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Modern Warfare 2 map pack hits Xbox Live March 30

[UPDATE] First add-on to controversy-stricken Call of Duty game arrives on Microsoft's console in three weeks; PS3, PC DLC coming afterward; game reaches 25 million unique players across all platforms.

Infinity Ward creative strategist Robert Bowling's Twitter feed is often the first source of all official news regarding Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Today, he used it to make two major announcements about the game. First off, he revealed the first downloadable map pack for the popular shooter will arrive "in three weeks," or on March 30. He also pointed to a tongue-in-cheek teaser site for the packs, Mapathy.com.

First revealed at Microsoft's 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo press briefing, the map pack will debut on Xbox Live. It is the latest collaboration between the publisher Activision and Microsoft, which also released a limited edition, 250GB Xbox 360 Modern Warfare bundle alongside the game in November. According to another Bowling tweet, "Both PS3 and PC will receive the DLC at a--yet to be announced--later date."

now!"" />

"Three weeks? But I want to kill now!"

No further details about the Modern Warfare 2 downloadable content have been made public, including its price and contents. The DLC will likely be an instant hit, though, as the map packs released for Call of Duty: World at War each sold over 1 million units within days of their release in 2009.

[UPDATE] Activision has since officially dubbed the DLC as the "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Package," and confirmed a simultaneous release in North America and Europe. It also said that from March 12-15, Xbox Live Silver (i.e. non-paying) members can play Modern Warfare 2 on Xbox Live for free.

Bowling also revealed today that, combined, all three versions of Modern Warfare 2 have 25 million unique users. "Most on Xbox 360, then a close second goes to PS3, will [sic] millions more on PC," he tweeted. Released in 2009 to critical acclaim, the game brought in $550 million for Activision within its first week of availability and $1 billion within two months.

While normally the map pack announcement would be universally celebrated by Call of Duty fans, it comes one week after the franchise was plunged into controversy. Last Monday, Activision fired Infinity Ward president Jason West and CEO Vince Zampella on charges of "insubordination" and "breach of contract." Within 24 hours, the publisher announced plans to expand the first-person shooter brand into other genres, including action adventure games and Asian-produced massively multiplayer titles.

With at least three more Call of Duty titles in the works, West and Zampella are now suing Activision for $36 million and control of the Modern Warfare brand. The pair accused the company of trumping up the charges and conducting an "Orwellian" HR investigation so it could fire the two developers rather than pay them royalties. According to Zampella and West's suit, the Call of Duty franchise has brought in $3 billion since 2003--the same year Activision acquired Infinity Ward.

348 Comments

  • TheRealUser101

    Posted Aug 8, 2011 9:40 am GMT

    MW3 will have Task Force 141 Captain John "Soap" MacTavish and SAS Captain John Price play a vital role in the game. All the singleplayer elements in MW3 like weapons and such will be upgraded; they showed the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 mission "Mind the Gap" where the SAS operatives are carrying new perks and such.

  • JohnisGodd

    Posted Mar 19, 2010 7:07 pm GMT

    I have 5 Points to make here.


    1. Im so extremely confused as to why people why hated MW2 and went and got BF2 are even on this page.

    2. Congrats to Microsoft for getting it a month early. Even though I'm on ps3....sigh...

    3. Techincallyyyy Were paying less per map. 15$ for 5 means 3$ each. Before we paid 10$ for 3 which means 3.33$ each. So I dont mind the price increase at all.

    4. Gloat all you want Xbox people PS3 people can get any dlc they want (and other friends have) for FREEE!!!

    5. Im really diggin these Doritos right now...

  • secnpa

    Posted Mar 18, 2010 7:17 pm GMT

    @ethan1033 and you sir are the reason these companies can charge full price for a half-assed product.

  • bargasboyz

    Posted Mar 14, 2010 10:33 pm GMT

    I HOPE THEY COME OUT WITH MORE DLC IN THE FUTURE THAN MW1 AND WHAT ABOUT SPEC OP MISSIONS IS THAT ALL WERE GONNA SEE,SOMEBODY ANWSER ME!!!!!!!!!

  • linkspetdragon

    Posted Mar 14, 2010 10:12 am GMT

    With the success and sales of MW2 (and Activision's reputation for greenlust), I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the MW2 map pack saw a higher price than previous map packs. I have no source or information to base this thought on, it's just a hunch I have.

  • ethan1033

    Posted Mar 13, 2010 5:35 pm GMT

    @greyfox08- where'd you get that from?

