In the few past week, rumors have been speculating at a public beta for Bad Company 2, however, the rumors weren’t clarified. That is until now. Exclusively for the PlayStation 3, starting November 19, PlayStation 3 gamers will be able to experience the unprecedented action, destruction, vehicular warfare, squad play and open sandbox environments that only Bad Company 2 can deliver in the form of a private multiplayer beta.

The Battlefield: Bad Company 2 multiplayer beta will feature the “Arica Harbor” map, where up to 24 players can compete in one of the game’s four intense multiplayer modes called “Rush”. The new map displays a superb balance of vehicle and infantry combat, as the American assault unit attacks the Russian army base with full force, advancing further through a beautiful desert town and towards the industrial area in a desperate attempt to overtake the Arica Harbor.

“This is an outstanding opportunity for PlayStation gamers to get early access to one of the most action-packed and polished shooters in the marketplace with Battlefield: Bad Company 2,” says Rob Dyer, SVP, Publisher Relations, SCEA. “We’re happy to help DICE achieve their superior level of multiplayer excellence in the game.”

Along with that, early next year, players worldwide will be able experience Bad Company 2 when DICE releases a multiplayer demo on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

If you aren’t happy with the current map selection for Brütal Legend‘s Stage Battle multiplayer mode, I have some important news for you. Double Fine, the games developers, have announced Brütal Legend’s first episode of downloadable content entitled “Tears of the Hextadon“, which includes two new maps for the games Stage Battle mode.

In the first map, Circle of Tears, vile waters have carved a rough-hewn circular battlefield into a forsaken land that players must circumvent to destroy their opponent. In the second map, Death’s Fjord, players find themselves on an icy mountain pass with a dense cluster of fans that lie below, waiting to be harvested by those brave enough to capture them without cover from enemy attack. Also, all players who download the new map pack will receive a free axe, the Blade of Ormagöden.

“I play Brütal Legend online every night,” said Tim Schafer, President of Double Fine Productions. “And I need more maps! Circle of Tears is named after the crying of my vanquished foes on the battlefield, and Death’s Fjord is obviously a tribute to my Nordic ancestors, and their love of fan geysers and… Well, actually I just thought the name was cool. See you online!”

Tears of the Hextadon will be available on Xbox LIVE on November 3 for 400 MS Points and on PlayStation Network on November 5. And to up the anty, those that purchase the game via the PlayStation Network by November 19 will be able to download the content for free.

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony won’t only build on the game’s already prominent single player experience, it will also improve Grand Theft Auto IV’s prominent multiplayer experience, turning it into something more — adding such things such as Parachutes and Tanks into the mix, reveals Rockstar today.

“Tanks, attack choppers, new weapons, and, of course, parachutes make their multiplayer debut alongside new, tighter Deathmatch arenas, kill streaks, and assisted kills,” stated Rockstar via its official website. “It’s Grand Theft Auto multiplayer made more intense than ever.”

MAN! October 29th can’t come soon enough.

Activision revealed today that Blur, the company’s highly anticipated foray into the racing genre, is now scheduled to ship in 2010. Stating that they’re moving Blur from 2009 to give the development team at Bizarre Creations more time to enhance the game’s online multiplayer gameplay component.

“We are committed to making Blur a great new racing franchise, and we are very encouraged by the game’s design,” stated Mike Griffith, President and CEO, Activision Publishing. “The additional time will allow the studio to fully optimize the vision they set out to create for Blur including a distinctive and groundbreaking multiplayer mode that will appeal to a broad audience.” Blur is now scheduled to release sometime in 2010.

First, it was 2K Marin and 2K Australia collaborating in the development of BioShock 2. After that we learned that the sequel to BioShock will feature a competitive multiplayer mode, which will be created Digital Extremes.

Now, it seems that Arkane Studios, which developed Dark Messiah of Might and Magic for Ubisoft, will play in the development of BioShock 2.

“Today I’m proud to say that we’ve added another important developer to the mix. Under the direction and leadership of 2K Marin, Arkane is assisting in the creation of levels that embody the aesthetic and gameplay ideals that make BioShock such a unique and exciting experience,” Alyssa Finley, producer for 2K Marin, explained to GI.biz.

