The story takes place eighteen months after the events of Gears of War 2 and the loss of the human stronghold of Jacinto. Marcus, Baird, Dom and company continue their fight to save human civilization, as they battle the Locust and face new threats from within the planet throughout the campaign mode.

After some technical issues that were revealed last night, Microsoft and Epic Games have released the Horde Command Pack.

Epic Games and Microsoft are giving thanks to the entire fan base with the announcement of the “Versus Booster Map Pack,” available for free on Xbox LIVE Marketplace on Thanksgiving Day – Nov. 24.

The “Versus Booster Map Pack” will feature five explosive maps available in public matchmaking playlists – two favorite maps from “Gears 1,” Swamp and Clocktower, as well as Azura, Rustlung and Blood Drive from the “Horde Command Pack.”

While the “Versus Booster Map Pack” will unlock five new multiplayer battlegrounds for public matchmaking, those who purchase the “Horde Command Pack” (or access it through the “Gears of War 3” Season Pass) will still have exclusive access to the pack’s Horde fortification upgrades, new playable characters like Bernie Mataki, Big Rig Dizzy and the Onyx Guard, as well as the Team Plasma and Jungle Camo weapon skins. To give players a sneak peek of the multiplayer mayhem, Epic Games released a new trailer for the “Horde Command Pack,” available today on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

With Epic and Microsoft continuing to roll out the big guns with three game add-ons to carry fans through 2011, there’s never been a better time to grab a copy of “Gears of War 3” and jump into the action on Xbox LIVE. Don’t miss any of the action and purchase the “Gears of War 3” Season Pass for 2400 Microsoft Points, which entitles you to the first four game add-ons for a discount of more than 30 percent! Stay tuned for additional announcements as the battle rages on in 2012 with more game add-ons coming next year.

Current “Gears of War 3” Game Add-ons Calendar

Tuesday, Nov. 1 – “Horde Command Pack” – 800 Microsoft Points

Pack includes:

• New Horde fortification upgrades – Command Center, Decoy upgrade, Sentry upgrade, Silverback upgrade
• Exclusive playable characters – Bernie Mataki, Big Rig Dizzy, Onyx Guard
• Exclusive weapon skins – Team Plasma, Jungle Camo
• New multiplayer maps – Azura, Rustlung, Blood Drive
• New Achievements worth 250 Gamescore

Thursday, Nov. 24 – “Versus Booster Map Pack” – FREE

Includes five explosive maps for competitive multiplayer – Swamp, Clocktower, Azura, Rustlung and Blood Drive – available in public matchmaking playlists powered by dedicated servers.

Tuesday, Dec. 13 – “RAAM’s Shadow” – 1200 Microsoft Points

Delivers more than three hours of new campaign gameplay set in a storyline that precedes the events of the first “Gears of War,” as well as six new multiplayer characters, the Chocolate Weapon Set and new Achievements worth an additional 250 Gamerscore – along with the ability to play as Zeta Squad, elite Locust enemies, or RAAM, one of the series’ most legendary Locust bosses.

Key Features:

• An enthralling cinematic story that captivates players in an intimately intense action game
• Five-on-five multiplayer experience as well as four player campaign co-op experience
• New multiplayer game modes including "Beast Mode" – offering a new twist to the game where you take on the role of the locust horde and their assorted variations!
• New maps including: Trenches which features an impressive sand storm that reduces your visibility, as well as Overpass, Mercy, Checkout, and Thrashball
• New weapons including: The Bayonet Charge, The Retro Lancer, The Sawed-off Shotgun, The OneShot – a heavy sniper rifle that shoots through shields or cover for a surprise one shot kill, The Incendiary Grenade, The Digger Launcher and a few subtle tweaks to old favorites Hammerburst and The Classic Lancer. Don't forget that each weapon now has its own execution move!
  Stay tuned for more updates, and keep your eyes peeled for more news on the Official Multiplayer Public Beta coming soon!

Gears of War 3 is available in three distinct editions – Standard ($59.99 USD), Limited ($79.99) and Epic ($149.99).