14 DAY TRIAL // Mass Effect 2 is already set to get new content via the in-game Cerberus Network, with the Hammerhead tank coming accompanied by a series of missions specifically designed for it.
But it seems that BioWare is also interested in delivering some traditional paid downloadable content out, and on April 9, players who have picked the game up will be able to buy and download a pack named “Kasumi's Stolen Memory,” which adds a new character, powerful weapon and Achievement for those who care about those things.
Kasumi is described as being more of a thief character, focusing on quick movement and kills. She can be recruited on the Citadel and her loyalty mission is built around the recovery of some stolen art, which requires some disguises, an encounter with a corrupt dealer and, of course, some shooting. Kasumi gets a new flashbang ability and the missions will also lead to a fresh Locust SMG being usable by the party led by Commander Shepard.
The new character will apparently not be delivered for free to those who picked up the game new but BioWare and Electronic Arts have not decided on a price point for the Stolen Memory pack. Players should expect to pay around 10 dollars for the fresh character and the extra toys.
The addition of a new character that appears less inclined towards firefights might be seen as counter intuitive, considering some recent statements coming from BioWare. Christina Norman, who is one of the designers working on Mass Effect 2, told an audience at the GDC that “We knew it was the biggest risk area for us. I didn't want to say that Mass Effect 2 was fun despite the shooter combat, I wanted it to be fun because of the shooter combat.”
It's unlikely that Kasumi will be one of the crucial characters on that final suicide mission against the Collectors, as initial reports suggest she is fragile in direct combat.