Bad Company 2 Onslaught begins June 22

Yesterday, EA and DICE rolled out the VIP Map Pack 3 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions of 2009's highly regarded Battlefield: Bad Company 2. A free add-on for those who purchased the game new or bought a VIP pass, Map Pack 3 recombined a handful of previously available options, opening up the Squad Deathmatch mode for the Nelson Bay map, while the Laguna Alta playfield opened up to Squad Rush.

For gamers willing to pay a price to get a bit more substance, DICE today dated Bad Company 2's first batch of premium downloadable content. Onslaught mode, which introduces co-op play to Bad Company 2, will be available on the Xbox 360 and PS3 for $10 (800 Microsoft points) on June 22. DICE did not provide an update on whether the Onslaught DLC would be released for the PC, and EA had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.

Onslaught mode allows up to four players to engage in a variety of objective-based missions. Gamers' squads will be timed, with performances posted to co-op leaderboards. The DLC also includes additional achievements and trophies.

Beyond Onslaught mode, DICE also said that the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Kit Shortcuts would be available for purchase on the Xbox 360 and PS3 on June 16. The Kit Shortcuts add-on unlocks all of the accoutrements that would otherwise be restricted to higher-ranked players. However, those who purchase the Kit Shortcuts add-on will still be able to progress the Bad Company 2's leveling system. Individual kits can be purchased for $7 (MSP 560), while the entire payload of unlocks runs for $20 (MSP 1,600).

For more on Battlefield: Bad Company 2, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.