‘Halo 4’ Crimson Map Pack Adds Three New Maps, New Mode

A new map pack for Halo 4 is set to release on Xbox Live starting December 10, Microsoft announced on Thursday. As usual, the map pack will run you 800 Microsoft Points.

Included in the War Games season pass, the Crimson map pack is the first of three map packs for Halo 4. Crimson adds in three new maps and a new game mode called “Extraction.”

In Extraction, two teams of five are pit against each other as each team tries to make it to control points to extract data. When the extraction process begins, that team has to defend the area until extraction is complete. Planting and defending an extraction point earns you points, and successfully overtaking extraction points can earn the other team points.

Here are the three maps included in Halo 4‘s Crimson map pack, along with descriptions of each:

Wreckage: Wreckage is the manifestation of the chaos of war. A medium-sized, asymmetrical map great for accommodating a wide range of objective-based game modes including King of the Hill and Capture the Flag, it is a ravaged environment of crashed debris, where the surrounding destruction creates complex paths perfect for throwing off your opponents, or testing the limits of your Warthog. This devastated landscape provides plenty of cover, and tons of nooks and crannies are at your disposal while fighting for your turn to become King. Wreckage supports up to 16 players in Infinity Slayer and up to 12 players in a variety of other modes, including Capture the Flag, King of the Hill and Oddball.

Harvest: Harvest is a canon concept brought to life – the doomed agricultural planet where humans first made contact with the Covenant. A small to mid-size map, Harvest is ideal for Capture the Flag. Here, you’ll need to get creative to effectively use light vehicles which are limited to the exterior pathways and can’t get into the bases, making this map perfect for infantry firefights and face-to-face skirmishes. Snipers will also feel right at home; long sightlines are broken up by great cover and hiding spots. Harvest allows up to 12 players to face off in Capture the Flag, Infinity Slayer, King of the Hill, SWAT and Slayer Pro.

Shatter: Shatter is themed around natural crystalline surfaces and the huge UNSC factories mining them. This large, symmetrical map is a playground for the Warthog and Mantis – its open pathways make it easy to get around, whether on foot or in vehicles. Shatter is a great fit for Dominion and the new game type Extraction. For some close-quarters face-time, escape the open landscape and duck into a mining facility, or slip through a doorway and hunt unsuspecting Spartans. This map has variety for different types of players. Shatter enables multiplayer mayhem for up to 16 players in Infinity Slayer and up to 12 players in other modes, such as Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, Dominion and Extraction.

Check out the Halo 4 Crimson map pack in the video below.