Maxim sponsoring Gears of War: Judgment content

[UPDATE] An Epic Games representative told GameSpot its deal with Maxim for Gears of War: Judgment will not result in in-game Maxim-branded content.

"The deal with Maxim is just a co-promotional deal that allows us to release the pack for free. It doesn't include any Maxim-branded content in the game," the company said.

The original story follows below

Gears of War: Judgment will add two post-launch free multiplayer maps "sponsored" by men's magazine Maxim, as well as a new Execution mode, Epic Games has announced.

Epic Games did not detail its sponsorship agreement with Maxim for the maps and game mode, though the company said this content will be released on April 2.

The maps in question are Capitol and Haven, the latter of which (pictured) is set on a frozen wasteland in the fictional Azura mountains on Planet Sera. The map features an asymmetrical layout, as well as vantage points for snipers. Details on the Capitol map were not divulged.

As for the Maxim-sponsored Execution mode, this game type tasks each team with killing all members of the opposing squad before time runs out. If players are not killed with one-shot kill weapons, they enter a "down-but-not-out" state and will be revived at the end of a bleed-out timer. Players must find these downed enemies and perform an execution kill to vanquish the foe once and for all.

Gears of War: Judgment is due out exclusively on the Xbox 360 March 19, 2013, and is the first entry in the series since 2011's trilogy-capping Gears of War 3.

Developed by Epic Games in conjunction with Bulletstorm studio People Can Fly, the project focuses on series soldier Damon Baird and will not use the Kinect.

For more on Gears of War: Judgment, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.