Today's the day shooter fans. Well, shooter fans who own an Xbox 360 at least.
The first map pack for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Revolution, is out today. The pack offers four brand new maps for the game's multiplayer mode:
* Grind - (Click here to check out a video preview of the new skatepark map) An abandoned, but still well-kept skatepark in Venice, CA
* Hydro - A large map that allows players to use a Pakistani dam and water to their advantage to block paths and stop enemies.
* Downhill - A medium-sized map based in the French Alps complete with snow, chair lifts, and a strategically placed lodge.
* Mirage - This Gobi Desert multiplayer map utilizes sand dunes to provide different levels of elevation and a sanctuary in the center as a natural chokepoint.
Besides these new maps, the zombie mode is also getting a new map, "Die Rise," which brings the frenetic zombie action outside of the States, and into China. Set high in the clouds in decrepit and forlorn skyscrapers, where abandoned elevator shafts pose as much danger as a zombie bite. To "liven" up the zombie game, Treyarch is also adding a new mode, "Turned," which sees players hunt down a lone soldier as a hungry zombie.
In addition to the maps, and zombie game mode, Revolution brings with it the first ever DLC weapon for the franchise, the Peacekeeper. A combination of Black Ops 2's multiplayer mode's most popular gun classes, SMG's and assault rifles. Black Ops 2's combat designer, Anthony Flame, describes it as having "the lightweight design of an SMG, but with better range and accuracy at the cost of close quarters firepower. It's a great weapon for objective modes like Hardpoint, where you need to quickly get into position and cover objectives from a safe distance."
The DLC is available via Season Pass, or, gamers can snag it individually for 1200 MS Points.
A release is planned for PS3 versions as well. While neither Treyarch or Activision has offered up an official release date for the DLC on other platforms, David Vonderhaar has hinted that given the timing of Microsoft's traditional exclusivity periods, Revolution can expect a release on PS3 or PC in about a month's time. In the meantime, here's what you'll be missing.
Since its release, Black Ops 2 has managed to gross over $1 billion, which is just another milestone for the shooter. Shortly after the game's launch, it was revealed that Black Ops 2 managed to set records as Amazon's most pre-ordered game ever. It also managed to hit a sell-through of over $500 million worldwide in the first 24 hours of its release, according to Chart-Track.
GameStop president Tony Bartel wrote that the retailer sold more than 1 million units worldwide, decalaring, "'Black Ops II' is shaping up to be our biggest game launch of all time." It currently stands as one of the most played online games on about every major platform.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is out now for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, and the Nintendo's Wii U.