[Take-Two brings in fourth studio for BioShock 2 via GI.biz - thanks to TeamXbox]

Lock and load! When Halo 3: ODST drops this September, it will deliver a completely new campaign, a new cooperative multiplayer entitled Firefight, the complete Halo 3 multiplayer experience on a standalone disc, and new competitive multiplayer maps for Halo 3 you won’t find anywhere else. That’s why Microsoft and Bungie today revealed the remaining three multiplayer maps which are sure to get fans around the world excited.

• Heretic returns players to familiar ground as the Halo 2 arena Midship makes its long-rumored debut in Halo 3. The stark interior of the Pious Inquisitor might appear austere on first glance, but Heretic’s symmetrical spaces require players to execute complex strategies in order to outplay their opponents.
• Citadel may be a long abandoned Forerunner stronghold, but its small, symmetrical confines are far from secure. Two opposing bases offer little safety for players looking for solace. Instead, Citadel forces small squads to stay in constant communication, keep their heads on a swivel, and be prepared to adjust combat tactics in close quarters.
• Longshore lacks the commercial ships that once made it a lucrative port for Old Mombasa, but it still bustles with activity. Designed for large scale combat and well suited for smaller affairs, Longshore’s multitude of industrial buildings, elevated walks, and open inlets conspire to create a complex battleground tailored for multiple combat scenarios.

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In an ongoing discussion with Naughty Dog, co-president, Evan Wells stated that fans should expect to sample the games multiplayer once more before Uncharted 2′s historical release – which hasn’t been announced yet.

“Yes, we’re going to have another multiplayer demo before the game hits shelves. The exact timing isn’t finalized yet, but it should be available to an even wider group this time, so if you missed the last one I don’t think you’ll have any problem getting in this one.”

Developed by Naughty Dog, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, the highly-anticipated follow up to Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, will feature up to 10 players in 5-versus-5 competitive gameplay. Cooperative multiplayer modes allow up-to-3 players to progress through a variety of environments by working together to accomplish set objectives.

Using a robust party system, groups of players will remain together in ranked and custom matches while earning currency, which used in combination with currency earned in single player missions, will unlock additional content and upgrades.

In case you missed the pure amazement that was the Microsoft keynote, Gametrailers has just posted the Crackdown 2 debut trailer that was shown during the conference this morning. There isn’t anything new about the trailer because, once again, its the same trailer from this morning.

Coming exclusively to Xbox 360 in 2010, Crackdown 2 will take multiplayer2 gaming to unprecedented levels for the ultimate cooperative and competitive multiplayer experience, providing you and your friends with the complete freedom to explore, destroy and play as you return to restore justice and peace to Pacific City — by any means necessary.

Just incase you weren’t satifyed with the first peek, you’ll love this extended look into it. Not only is it five minutes long, but there’s guns, grenades, climbing and a hole lot of sneaking.

“Adding a multiplayer aspect to the Uncharted franchise is a significant step in the re-playability of the game,” said Christophe Balestra, co president Naughty Dog when announcing the games multiplayer mode. “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves will be the most impressive and ambitious game that Naughty Dog has done and we are thrilled to let our fans experience it this fall.”

Weesnaw. If you love horses and shooting up old school Texan baddies, you’ll love this. Rockstar’s Dan Houser has confirmed with IGN that Red Dead Redemption’s multiplayer mode will feature Horses, Stagecoaches, and Trains.

“Charging around on horses and stagecoaches and trains, shooting each other in a multiplayer world,” said Houser. “It’s pretty epic, but it’s not finalized to talk about in any more detail than that. We’re still learning a lot as we learn how to do multiplayer games successfully.”

He continues to state that their mistakes learned from Grand Theft Auto IV will be applied to its upcoming western.

“We definitely feel there’s something really fun about third-person multiplayer games, just as we feel there’s something really fun with third-person single-player games,” he continued. “Even between GTA IV and the Lost and Damned we made quite a leap forward in how the games were structured and how they played and I think we’re looking to do that again with everything we do going forward.”

