Brink getting free DLC in June; 360 matchmaking update now live

by Ben Gilbert on May 14th 2011 12:45PM

After launching Brink to mixed reviews, Splash Damage and Bethesda are refining the class-based multiplayer shooter with updates and add-ons. Writing on the Bethesda blog yesterday, a rep from the two companies revealed that the game's first downloadable add-on -- comprising additional maps and other "new content" -- will be available for free at an unspecified date in June.

Additionally, a Brink configuration update has gone live on Xbox 360 (no download required). It will cap the number of human players when matchmaking in "Campaign" and "Freeplay" modes, allowing for a maximum of eight online players. Splash Damage believes this will lead to better connections between players and reduce instances of lag. By default, this will eliminate 8v8 matches, but "for players who haven't been [experiencing] lag, we'll still support 8v8 on all maps via a new 'Big Teams' configuration in Freeplay, and through custom settings in Private matches."

Meanwhile, the PC version of Brink has gotten a full patch containing several fixes, many of which were already included on the day-one patch sent out to consoles. The matchmaking update will be available on PS3 as soon as Sony's online network is restored.

[Thanks, Ryan]

Source: Bethesda, Steam

Tags: bethesda, bethesda-softworks, Brink, dlc, microsoft, patch, pc, playstation, ps3, psn, q3-2011, release-date, splash-damage, xbox, xbox-live

Reader Comments (74)

the free DLC is just to soften you up for the oncoming priced ones

@PR0F3TA

It worked pretty well for Burnout Paradise.

Of course, they supported that game with Free DLC for a pretty long time before they started charging.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

i still think they were the only ones who did DLC right.

@PR0F3TA

The only ones?
Clearly you have never played Team Fortress 2.

@Frozen Radiator

PC and console gamers have different opinions and views on DLC, not really the same thing.

@PR0F3TA

Bullshit. The only reason it "isn't the same" is because Microsoft is too full of themselves to let Valve release their content for free on the Xbox360.

If it were free for consoles then you wouldn't be saying that at all.

@PR0F3TA
TF2's success was in establishing a name as one of the best supported multiplayer games out there; which to be honest is still a pretty empty arena. I see no reason why Brink shouldn't follow that model; although the advantage TF2 had was that everytime you boot up Steam, it lets you know if there's new content. With Brink, if it lets the multiplayer community die away quite quickly, especially on consoles, you really have to work hard to get people to put the disc back in.

@Frozen Radiator

what?! you're putting words in my mouth... the only thing that is "Bullshit" is the senario u described between Microsoft and Valve. Even without a Valve game PC gamers have always thought they are entitled to free DLC, or at least minor updates and add-ons, Console gamers have always had the dissatisfaction of having things like Horse Armor/cars/guns/maps/modes for sale. I wasn't talking about TF2, i was talking about gaming in general.

@Frozen Radiator Uh, then what? They are "not full of themselves" when it comes to letting EA release free DLC, or other companies?

Does MS just have a grudge against Valve or something?

I really don't understand your logic at all

@PR0F3TA

I wouldn't pay for DLC for brink. :P

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze yeah, but Burnout Paradise was a great game that offered decently priced/fun DLC. Brink...none of things.

@Robborboy

Indeed. This whole claim of MS not letting valve release free DLC contradicts the ton of other games that have had free DLC released for them by multiple different companies.

@PR0F3TA I am a PC gamer. I buy plenty of DLC and don't feel entitled to anything.

So, there's that.

Wait, PSN is down?

I had no idea!

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

Well you'll be long dead once it's down, as I assume you're speaking to us from the past.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze I mean it's not like anyone's said that before! This is a totally new and interesting peice of news!
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SarcasmMode

Can't help but be reminded of that Disney Channel movie from around twelve years ago when I see the title "Brink". Been that way for a while.

@Shadowbender

Erik Von Detten at his very finest!

Man, Brink needs a damn Lobby system update.

Im talkin about an update that gives the game a Lobby system feature cause how the game is now, it's F'in horrible.

Oh well... 3 more days til LA Noire!!!

I remember the days when you could go to Walmart and buy AN ENTIRE GAME in one box. Now it's all patches and "free DLC" to fix what you bought the day before. I mean, if it was a problem that showed up months later after thousands of people started playing, one of those things you really can't test for in house, then I could understand. But day-one patches, really.

@Painfull Hero

Except for the 4 people that don't hook their consoles up to the internet, does it really matter?

It takes all of about 3 seconds for a game update.

@Painfull Hero

I would like to point out that there were plenty of broken games that used to ship years ago, the difference between then and now is the fact that those bugs either a) took forever to get fixed or b) never got fixed.

Complaining about the fact that developers are now able to fix bugs and give you more content the day it is released is absolutely asinine.

