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Played by a stoic but steely Peter Stormare (Fargo, The Big Lebowski),  Activision and Treyarch introduced us to "The Replacer" this January with the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2's Revolution DLC.

Filling in for the menial tasks of daily life -- like, you know, delivering a baby, dating and work -- The Replacer offered fans his unique brand of servitude while they indulged in what truly matters: more time with Black Ops 2, obviously.

So with a viral marketing hit on their hands and Black Ops 2's recently unveiled Uprising DLC dropping on Xbox Live next week, it's no surprise to see The Replacer spinning his souped-up wheels back into service, a not-so-subtle homage to Pulp Fiction's "The Wolf". This time, though, he's not alone. Actor and comedian J.B. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm) joins Stormare as the two -- the Replacers -- take on "sammmich" making, legal defense, news anchoring, thoracic surgery ("How hard can it be?") and more.

Star-studded collaboration is something Activision does quite well with the ubiquitous Call of Duty brand. Black Ops 2 alone procured Robert Downey Jr. for the series' traditional live-action trailer; and the upcoming Uprising DLC casts Ray Liotta, Joe Pantoliano, Chazz Palmenteri and Michael Madsen as the quartet of heroes in its Prohibition-era Alcatraz prison-set zombie survival mode, Mob of the Dead. Similar to the way Rob Riggle barked at and berated Modern Warfare 3 players during Call of Duty Elite's monthly map pack campaign, the Replacers serve to preserve fans' interest (or sate their "voracious" appetites) in Black Ops 2's ever-expanding multiplayer mayhem.

Which is nothing without its maps. In addition to the aforementioned Zombies component, Uprising adds four new competitive multiplayer maps for the Black Ops 2 community to play through: Magma, Encore, Vertigo and Studio. The trailer above previews some of the carnage awaiting within each -- arriving on the wisping hair extensions of the official Uprising details we covered last week:

  • Magma — Modern Japanese village with volcanic eruptions carving multiple paths throughout the town.
  • Encore — Deserted remains of a London music festival.  (run-and-gun, close quarters combat)
  • Vertigo — Futuristic high rise in India housing a high-tech lab featuring dizzying vistas and multi-tiered pathways.
  • Studio — Contemporary remake of the fan-favorite “Firing Range,” set on a Hollywood movie back lot with a variety of cinematic themes ranging from Sci-Fi to the Old West. (sniper friendly)

Also preceding the latest Replacements trailer is a new teaser for Black Ops 2's Personalization Packs. Essentially microtransaction DLC, each $2 (160 Microsoft Points) pack unlocks a uniquely themed weapon camouflage (think aerosol graffiti, hundred-dollar bills, 80's-pop animal print, viper skin and bacon... always bacon) and three related custom reticules.

As the montage below announces, Personalization Packs are available now on Xbox Live as a timed exclusive. They release for the PS3 and PC on April 12.

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Ranters, will you "replacing" your days with Black Ops 2's Uprising DLC when it makes its debut? Or would you rather keep life outside the game safe in your own, eminently capable hands?

Call of Duty: Black Ops II — Uprising releases April 16, 2013 first on Xbox 360 as a timed-exclusive for 1200 Microsoft Points. The Uprising DLC Map Pack is also included in the Call of Duty: Black Ops II DLC Season Pass.