Gears of War 3 DLC 'Fenix Rising' announced, includes new ranking system

Epic games have today announced the third major add-on for Gears of War 3, 'Fenix Rising', which features five new multiplayer maps inspired by significant locales in the Gears of War 3 campaign, four new character skins and a new system that allows players to rank up through level 100 multiple times to unlock exclusive emblems and weapon skins.

With the purchase of the add-on, players who attain level 100 will have a choice to 'Re-up', the experience and rank will be reset, but all other progression (including TrueSkill rating) will remain intact. Players can 'Re-up' up to three times, earning a new rank icon color each time: Bronze (default level 100), Red, Green and Gold. Each 'Re-up' level after Bronze also awards the player an exclusive, custom weapon skin that cannot be obtained by any other means:

Re-Up Plasma – Animated flowing plasma in gold.
Re-Up Omen – Shiny, red Omen.
Re-Up Electric – Animated, golden electric shocks.

The five new maps which can be played online across Versus Multiplayer, Horde and Beast Mode, include: Academy (above), Anvil, Depths, Escalation and The Slab.

Additionally, players will gain access to the following character skins for use in Versus Multiplayer and Horde Mode (if COG):

COG:
Recruit Clayton.
Thrashball Cole (Limited Edition).

Locust:
Savage Marauder.
Savage Kantus (Limited Edition) (below).

Fenix Rising will be available to download from January 17th on Xbox LIVE for 800 Microsoft Points or for free as part of the Gears of War 3 Season Pass.