Perfect Dark Zero - Downloadable Content

Downloadable Content

Shortly after the release of the game, new multiplayer scenarios and a new Counter-Operative mode, much like the one found in the original Perfect Dark, were promised to eventually become freely available as downloadable content. Senior game designer Duncan Botwood later clarified that it was unlikely to happen due to technical issues. According to him, "It would have required much groundwork to be laid in the core AI code, which meant that it was unlikely to be available as downloadable content post-release." He also remarked that the Counter-Operative mode was actually planned during the development of the game, but was eventually rejected due to the pressure to cut planned content.

In May 2006, an auto-update was made available on Xbox Live, responsible for fixing some minor bugs and adding additional multiplayer options to the game. These bug fixes included code to prevent an ongoing problem where players could walk through the air, an issue where some weapons could make use of rapid fire, and a map-exiting glitch, among others. On the other hand, the new multiplayer options provide seven additional new bot types and the ability to use bots in DarkOps matches, since bots had only one AI variant and were only available in DeathMatch scenarios when the game was released. Additionally, a playable demo of the game was made freely available on Xbox Live Marketplace shortly afterwards. It includes one campaign mission that can be played in solo mode or co-operatively, and a new multiplayer map which was later included in "Perfect Dark Zero Map Pack One".

Rare released "Perfect Dark Zero Map Pack One" to Xbox Live Marketplace on June 7, 2006. It costs 500 Microsoft Points and contains four new maps to add to the game's original six. The map pack contains only one variant, instead of two. On October 31, 2006, Rare announced that a special platinum edition of Perfect Dark Zero would be released, and would include the first map pack and two additional maps, which were later available to download for free in a pack called "Perfect Dark Zero Map Pack Two". The two new maps are updated versions of two maps from the game's predecessor: Facility, originally found in GoldenEye 007, then later featured as "Felicity" in Perfect Dark; and Ruins. The pack was released on November 1, 2006 for Gold Members and on November 8, 2006 for Silver Members.