Modern Warfare 2 hasn’t even launched yet but we’re already hearing about downloadable map packs arriving next spring. At least that’s the story according to a leading brand of energy drinks.

In the annals of oddball video game announcements this one is properly surreal – and probably rather unintentional too. But here goes. Beginning 'round about now Monster Energy drinks will start selling four and six-packs of their stimulating concoction in a fetching Modern Warfare 2 livery. It’s all part of a big promo-push, during which time US consumers can win themselves all manner of MW2 goodies – 100 copies of the game, 10,000 dashboard themes for 360 or PS3, free cans of Monster Energy and 5000 freebie codes opening up the Modern Warfare 2 map pack.

And here’s where it gets interesting – Activision has already talked vaguely about releasing at least two map packs for MW2, but the smallprint on the side of the Monster packaging goes a stage further, specifying “planned release date spring 2010”.

Whether this is the first or second of Activision’s planned follow-ups remains to be seen – we’re already ring-fencing the necessary points to buy ‘em all anyway. We bet that Activision didn't plan to announce either in this way, though.

Otherwise Modern Warfare 2 is still on course for its November 10th blast-off and we seem to have developed a sudden and curiously insatiable thirst...