Modern Warfare 3's DLC Season kicks off on 24 January

Activision has announced that the Modern Warfare 3 Content Season is about to commence, with a total of 20 "content drops" coming to Xbox LIVE over the next nine months, starting on 24 January as a timed-exclusive for Call of Duty Elite premium members.

The first DLC will include two new multiplayer maps, both playable in Survival Mode:

Liberation — A vast, militarized landscape, ripe for long-range sniper and LMG fire, with mounted turrets on either end that lend power to anyone brave enough to expose themselves in exchange for deadly firepower.
Piazza — The idyllic Italian getaway that is anything but, where tight corners and branching pathways pose great risk at every turn. Close-range combat dominates in Piazza, where attacks from behind, above and below are an ever-constant threat.

Content drops for Call of Duty Elite premium members will occur once a month kicking off in January with the two maps above, followed by as-yet announced content in mid-February and two additional content drops in March.

"With the Call of Duty: MW3 Content Season for Call of Duty Elite we are delivering on our promise of more new content, more often, and with more variety than ever," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. "With three studios collaborating on the first season, the breadth and depth of material on tap is truly extraordinary. It's rare you can successfully execute both quantity and quality, but thanks to the expertise of our developers, the reach of Call of Duty Elite and the passion of our fans, we intend to deliver."

... except to South Africa, where the Elite service isn't available to gamers holding local accounts. Instead we're left to wait for the first Modern Warfare 3 Content Collection DLC to become available to non-Elite members (which should include the January, February and March DLC), which is expected to arrive sometime in March for an as-yet unspecified price.

For a look behind-the-scenes at the new Modern Warfare 3 Content Season, check out the trailer below: