Switch Lights

The lights are on

What's Happening

Microsoft Reveals More Details On Gears 3's Horde Command Pack

Gears of War 3 has been a big hit since its Sept. 20 release, selling more than 3 million copies in its first week alone. Those legions of players will have some more content to play with starting November 1, when the game's first DLC pack is released on Xbox Live.

The Horde Command Pack adds a host of additions to the game's Horde mode (surprise!), including three new maps and playable characters, two new weapon skins, new fortification upgrades, and new achievements worth 250 gamerscore.The pack will set you back 800 Microsoft Points, though you can save a few points in the long run by picking up a season pass for the game's DLC.

Here are the details, straight from Microsoft:

Maps

  • Blood Drive – The Jacinto Medical Plaza was overwhelmed by evacuated citizens after the government-sanctioned Hammer Strikes, and the ensuing riots quickly turned this safe haven into a dangerous inferno. An abundance of high ground and funneled choke points make this map a returning favorite to Horde.
  • Rustlung – Once the pride of the Royal Tyran Navy, the foredecks of this decommissioned battleship are now riddled with bullet holes. Any team with the fortitude to hold the exposed central torpedo bay will find that the ship's Loader has been replaced with a battle-ready Silverback mech suit.
  • Azura – This island resort was once the exclusive domain of Sera's educated elite, but the tranquil water gardens and lush foliage have become a hotly contested combat zone. Dual snipers overlook a powerful explosive weapon, while the defensive central platform may be your last resort of retreat.

New upgrades

  • Command Center – A brand new type of fortification that allows you to call in fire support from sniper teams, mortar strikes and even multiple Hammers of Dawn.
  • Decoy Upgrade – A new fortification level that turns your decoy into an Onyx Guard bot that will fight in your defense.
  • Sentry Upgrade – This upgrade adds a fire bolt sentry that deals much more damage and is very effective against Berserkers.
  • Silverback Upgrade – This advancement allows you to upgrade your Silverback exo-suit with devastating rockets and extra levels of repair cost reduction.

New characters

  • Onyx Guard
  • Big Rig Dizzy
  • Bernie

New weapon skins

  • Team Plasma
  • Jungle Camo

You can see screens of the characters and maps in the gallery below. Is this what you were hoping to see from the game's first DLC?

Email the author , or follow on , , , and .

Comments
  • Is it going to be the kind of thing where if one player doesn't have it, he cant play with someone who does? This is kinda important to know
  • Very cool, glad to see them building more onto the Horde mode.

  • It's gonna be great finally being able to play as the Onyx Guard.
  • Im loving me some Gears of War right now and am really looking foreward the updates.

  • Oh good, more stuff to buy this year! 2011 really is turning into an embarrassment of riches for us gamers.

    Also, if this DLC is Horde-centric, can we hope for some Beast DLC in the future? Maybe getting to play as a Grinder or Scorcher?
  • Haven't played this yet, but I got a real kick out of Horde mode in the previous one. I hope they didn't got the way of CoD and ruin the experience by adding too much.
  • I think there's great value here. A good showing for the price of the Season Pass, in the first pack. If the remaining 3 packs are as packed as this - and no reason to assume not - then Epic will have done us right. GOW DLC has ALWAYS been top notch, in my opinion.
  • Very cool, i never buy dlc anymore though. my friend always and i mean Always gets the dlc for pretty much any game, including Gears 3. which was a good game playing through the story on co-op if i do say so myself.

  • I can't wait for more Horde additions! Plus, who wouldn't want more Dizzy? So glad I bought the Season Pass.
  • This sounds awesome I'm loving Horde mode so far

  • Yes Blood Drive is back! The best map on Gears 2.
  • That is a great deal for $10. I figured we'd get just a few MP maps for that price.
  • "Can't wait!"

  • This content is already on the disc. FU microsoft, not happening..
  • WOW! so cool! all this for 800! im so getting this! cant wait!

    3 new maps and mor fortification option! nice!

  • No level increase for Beast mode? Seems like they did a tack-on of this mode, especially frustrating since they announced beast mode last year!
  • :) wow so all this is already on the disk and we have to pay for it, way to go. I love Gears and this is an amazing game but this *** is pissing me off :)
  • All I'm gonna say... Berserkers are effing hard to kill in the later levels. Especially when there's 4 and you have a scorcher.

  • Not bad, I'll most likely get it because Horde is a blast. I just wish there were a few multiplayer maps in there.
  • The onyx guards look ***! Can't wait to play as them.

1 2 3 Next