When Epic Games hit a little snag with the launch of their first Gears of War 3 DLC Pack ‘Horde Command,’ we predicted that the developer would need to do a little “apologizing” in order to win gamers back into their favor, and, as it turns out, we were right.
Just unveiled is the ‘Versus Booster Pack,’ which gives gamers not just the three maps that shipped with ‘Horde Command (Azura, Blood Drive, and Rust Lung), but also two favorites from the first Gears, Swamp and Clocktower.
The pack doesn’t, however, launch until later this month, November 24th to be exact, so those gamers who did purchase the Gears 3 Season Pass will still retain their early access. But, for the rest of us, this is a chance to bolster the Gears 3 multiplayer experience with five new maps, at no extra cost.
The other elements of the Horde Command Pack – the new weapon skins, characters, and horde fortifications – will remain paid pieces of DLC (at least for now), so don’t feel completely at a loss if you’ve already picked up the first DLC pack. It actually seems like, despite a feeling that Epic Games was going for a serious cash grab, that they are providing their fans with decent content regardless of how much they’ve paid.
And don’t forget that later this year will see the release of ‘Raam’s Shadow,’ the first campaign DLC for Gears 3, which has players taking on the role of the Locust General during Gears of War 1.
In fact, the same Versus Booster Pack announcement revealed that Raam’s Shadow, on top of adding three additional hours of gameplay, will deliver six new multiplayer characters, more weapon skins, and 250 points of Gamerscore to Gears 3. This is going to be the DLC that justifies ownership of the Season Pass.
While the Horde Command launch problems were only short lived (the pack is available now), we hope that this Versus Booster Pack releases without a hitch.
Are there any Season Pass holders who are disappointed by the Versus Booster Pack announcement? Will you hold off on purchasing Horde Command since a free map pack is not far off?
Gears of War 3 ‘Versus Booster Pack’ releases November 24, 2011 and ‘Raam’s Shadow’ releases December 13, 2011 exclusively for the Xbox 360.
Source: Epic Games
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I’m a little miffed that maps I paid for as part of the Season’s Pass are being given away for free.
I’ll take the two extra maps, though!
I payed $30 for the season pass, and this was the first bit of content included for it.
And those who wait a month will get all of the maps in the Horde Command Pack for free, plus two more?
It’s complete b******* that Epic would give away content that people literally paid $7 in advance for. Had they announced that the maps would be free before the maps came out then they wouldn’t have conned so many people out of their money.
This is a giant middle finger to the fans…
This is pretty bunk..One it wasnt even a full day before it was fixed I mean seriously.. Two for us that got The Season Pass just got jacked and will now be downloading stuff that we already have again.. Like they seriously in no way should release those three maps for free or give something to the people that did get the season pass a lil’ something extra..
I am a season pass holder and I am actually glad they are doing this, The fact everyone will have the maps means that your more likely to get a game on any map and none of this “People in this party don’t have the correct DLC” It means everyone can play, but we still get the advantage of the new Characters, Skins and Fortifications, However I do feel they could have offered a bit more to people who paid for them, such as another Character or something? The maps made it worth the 800MS but just for a few characters really not really! Epic you need to sweeten it a bit?
I feel in a sense that we who got the seasons pass got screwed. I paid for the maps and if people are getting them for free, and it takes away one of my free dlc’s, then in other words im paying more for the next dlc’s than the people who didnt get the seasons pass. Does anyone understand what im saying?
actually it will be like we paid the same amount only that the season pass holders bought theirs in bulk, where as everyone else will be buying their dlc as they come out. plus they wont be getting the skins, the characters, or horde upgrades. since the problem only really affected the season pass holders, they are the ones that should get a little extra, that or only give the two new maps for free.
They said that the $30 season pass will give you $45 worth of content. Seeing as how the maps are gonna be free, the rest of the crap with this Horde Command pack should only count for $5 towards that $45 at the most. But I’m pretty sure this will still be $10 towards the $45 which means everyone who bought the pass pretty much gets screwed.
People forget that they will be getting RAAMS Shadow for totally free. It is going to be 1200 ms. That and there is still more to come.
Yea defintely annoyed at Epic. It’s fine if they give out something free to people, but don’t make the free thing something that other people PAID for! If they wanted to give out a “sorry” flub, then they should’ve made the Black and Orage Tiger skins from halloween a permanent unlock! It’s a nice gesture, and nobody paid for it!
Im still a little “Eh” with Epic Games. My loyalty with them is still a little shaken from the fact they introduced custom weapon skins but to get them all it will cost you 60$+tax got me very mad at them. Then the season pass 30$ give you 30% off on DLC makes them look like money hungry EA wannabes. I do like how you get the MAIN DLC for free with that pass but at the same time this is the last game you want FANS TO LOVE forever and its the final installment to Gears of war. I always thought they would blow our minds not out wallets. But I am glad that they are giving something out for free that we would have to pay for but still im am so confused on why its 3 maps from the Horde Pack wouldn’t NEW not in horde pack maps be better off with maybe a few free new weapon skins? I think that would of pleased every one. But that is just my thoughts and I hope im not alone on the subject.
“I am glad that they are giving something out for free that we would have to pay for”
And in people with the season passes case, we did already pay for.
Also, the weapon skin stuff is being blown of of proportion a lot. Sure they are a lot of money but no one is pointing a gun to your head forcing you to buy them.
Rather would of had War Machine or Fuel Depot instead of Swamp.
And why use Gears of War 2 maps the suck compared to the Gears of War 1 maps.
yep i regret buying season pass. with all this crap and everything im bored as crap with this and the game. new maps for free yet they werent to some. this sucks. this is the last gears i buy