It's a good day to have a Xbox, as today is begins the exclusivity period for Call of Duty: Ghosts' next DLC, Devastation. Among the added content are four new multiplayer maps, new weapon, and a new chapter for the game's Extinction mode. With the DLC out today, let's have a quick review, shall we?
MAPS
Ruins: set in what's left of a Mayan temple complex in Central America, this map is unique in that it has two Field Order Rewards. The first will cause the maps volcano to erupt, sending smoldering hot rock and magma directly at all other players. The second, which developer Infinity Ward hasn't yet detailed, will put players in control of a famous space hunter.
Behemoth: throws player onto a giant earth excavator saw high off the ground. This map's Field Order Reward sets players aboard a mini-gun equipped chopper.
Collision: has two excellent spots for snipers while everyone else will be forced to run 'n gun. If the snipers are a bit too problematic, complete the Field Order to call in an air strike from a fighter jet.
Unearthed: Modern Warfare 3 players will recognize this as "Dome," only reimagined as an excavation dig. Despite the rehashed map, this map features one of the more uniqe Field Order Rewards, which summons three cryptid aliens from the game's Extinction mode, along with the game's Venom-X weapon introduced in Onslaught.
NEW WEAPON
Continuing in the theme of Onslaught's Maverick, Devastation adds the two-in-one Ripper rifle, which Season Pass holders have been having a blast with since early March.
"The Ripper brings with it something we've never done in call of duty before," said Joseph Cecot, Ghosts' multiplayer designer. "It gives you the ability to switch between a submachinegun and assault rifle on the fly. You need to clear a room? Switch to your submachine gun, fire from the hip, take 'em out. You need to pick a guy off at a distance? Swap to your AR, flip your reflex sight, and pick 'em off."
NEW EXTINCTION EPISODE
Lastly, Extinction gets a new episode, "Mayday." The new episode starts up right after the events of Nightfall, with the Quick Reaction team sent to investigate a ghost ship in the South Pacific. There, players will encounter two new cryptid types:
* Seeder - similar to the acid belching Scorpion, the Seeder boasts two "improvements" over its cousin. While its projectile spewing tendencies are a great offense, much like creature's name implies, it's also capable of producing larva that can stick to surfaces and defend hives. The Seeder will also be harder to put in your cross hairs, as it can climb on ceilings, to boot.
* Kraken - while players had a behemoth of a boss to fight in "Nightfall," the Kraken dwarfs the Breeder. As you'd expect from the name, the Kraken sports whip like tentacles capable of snapping your spine like a twig.
Luckily, much like Onslaught's Venom-X, Devastation will also provide a new weapon to help you take down the leviathan, but no specifics on that just yet. Check out a trailer here.
PC and PlayStation gamers can expect to get a hold of the new DLC in about a month's time. Season Pass holders get access to Devastation for free. Everyone else will have to fork over $14.99.
You can check out the DLC's list of new trophies / achievements here.
Finally, in addition to Devastation, the game has also received a 2GB update that adds in a load-out generator tool full of different options, and an array of other patches. Official list of notes to be provided as soon as they come in.
