Perfect Dark Zero due by Xmas

By Tom Bramwell Published 7 September, 2005

Or Xmas 360, as the marketing folks will presumably have it.

Although Microsoft hasn't explicitly said so, it seems fair to infer that Perfect Dark Zero will be one of the Xbox 360's launch titles. We thought it would be anyway, but the matter seems more or less settled following this morning's official confirmation that the game will be on shelves in Europe "this Christmas" - which is as specific as the company's publicly been about the 360's release date.

As in the US, there'll be two different versions; a regular-priced effort, and a two-disc Limited Collector's Edition - presumably for collectors who operate with less than three units of alcohol in their bloodstream.

In that case, disc one is the game, and disc two consists of a behind-the-scenes The Art of Perfect Dark Zero video, as well as a few knickknacks to help spice up your Xbox 360. There's a piece of music from the game called "Limelight" by DJ Kepi & Kat, which ought to do fun things with the 360's built-in visualisations; some pictures you can use on your Xbox Live Gamercard; and a custom skin for the Xbox 360 Guide software.

You'll also find the first chapter of Perfect Dark: Initial Vector - Greg Rucka's novel set six months after the game. Microsoft's commissioned a pair of these novels.

Perfect Dark Zero is one of two Xbox 360 launch titles designed by Rare, the UK developer Microsoft bought a few years ago, and is the next-gen first-person shooter follow-up to Nintendo 64 title Perfect Dark. Rare's other 360 launch title is Kameo: Elements of Power, which is about a girl who can transform into, among other things, a ball of spikes. The real question, of course, is whether she can transform into a decent return on £375 million.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000. Follow him on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (33) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Blerk #1 7 years ago

    So... will any of the announced games actually be making the launch now?

  • nick_f Verified Senior Producer, Microsoft #2 7 years ago

    At least you'll get Billiards on the HDD...

  • LFace #3 7 years ago

    Am I being thick here but this article says 4 comments but it only shows one. Im not ignoring anyone but this happens a lot lately. Several comments on pages have quotes that previous people have written but I dont see the original comments that is being quoted. If I log out its the same. If I log in its the same.

    Any idea?

  • toy_brain #4 7 years ago

    Frankly I'm not counting on this (or Kameo) to make it out this year, not trying to rag on the X360 or anything, its just.... well c'mon, this is Rare y'know :p

  • trevd72 #5 7 years ago

    i was only really interested in GR3 and PGR3. i dont want two shooters as i have sold my "Live!" xbox to finance the x360 so when the x360 is back i will be able to play the free maps for halo2. PDZ was a possibility if pushed to replace PGR3 DOA4 looks no different gamplay wise from the others. What else is there to pre-order if PGR3 & PDZ falls through. Cos due by xmas does not mean due on launch.

  • jellyhead #6 7 years ago

    I was wondering the same thing Blerk.
    LFace: i think it must be either an error or people on global ignore?

  • jiveguy #7 7 years ago

    No, the xbox 360 will launch with no games. Maybe Microsoft will throw in a movie DVD or something to distract us or, as someone said, new owners will be just playing Billiards for a few weeks.

  • LFace #8 7 years ago

    Dunno about people being on global ignore. If they were, wouldnt people not be able to see them as well as me cos its happening usually a lot in popular threads where Y will quote something and Z will also quote it but I dont get to see the original poster of X who said it in the first place. Doing me nut in I tells yer

  • drumbaby #9 7 years ago

    Just play all your old Xbox games while you wait for the new ones....

  • trevd72 #10 7 years ago

    Play.com have Gears Of War and The Outfit down as launch titles. Gears of Wars is down as the Killer app in some places and The Outfit looke cool in the previews. Are these likely to be out and is it worth taking a blind bet on them being worth buying. I have a feeling i will only have one x360 game come launch - GR3.

  • Blerk #11 7 years ago

    I thought Gears of War had already been totalled from the launch list?

  • trevd72 #12 7 years ago

    i have just looked else where and the outfit is down as March-May. How can Play offer it as launch.

  • Derblington #13 7 years ago

    "Cos due by xmas does not mean due on launch."

    It does say that in the article - the release date for the console hasn't been set yet and is 'xmas' at the moment. Read before you comment.

    And Gears has been dropped from launch to middle of next year.

  • Darren #14 7 years ago

    Well Microsoft need to have strong launch titles of their own on launch day if they want to sell the Xbox 360. That means PGR 3, Kameo and Perfect Dark, which are surely seen as the flagship titles? You can't rely on third parties to sell the Xbox 360 since most of their games will also be available on the Xbox and PS2 albeit less pretty. Why would anyone want a new machine if you can already buy inferior versions of the same game on your current machine?

    If Microsoft's own launch titles are delayed for whatever reason then I'm sure it would make more sense to delay the Xbox 360 as well. The last thing Microsoft needs is a launch lineup as weak as that of the PS2's launch.

  • trevd72 #15 7 years ago

    Derblington - x360 release looks like November 2x. By xmas could be December 2nd or 9th. Otherwise it would say due at launch or x360 launch title. I want a game for launch weekend. So how about you think before commenting. The wording is ambiguous for a reason.

