Epic Games has announced the next downloadable content for Gears of War: Judgment. It's titled the "Lost Relics" pack and will be coming in June. It include some new maps, an old favorite, and a new objective gametype, along with new weapon and armor skins.

Read more: Checkout returns, Breakout debuts »

Gears of War: Judgment is getting a second map pack, titled "Call to Arms," next week. The pack will be available on April 23 for Season Pass holders, and for $12.50 (1000 MSP) on April 30 for everyone else. It includes three new maps, a new multiplayer mode, and some extra armor and gun skins.

Read more: Map and the 'Master of Arms' mode detailed »

Two console-exclusive "of War" prequels released last month, as both Microsoft and Sony attempt to milk their biggest franchises one more time before the next generation begins. Critical reception for the two titles have been okay (but not great), but sales are likely to fall short of both franchises' last numbered entries.

Read more: Sales well under a million »

Why delay the inevitable? A stay of execution means nothing when you know they're baying for your blood and will take joy in extracting it with blade and boot. So, Lancers sharpened, Epic Games has released Gears of War: Judgment's free 'Haven' DLC a few days earlier than planned. The pack brings back the Execution multiplayer mode, along with new map Haven.

Read more: Only one-hit kills and executions »

Gears of War: Judgment introduced a few new multiplayer modes, and cut a few others. But one of the modes left on the cutting room floor is actually still lurking on the disc, and can be accessed through some complex menu selection voodoo.

Read more: Microsoft confirms leftover code »

After a short recess, I have reconvened with Gears of War: Judgment to try out the game's multiplayer modes with full servers. While the single-player mode was disappointing with a less-than-compelling story, confined stages, and questionable AI, Epic Games and People Can Fly have given the traditional Gears of War multiplayer formula somewhat of an overhaul. The result is something that feels familiar, yet fresh and enjoyable, even if there's a fresh stench of DLC in the air.

One of the most distinctive new features of Judgment's multiplayer is a new character management feature. Players now get to select which characters they get to enter the multiplayer arena with, creating a distinctive avatar of their own. They start off with Baird, but can gradually unlock new skins and costumes over the course of the single-player campaign or by accomplishing certain feats within multiplayer. Skins for various weapons can also be unlocked the same way.

Read more: Horde mode replaced »

All rise! This court is now in session! Epic Games and People Can Fly have been charged with creating an unnecessary prequel to a highly successful trilogy. The prosecution here at Shacknews wish to present the only piece of evidence. Exhibit A--Gears of War: Judgment, an interesting side-story to the main series, but one that pales in comparison to the memorable campaigns of the original trilogy.

Unlike the previous three Gears of War titles, Judgment's campaign centers around a courtroom setting. Damon Baird has been put on trial, along with the rest of his Kilo Squad teammates--Augustus Cole, the other boisterous series veteran to join the team; Garron Paduk, a rebellious Gorasnayan that served previously as part of the Union of Independent Republics; and Sofia Hendrik, a medic fresh out of the academy. Colonel Ezra Loomis is holding Kilo Squad on trial for treason after the team stole a giant Lightmass Missile to fight off a giant Locust threat. Before anyone asks, yes, there is still a huge battle occurring outside the courtroom, naturally a great time to hold a trial.

Read more: Level design and AI issues »

Among its myriad of other multiplayer elements and modes, Gears of War: Judgment will choose one player per week to give opponents the heebie-jeebies. Epic Games announced at SXSW that each week, a player will be chosen to become the Epic Reaper, a scary foe with his own set of abilities.

Read more: Special rewards for being and killing Reapers »

Gears of War: Judgment packs an unlockable mini-campaign that ties into the end of Gears of War 3, Microsoft revealed during a Gears of War livestream event over the weekend. 'Aftermath' is unlocked by completing the main campaign particularly skilfully and stylishly, and fills in what Baird and Cole got up to at the end of Gears 3.

Watch: Oh, what adventures! »

Like its predecessor, Gears of War: Judgment is getting a downloadable content Season Pass. The pass will be available at launch for $20, promising a 20% discount on various maps, modes, and unlocks.

Read more: Permanent double XP with Season Pass »

Gears of War: Judgment is a prequel that takes place just after the first Locust attack, so you shouldn't need any prior knowledge of the series to get a hang of the proceedings. If you have gaps in your Gears knowledge, though, one retailer is making it a bit easier to fill in the blank spaces.

Read more: Gears 2 or 3 as a bonus game »

A multiplayer demo for Gears of War: Judgment will launch alongside the Xbox 360 exclusive on March 19, Microsoft announced today, showcasing its new class-based competitive 'OverRun' mode. Pre-ordering from GameStop will net you a few days' early access to the demo, with progress carrying over into the full game.

Watch: How to play OverRun »

Gears of War: Judgment is a prequel, taking Baird and Cole back to a time when only weeks had passed since the Locusts started stirring up trouble. So it makes sense that Microsoft and Epic Games are giving newcomers a free refresher course as a bonus, packing download codes for the original Gears of War in the initial run of Judgment.

Read more: $19.99 on Games on Demand »

The Gears of War franchise isn't known for being lighthearted. However, the upcoming Gears of War Judgment attempts to lighten the mood by focusing on the wise-cracking Baird in the lead role.

"There are some truly dark moments, as there should be in a game about monsters exploding," Epic Games writer Rob Auten told Shacknews. "But ultimately we did try to go for a tone that was fun, and you want to hang out with these characters in the sense that they're fun to listen to interact with each other. All my favorite moments of Gears are the ones that had a little bit of lightness to the horror."

Read more: 'You're not playing this game to experience guilt' »

Gears of War: Judgment is a "first" for the franchise in many ways. It is the first prequel, and the first game in the series to come from Epic subsidiary People Can Fly. It's also the first game to release after the high-profile departures of many key Epic employees--an opportunity to change things up for the franchise.

"It feels to me like [People Can Fly] brought fresh blood, fresh perspective, and progressive evolution," producer Alan Van Slyke told us. "They're familiar with the Gears franchise but they're fresh to Judgment."

Read more: 'We could do anything' with franchise now »