BioWare has just announced its biggest free DLC to Mass Effect 3's multiplayer today with the "Retaliation" expansion. While there will be new weapons included in this expansion, the big news here is the addition of The Collectors as a new enemy type.
Players will be able to face off against the Collector Praetorian, Scion, Abomination, Trooper and Captain. Aside from that, the Cerberus faction will have the Dragoon added to their flanks, while the Geth will have new Drones to to make your lives just a tad harder.
Here's the expansion's official trailer.
There are also new classes to unlock too and they are: Turian Havoc Solider, Turian Ghost Infiltrator, and with "many more" being added on a regular basis.
That's not all, though. Retaliation will aslo bring with it the "Hazard" versions of ME3's existing multiplayer maps. This new Hazard gameplay mechanic will feature new environmental hazards and traps. Currently, BioWare lists Acid, Lightening, Meltdowns, Sandstorms, Swarms and Whiteouts as the new "features" ME3 players can expect in a regular rotation of Firebases.
BioWare is also adding Collector weapons to the multiplayer with the inclusion of the Collector's Assault Rifle, Sub-Machine Gun and Sniper Rifle. You can unlock these weapons along with a host of unnamed new equipment upgrades.
Lastly, there's also a new multiplayer challenge feature for Mass Effect 3 that's being added. It won't be your standard weekend "Operation," but will instead focus on personal "Challenges" that consist of multiplayer assignments that will unlock titles and banners to display in-game.
The "Challenges" database tracks various in-game stats such as your N7 Typhoon usage. You'll need to complete mini-goals to earn challenge points. One example is accumulating 140,000 points while using the Typhoon, and you'll be rewarded with challenge points. These points can then be used to unlock in-game multiplayer bonuses such as new titles and banners which can be seen by other players in the game's lobby.
Whew! That's quite a hefty update, no? BioWare is certainly not pulling any punches when it comes to this update. It honestly makes me think that this might be the last expansion and they want to do it with a bang. Whatever the case, it could work, since I'm really tempted to play ME3's multiplayer again after not touching it for the last few months.
Mass Effect 3's Retaliation DLC can be downloaded on October 9 and will be a free download for the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3.
So. what do you guys think? Is this enough to rope back former Mass Effect 3 multiplayer players?