  • Derblington #16 7 years ago

    Trev - I know when the 360 launch "looks like" but read the article:

    "this morning's official confirmation that the game will be on shelves in Europe "this Christmas" - which is as specific as the company's publicly been about the 360's release date."

    Nothing has been confirmed. I did think, and re-read it to make sure. No need to get offensive because you're wrong.

  • trevd72 #17 7 years ago

    "this morning's official confirmation that the game will be on shelves in Europe "this Christmas" - which is as specific as the company's publicly been about the 360's release date."

    The above comment was about PDZ release date not the x360. The comment "which is as specific as the company's publicly been about the 360's release date." is a nothing statement, bad journalism that is tantamount to misleading. To say launch and to say due christmas are two different things.

  • Derblington #18 7 years ago

    360 due "this Christmas".
    PDZ due "this Christmas".

    That suggests they'll be released at the same time.
    "This Christmas" means the christmas period - the end of nov. fits that.

  • Derblington #19 7 years ago

    "The comment "which is as specific as the company's publicly been about the 360's release date." is a nothing statement, bad journalism that is tantamount to misleading."

    And how is it bad journalism if that's all they've been told? Highstreet shops don't have a release date yet either.
    Edited by Derblington at 07/09/05 @ 11:06

  • trevd72 #20 7 years ago

    a game can still be released December 2nd or 9th and still be classed as a xmas release. And they have assumed a connection between the two release date and made it almost fact which is misleading.

    Lets get this clear this is about the PDZ release date, not x360. x360 is to be released by the end of November. PDZ is quoted as released by xmas. THIS MEANS THERE IS THE POSSIBLILITY THAT PDZ IS NOT AVAILBLE ON THE DAY THAT THE X360 IS.

  • Derblington #21 7 years ago

    Where is your proof that the 360 is launched the end of nov and that PDZ won't be?

    That's the whole point of the article - it's highlighting the fact that MS ha given both the same date so far and that suggests it'll be a launch title.

  • trevd72 #22 7 years ago

    "xmas" is not a date. The end of November date is widely reported although not confirmed. Why are you argueing this. My point is (again) the article says xmas launch not launch title. This could mean it is released in the two weeks after release if indeed x360 release is End of Nov. I admit is could also mean release on the same day as x360, but why not jsut say launch title. Do you see now????

  • Papalaz1 #23 7 years ago

    trevd72 / derbington

    Get a life

  • Derblington #24 7 years ago

    Well, 'Xmas' isn't set day but it is a date - it refers to a specific time of the year.

    Anyway, I've seen what you were saying from the start but it was explained it in the article (as pointed out in my first post) so I didn't see the point in it.

  • Dizzy #25 7 years ago

    My list for Xmas was:

    DPZ, PGR3 and Oblivion

    So hopefully 1 of those will be at launch :) If not.... we always have Mutant Storm 360!

  • symmetry #26 7 years ago

    Xmas 360! Hehehe, made me chuckle.

  • PES_Fanboy #27 7 years ago

    It merely says the game will be on the shelves this Christmas. That could mean it's released tomorrow - it'll still be on shelves this Christmas.

    See? It's not really saying anything at all....Pro Evolution Soccer 4 will be on the shelves this Christmas too, as will Metal Gear Solid 3 etc.

  • trevd72 #28 7 years ago

    Exactly my point. It is a nothing news item and a nothing statment. I recon i will have a shit by xmas.

  • Chewy #29 7 years ago

    You're all are making the assumption that the 360 will launch at the end of November, but I went to Game (Nottingham) on Saturday and they said the 360 is looking likely to slip in to December.

    I was going to pre-order, but I'm away in OZ from mid-Dec to mid-Jan and so I might as well wait till next year.

  • Chewy #30 7 years ago

    What was I doing in Game? I was chopping in my xbox for a DS; I've must have been the only person in the country buying a DS! Weird!

  • trevd72 #31 7 years ago

    i find that the poeple in Game know little. I always know releases ahead of them....i usually have the console imported before release here so know more about a due product......and my job allows me to read the internet all day (only real way to pass the time, what was that, get some work done would do the same).

    Its the end of November, it would be suicide otherwise. need to get them x360 before dad spends all the xmas money on the kids. see the latest news item

  • Xerx3s #32 7 years ago

    "Am I being thick here but this article says 4 comments but it only shows one. Im not ignoring anyone but this happens a lot lately. Several comments on pages have quotes that previous people have written but I dont see the original comments that is being quoted. If I log out its the same. If I log in its the same.

    Any idea?" I noticed the same thing. Some removed posts perhaps?

    Anyway, if it is any good i will most likely go for the limited edition (if it is in a tin case). Butttt......Q4 for the win! :D

  • valli #33 7 years ago

    The footage shown so far looks below mediocre at best, smart move to release a Special Edition version of a Not So Special Game.

    OTOH, it's about time Rare wake up from their coma and pick up on producing high quality games.