It has been a surprisingly long time since we've seen any new "Fallout: New Vegas" DLC. More than four months to be exact. The first pack, "Dead Money" released in December and despite an excellent story, was a bit lacking on the gameplay front. Here's hoping the next pack, which Bethesda officially revealed today, is more of a complete package. On May 17, Bethesda will release "Honest Hearts," the first of three upcoming DLC packs for "Fallout: New Vegas."
"Honest Hearts" is set in Utah's Zion National Park. According to the announcement, "things go horribly wrong when your caravan is ambushed by a tribal raiding band. As you try to find a way back to the Mojave, you become embroiled in a war between tribes and a conflict between a New Canaanite missionary and the mysterious Burned Man. The decisions you make will determine the fate of Zion."
Based on that description, it sounds like "Honest Hearts will be a much less linear experience than "Dead Money," with a wide open map and rival faction decisions to make.
Following up "Honest Hearts" is "Old World Blues," planned for release in June. This pack will be set in and around "the Pre-War research centers of the Big Empty," a location that was hinted at in "Dead Money," where your mute companion was experimented on. Apparently you get unwittingly forced into similar experiments and it's up to you to escape.
The last piece of DLC is titled "Lonesome Road," and is planned for release in July:
"Lonesome Road...brings the courier's story full circle when you are contacted by the original Courier Six, a man by the name of Ulysses who refused to deliver the Platinum Chip at the start of 'New Vegas.' In his transmission, Ulysses promises the answer as to why, but only if you take one last job –a job that leads you into the depths of the hurricane-swept canyons of the Divide, a landscape torn apart by earthquakes and violent storms. The road to the Divide is a long and treacherous one, and of the few to ever walk the road, none have ever returned."
Based on that description, it's hard to imagine any more "Fallout: New Vegas" DLC coming after "Lonesome Road," but I'm sure the sales success of the packs will help determine that.
Whatever the case, it's good news for "Fallout" fans, who will have new content in just a couple weeks. It also appears that my guesses about the upcoming DLC packs were pretty accurate.