Welcome back gamers, a start of a new month has occurred.  Plenty of news broke is worth of leading us into the back half of summer.  Let’s take a look at what happened this past week which will lead to the end of the season.

Activision announced the final dates for Modern Warfare 3 Season of Content. Collection 3: Chaos Pack and Collection 4: Final Assault — set to release on the Xbox 360 on August 9 and September 6, 2012 respectively.  MW3 Collection 3: Chaos Pack, will introduce players to a Special Ops Chaos Mode, offering three new Face Off maps, and four new special ops missions.  The last collection, Collection 4: Final Assault will release with five all-new Multiplayer Maps.  Information is completely available via Tim’s article earlier in the week.  Both Collection 3: Chaos Pack and Collection #4: Final Assault will release first on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 1,200 Microsoft Points, or $14.99.  The Collections will be released on other platforms shortly thereafter. The DLC included in the Collections will be made available to Premium Elite members at an earlier date.

Rumors have been flying for some time about single-player DLC for Mass Effect 3 being called Leviathan.  That rumor was confirmed this week, sending Shepard looking through new parts of the citadel and the galaxy as a whole to find something more efficiently capable to defeating a reaper.  In the process, Shepard will learn of the origins of the Reapers, and why they consume all life.  To help with the journey, two new weapons will be introduced, the AT-12 Raider shotgun and the M-55 Argus assault rifle.  These weapons were originally exclusive to the game’s pre-order requests on Origins.  There are some details about additional DLC, but details are slim at this time.There is no release date for Mass Effect 3: Leviathan, but the trailer for the DLC content teases that it will be available this summer and should be available for all versions of the game.

Bioware has announced that Star Wars: The Old Republic will have a free to play option available this fall.  There will be a limited amount characters available in the free-to-play option, with eight of the game’s character classes being playable up to level 50 with story line fully intact.  Along with the free-to-play option, there will be a new currency introduced to the game’s economy.  Cartel Coins will be available to purchase in game content including customisable gear and convenience features.  Players who have had an an active subscription will receive an allowance of Cartel Coins for each paid month prior to when the free-to-play option is introduced.  So long players continue a monthly subscription payment, they will receive a monthly grant of Cartel Coins.  In preparation of the game going free-to-play, Star Wars: The Old Republic is going on sale to $14.99 including a one-month subscription for the month of August.

Movie goers everywhere will rejoice in the news that the World of Warcraft movie found a new writer, Charles Leavitt.  Leavitt was the screenwriter responsible for K-Pax, and now help rework the film based in Azeroth.  The next position that will be filled will be the movie director, which will replace the spot previously filled by Sam Raimi.  Leavitt is also known for his work on the Leonardo DiCaprio-starring Blood Diamond. He has written the script for the forthcoming all-ages fantasy adaptation The Seventh Son.  Legendary hasn’t announced a date for the movie, but hopes to release it by 2014.

Before we wrap up this last week, we are going to swing back to home and bring you a brief update from Zero1Gaming.  Team Z1G would like to welcome Kimo Kuppe to the ranks; you can read about his favorite game, Bayonetta as part of his Debut Review.  With that, check back to Zero1Gaming for gaming news, reviews, and more!