Killzone: Mercenary Update 1.06 Adds Two Multiplayer Maps

Killzone: Mercenary fans still waging war in the Vita trenches have some brand new battlegrounds to tear to pieces as Guerilla Cambridge announces the official release of game Update 1.06, offering a couple of minor behind the scenes tweaks and two brand new (sort of) maps to litter with bullet casings.

Released last fall on the PlayStation Vita, Killzone: Mercenary is, quite simply, the best first-person shooter to ever grace a portable device. More than that, it’s a solid entry to the genre in general and, while maybe not as epic or explosive as some other shooters, it packs a mean punch with a single player campaign, customizable missions to add some replay value, 4v4 online multiplayer and a score that sweeps and soars in all the right places.

It’s that multiplayer option that’s getting a shot in the arm with Updat 1.06 as Guerilla Cambridge pulls back the curtain on two new maps, Tharsis Depot and Blood Gracht. Series fans will likely recognize those names, as they are two of the most-loved offerings from the PlayStation 3’s Killzone 2. GC promises that both have been given a fresh coat of paint and additional tweaks to make them fit in with the Mercenary universe, however, so don’t expect a copy and pasted version of the same old map.

Here’s a bit of info on each of the maps, directly from the developers.

“After incurring damage during the ISA invasion of Helghan, this subterranean mining platform (Tharsis Depot) has been converted to process nuclear Petrusite,” reads the statement. “Now that it’s back in full-scale production, the ISA will again battle Helghast and mercenary forces between the structures of Tharsis Depot.”

GC said that this big underground map is perfect for Warzone and Guerrilla Warfare matches, with players getting the chance to run through tight corridors and shoot across open expanses all on the same map.

And then there’s Blood Gracht, a district that has certainly seen better days.

“Months after the nuclear blast that ruined most of the city, Pyrrhus is slowly recovering,” reads the map description. “But now with ISA, Helghast and mercenary troops clashing in the suburb’s buildings and winding alleyways, the canals once again run red with blood.”

GC says that this particular map, full of tight, winding alleys, the occasional long trench and loads of choke points, is perfect for all game modes.

As a reminder, Update 1.06 adds these new maps at no additional cost. It weighs in at just 167 MB for Mercenary vets, or 526 MB for those who have yet to take their game online.

The Botzone update, also free, is expected sometime in the coming months, making it possible to enjoy all of the multiplayer maps offline. The pre-order LMG has also popped up on the PlayStation Store, giving those who missed out on the goodie a chance to add it to their arsenal for $1.49.