@Painfull Hero lolmart

@Huey2k2 The difference is that since consoles now allow patches, there's a lot less incentive for them to get the game perfect on release since they can patch it on day one.

@Once known as Shadsy
But the same consoles that allow patches also demand much bigger teams for the much more complicated games. The more intricate a system, the easier it is for things to go wrong. Ever read about the various space mission mishaps, with minor calculations errors, etc? They don't have a chance to patch things, spent billions of dollars on them, test them to death, and things still go wrong; it's believable that not every video game will be perfect either.

@Huey2k2

I just experienced a match in which the audio completely cut out, had severe lag issues of jittering and running place, had much of the GUI and HUD text scrambled (an issue that occurred more prominently AFTER the patch), and was shot at through walls, watching their tracers flying through giant crates. This was after getting disconnected from the host in the previous match.

On the PC.

I don't think we're complaining about devs being able to fix things. I welcome that wholeheartedly. But this is something else completely, and for a game that lives and dies on its multiplayer, it is unforgivable.

@NickNameless

Oh, I forgot to mention that an enemy was invisible. I watched a manned-turret turn and fire on allies without an operator in sight.

@Painfull Hero

LOL you remember a time when you went to Kmart to buy PS1 games? i remember a time where Sears used to sell SNES games.

I'm loving the pc version now, this update actually made it playable.

@HauntaVirus lol, well i guess it depends on our definitions of playable. The game is at least above 30fps for me on my 5850. outdoors it tends to hover around 40-50, indoors it's a solid 60. It's still abysmal performance for what I should be getting out of my card, but it's a hell of a lot better than the 20-30 I was getting pre-patch.

They better be giving something for free since this game is incomplete and a rip off at $60 for what you get.

@Mika101

You're right! They should do a patch to the game and some free dlc within the next month!

*reads article again*

....oh right...

The lag seems to happen on random matches for me, regardless of how many people are in the game, so I'm not sure this is going to help.

Also, this doesn't seem like a good way to fix it. How about fixing your netcode rather than slashing the teams in half in a game that was balanced for 8 on 8?

@profeteer

This lag stuff concerns me as well. I've got the game in my Gamefly queue. I've decided I don't even want to rent the game in its current form. Just removed it from my queue.

People complain about lag, so they cut the number of people that can play in a game in half? 8v8 gaming has been on consoles for years. It's not like they were trying for 32 player gaming.

Plus, all the other complaints I read is how awful the AI is. So, they cut real players in half and stick you with their awful AI.

If they ever do actually fix this game, I probably won't even find out. Chances are I'll never actually end up playing this game.

@profeteer

It sounds like you missed something from your response. From the official Bethesda blog post:

"We have been working on updates for Brink to address the lag issue that some people have reported they were experiencing. IN THE MEANTIME, we have made a configuration change for 360 users"

So the newest update to fix the lag hasn't even been released yet and this is a TEMPORARY fix. None of the new configuration matches I've played have been laggy so it's at least working for a few people.

Took my copy back, maybe I will give Brink 2 a try if it ever makes it out.

They should have released this game early...before it was finished. Oh wait...that's exactly what they did. My dumbass is partially to blame for buying into the hype. I never felt more foolish then when I first fired up Brink and attempted the challenge missions.

@HaVoK308 It's funny because the game got delayed A LOT.

I've been having plenty of fun with my copy with friends.
Can't really get all the hate the game works well enough and I haven't really ran into it being "unplayable"

I haven't played any actual MP but me and my friends have played the campaign together which even with bots is still pretty fun.

@Jawmuncher I hear ya' man. I'm not too sure why people love to jump on the hate bandwagon. I understand that there are issues with the game. But the issues I've noticed are just annoying, not gamebreaking! BTW, I have been playing online and I've only experienced two slight lag hiccups, that's it. I've had more lag in one game of CoD: MW2 & Blops than the combined lag issues I've had with Brink! I think some people just see several people bashing a game and are quick to want to agree so they seem like they know what they're talking about! Not all of them, mind you, but some!

@Jawmuncher

The game is unplayable for me and I know its not my connection because everything else works just fine. The lag is so bad I can barely walk around, even after this so called update. All they did was lower the amount of players in a room but still it doesnt work for me.
I have only played in 2 games that didn't lag and they were incredibly fun

I'm game for any and every piece of free content that Bethesda feels like giving me.

For anyone that has been able to play on XBL multiplayer, thoughts/opinions? I don't have this game. My friends are thinking about getting it. One of my concerns is that there is only 6 multiplayer maps.

@FlashJS I have it for XBOX and in my opinion don't waste your money. This game is just overall not that fun. It is a shame because I my friends and I were really excited about it.

@FlashJS

Correcting myself. Meant to say 8 maps.

Thanks TylerDurden102680 for the reply. Think I'll pass.

