'Mass Effect 2' $15 Network Charges Announced And Free DLC Leaked

Heralding the official "Mass Effect 2" street date tomorrow, last-minute news and rumors have been shooting around the Internet faster than you can click refresh above your Google Reader items. In addition to an official announcement that used copies of the game would be penalized with a $15 fee to access the otherwise free Cerberus network for new items and DLC, unofficial sources lit up the Internet this morning with word that some "ME2" DLC showed up early without a price on the Xbox Live Marketplace.

An extra mission, which is presumed to be the DLC BioWare wanted to have available on January 26, appeared Monday morning with items and armor including a Sentry Interface visor, a M-29 Incisor Sniper Rifle and Blood Dragon Armor, according to 360sync. A complete rundown listed on the site contains game spoilers, so click through that link fully aware. The items have since been removed.

In other "ME2" happenings, EA and BioWare revealed a new strategy for discouraging used game purchases, announcing details regarding the Cerberus Network which will serve as an in-game means of purchasing new items and DLC. New games come with free codes to activate the content pipeline, but players without new codes will have to pay $15 -- or 1,200 Microsoft points -- to gain access, according to Ars Technica.

That fee shouldn't affect anything immediately, but it will be interested to find out if it impacts used-game buying and selling practices for retailers. As for the free DLC, it will be fun to watch and see when those items reappear and if they come back with price tags.

Will the Cerberus Network's $15 used copy charge dissuade you from buy "ME2" secondhand? Did you get a chance to download any of the leaked content this morning? Sound off in the comment section below.

Tags bioware, ea, mass effect, mass effect 2