Get your first look at how Swampland, Runoff, and War Games add even more action and intensity to the Frontier. After a solid debut in March, Titanfall topped March 2014 NPD charts – and with a second wave of new players, via the game’s release on Xbox 360 in April, it appears that Respawn Entertainment has successfully built a strong franchise foundation.
Recent word from Electronic Arts indicates the publisher expects to support development of Respawn’s new IP for many years to come – along with the possibility that Titanfall 2 could even make it to the PS4.
Of course, it will be a long time before we hear official Titanfall 2 details and, in the meantime, the developer still has plenty of content to add for Titanfall (1). Respawn has been hard at work balancing existing game modes and stamping out pesky bugs – all while preparing the title for the first of three DLC map packs, “Expedition.” Now, after weeks of speculation, the studio has released an official Expedition DLC gameplay trailer – showcasing the brand new maps Swampland, Runoff, and War Games.
In keeping with Respawn’s (understandable) choice to prioritize gameplay over storytelling, the new trailer (which you can view at the top of the page) spends little time explaining the context of each new map and, instead, highlights the design elements that make each environment unique.
Respawn spent a significant amount of time ensuring that DLC maps wouldn’t just expand the amount of multiplayer locales, they’d also provide gamers with opportunities for new gameplay strategies and, subsequently, challenges.
Swampland, which had been detailed in a Titanfall development featurette, includes tall but thin forestation – allowing pilots to grapple through the tree line high above the battlefield while providing limited cover for titans on the ground.
Runoff, which the team had previously called “an experiment in level design”, features “multiple elevations” – funneling titans through tight (and lengthy) corridors while pilots navigate an expansive series of walkways above.
War Games, which utilizes training simulator assets for a “parkour playground”, takes advantage of its virtual reality source program, unrestricted by the normal requirements of a physical battlefield, allowing pilots unmatched flexibility in navigating the map.
The trailer does not indicate when the DLC will launch – though previous reports assert that the Xbox One and PC versions will arrive by the end of May. The Expedition DLC will launch on Xbox 360 shortly after.
That said, gamers who are uninterested in shelling over $9.99 for the map pack, or $24.99 for the Titanfall season pass, Respawn is still hard at work on free updates to the core game – including new game modes as well as additional content and customization options. To that end, the studio has just detailed the latest core game update (#3) which includes further balancing tweaks, gameplay improvements, and new features.
