Although it was already leaked to the internet last week, Microsoft and Bungie officially unveiled the Defiant Map Pack for Halo: Reach today. This DLC succeeds the previously released Noble Map Pack and offers three new maps (Condemned, Highlands and Unearthed) for use in various multiplayer modes. Its release will mark the first time a studio other than Bungie (Certain Affinity) collaborated on Halo maps as well as the first additional map for use in Firefight. In addition, the pack will also add new achievements worth a total of 150 gamer points.
Condemned will be set high above the titular Reach aboard the massive Orbital Station Gamma. Prior to the Covenant invasion of Reach, Gamma served primarily as a long-range communications station. Despite being heavily damaged after a brutal attack by the Covenant, some areas of the station have remained functional. The map will support 6 – 12 players on game types such as Team Slayer, Team Objective and Free for All.
The action on Highlands takes place on the planet Reach proper. This map pits players against each other in a large, wooded area which is home to the secretive Military Wilderness Training Preserve. Nothing can stay secret forever though, as this Spartan training facility became the site of major clashes between Covenant troops and a group of Spartans during the fight for the planet. Highlands is designed primarily for large-scale Big Team Battle matches but will also be available for use in Team Slayer and Team Objective.
Shifting away from military locations, Unearthed moves the fighting to a mine in the Viery civilian sector of Reach. The mine is set up on the site of a titanium-rich meteor crater and helps to fulfill the demands of the UNSC war machine. Extracted titanium from the crater is used to build everything from Warthog chassis to the armored plating on ships such as the Pillar of Autumn. Now in Covenant possession, Unearthed allows up to four players to strike back at the invaders in Firefight and Firefight modes such as Generator Defense.
Gamers won’t have to wait long for the Defiant Map Pack, as it will hit Xbox Live this March for a price of 800 Microsoft points.
