Call of Duty: Black Ops 'Escalation' DLC trailer and screens uncovered

Call of Duty: Black Ops 'Escalation' DLC

Though Activision and Treyarch had already confirmed the existence of the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops map pack dubbed "Escalation," gamers have yet to take a look at the new locales. Today, the developer has sent over a detailed first-look at the content.

When Escalation launches on May 3--exclusively for the Xbox 360, and then later for the PC and PS3--it will feature four competitive maps: Zoo, Hotel, Convoy, and Stockpile. Escalation also includes one Zombie Mode-specific map, named Call of the Dead. A price for the content has not been announced.

The four new competitive maps seem to have a much stronger focus on the era featured in Black Ops. There's a distinct "cold war era" vibe to the maps, and the stories behind their design.

According to the "behind-the-scenes" video released along with the healthy crop of screenshots for the content, Treyarch's design for the new maps was influenced by vocal fans looking for "a wider range of exchange distances." Basically, it sounds like a sniper's dream and my worst nightmare.

A date for the PC and PS3 release of the Escalation Map Pack has not been revealed. If the previous DLC release schedule is any indication, PS3 and PC users will have to wait at least a month before they get to join in on the fun.