"Halo 4” Champions Bundle Unleashes New Maps, Game Type and More on 20th August
Multiplayer expansion brings a new level of customisation to the “Halo” experience with three unique DLC Packs for gamers to enjoy
LONDON, Monday 8th July, 2013 — 343 Industries has announced the fourth major expansion in the “Halo” Infinity Multiplayer1 experience, with the “Halo 4” Champions Bundle launching Tuesday 20th August. Developed in collaboration with Certain Affinity, the Champions Bundle includes three DLC Packs (Bullseye Pack, Infinity Armour Pack and Steel Skin Pack), plus bonus content that contains more than 18 brand new, in-game items available for a limited time and exclusive to the bundle.
The Champions Bundle will be available on Xbox Live for 800 MS Points2, featuring:
· Bullseye Pack: Two new multiplayer maps, a sports-themed Spartan armour and a new competitive gravball game type called Ricochet
· Infinity Armour Pack: Set your Spartan up with impressive and legendary new armour
· Steel Skin Pack: Bring an elaborate steampunk style to your UNSC, Covenant, and Forerunner weapons
Releasing the same day as the Champions Bundle, each individual DLC Pack will also be available on Xbox Live as standalone offers. The Bullseye Pack will be available for 480 MS Points2, and the Infinity Armour Pack and Steel Skin Pack will be available for 240 MS Points2 each. The bonus content is only available for a limited time exclusively through the Champions Bundle.
A brief description of the limited-time exclusive Champions Bundle content and each new pack is below. For more information, please visit Halo Waypoint.
“Halo 4” Champions Bundle
Enhance your War Games experience with three all-new content packs for one special price3, plus limited-time exclusive bonus content only available for those who purchase the “Halo 4” Champions Bundle. The bonus content gives you an excellent selection of upgrades, including an armour mod called the Resistor Tactical Package, new weapon skins, new armour skins and new Spartan stances for your player card. And, with the “Halo 4” Champions Bundle, you get the three content packs as well: the Infinity Armour Pack sets your Spartan up with legendary new armour; the Steel Skin Pack brings elaborate steampunk style to your UNSC, Covenant, and Forerunner weapons; and the Bullseye Pack delivers two new maps, a sports-themed Spartan armour, and two week early-access4 to an insane new competitive gravball game type called “Ricochet”. A description of the armour mod is below:
· Resistor Tactical Package: The Resistor Package is a specialised armour mod that allows Spartans to maintain their full mobility and dexterity while taking incoming fire.
Bullseye Pack
Dive headfirst into the exciting Bullseye Pack, which includes the brand new Ricochet game type and two new maps, Pitfall and Vertigo. In addition, Bullseye offers an entirely new armour set based on the Ricochet game type. A description of the new maps, game type, and armour mods is below:
· NEW Game Type – Ricochet: For nearly a century, gravball competitions have held sway over most competitive sports across the breadth of human-occupied space. Historically, UNSC drill instructors have utilised a variant called Ricochet, where fast-paced combat simulations occur in sync with the classic, frenetic scoring competition. Protect your team’s goal and score in the other team’s goal. Running the ball into the goal earns you 50 points, while throwing the ball into the goal gets you 20 points. First team to 150 points wins.
· NEW Map – Vertigo: Vertigo is a small, asymmetrical map that any Slayer or Extraction fan will love. Opposing Spartans aren’t the only thing you have to worry about in this small experimental tension conductor facility. This map is hiding a secret: Vertigo brings you the first dynamic event in a Halo multiplayer map in a very long time; the map hides a trigger point, that when shot at depletes the shields of all Spartans within range.
· NEW Map – Pitfall: As a remake of the “Halo 3” map, ‘The Pit’, Pitfall has new features based on pro and community feedback for increased pace and flow. The map is small, symmetrical and mostly open with strategically placed cover points.
Infinity Armour Pack
Stand out on the battlefield: from legendary Mjolnir and Special Forces armour to the ancient Forerunner mail of an era long passed, now is the time to update your “Halo 4” Spartan. With the Infinity Armour Pack, you get access to the vintage Mark V armour of “Halo: Combat Evolved,” the rugged armour worn by the battle-hardened ODSTs, and a hybrid Forerunner armour system used by their civilization’s Prefects more than 100,000 years ago.
Steel Skin Pack
With the Steel Skin Pack, stylise your favourite loadouts with the most elaborate and impressive “Halo 4” weapon skins to date. Inspired by classic steampunk aesthetics, the Steel Skin Pack covers the gamut with ten UNSC, Covenant and Forerunner weapons, grafting vivid, dynamic plating and textures across your weapon-of-choice.
