Gears of War: Judgment Adding New Maps, Multiplayer Mode in Call to Arms Pack

A new map pack for Gears of War: Judgment, titled “Call to Arms,” will be making its way to Epic Games and People Can Fly’s third-person shooter next week. This is the second map pack for Judgment, meant to explore the darker side of the Gears universe.

The announcement of this DLC was made by Microsoft’s Major Nelson, who states the Call to Arms pack will be coming to VIP Season Pass holders Tuesday, April 23. The remaining owners will be able to download the content from the Xbox Live Marketplace a week later. Included in the DLC are six armor and gun skins for character and weapon alteration, three unique maps that take advantage of Judgment's multiplayer modes, and a fresh “Master at Arms” feature.

This free-for-all mode is new to the popular franchise, but when you break down the mechanics, it sounds pretty familiar. Players will do their all to kill the opposition with each of the 20 different available weapons, straying away from the use of melee and grenades. Each kill will push you to the next weapon, which sounds an awful lot like the Gun Game modes available in Counter-Strike and Call of Duty.

Descriptions for the new, “darker” maps can be seen below:

· Terminal: The speed and ferocity of the Locust invasion took Halvo Bay completely by surprise. Residents scrambled to evacuate by every means possible, and COG forces were called in to maintain order as martial law was enforced. However, the Locust showed no mercy, and gave no quarter; they swept through train terminals like this one to take advantage of the close quarters and sheer number of defenseless humans trapped within its walls. Sometimes, COG forces could hold the line long enough for a final evacuation, but too many lost their lives in defense of the people and the land they loved.

· Blood Drive: As casualties started to mount, the staff at Halvo Memorial quickly began what would become the largest triage effort in the history of Sera. Their “Give Blood Today” campaign inspired a global blood drive in support of COG forces and wounded civilians. Sadly, Halvo fell quickly, and the hospital became a battlefront instead of a sanctuary. The seed of hope was planted, however, and government-run Memorial hospitals across the country mobilized to keep the effort alive until Jacinto Memorial was the last standing bastion of hope for the people of Sera.

· Boneyard: The concept of traditional memorial services had to be suspended due to the constant stream and alarming volume of casualties as Sera fell victim to the Locust Horde. Memorial grounds quickly became boneyards. Unmarked holes became grave sites and mausoleums were filled with the nameless remains of the fallen, their skeletons piled into heaps. Tread lightly, you never know what, or who, you’re walking on, and one day you’re bound to join them.

Even with this year's game seeing some of the lowest sales in franchise history, people still love to chainsaw people online. Look for the Call to Arms map pack next week.