  • ethan1033

    Posted Mar 13, 2010 5:32 pm GMT

    @marshin7- after looking at what everyone else is saying, somewhere around $10. I say it should be more like $5, but whatever. I'll buy the pack anyway

  • greyfox08

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 10:00 pm GMT

    There are 5 maps, 2 old, 3 new. Crash and Overgrown from COD4 will be featured. As well as the new maps:

    Complex
    (Looks like a Virginian neighborhood from the SP levels)

    Compact
    (Snowy map. Dont know anything else...)

    Storm
    (Kinda looks like Vacant from COD4)

  • marshin7

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 5:46 pm GMT

    @ethan1033 wait do u know how much it will cost? cuz i cant find it!!

  • Toysoldier34

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 3:36 pm GMT

    @Vintendo_64 I play it and I know they patched it, but my point is look at some games like Bayonetta got dropped a whole point due to errors, but they are now fixed and it doesn't deserve the rating now that the original issues are for the most part resolved. Socom Confrontation got bashed because their servers had problems but that's fixed now too. But CODMW2 was released with more glitches and problems than most games yet it still got great reviews where everyone was oblivious to these clear faults. For some reason people ignored them all even though it made it almost as unplayable as many that get terrible ratings, though many are fixed now though some still remain. I like MW2 a lot myself but I just don't get why nobody cared that there were so many problems that obviously came from a blatant lack of game testing.

  • funnysplay

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 3:15 pm GMT

    Hopefully the maps are good, cause theirs only a few now that i really like.

  • blaze-16_

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 7:12 am GMT

    yes finally hope its old locations from modern warfare 1

  • kamikazedragon4

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 1:35 am GMT

    Hopefully something less camping friendly? Also that doesnt look ugly.

  • Inconnux posted Mar 10, 2010 11:10 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Inconnux

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 11:10 pm GMT (hide)

    just what the gaming world needs.... more mediocre maps for a subpar shooter

  • Blitzkrieg129

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 8:03 pm GMT

    Hope they make some more CQB maps...they only have Rust that could be considering CQB...I want something like Killhouse. Killhouse was fun. Fun indeed.

  • MasonChaos

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 7:33 pm GMT

    PLEEEASE MW1 maps!!!! Id pay $40+ for all the MW1 maps.

  • MasterThanatos8

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 7:32 pm GMT

    Maps I would love to see in MW2: a winter map with a blizzard, low visibility would add a little something extra or just another winter map in general. Also something like Kill-house from COD4. And as I've already seen mentioned, a "burger town" map would be awesome.

  • ethan1033

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 7:26 pm GMT

    nevermind

  • ethan1033

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 7:20 pm GMT

    any idea how much these maps will cost?

  • zetapsi147

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 7:10 pm GMT

    does anyone know what the maps will be called? Or what they will look like?

  • socky1101

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 5:08 pm GMT

    WTF is wrong with them they need to add terrorist zombies!!!!! Stupid developers dont realize what the people want! same thing with the extreme gore in cod waw.

  • Flint247

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 4:08 pm GMT

    Can they please fix the health system? I have like no time to react if I am being shot at. >_>

  • nicebai1224

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 3:16 pm GMT

    cool...sad that ps3 gets it later....cant w8

  • nicebai1224

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 3:15 pm GMT

    cool...sad that ps3 gets it later....cant w8

  • KOOLA1DMAN65

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 3:00 pm GMT

    thx god i been wanting new maps

  • ferntfactor

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 2:57 pm GMT

    hope there's another Rust-like map that comes up more than once every 75 matches. too fun. the equivalent of Dome in WAW. despite the soap opera, looking forward to more maps to freshen things up. alternating between BC2 and MW2. both great in their own way, but BC2 is a little too slow for leveling up. old timers have a huge weapons advantage over us MP Battlefield noobs. holy sniperfest... i don't even have a frickin scope yet! then again, no dual shotgun wielding "snipers" either. still trying to figure that one out.

  • orb_03_2006

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 2:30 pm GMT

    I'm not buying a thing until the game gets a huge patch!

  • nubowner

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 2:19 pm GMT

    I really hope that at least one of the maps is a cod4 rebbot, that way if someone is nuke boosting in ffa it'll be a lot easier to weed them out. And if infinity ward does bring back a cod4 map it better not be bloc!!

