Last Five Halo 2 Maps Released For FREE!!

Final battlegrounds from the Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack are now available on Xbox Live; matchmaking playlist updates next week.

Yesterday, I noticed that the final five maps for Halo 2 were released. I couldn't help but notice how much money Bungie made off of this little add-on. When you think add-on you think PC software. Most PC add-on's are are made to satisfy consumers who want more out of the original product they had bought or they are created for what the developer of the software could not put in before release deadline of the title. Bungie basically needed to satisfy fans of the series until it's next Xbox 360 title would come out for the time being. Many have said that this is a rip off and it is. But, I know everyone would be complaining if you didn't see anything come out for this title until the next gen console title. If you paid the $6 for the first four maps and then paid for the remaining maps available via Xbox Live then you really are an IdioT because you would have paid in the upward of $26 dollars. Wait I am an IdioT because I paid $14.99 plus tax for the retail version of the expansion map pack when I could have gotten it for FREE! Well at least I know something is going on Ebay this week.

from GameSpot

Frugal--and patient--gamers around the world today scored a victory as Bungie released the final maps from its Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack for free over Xbox Live. To get the five new maps, Halo 2 owners need only to sign on to Xbox Live and select the content download option from the game's menu.

The company took an interesting approach to releasing the nine extra maps by offering options to buy the maps and have them sooner, or wait a bit longer and get them for free. Bungie initially offered four maps--two for free and two for a price--over Xbox Live in April, the remaining five maps for a price over Xbox Live the same day it released the complete set in a retail version in June, and today made all the maps available for free download.

The final five maps are Relic, Elongation, Terminal, Backwash, and Gemini. Gamers will be required to download the maps by next week's matchmaking update if they wish to continue playing the ranked multiplayer sessions. Those who wish to explore the new territories can do so in custom games, Rumble Preview, or Team Preview playlists.