—ENDS—
1Xbox Live Gold required, sold separately
2Estimated Retail Price
3Savings based on estimated retail prices. Actual retailer prices may vary.
42 week early access begins from day of bundle release.
Assets may be downloaded from the following link: http://news.xbox.com/2013/07/games-halo-4-champions-bundle
For media enquiries, please contact:
Maxine Rushworth / 020 3047 4047 / maxine_rushworth@jcpr.com
Dominic Carey / 01189 09 5334 / v-docare@microsoft.com You can follow us on Twitter at @XboxUK, on Facebook at facebook.com/xboxuk and on YouTube at youtube.com/xboxuk About “Halo 4”
“Halo 4” is the latest blockbuster installment of the iconic franchise that has shaped entertainment history and defined a generation of gamers. Developed by 343 Industries, “Halo 4” continues the story of the series’ iconic hero the Master Chief as he returns to confront his destiny and face an ancient evil that threatens the fate of the entire universe. “Halo 4” takes the series in a bold new direction by delivering its most epic and explorative campaign yet, alongside an emotionally resonant story and a ground-breaking; multiplayer offering unlike anything before it – setting the stage for an epic new sci-fi saga.
About Certain Affinity
Certain Affinity (CA) was founded in 2006 with the goal of creating innovative, top-quality action games. CA brings an experienced, talented group together to form one of the largest independent developers in Austin, Texas. Led by Max Hoberman, a ten-year Bungie veteran, who is CA’s founder, president and creative director, the company has more than 70 full-time employees, including veterans from dozens of successful game studio. CA has gone on to ship more than a dozen products, which when combined have sold more than 75 million copies. Notable releases include co-development on Call of Duty: World at War and Call of Duty: Black Ops; downloadable competitive and cooperative content for Halo: Reach and Halo Anniversary; co-development on Left 4 Dead, as well as the original strategy game Age of Booty and original action-role playing game, Crimson Alliance. Certain Affinity’s rare exposure to so many top-tier developers, publishers, and franchises has helped the company build a world-class team ready for the industry’s next generation of games. The company can be found online at www.certainaffinity.com.
About Xbox
Xbox is Microsoft’s premier entertainment brand for the TV, phone, PC and tablet. In living rooms or on the go, Xbox is home to the best and broadest games, as well as one of the world’s largest libraries of movies, TV, music, and sports. Your favourite games, TV and entertainment come to life in new ways through the power of Kinect, Xbox SmartGlass, and Xbox Live, the world’s premier social entertainment network. More information about Xbox can be found online at http://www.xbox.com.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Centre at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx
The Champions Bundle will be available on Xbox Live for 800 MS Points2, featuring:
· Bullseye Pack: Two new multiplayer maps, a sports-themed Spartan armour and a new competitive gravball game type called Ricochet
· Infinity Armour Pack: Set your Spartan up with impressive and legendary new armour
· Steel Skin Pack: Bring an elaborate steampunk style to your UNSC, Covenant, and Forerunner weapons
Releasing the same day as the Champions Bundle, each individual DLC Pack will also be available on Xbox Live as standalone offers. The Bullseye Pack will be available for 480 MS Points2, and the Infinity Armour Pack and Steel Skin Pack will be available for 240 MS Points2 each. The bonus content is only available for a limited time exclusively through the Champions Bundle.
A brief description of the limited-time exclusive Champions Bundle content and each new pack is below. For more information, please visit Halo Waypoint.
“Halo 4” Champions Bundle
Enhance your War Games experience with three all-new content packs for one special price3, plus limited-time exclusive bonus content only available for those who purchase the “Halo 4” Champions Bundle. The bonus content gives you an excellent selection of upgrades, including an armour mod called the Resistor Tactical Package, new weapon skins, new armour skins and new Spartan stances for your player card. And, with the “Halo 4” Champions Bundle, you get the three content packs as well: the Infinity Armour Pack sets your Spartan up with legendary new armour; the Steel Skin Pack brings elaborate steampunk style to your UNSC, Covenant, and Forerunner weapons; and the Bullseye Pack delivers two new maps, a sports-themed Spartan armour, and two week early-access4 to an insane new competitive gravball game type called “Ricochet”. A description of the armour mod is below:
· Resistor Tactical Package: The Resistor Package is a specialised armour mod that allows Spartans to maintain their full mobility and dexterity while taking incoming fire.
