Konami has announced it will release the first expansion pack for its Metal Gear Online title. Entitled Metal Gear Online Gene Expansion, the download adds new maps, characters and a game mode to the existing game.

The new Metal Gear Online Gene Expansion enhancement will be available to download via Metal Gear Online’s built-in store from July 17th. The download adds a number of key features to the basic game, including new three new maps. ‘Coppertown Conflict’ boasts wide, open streets, ‘Tomb of Tubes’ is a labyrinth of underground passages, while ‘Virtuous Vista is a sprawling outdoor locale, and ideally suited to medium and long-range combat techniques.

A new ‘Survival’ mode has also been added, wherein players are charged with staying alive for as long as possible within a series of increasingly challenging stages, while a Reward Shop has been added wherein accrued points can be traded for new gear. The new add-on also added Metal Gear Solid 4 heroes Meryl and Johnny to the list of playable characters, both of whom enjoy unique skills, and will be randomly allocated to players when their use is enabled.