@FlashJS

Did you just make up your mind after one opinion???

Anyway, I would say rent it first or wait for the patches and free DLC to drop if your iffy on it. I think the game is a lot of fun when things are running smoothing.

The thing I like about it is that even in pub games its about team work and strategy. I like Black Ops too but I go into that not expecting any help and I usually don't get any. I also like the fact that you have to earn every thing you get. No dropping napalm on people who can't defend themselves.

@FlashJS I've only had the chance to play for a couple hours. But it was a very refreshing experience. And after I allocate my money to pick up a PS3 with this 100$ off a new PS3 at gamestop, I will pick up Brink. Totally worth full price imo.

I read Brink and thought maybe they updated Jet Set Radio or something...:(

I've been reading and watching reviews of this game since it came out. Here's the three main problems Brink had at launch:

-Short Campaign / Low # of Freeplay Maps (8 maps/locations total)

-Graphical Bugs (ie: texture popping)

-Moderate to Severe Lag with Co-op and Versus Multiplayer.

-Brain-Damaged AI in Solo and Co-op

This might motivate everyone to stay with CoD, trade Brink in to pre-order BF3, or find something else. Not me! I've played games that were DOA (Dead On Arrival); you couldn't get them to run smoothly or even open until they were patched a week later. Afterwards, everything was fine. The games would play as advertised and no other problems came up. Fallout 3 was one of those games BTW.

The DLC just adds hours to the short campaign. Everything else can be patched up or has already been fixed. Overall, I'm still buying this game.

@SonicGA I meant to say 4 problems, but whatever.

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Brink

Brink getting free DLC in June; 360 matchmaking update now live

Reader Comments (74)

Posted: May 14th 2011 12:46PM PR0F3TA said

Posted: May 14th 2011 12:57PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: May 14th 2011 1:09PM PR0F3TA said

Posted: May 14th 2011 1:59PM Frozen Radiator said

Posted: May 14th 2011 2:11PM PR0F3TA said

Posted: May 14th 2011 2:18PM Frozen Radiator said

Posted: May 14th 2011 3:07PM Haggard said

Posted: May 14th 2011 4:05PM PR0F3TA said

Posted: May 14th 2011 4:54PM Robborboy said

Posted: May 14th 2011 4:56PM SirUrza said

Posted: May 14th 2011 5:37PM sammo21 said

Posted: May 14th 2011 8:37PM This Little Man Says His Name Is said

Posted: May 15th 2011 2:12AM Sabbatai said

Posted: May 14th 2011 12:51PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: May 14th 2011 12:59PM Shadowbender said

Posted: May 14th 2011 12:59PM Jetleo1 said

Posted: May 14th 2011 12:54PM Shadowbender said

Posted: May 14th 2011 1:06PM OneManFreakShow said

Posted: May 14th 2011 12:54PM MLC said

Posted: May 14th 2011 12:59PM Painfull Hero said

Posted: May 14th 2011 1:15PM Vcize said

Posted: May 14th 2011 1:26PM Huey2k2 said

Posted: May 14th 2011 1:39PM OmgUmad said

Posted: May 14th 2011 2:30PM Once known as Shadsy said

Posted: May 14th 2011 3:57PM aristokrat said

Posted: May 14th 2011 5:19PM NickNameless said

Posted: May 14th 2011 5:23PM NickNameless said

Posted: May 14th 2011 5:40PM PR0F3TA said

Posted: May 14th 2011 1:00PM gonintendo said

Posted: May 14th 2011 4:17PM gonintendo said

Posted: May 14th 2011 1:02PM Mika101 said

Posted: May 14th 2011 4:33PM BlackEyedMonkey said

Posted: May 14th 2011 1:03PM profeteer said

Posted: May 14th 2011 1:09PM Hoffer said

Posted: May 14th 2011 4:38PM Odog4ever said

Posted: May 14th 2011 1:05PM Bladex206 said

Posted: May 14th 2011 1:11PM HaVoK308 said

Posted: May 14th 2011 2:00PM Frozen Radiator said

Posted: May 14th 2011 1:17PM Jawmuncher said

Posted: May 14th 2011 1:36PM Dukk420 said

Posted: May 20th 2011 2:28AM KingOfGods said

Posted: May 14th 2011 1:18PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 14th 2011 1:29PM FlashJS said

Posted: May 14th 2011 2:07PM TylerDurden102680 said

Posted: May 14th 2011 2:39PM FlashJS said

Posted: May 14th 2011 5:04PM Odog4ever said

Posted: May 14th 2011 5:29PM Robborboy said

Posted: May 14th 2011 1:49PM Bryan T said

Posted: May 14th 2011 2:02PM SonicGA said

Posted: May 14th 2011 2:03PM SonicGA said

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