Downloadable Content

Downloadable content, or DLC for short, is a form of add-on for most modern video games. Both similar and unsimilar to other shooter games, Gears of War video game DLC includes more maps to play on and also introduces new characters to play as in Multiplayer.

There are usually new achievements to earn with said map packs.

Gears of War

Gears of War has six multiplayer maps that can be downloaded off the Xbox Marketplace for no charge at all. These maps include Bullet Marsh, a swampland where the Kryll devour anything that leaves the light; Garden, an urban environment with poisonous greenhouses; Old Bones, a map set in a mausoleum; Process, an underground Imulsion-processing plant; Raven Down, an urban map inspiried by the real-world Battle of Mogadishu; and finally Subway, which is located in an underground train station that has access to the streets above.

Gears of War 2

While Gears of War 2 DLC is charged, all the map packs combined offered 19 more maps to play on and 29 more (albeit lengthy) achievements to earn.

Flashback Map Pack

Released September 23, 2008

The Flashback Map Pack came bundled with all the new copies of Gears of War 2; those who didn't buy them in time or bought used copies can download it for 400 Microsoft points. The third and final way to have it is to own the Gears of War Triple Pack (which includes the original Gears of War and Gears of War 2 + GoW2 DLC).

Gridlock, one of Flashback's maps.

Flashback offers five tweaked multiplayer maps from the original Gears of War: Canals, Gridlock, Mansion, Subway, and Tyro Station; all these maps are compatible with Horde mode. Epic Games put it "as a special thanks to the fans".

Combustible Map Pack

Released December 15, 2008 

Flood, one of Combustible's maps.

The Combustible Map Pack is the second map pack released by Epic for Gears of War 2. It's currently priced at 400 Microsoft points on the XBL Marketplace and also available through the GoW Triple Pack.

Combustible included three new fiery and explosive maps: Flood, Gold Rush, and Fuel Station. Epic stated "Explosive action takes center stage in these three new Gears 2 maps,"

Snowblind Map Pack

Released March 31, 2009

The Snowblind Map Pack is the third downloadable map pack for Gears of War 2. Originally priced for 800 Microsoft points, it is now available for half the original price at 400 points. Like all GoW2 DLC, it comes with the GoW Triple Pack.

Courtyard as it appears in Snowblind

Snowblind has four maps to play on, all with a winter-time theme. Two, Fuel Depot and Courtyard, are winterized remakes from previous Gears Of War maps. The other two, Underhill and Grind Yard, are completely new. Epic said, "This winter-theme pack brings four Gears of War 2 maps sure to heat up your multiplayer and Horde action."

Dark Corners Map Pack

Released July 28, 2009 

Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago dressed in Theron armor, as seen in Dark Corners' deleted scene "Road to Ruin".

The Gears of War 2: Dark Corners DLC is the fourth and final in-game downloadable content for Gears of War 2. Released on July 28 at the cost of 1200 Microsoft points, it currently costs 560 points on the XBL Marketplace. Dark Corners offers seven more maps to play on and allows play of a Campaign chapter that wasn't included in the final game. The seven maps consist of Allfathers Garden, Highway, Memorial, Nowhere, Sanctuary, War Machine, and finally Way Station. The deleted campaign chapter is entitled "Road to Ruin" and can be played at anytime regardless of your current position in Gears of War 2's campaign.

Gears of War 3

During an interview with Cliff Bleszinski, he revealed that after Gears of War 3's release some of the series' previous characters will be added as downloadable content; he stated that everyone loves RAAM, practically saying he'll be one of the characters. He also said that Tai is a very popular character but proclaimed he couldn't say too much about future characters.

Rod Fergusson also announced there'll be more to the downloadable content, to what they did in Gears of War 2 by just adding a deleted scene. He has said there'll be new content for Beast mode, Horde 2.0, Campaign and Multiplayer, as well as more playable characters. The following has already been announced.

Pre-Order DLC

Depending on where you pre-ordered your copy of Gears of War 3, you would be entitled to a special DLC Multiplayer skin.

• If you were to pre-order on Amazon, you would get a Savage Kantus skin.
• If you were to pre-order at Wal-Mart, you would get a Savage Grenadier Elite skin.
• If you were to pre-order at Gamestop, you would get a special version of Dominic Santiago, titled Commando Dom.
• If you were to pre-order at Best Buy, you would get a special version of Damon Baird, titled Mechanic Baird.

