First Reach map pack drops Nov 30th

Microsoft announced today that the first map pack for Halo: Reach, called Noble Map Pack, will be released on the Xbox Live Marketplace on November 30.

The Noble Map Pack will bring three new multiplayer maps, called Anchor 9, Tempest, and Breakpoint. Anchor 9 (pictured above) is a "rapid refueling" dockyard for UNSC vessels, and is a 2-8 player map with "mirrored interior hallways" and an "open central hangar bay." Tempest is an "abandoned shoreline facility" for 8-16 players, with "opposing symmetrical bases." And lastly, Breakpoint also features 8-16 player action, set in "modular archaeological labs" atop of an "icy precipice."

The three maps will run you 800 Microsoft Points, or $10. If you want more elaborate descriptions of each map, you can check out Bungie's full official write-ups below. Pics of Tempest and Breakpoint follow below as well.

Anchor 9 -- "Orbital dockyards provide rapid refuelling and repairs for a variety of UNSC vessels." Within the confines of this low orbit dry-dock, UNSC craft undergo rapid repair and rearmament in support of the enduring war effort. But for the small squads of infantry who now fight over the mirrored interior hallways and open central hangar bay, this platform no longer provides any safe harbor -- whether the close quarters combat is occurring inside or out of its artificial gravitational field. Anchor 9 allows 2-8 players to face off in game variants including Free for All, Team Slayer and Team Objective.

Tempest -- "Though we may never fully understand these device, it is not our nature to leave ancient stones unturned." This abandoned shoreline facility bends both sea and sky to an unnatural purpose, but the ground itself has quickly become another all too familiar battlefield. Though the two opposing symmetrical bases may never reveal their ancient purpose, both now offer makeshift shelter and access to strategic routes perfectly suited for small and large scale skirmishes alike. Tempest supports 8 ? 16 players and offers a variety of modes including Free for All, Team Slayer, Team Objective and Big Team Battle. Tempest also provides players with a huge Forge palette, allowing them to create new custom map variants that can be shared with the community-at-large.

Breakpoint -- "ONI officials believe the data buried within this artefact is key to our survival." Atop this icy precipice, the Invasion continues. These modular archaeological labs were never intended to withstand such a large scale onslaught of Covenant military power, but the information being extracted here may prove vital to humanity's survival. In response to the imminent Covenant threat, UNSC ground and air assets have been deployed to bolster entrenched Spartan countermeasures. This dig site must yield salvation, or it will become a grave. Breakpoint offers multiplayer mayhem for 8-16 players, and supports the Invasion and Big Team Battle game variants.

Bit pricey if you ask me, I'll wait till it drops a little...

Halo =

Pricey and a bit soon. It's hard to not take cynically and guess these maps were ready when the game was launched and could have been bundled with the retail game but then that would result in less income being generated by a franchise that has the ability to bleed gamers dry...

surely folks arnt getting bored of halo reach already - oh i did

halo 3 locked you out of certain game modes if you didnt have the maps didnt it? bet reach goes the same way