All Fronts Collection, containing all 19 Gears 2 downloadable maps and the deleted single-player chapter “Road to Ruin,” is now on sale for just 800 Microsoft Points.

Earlier today, we told you about the Gears of War 2 : All Fronts Collection making its way onto Xbox Live several days before its official release and at half the price. Epic Games has issued the following statement regarding the leak:

The All Fronts DLC was leaked for 800 MS points last night around 1 a.m. (U.S. Central). When users attempted to download it, they received an error message.

At this time, you cannot download the maps. But for some reason, those who bought them right away are playing them RIGHT NOW.

If you attempt to download them now you will receive an error message. Those of you who received the first error before MS was alerted, can re-download them fine.

Rumors on Examiner.com suggest that the Gears of War 2: All Fronts expansion was briefly and accidentally posted on Xbox Live before being pulled back down again.

Earlier this evening, Microsoft had accidently made the Gears of War 2 expansion All Fronts Collection available for purchase. Soon after making the add-on available on Live and via the website, Microsoft was quick to fix the problem. Oddly, though, the add-on was also cheaper than originally planned. Perhaps it was just a mistake like making the expansion live too early.

The expansion is officially due to arrive July 28.

In just under a month we can look forward to the release of Gears of War 2’s All Fronts collection! Here’s a reminder what’s in the box, which should be with us July 28th.

Included in the “Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection” is the “Gears of War 2: Dark Corners” Game Add-on, which features seven new multiplayer maps and a deleted campaign chapter titled “Road to Ruin.” In “Road to Ruin,” Marcus and Dom return to the Locust Hollow in a scene that can be played two ways, guns blazing or in all-new stealth mode.

The seven new multiplayer maps in the “Gears of War 2: Dark Corners” Game Add-on are:

Allfathers Garden:

Honor the sacred grounds of the Coalition founders in this explosive map, where powerful weapons catalyze fast and furious action at this COG landmark.

Memorial:

Set near the Eternal Flame, which pays tribute to the fallen soldiers on the battlefield, a hard-fought battle ensues at the Tomb of Unknowns. Putting their flank formation and evasive skills to the test, players will fight to control the Boomshot.

Sanctuary:

 Once a peaceful ground for reflection and remembrance, all that remains of the Sanctuary is the chill of death. Feast your eyes on the arsenal of weapons available as you make your way through the tight paths and blind corners of the Locust-damaged temple corridors.

War Machine:

In the abandoned train station that once served as a hub for travel, players will need to master the Longshot, Mulcher and Boomshot weapons to advance the fight while evading fire from the platforms above.

 Highway:

Take the fight deep into the Locust Hollow in the complex passages of this underground highway system brimming with enemy vermin. Stick together, separate the enemy and have an exit strategy ready or it’ll be a one-way trip.

 Way Station:

Sitting in limbo between death and “processing” are Locust way stations filled with fallen COG soldiers. Tread lightly and practice patience as it’s better to sacrifice firepower for stealth while navigating this minefield of hidden grenades.

Nowhere:

Set in the middle of what was once a destination for weary desert travellers, the land is now barren and devoid of life. Pick off your enemies with the Longshot sniper rifle and make your way to the stairwell with a well-fortified team during this intense firefight.

IGN reveals in an interview with Epic producer Rod Fergusson that the developer has decided to reduce the cost of the Dark Corners pack for Gears of War 2 after listening to some fan criticism of the original 1600 MS point price tag.

“First, we decided to make Dark Corners available for 1200 points on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, a reduction from 1600. Don’t get me wrong, Dark Corners is the biggest Game Add-on we’ve ever released, and it was a good deal at the old price, but based upon community feedback this just felt like the right thing to do. Also, we’ve decided to release the All Fronts Collection on Xbox LIVE Marketplace in order to make it available to the widest audience possible. The All Fronts Collection will be priced at 1600 Microsoft Points, and both offers will be available July 28th at 12:00 AM GMT in twenty-five countries around the world.”

Read the rest of the informative interview over at IGN.

Microsoft and Epic Games deliver seven new multiplayer maps to Gears of Wars 2 in July’s retail release of the Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection, finally answering the question “what is Dark Corners?”

Back in March, rumors flew about a new batch of downloadable content for Gears of Wars 2 called Dark Corners, but Epic denied that such DLC existed. Turns out that they were telling the truth(kinda). Dark Corners is not DLC. It’s a new map pack being included in the Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection, available exclusively at retail worldwide on July 28th. The collection includes all of the Gears 2 DLC to date, along with Dark Corners, a collection of seven new multiplayer maps which you can find detailed below. The collection will be priced at $19.99.

“Dark Corners” will also sport a “deleted scene from the game’s campaign that takes you deep into the bowels of the Locust hollow.” This segment, called “Road to Ruin” will also introduce a new stealth element, giving the player the option to get their Solid Snake on with Marcus Fenix. Or, you can just go in guns blazing.

In order to make the pack worthwhile to those who’ve already downloaded the majority of the Gears 2 DLC, the package also contains an introduction from Cliff Bleszinski for “Road to Ruin”, a collectible poster, a strategy guide, and a custom Xbox Live theme.For those of you already rocking the previously released Gears 2 map packs, Gears of War 2: Dark Corners will also be available for individual purchase and download from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 1,600 Microsoft Points.

DLC Map “Nowhere”

The seven new multiplayer maps in the “Gears of War 2: Dark Corners” Game Add-on are:

-Allfathers Garden: Honor the sacred grounds of the Coalition founders in this explosive map, where powerful weapons catalyze fast and furious action at this COG landmark.
- Memorial: Set near the Eternal Flame, which pays tribute to the fallen soldiers on the battlefield, a hard-fought battle ensues at the Tomb of Unknowns. Putting their flank formation and evasive skills to the test, players will fight to control the Boomshot.
- Sanctuary: Once a peaceful ground for reflection and remembrance, all that remains of the Sanctuary is the chill of death. Feast your eyes on the arsenal of weapons available as you make your way through the tight paths and blind corners of the Locust-damaged temple corridors.
- War Machine: In the abandoned train station that once served as a hub for travel, players will need to master the Longshot, Mulcher and Boomshot weapons to advance the fight while evading fire from the platforms above.
- Highway: Take the fight deep into the Locust Hollow in the complex passages of this underground highway system brimming with enemy vermin. Stick together, separate the enemy and have an exit strategy ready or it’ll be a one-way trip.
- Way Station: Sitting in limbo between death and “processing” are Locust way stations filled with fallen COG soldiers. Tread lightly and practice patience as it’s better to sacrifice firepower for stealth while navigating this minefield of hidden grenades.
- Nowhere: Set in the middle of what was once a destination for weary desert travellers, the land is now barren and devoid of life. Pick off your enemies with the Longshot sniper rifle and make your way to the stairwell with a well-fortified team during this intense firefight.