Video game retailer GameStop is currently offering bonus DLC themed around the Nuketown multiplayer map for everyone who pre-orders Call of Duty: Black Ops 3.
Reserving Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 for PC and current-gen consoles at GameStop will give players access to exclusive downloadable content inspired by the first-person shooter's futuristic multiplayer setting known as Nuketown (or for continuity sticklers, Nuk3town). The pre-orders for the title award fans with what's being called a “personalization pack” which includes a Nuk3town themed weapon camo, 3 weapon reticles, and a calling card with designs reminiscent of the level.
Additionally, those who put down money at GameStop for Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 before its release date will also give fans the ability to obtain the Nuk3town stage. However, the actual map itself is not exclusive to the retailer, as it will be available anywhere that the game can be purchased.
The Nuketown map's return was confirmed a couple of month's ago, much to delight of Call of Duty fans everywhere. Nevertheless, last-gen system owners will not be so pleased to find out that not only are they being denied single player with no campaign mode coming to Xbox 360 or PS3, but they will also miss out on the futuristic map.
Originally, the small, tightly constricted map made its first appearance in Activision's initial Black Ops from 2010, and once more in 2012 with the title's sequel in Black Ops 2, as it became reclassified as Nuketown 2025. Not to mention, the stage's popularity warranted its inclusion in the PS Vita's Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified as Nukehouse.
With a couple of weeks left to go before Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 hits store shelves, the proposal of extra content for the release is a smart business move on GameStop's part in order to incentivize pre-orders, but the bonuses would definitely be better if they had a more practical use. Save for the reticles' slight effect on aiming, the components included in the Nuketown personalization pack give nothing more than a cosmetic alteration.
Taking the functionality of the items into consideration, the materials being offered in the Nuketown personalization pack are kind of lame. Nevertheless, there are some fans who would argue that it's at least good of GameStop to provide players who pre-order the game with something rather than nothing at all, which is a fair assessment. At any rate, the exclusive content packaged with the reservations will likely have little impact on the title's bottom line, as Black Ops 3 is already being considered the most anticipated game of Fall 2015.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is set to release on November 6, 2015 for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.