Bullseye Pack
Dive headfirst into the exciting Bullseye Pack, which includes the brand new Ricochet game type and two new maps, Pitfall and Vertigo. In addition, Bullseye offers an entirely new armour set based on the Ricochet game type. A description of the new maps, game type, and armour mods is below:
· NEW Game Type – Ricochet: For nearly a century, gravball competitions have held sway over most competitive sports across the breadth of human-occupied space. Historically, UNSC drill instructors have utilised a variant called Ricochet, where fast-paced combat simulations occur in sync with the classic, frenetic scoring competition. Protect your team’s goal and score in the other team’s goal. Running the ball into the goal earns you 50 points, while throwing the ball into the goal gets you 20 points. First team to 150 points wins.
· NEW Map – Vertigo: Vertigo is a small, asymmetrical map that any Slayer or Extraction fan will love. Opposing Spartans aren’t the only thing you have to worry about in this small experimental tension conductor facility. This map is hiding a secret: Vertigo brings you the first dynamic event in a Halo multiplayer map in a very long time; the map hides a trigger point, that when shot at depletes the shields of all Spartans within range.
· NEW Map – Pitfall: As a remake of the “Halo 3” map, ‘The Pit’, Pitfall has new features based on pro and community feedback for increased pace and flow. The map is small, symmetrical and mostly open with strategically placed cover points.
Infinity Armour Pack
Stand out on the battlefield: from legendary Mjolnir and Special Forces armour to the ancient Forerunner mail of an era long passed, now is the time to update your “Halo 4” Spartan. With the Infinity Armour Pack, you get access to the vintage Mark V armour of “Halo: Combat Evolved,” the rugged armour worn by the battle-hardened ODSTs, and a hybrid Forerunner armour system used by their civilization’s Prefects more than 100,000 years ago.
Steel Skin Pack
With the Steel Skin Pack, stylise your favourite loadouts with the most elaborate and impressive “Halo 4” weapon skins to date. Inspired by classic steampunk aesthetics, the Steel Skin Pack covers the gamut with ten UNSC, Covenant and Forerunner weapons, grafting vivid, dynamic plating and textures across your weapon-of-choice.
—ENDS—
1Xbox Live Gold required, sold separately
2Estimated Retail Price
3Savings based on estimated retail prices. Actual retailer prices may vary.
42 week early access begins from day of bundle release.
Assets may be downloaded from the following link: http://news.xbox.com/2013/07/games-halo-4-champions-bundle
For media enquiries, please contact:
Maxine Rushworth / 020 3047 4047 / maxine_rushworth@jcpr.com
Dominic Carey / 01189 09 5334 / v-docare@microsoft.com You can follow us on Twitter at @XboxUK, on Facebook at facebook.com/xboxuk and on YouTube at youtube.com/xboxuk About “Halo 4”
“Halo 4” is the latest blockbuster installment of the iconic franchise that has shaped entertainment history and defined a generation of gamers. Developed by 343 Industries, “Halo 4” continues the story of the series’ iconic hero the Master Chief as he returns to confront his destiny and face an ancient evil that threatens the fate of the entire universe. “Halo 4” takes the series in a bold new direction by delivering its most epic and explorative campaign yet, alongside an emotionally resonant story and a ground-breaking; multiplayer offering unlike anything before it – setting the stage for an epic new sci-fi saga.
About Certain Affinity
Certain Affinity (CA) was founded in 2006 with the goal of creating innovative, top-quality action games. CA brings an experienced, talented group together to form one of the largest independent developers in Austin, Texas. Led by Max Hoberman, a ten-year Bungie veteran, who is CA’s founder, president and creative director, the company has more than 70 full-time employees, including veterans from dozens of successful game studio. CA has gone on to ship more than a dozen products, which when combined have sold more than 75 million copies. Notable releases include co-development on Call of Duty: World at War and Call of Duty: Black Ops; downloadable competitive and cooperative content for Halo: Reach and Halo Anniversary; co-development on Left 4 Dead, as well as the original strategy game Age of Booty and original action-role playing game, Crimson Alliance. Certain Affinity’s rare exposure to so many top-tier developers, publishers, and franchises has helped the company build a world-class team ready for the industry’s next generation of games. The company can be found online at www.certainaffinity.com.
About Xbox
Xbox is Microsoft’s premier entertainment brand for the TV, phone, PC and tablet. In living rooms or on the go, Xbox is home to the best and broadest games, as well as one of the world’s largest libraries of movies, TV, music, and sports. Your favourite games, TV and entertainment come to life in new ways through the power of Kinect, Xbox SmartGlass, and Xbox Live, the world’s premier social entertainment network. More information about Xbox can be found online at http://www.xbox.com.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Centre at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx