The first major batch of downloadable content for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 will hit Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on Thursday, November 5, publisher Activision said today.

The $10 / 800 Microsoft Point download will deliver new upgrades and missions to Vicarious Visions' superhero action-RPG, along with five new characters. Of those new heroes, four have been revealed: Carnage, Cable, Psylocke and Black Panther.

In addition, Juggernaut--a playable character offered as a pre-order bonus--will also be formally released as downloadable content the same day at $2 / 160 MS Points.

A wealth of rhythm game news emerged out of Activision today, as the publisher detailed the first downloadable track packs coming to the just-released DJ Hero along with a rundown of the various tunes hitting Guitar Hero 5 across the next month.

Guitar Hero 5 Downloadable Content
November 5 - Band Hero Song Imports ($5 / 400 MS Points)
• 61 of 65 Tracks, Requires Band Hero
November 12 - Lenny Kravitz Track Pack... Read more

Developer Harmonix has issued details on next week's batch of downloadable add-ons for Rock Band and Rock Band 2, which will deliver eight new tracks to the franchise.

The following will hit the online marketplaces of the Xbox 360 and Wii on Tuesday, November 3, and then PlayStation 3 on November 5. Each track will be $2 / 160 MS Points, with the Foo Fighters Pack at $7 / 560 MSP and Nirvana at $5.50 / 440 MSP.

Foo Fighters Pack 03
• Foo Fighters - "Best of You"
• Foo Fighters - "The Pretender"... Read more

Having previously noted its plans for "deep and interactive downloadable content to be released on a regular basis post launch," Playlogic has revealed details on the first add-ons coming to its just-released PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 action game.

"4 Brand New Playable Characters" and "3 Brand New PvP Arenas" will be provided as an "exclusive" free download to those that register their copy of the game at the official site. The offer is open for the first 90 days the game is out, so you have 89 days left.

As for those who don't register, Playlogic noted it will details "our FREE DLC release plans for Xbox Live Marketplace and the PlayStation Store in the coming weeks."

With Grand Theft Auto IV's downloadable "Ballad of Gay Tony" expansion hitting Xbox 360 tomorrow, developer Rockstar wants you to meet new protagonist Luis Lopez.

"Gay Tony" will be available as a 1600 MS Point ($20) download for those that own Grand Theft Auto IV. It will also be on the Xbox 360-only "Episodes From Liberty City" disc, where it's playable without a copy of GTA4. Both disc and download are due tomorrow.

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Excitebike: World Rally, an updated version of the NES classic Excitebike, will be available for WiiWare download on November 9.

Announced via the Wii's online Nintendo Channel, the game has an enhanced 2.5-D look, a Track Editor, and four-player online multiplayer capability. More information, including the price of admission, has yet to be revealed.

In the meantime, check out the trailer.

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As Halloween draws ever closer, Harmonix has proclaimed that next week's Rock Band downloadable content will be "the spookiest DLC packs yet." Which artists could warrant this blood-curdling title? Why, it's none other than family-friendly shock rocker Rob Zombie, wailin' Wolfmother, lurid Liz Phair, and the macabre Morningwood.

Rob Zombie Track Pack
• Rob Zombie - "Burn"
• Rob Zombie - "Dragula"
• Rob Zombie - "Superbeast"
Wolfmother Track Pack
• Wolfmother - "New Moon Rising"... Read more

It looks like next week will be a costly one for some Rock Band owners, as developer Harmonix is slated to unleash some rather anticipated downloadable add-ons.

Those with plain old Rock Band or Rock Band 2 will be tempted by the addition of ten Queen tunes, all of which are original master recordings. Each tune will go for $2 / 160 MS Points / 200 Wii Points, with the entire ten-pack going for $16 / 1280 MS Points.

Meanwhile, owners of The Beatles: Rock Band will be able to expand their song libraries with the remaining tracks from "Abbey Road," including the 16-minute B-side medley. Songs will be available individually at $2 / 160 MS Points / 200 Wii Points or collectively through a $17 /1360 MS Point bundle, with more albums on the way.

Expect both sets of downloadable content to hit Xbox 360 and Wii on Tuesday, October 20, with PlayStation 3 availability coming Thursday, October 22. Should you desire a full list of the various tunes soon to be on offer, look no further... Read more

Borderlands publisher 2K Games has announced the first batch of downloadable content for Gearbox's upcoming shooter-RPG, titled The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned.

"Tasked with keeping the workers of Jakobs Cove alive, Dr. Ned... does his job a little too well, creating zombies and other abominations that now run rampant in this region," 2K explains, describing it as a "full-fledged expansion." The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned will bring "new enemies, new quests and rare loot drops" for $10 (800 Microsoft Points).

In August, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford enthused "People are going to be surprised when they find out how quickly we're coming, and with what content we're coming."

Borderlands will hit Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on October 20, with the PC version pushed back until October 26. The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned arrives "later this year."

With BioWare's Dragon Age: Origins slated to receive two downloadable expansions at launch, the company has now issued screenshots and trailers detailing the add-ons.

All new copies of Dragon Age: Origins--due on PC and Xbox 360 come November 3, then PlayStation 3 later in the month--will include free codes for both the "Stone Prisoner" expansion and "Blood Dragon Armor" also wearable in Mass Effect 2. "Prisoner" will also be available as a $15 (1200 MS Point) download for those that buy used.

The "Warden's Keep" expansion--priced at $7 (560 MS Points)--will also be available at release, though only those who buy the PC Digital Deluxe Edition will... Read more

While we still don't have a date for LEGO Rock Band beyond the "holiday" window, co-publisher Warner Bros. has pulled the curtain back on all of its included songs.

