.
● Wreckage: Wreckage is the manifestation of the chaos of war. A medium-sized, asymmetrical map great for accommodating a wide range of objective-based game modes including King of the Hill and Capture the Flag, it is a ravaged environment of crashed debris, where the surrounding destruction creates complex paths perfect for throwing off your opponents, or testing the limits of your Warthog. This devastated landscape provides plenty of cover, and tons of nooks and crannies are at your disposal while fighting for your turn to become King. Wreckage supports up to 16 players in Infinity Slayer and up to 12 players in a variety of other modes, including Capture the Flag, King of the Hill and Oddball.
● Harvest: Harvest is a canon concept brought to life – the doomed agricultural planet where humans first made contact with the Covenant. A small to mid-size map, Harvest is ideal for Capture the Flag. Here, you’ll need to get creative to effectively use light vehicles which are limited to the exterior pathways and can’t get into the bases, making this map perfect for infantry firefights and face-to-face skirmishes. Snipers will also feel right at home; long sightlines are broken up by great cover and hiding spots. Harvest allows up to 12 players to face off in Capture the Flag, Infinity Slayer, King of the Hill, SWAT and Slayer Pro.
● Shatter: Shatter is themed around natural crystalline surfaces and the huge UNSC factories mining them. This large, symmetrical map is a playground for the Warthog and Mantis – its open pathways make it easy to get around, whether on foot or in vehicles. Shatter is a great fit for Dominion and the new game type Extraction. For some close-quarters face-time, escape the open landscape and duck into a mining facility, or slip through a doorway and hunt unsuspecting Spartans. This map has variety for different types of players. Shatter enables multiplayer mayhem for up to 16 players in Infinity Slayer and up to 12 players in other modes, such as Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, Dominion and Extraction.
● Extraction: Extraction is a 5 vs. 5 objective-based game type where opposing Spartan teams are tasked with extracting assets from various sites around the map. Once a team has found a site and is in position, they must plant their beacon and protect it from the opposing team while the extraction process occurs. If the defending team remains in control of the beacon, they receive one point, however if the opposing team overtakes the site before extraction is complete, the point goes to them. Once a site has been extracted, a new site becomes available. The first team to extract five points wins.
You can add the Crimson map pack for Halo 4 to your download queue at this link.