Battle for the Ark in Brink’s new metagame, free DLC this month

Despite the harsh criticism it was met with at launch, Bethesda’s Brink seems to be doing quite well for itself.

Bethesda launched the game’s stats-tracking site, which updates daily with logs of match and player summaries. The stats come from freeplay games only, not Campaign or Challenge modes, and are separated by platform. Currently, only the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are being tracked, but PC players can expect their numbers to show up soon.

The website also supports a weekly meta-game called Battle for the Ark. Players can compete for control of the Ark by winning matches for their faction (Security or Resistance). Every week a winner will be announced, the stats will be cleared, and the battle will start anew.

As a little thank-you for all of the trouble players suffered at the start of Brink’s release and their unwavering dedication to the game, all players will be receiving the free Agents of Change DLC pack, scheduled for release later this month. The DLC will include two maps, new class abilities, two outfits, two weapon attachments, and an increase in the player level cap to 24.

New Maps

• Founders’ Tower – The revolution finally reaches the island’s iconic spire and takes the battle for the Ark to dizzying heights.
• Labs – Venture into the depths of the Ark’s original research and development laboratories, a submerged high-tech facility so far untouched by the civil war.

New Player Abilities

• UAV – This stealthy and lethal device allows Operatives to automatically mark nearby enemies on their radar. For more explosive fun, they can even take direct control of the UAV and detonate it near unsuspecting foes.
• Napalm Grenade – Soldiers can use this new grenade to cover an area in a sea of deadly flames.
• Pyro Mine – Engineers can plant these mines and leave enemies in the epicenter of a massive napalm explosion.
• Field Regen Unit – Medics can deploy these units to increase the health regeneration of any nearby teammates.
• Tactical Scanner – This universal ability allows players to reveal the active buffs of their opponents, allowing them to pick off enemies more strategically.

New Weapon Attachments

• Bayonets – Gain the edge in melee combat and cause extra damage with these deadly blades.
• Weapon Shields – Take cover from enemy fire and prevent headshot bonus damage behind riot-style shields.

New Character Outfits

• The Sad Punk – Add a touch of Steampunk to your Resistance character.
• The Limey – Bring order to the Ark with this outfit inspired by traditional European police.

Bethesda also announced that clan and tournament support would be coming later this year. Players will be able to create, join, and battle against other clans for ladder domination and street cred.