Halo: Reach has performed well since its release. It was one of 2010’s biggest launches and continues to attract large amounts of gamers through its online matchmaking. Despite the impressive sales and big fan base, Call of Duty: Black Ops consistently ranks higher in amount of Xbox Live activity. However, this may change with the rumored release of a new piece of DLC, the Defiant Map Pack.
A new map pack for Halo: Reach should not come as a surprise. During a recent discussion of the top games of 2010, Microsoft’s Major Nelson let slip the fact that a Halo: Reach add-on was in the works. The real questions have to do with when exactly the DLC will be available and what it will contain. A French Halo website site supposedly has the “what” figured out.
Yesterday, February 9, the unofficial fan site Halo Destiny leaked news of a Halo: Reach add-on known as the Defiant Map Pack. They posted several low-resolution pictures and claim that it will be similar in format to that of the Noble Map Pack, which was released last November.
The leak claims that there will be three maps included in the Defiant Map Pack. High-Lands will be a large outdoor map useful for large numbers of players and game types like Invasion. It also features a gigantic Covenant ship that cruises around. The next map, Condemned, is set in space. It is conducive to all game types except Invasion and has areas of low gravity similar to those seen in the Noble Map Pack’s Anchor 9. The third map, Unearthed, takes place outdoors in an environment with lots of rocks and sand. It features a fleet of vehicles and is geared towards smaller matches with one to four players.
Check out the gallery of screenshots below, but keep in mind that these are very low-resolution, leaked images.
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With the recent First Strike map pack released for Call of Duty: Black Ops, Reach is in need of some fresh DLC of its own to keep players hooked.
Even though Black Ops is getting more attention online, Microsoft doesn’t have much to worry about because there is still a huge amount of interest in Halo: Reach and upcoming additions.
Based off this leaked information, the upcoming maps look really solid. Bungie needs to take a hint from all the buzz and release the map pack soon. It has been months since the release of the Noble Map Pack and even dedicated Reach players are ready for some fresh maps to sink their teeth into.
Are you ready to get back into Halo: Reach and play these new maps? Which map are you most excited about?
Source: Halo Destiny [via joystiq]
