If a preview printed in the latest issue of Xbox 360 World is anything to go by (published online by CVG – like I’d read an Xbox magazine) highly-anticipated racer DiRT 3 is on course to be Codemasters’ largest rally package to date.

The team at Codemasters has just released six beautiful in-game screenshots taken from F1 2010 that make this (arguably) mundane motorsport look almost interesting. And before you ask, no, I’m not about to make any Lewis Hamilton jokes...

CVG received confirmation from Codemasters’ VP of Development Gavin Cheshire yesterday that a new first-person shooter is in the pipeline. If that wasn’t news enough, the developer has commissioned the services of Stuart Black, the Senior Designer behind Criterion Games’ PS2 FPS Black, especially for the project.

Back in February of this year, developer Codemasters made it public knowledge that multiple DLC packs would be released for Colin McRae: Dirt 2 shortly after the game's launch. As explained by Senior Executive Producer Gavin Raeburn, the said DLC would allow players to personalise and augment the boxed game – a vague and intriguing statement.

Sure enough, two DLC packs labelled 'Trust Fund' and 'Access All Areas' are alluded to (but greyed-out) under downloadable content in the Extras segment of DiRT 2’s menu interface. Yesterday, this content became available on the US PlayStation Store - don't worry Europe, you're not missing anything...

The US PlayStation Blog details the new content:

DiRT 2 Trust Fund ($4.99)
Why wait? Unlock all vehicles, liveries and upgrades instantly with the DiRT 2 Trust Fund Pack. Download now and experience 35 killer rides and access all upgrades and 93 liveries.
File size: 370 KB

DiRT 2 Access All Areas ($4.99)
Unlock every DiRT 2 World Tour event and track with the Access All Areas Pack! Get VIP entry to 100 events set on 41 tracks. You’ll also gain exclusive access to X-Games events with their electric atmosphere, outrageous courses and intense competition.
File size: 370 KB

We are disappointed. After almost eight months of hype, high hopes and speculation, all we're given is the option to instantly unlock and access all in-game content – content that can in fact be acquired free-of-charge by simply devoting a mere 8-10 hours to completing DiRT Tour mode. It makes us wonder: if a gamer has no intention of playing through the integral component of a game, why buy it at all?

So no new cars, or additional tracks, just an easy way out. What a shame.