Dead Space 2 Severed DLC First Screens Revealed

The same day Dead Space 2 hit store shelves, EA announced Dead Space 2: Severed as the game's first DLC. Severed extends the single-player game of Dead Space 2 by adding two new stand-alone chapters featuring Dead Space Extraction's Gabe Weller and Lexine Murdock. Severed's story runs parallel to the main Dead Space 2 adventure. In Severed, players control Gabe Weller as he battles his own onslaught of Necromorphs in his attempt to get himself and Lexine to safety.

It is nice to see EA and Visceral Games giving Extraction's Weller and Murdock some more attention. Adding their story as DLC is a good way to keep the core game of Dead Space 2 focused on Isaac and the main plot of the series, while also giving hardcore Dead Space fans more content with characters they may already know and love.

It does seem a little odd, however, that this announcement comes out the same day the game hits store shelves. It kind of implies that this content could have been ready to go and included on the retail disc, even if that was not the case. While publishers and developers can make some good money through DLC, they should keep pricing and release dates/announcements in mind, so as not to anger or aggravate their core fans.

In EA's defense, no release date was given for Severed, so perhaps Visceral Games is still hard at work on the content. Perhaps EA only announced the content today so that gamers would know it is coming and, therefore, be more likely to keep their disc and not sell it back.

What is your take on Dead Space 2: Severed? Are you excited about seeing more Gabe Weller and Lexine Murdock? Do you care that DLC was announced for a game the same day that game became available on store shelves? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Dead Space 2 is available now for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.

Dead Space: Severed will be available soon for the PS3 and Xbox 360.