Perfect Dark cloaking XBLA in March

Microsoft will be taking it to the wire with its rerelease of Perfect Dark on Xbox Live. With the first-person shooter bearing a "winter" release window since the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo, the publisher has now confirmed that the Perfect Dark redux will be available during the last month of the season, March. The game will be available for MSP 800 ($10).

Originally developed by Rare for the Nintendo 64, Perfect Dark was released to glowing praise in 2000. The redux is being handled by 4J Studios, which has previously rereleased Rare's Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie for XBLA in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The most recent installment in the Perfect Dark franchise--Perfect Dark Zero--launched alongside the Xbox 360 in 2005.

The XBLA update for Perfect Dark features a high-definition graphical overhaul. The game will retain all of the modes seen in the original, including two-player co-op and counter ops, which can be played locally or over Xbox Live. Perfect Dark will also feature four-player local split-screen multiplayer and eight-player online matches.

Perfect Dark's XBLA debut will come as part of Microsoft's March Block Party lineup. Game Room, Toy Soldiers, and Scrap Metal have also been penciled in for the month, though the exact order has yet to be determined. Check out GameSpot's coverage of Microsoft's X10 press event for more on the Block Party.