There isn’t a gamer out there that didn’t express a bit of concern when it was announced that BioShock 2 would have a Multiplayer mode. But, luckily, it seems that 2K Games doesn’t want you to worry about it.

When speaking to Gameplayer, BioShock 2’s lead level designer Hogarth de la Plante had this to say about the Multiplayer situation.

“We recognise that people might be cynical about a multiplayer mode,” he stated. “A lot of us are big single player fans also so in no way does it compromise the single-player experience.”

Producer Mellisa Miller added that the decision to include online play had not been taken “lightly,” but refused to detail the new mode.

After Guerilla Games announced that Killzone 2 would be getting DLC, rumors popped up on the web stating that the downloadable content would feature a co-op mutli-player mode, which was missing from within the game when it released.

But, however, when GameInformer interviewed Co-founder and Managing Director of Guerrilla Games, Hermen Hulst, he revealed that Killzone 2 will not be receiving co-op as downloadable content.

“We looked at all the different flavors of co-op early on, but decided our first priority would have to be the single-player experience and the multiplayer,” Hulst informed. “Rather than just tack on co-op, it would have to be integrated and done to a similar standard as the single and multiplayer.”

“Having looked at it again now. I do not think we would want to add it as DLC,” he added.

[Guerilla Games: no downloadable co-op for Killzone 2 via PSU]

Capcom has finally confirmed that the Resident Evil 5 Versus Mode DLC will be released on Xbox LIVE and PlayStation Network this week.

Available from tomorrow, the DLC will set you back $5 on PSN (or 400 Microsoft Points) and it will included the following new multiplayer modes:

Slayer – A point-based game that challenges players to kill Majinis.
Survivor – Players hunt the most dangerous game, each other!

Players can pick from Chris, Sheva and any of the hidden characters in a one-on-one or two-versus-two setting for either gameplay modes.

In an attempt to divert from the ways of the first BioShock, a company spokesperson has revealed 2K Games’  plans to release the game ‘simultaneous’ on all platforms.

“We’re aiming for simultaneous release on all platforms (Xbox 360, PS3 and PC),” a company spokesperson told CVG, with the promise of details on the sequel’s illusive multi-player mode “soon enough”, and it really can’t be “SOON ENOUGH”!!! The game is anticipated to be released late 2009.

Along with addressing most of the problems players had with the title, and four more multiplayer maps – which aren’t planned to release simultaneously. Gears of War 2′s newest updated experience ‘Snowblind’ features new achievements for the title. The achievements add up to a total of 250 achievement points. The update will of course be free.

The achievements are as follows:

Rookie Gear (10)
Seasoned Gear (20)
Battle-Tested Gear (30)
Battle-Hardened Gear (50)
Veteran Gear (75)
Never Eat Red Snow (20)
Icy Dead People (25)
Frigid Body Dynamics (5)
The Weather Outside Is Lethal (15)

The first BioShock title was all about single player even with the latest re-boot on the PS3 stayed within those factors.

In the latest issue of Game Informer, which included some very in-dept info on the upcoming game, Bioshock 2, it revealed plans for a multi player mode and co-op component.

Detailed for the multi player modes aren’t thin on the ice right now, but we believe they will revealed the modes soon.

As it was revealed the other day, Resident Evil 5 will be getting a added multiplayer gameplay mode, but instead of it coming in the full game, it looks like it will be coming as paid DLC. I know, why didn’t they just add it into the full game? Well, you aren’t the only person to ask that question.

However, Capcom did reply to the recation yesterday to the announcement. “Although Versus mode makes use of the assets that exist in the game, the functionality is not currently in the game and is above and beyond the initial scope of Resident Evil 5,” Capcom reported to CVG.

“We have never included a Versus mode in Resident Evil before, and as well as the costs of development of the feature, there’s also additional bandwidth costs associated with it,” it added.

The patch, costing $4.99 on PSN, or 400 MS points on 360, will introduce new Versus modes – Slayer and Survivor.