Horde Command Pack

The Horde Command Pack was released on November 1, 2011 for 800 Microsoft Points (free with the Season Pass) and contains the following:

• Three Maps: Blood Drive, Rustlung, Azura
• Three Character Skins: Big Rig Dizzy, Bernie, Onyx Guard
• Two Weapon Skin Sets: Team Plasma, Jungle Camo
• Four Fortification Upgrades for Horde and Beast modes
• New Achievements worth 250 Gamerscore

Versus Booster Map Pack

The Versus Booster Map Pack was released on November 24, 2011 for free and contains the following:

• Five Maps: Blood Drive, Rustlung, Azura, Bullet Marsh, Clocktower

Note: The Versus Booster Map Pack is a required download in order to play online in Horde, Beast, and Multiplayer.

RAAM's Shadow

RAAM's Shadow was released on December 13, 2011 for 1200 Microsoft Points (free with the Season Pass) and contains the following:

• A new three-hour campaign set prior to the original Gears of War featuring Zeta Squad, led by Minh Young Kim, and its battle against General RAAM. Players will also get a chance to play as RAAM himself and fight against the Gears.
• Six Character Skins: Minh Young Kim, General RAAM, Michael Barrick, Tai Kaliso, Alicia Valera, Theron Elite
• The Chocolate Weapon Skin Set
• New Achievements worth 250 Gamerscore

Fenix Rising

Fenix Rising was released on January 17, 2012 for 800 Microsoft Points (free with the Season Pass) and contains the following:

• Five Maps: Academy, Escalation, The Slab, Anvil, Depths
• Four Character Skins: Recruit Clayton, Thrashball Cole, Savage Kantus, Savage Marauder
• Three Weapon Skin Sets: Re-Up Plasma, Re-Up Omen, Re-Up Electric
• The Re-Up System for Multiplayer: Essentially a "prestige" system like the "Call of Duty series". Players can "re-enlist" and begin their rank from 1 again after reaching level 100. All unlocks and custom items remain. Additionally, Re-Upping can grant access to the three new weapon skins and new emblems. The player can Re-Up through four tiers of colors; Bronze (default level 100), Red, Green, and Gold.
• New Achievements worth 250 Gamerscore

Forces of Nature

Forces of Nature was the last DLC for Gears of War 3 and was released on March 27, 2012 for 800 Microsoft Points (free with the Season Pass) and contains the following:

• Five Maps: Aftermath, Artillery, Cove, Jacinto, and Raven Down
• Four Character Skins: Mechanic Baird, Commando Dom, Savage Hunter, and Savage Grenadier Elite Limited.
• Seven weapon skins, two will have to be unlocked.
• Guardian will also return.
• New achievements worth 250 Gamerscore.

Although details are scarce, Epic has confirmed seven Weapon Skins for Forces of Nature, five of which are available right from the get-go while the other two are earned through gameplay on the Forces of Nature maps; these two weapon skins have been based on community feedback none of the less!

Gears of War: Judgment

Pre-Order DLC

Depending on where you pre-ordered your copy of Gears of War: Judgment, you would be entitled to a special DLC Multiplayer skin.

• If you were to pre-order on Amazon, you would get a Young Dom skin.
• If you were to pre-order at Microsoft Store, you would get an Alex Brand skin.
• If you were to pre-order at Gamestop or Game, you would get a Young Marcus skin.
• If you were to pre-order at Best Buy, you would get an Anya Stroud skin.
• If you pre-order at participating retailers, you will get the Classic Hammerburst weapon in multiplayer.

Execution on the map Haven.

Maxim-Sponsored DLC 1

A free DLC sponsored by Maxim was released on April 2, 2013 for Gears of War: Judgment on Xbox live marketplace and contains the following:

• One Map: Haven
• Execution mode

Originally the free DLC was to contain two maps, Haven and Capitol. But because Epic needed more time to work on Capitol, its release was pushed back to a different date.

Call to Arms

Call to Arms was released on April 30, 2013 (April 23, 2013 for VIP Pass holders) for 1000 Microsoft Points (free with the VIP Pass) and contains the following:

• Three Maps: Blood Drive, Boneyard and OverRun exclusive Terminal
• Master at Arms mode
• Two Weapon Skins: Cascade and Chlorophyll
• One Character Skin: Car 13

Maxim-Sponsored DLC 2

A second free DLC sponsored by Maxim was released on 28 March, 2013 for Gears of War: Judgment on Xbox live marketplace and contains an OverRun exclusive map called Dreadnought.

Lost Relics

Lost Relics was released on June 25, 2013 (June 18, 2013 for VIP Pass holders) for 1000 Microsoft Points (free with the VIP Pass) and contains the following:

• Four Maps: Checkout, Lost City, Museum and OverRun exclusive Ward
• Breakthrough mode
• Two Weapon Skins: Hypno and Snowtopped
• Five Character Skins: Crazy Doctor, Locust and Iceburn, Wooden and UIR