Gears of War 2 Snowblind DLC goes live: maps, achievements list here

The new Gears of War 2 Snowblind DLC is now available on XBL. To give you a bit of a primer on the add-on (and to allow you to squeeze out all the experience you can get out of it), we’re listing down all four new maps – yes, Fuel Depot is back! – and achievements, right here.

“Shh! Did you hear something?”

The new Gears of War 2 Snowblind DLC is now available on XBL for 800 MS points. To give you a bit of a primer on the add-on (and to allow you to squeeze out all the experience you can get out of it), we’re listing down all four new maps – start forming those strategies! – and achievements, right here.

All four maps included in the DLC are playable on all multiplayer modes (taken from Epic Games‘ press release):

• Grindyard is a massive industrial complex located in a junk-processing plant from the days of SeraÂ’s industrial excess. The office, now gutted, serves as a perfect place to fortify, but if youÂ’re not careful, youÂ’ll end up trapped inside the office with no hope of escape.
• Under Hill takes players through snowbound tunnels that were once billed as a feat of Seran engineering. Head for high ground on the bridge and youÂ’ll be rewarded with massive firepower, but be prepared to defend your position and try to escape being cornered.
• Courtyard is a wide-open battle royale containing explosive weapons that once formed the heart of EphyraÂ’s fashionable Civic Center. Lines of sight are far and clear here, and battles tend to focus around the elevated sniper nest. Watch your back and keep a fresh clip.
• Fuel Depot, back by popular demand, is a “Gears of War 2” remake of the fan-favorite “Gears of War” map, but winter has set in and the depot is now covered in a blanket of snow. Open and unforgiving, it takes a well-coordinated team to cover all the angles here.

As for the achievements, there are a total of 250 points to gain, spread out across nine achievements:

• “Rookie Gear” (10 points): Earn enough multiplayer experience to reach level 5 (Public only).
• “Seasoned Gear” (20 points): Earn enough multiplayer experience to reach level 15 (Public only).
• “Battle-Tested Gear” (30 points): Earn enough multiplayer experience to reach level 25 (Public only).
• “Battle-Hardened Gear” (50 points): Reach level 50 and play a match on each of the four Snowblind Map Pack maps (Public only).
• “Veteran Gear” (75 points): Reach level 100 and win a match on each of the four Snowblind Map Pack maps (Public only).
• “Never Eat Red Snow” (20 points): Complete waves 1 through 10 on all Snowblind Map Pack maps in Horde (any difficulty).
• “Icy Dead People” (25 points): Complete waves 1 through 50 on any Snowblind Map Pack map in Horde (any difficulty).
• “Frigid Body Dynamics” (5 points): Play a multiplayer match on each of the four Snowblind Map Pack maps (any mode).
• “The Weather Outside Is Lethal” (15 points): Win a multiplayer match on each of the four Snowblind Map Pack maps (any mode).

• Gears of War 2 getting new experience-based ranking system, new maps