Mass Effect 3 N7 Challenge ‘Operation Goliath’ announced for Xbox 360, PC

BioWare community manager Chris Priestly issued the first Mass Effect 3 N7 Challenge, "Operation Goliath".

Operation Goliath, the first N7 Challenge weekend for Mass Effect 3, challenges players to inflict heavy casualties on Reaper "brutes" over the weekend.  Players must team up to successfully get extracted from a Reaper-held zone at a Silver threat or higher.

If the mission is completed and the goal is met, all N7 squads will be awarded a Victory Pack that can be unlocked the following week.

Citadel Allied Command is mounting a galaxy-wide operation to cripple the Reapers’ shock troops: the turian-krogan hybrids known as “brutes.” To flush out Reaper ground forces, N7 teams are deploying to engage the enemy in key theaters. Heavy reinforcements are expected anywhere fighting begins.

The challenge begins today, Friday, at 5 p.m. PST and lasts until 5 a.m. PST Monday, March 18th.

At least one member of the squad must be extracted at the end of the mission in order for hte entire squad to earn the Commendation Pack reward.  Each player can earn a maximum of one pack, and each pack contains a random N7 Arsenal Weapon, originally available as single-player weapons via the N7 Collector's Edition.  The Commendation Packs will contain one of the following guns at random: N7 Crusader Shotgun, N7 Eagle Pistol, N7 Hurricane SMG, and N7 Valiant Sniper Rifle.

In addition, if the multiplayer community kills a combined 1 million brutes within the hours of the challenge, ALL players will receive a victory pack as a reward.

Rewards will unlock on Tuesday, March 20 at 5 p.m. PST.  You must redeem (open) your packs in the multiplayer store menu within seven days.

This challenge is only available for Xbox 360 and PC versions of Mass Effect 3.  Unfortunately, due to "technical limitations", BioWare is unable to extend this program to the PlayStation 3 platform.

For more details about the Operation Goliath N7 Challenge check out the BioWare forums.