  • coruscant

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 2:17 pm GMT

    @ThAdEa82 Yeah I know that, but I don't think 1 months exclusivity will do that. It would only look good for Microsoft if it was completely exclusive for 360.

  • doontime

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 2:14 pm GMT

    @stealth_strike BBC2 is not bad at all and neither is MW2 but they both have flaws, MW2 has map rotation problems, way to many grenade launcher users, a lot of camping, bad killstreak system as well as a horrible perk system, a lot of annoying people which I mute all the time, no team work, very easy game to get kills in, weapon damage is uneven but I still love it even though I broke my disc lol (not a smart idea)

  • supermex2109

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 2:04 pm GMT

    Activision, you fired your ceo and president because they did not want to destroy the cod franchise? I think we have found our next EA. The COD games are about to get a whole lot worse.

  • CFritzRun

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 2:02 pm GMT

    Honestly, there are too many games out and too many games coming out right now for me to reinforce one I don't feel like going back to at the moment.

  • guitardude1243

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 2:00 pm GMT

    Lol at the comment, "They're just trying to make money." Captain Obvious strikes again.

  • Agarnier

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 1:58 pm GMT

    They're gonna get my money anyways. Map packs, new games, Infinity Ward, Treyarch.... whatever!! I like to play!!! If you feel u want to spend your money someplace else go ahead...

    @ okassar
    We all know they're gonna charge us $10 for the pack, but I agree it should be less. What about customer appreciation??? Hell, it should be 4 free!! Didn't they announced they made billions out of us already???

  • stealth_strike posted Mar 10, 2010 1:52 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    stealth_strike

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 1:52 pm GMT (hide)

    i am loling @ all these comments about how great bdc2 is. Why are all you BDC2 fans here reading this and not playing your flawless game. Oh thats right because it sucks and you cant admit it. The MW2 players are 2 busy enjoying a great game while the BDC2 fans are so desperate and bored they are ranting on any gamespot artical that has MW2 headline. If only bdc2 was half the game mw2 was I would have bought it but you know EA is so into making somthing user friendly thats it no fun. Well this was a awsome artical and nice informations time to mark my calender.

  • bruhle

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 1:49 pm GMT

    @ ThAdEa82

    "Obvious attempt to make money going on?"

    Well Duh! They are a BUSINESS and not in it for charity. They SHOULD be trying to make money! Heaven forbid!! How many games would come out each year if they were not even trying to turn a profit? Gamers sure are a spoiled bunch...

  • richboy101

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 1:44 pm GMT

    @fartybarty
    fanboy much? people like you are the ones that start all this console war crap. grow the f*ck up.

  • Jim60360

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 1:42 pm GMT

    traded mine in, to little to late. battlefield online is way better anyway.

  • juggalom1ke

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 1:40 pm GMT

    modern warfare 2 sucks so bad. cod 4 was awesome, but i bought into the hype machine. game is an error filled mess.

    want a real fps war shooter go get bfbc2

  • masserati

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 1:29 pm GMT

    no spec ops or zombies, no buy

  • okassar

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 1:20 pm GMT

    Activision should realllly take the Ubisoft route and make the map packs 5 dollars or less....although it won't result in as much profit, they should really make CoD fans happy and charging 10 bucks is not a good way of doing that.

    I'm a sucker so I'm still going to buy them...I play the game a hell load anyway.

  • ThAdEa82

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 12:56 pm GMT

    @coruscant - Its just for show. They probably think it will appeal to a person just now deciding to buy a console. "Huh, the 360 gets stuff earlier than the ps3...I'll get the 360 since this probably means they get other stuff sooner too" Maybe thats what they think goes on so they do it for the biggest game to release

  • fartybarty

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 12:50 pm GMT

    lol bfbc2 gets day 1 dlc for free. suck on that mw2 fan boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! p.s. bc2 owns mw2 any day of millennium

  • coruscant

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 12:46 pm GMT

    I don't see why Microsoft paid for 1 months exclusivity for the DLC. It just means I'll be able to have a good look at the packs on YouTube and decide if I want to buy them.
    P.S I hope Activision loses the lawsuit.

  • Waldkrieger

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 12:41 pm GMT

    Map Packs are a complete waste. Zero interest.

  • Nenad87

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 12:39 pm GMT

    i will save my money for bb2. the best multiplayer.

  • KamikazeDonut

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 12:38 pm GMT

    Well if they release a few Spec Ops missions with the maps I'll buy it, if not I' ll just stick to the old maps.

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