
Since downloadable content became available for purchase, the Mission Mode button on the title screen has a bubble on top of it with the eShop icon. While these packs must be paid for on the Nintendo eShop, a small number of extra Mission Mode levels come for free when the player updates the game to a certain version. These packs add some levels to the Collect treasure! and Battle enemies! modes.

Pikmin 3 contains a number of Mission Mode packs obtainable as downloadable content. As the name would imply, this content is downloadable from the internet, normally with a a small monetary cost. In games, downloadable content normally comes in the form of extra levels or characters that players can add to their game. In terms of software, downloadable content (often shortened as DLC) is the name used to designate any piece of software that complements, but does not complete another piece of software.