Along with word that busting will make players feel good on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS, the company confirmed that the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 editions will let owners download the included songs for use in Rock Band 1 and 2. The process involves entering a "unique code" from the manual and paying... Read more

A face-rocking triple-pack from the Brutal Legend soundtrack is headlining next week's batch of Rock Band downloadable content to celebrate the release of Double Fine's heavy metal action adventure, with support acts including Kansas, L7 and Joe Satriani.

"These are three great songs that totally capture the feeling of Brutal Legend. I can't wait to play them in Rock Band," said Double Fine head honcho Tim Schafer in a statement. "I've air-drummed to all of them so many times, I'm sure I'll be able to beat them on hard mode, no problem. Or at least on medium. Like medium plus. That's a setting, right?"

Brutal Legend Pack
• Motorhead - "(We Are) The Road Crew '08"
• Tenacious D - "The Metal"
• Testament - "More Than Meets the Eye"
• Black Tide - "Show Me the Way"... Read more

BioWare has confirmed the Dragon Age: Origins 'Warden's Keep' content included with the PC Digital Deluxe Edition--which is different than the Collector's Edition and only sold via online shops--will also be available as $7 downloadable content at launch.

Warden's Keep brings "a new dungeon-exploring adventure, new loot including a set of ancient Grey Warden armor, a chance to gain two of six mysterious new abilities, a new base complete with merchants and a party chest to store their hard-earned items."

As was previously announced, the 'Stone Prisoner' DLC found free in all new copies of the game will also be released at $15 for those who buy used when the fantasy RPG hits PC and Xbox 360 on November 3--then PlayStation 3 later in the month.

Available only in new copies is the "Blood Dragon Armor," wearable by characters in both Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2. Have a gander through this trailer... Read more

As Naughty Dog prepares to release its latest PlayStation 3 exclusive on October 13, the company has confirmed that it will support Uncharted 2 with downloadable content, though the new stuff may be limited to its competitive multiplayer mode. "What you'll probably see is more of the competitive type: more maps, more modes," designer Justin Richmond told Eurogamer. "The co-op stuff is hugely time-intensive and the size of it--the physical download size--is huge, so that's probably not an option."

A demo sampling the game's co-op and competitive multiplayer, but not its single-player campaign, is currently available as a free download in the PlayStation 3's online store.

"I'm not going to say never," Richmond added, offering a faint sliver of hope to cooperative enthusiasts. "But for the foreseeable future we're not going to be doing that."

As the industry continues its efforts to minimise used game sales, Turn 10 Studios has announced that new copies of racer Forza 3 will include free downloadable content.

A single-use code found in new copies will grant the exclusive Motorsports Legends Car Pack, containing ten classic cars as well as two tracks--the new 'Benchmark High Speed Ring' set around an old airfield, and returning track 'Sidewinder Proving Grounds.'

Developers and publisher have long griped that they see nothing of the huge profits used game sales bring retailers. Gears of War 2 and NBA Live 09 are among the games which have previously attempted to encourage the purchase of new copies by packing free DLC, with BioWare's RPG Dragon Age: Origins also set to follow... Read more

Amazon.com today launched a new PlayStation Network store, allowing users to purchase downloadable PlayStation 3 and PSP content through the online retailer.

Offerings include full games and add-on content. However, not all of the items sold through the online PlayStation Store are available here, such as Rock Band tracks.

As with the section dedicated to downloadable Xbox 360 games, buyers will receive a download code via e-mail that can then be redeemed in the console's marketplace. That code is also stored on Amazon.com "so [customers] can retrieve it at any time."

ZEN Pinball developer ZEN Studios has revealed that a new table inspired by Team Ninja's slasher Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is coming to the downloadable PlayStation 3 pinball game.

The new ninja-tastic board "boasts a record five multiball game modes" and "a massive amount of killer action-packed missions," ZEN's Zsolt Kigyossy explained over on the PlayStation.Blog.

The download is slated to arrive later this month. No word yet on price, though the first expansion for ZEN Pinball--the "Street Fighter II Tribute" table--sold for $2.49.

With an enhanced "Alternative Edition" of Resident Evil 5 coming soon to Japan, maker Capcom has opened a poll to help determine if the new content should instead hit North America as downloadable content for those that already own the game.

"[The physical re-release] makes absolutely perfect sense for the Japanese gaming market, where the uptake of digital content is a bit behind the western markets," Capcom's Chris Kramer explained in a blog post accompanying the poll.

For votes to be counted, users must have registered and logged... Read more

A ten-pack of tracks from rock gods Queen will be arriving in Rock Band as downloadable content this month, Harmonix has announced.

The tracks are due October 20--a Tuesday, meaning they'll probably hit Xbox 360 and Wii that day and follow in PlayStation 3 form via the PS Store update on Thursday, October 22.

• Another One Bites the Dust
• Crazy Little Thing Called Love... Read more

Alanis Morissette's oft-debated misrepresentation of the meaning behind "irony" comes to Rock Band in the form of downloadable content next week, joined by tracks from hip-hoppers Flobot, rockers The Raconteurs, and disco punks Electric Six.

The below tunes hit Xbox 360 and Wii on Tuesday, October 6, with PlayStation 3 availability following Thursday, October 8. Per usual, each song will sell for $2 / 200 Wii Points / 160 Microsoft Points, with the two packs going for $5.50 / 440 MS Points each.

Electric Six Pack 01
• Electric Six - "Dance Epidemic"
• Electric Six - "Gay Bar"... Read more