New COD2 maps to ambush XBL

Call of Duty 2 has been the top Xbox 360 game played over Xbox Live since it was released on launch day last November. One of the reasons the game has sat atop the most-played list is the fact that Activision and developer Infinity Ward have released two small map packs, adding four new battlegrounds to the ones included in the retail release of the game.

A post on the blog of Infinity Ward community manager Robert Bowling, who goes by the handle of Four Zero Two, indicates that Xbox Live gamers will have five more reasons to keep answering the game's online call of duty. Bowling got a head start on Activision's PR machine by announcing that the Invasion Map Pack, which includes five new maps, will be released this Thursday over Xbox Live.

The pack will cost 800 Marketplace points ($10), twice as much as the two-map Skirmish Map Pack. Bowling reports that the price was knocked down from its original price tag of 900 Marketplace points ($11.25).

The maps included in the Invasion Map Pack are:

Antoville, France (Crossroads)
St. Louet, France (Newvillers)
Amaye sur Seulles, France (Normandy)
Alam Halfa, Egypt (Decoytown)
Rostov, Russia (Harbor)

Call of Duty 2 is rated T for Teen. The Call of Duty 2: Game of the Year Edition is currently available for $59.99. For more on the game, read GameSpot's full review.