Halo 4 expanded its multiplayer offering in December 2012 with the Crimson Map Pack, the first downloadable map pack released for 343 Industries’ Xbox 360 shooter.
The Crimson Map Pack introduced three multiplayer maps named Wreckage, Harvest and Shatter, alongside the Extraction multiplayer game type. Microsoft released the DLC on 10 December 2012 for 800 Microsoft Points, while players who owned the Halo 4 War Games Map Pass received access as part of the pass.
The expansion arrived just over a month after Halo 4 launched for Xbox 360 on 6 November 2012.
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What Maps Were Included in the Halo 4 Crimson Map Pack?
The Crimson Map Pack added three environments designed around different styles of Halo 4 multiplayer.
Wreckage
Wreckage is an asymmetrical map set among the remains of crashed spacecraft scattered across a hazardous landscape.
Its combination of interior spaces, exposed exterior areas and vehicle routes supported different approaches to combat. Wreckage was particularly suited to objective-based multiplayer modes and larger encounters.
Harvest
Harvest takes place on a human agricultural colony where players battle around buildings and open terrain.
It is the smallest of the three Crimson maps and places greater emphasis on close and medium-range combat. Vehicles are still available, including the Mongoose.
Shatter
Shatter is a large symmetrical battleground built around a UNSC mining operation surrounded by crystalline terrain.
The map provides considerable space for vehicle combat, with the Warthog and Mantis among the vehicles available to players. Its size and layout also made Shatter particularly suitable for modes such as Dominion and Extraction.
Crimson Map Pack Introduced Extraction
The DLC also introduced Extraction to Halo 4 multiplayer.
Extraction is a team-based objective mode in which players must secure designated locations and deploy extraction beacons. The opposing team can attempt to interrupt the process and convert an active extraction point for themselves.
The mode was initially played with two teams of five players, adding another objective-focused option to Halo 4’s War Games multiplayer.
Eight New Halo 4 Achievements Were Added
The Crimson Map Pack added eight achievements to Halo 4.
Together, the additional achievements were worth 250 Gamerscore and required players to complete various objectives across the new multiplayer content.
These included challenges connected to the new maps, vehicles and Extraction mode.
What Happened After the Crimson Map Pack?
Halo 4’s multiplayer content continued to expand during 2013. The Majestic Map Pack followed Crimson in February, while the free Forge Island multiplayer map arrived in March and provided players with a large environment designed specifically for Forge creations. The Castle Map Pack then followed in April with another three multiplayer maps.
