Namco Bandai has announced plans for free downloadable content for Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm (based on the popular Naruto animated series from VIZ Media), exclusively for the PlayStation 3.

From the week of the game's retail launch on November 4, 2008 through March 2009, new support characters such as the infamous Sound Four and original single player missions will be made available for download on a regular basis.

The following support characters, each accompanied by an additional single player mission, will be available for free download from the PlayStation Network on the dates below:

November 6, 2008: Shizune

December 4, 2008: Asuma

December 18, 2008: Kurenai

January 8, 2009: Anko

January 22, 2009: Jirobo

February 5, 2009: Kidoumaru

February 19 2009: Tayuya

March 5, 2009: Sakon

"With the huge cast of characters and massively detailed storyline offered by the Naruto franchise, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm is perfect for downloadable content, giving us the opportunity to continue to build upon the core of the game long after it is released in stores," said Todd Thorson, director of marketing and public relations at Namco Bandai Games America, Inc.