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Have gamers finally accepted DLC? According to Ubisoft we have. Talking to Games Industry, Ubisoft’s Vice President of Digital Publishing, Chris Early, explained that modern gamers are apparently comfortable with amount of digital content developers provide, using Assassin Creed IV's ‘Time Saver' DLC as an example.
Assassin Creed IV's time saver DLC allowed players to pay for in-game items in order to get through the game easier: “There was no resistance,” Early said. “Maybe there were 12 guys somewhere who said something, but whatever. As a whole, there wasn't a problem.”
“I think there are some models that are accepted now. DLC is pretty much accepted. Season pass is pretty much accepted. Now it's interesting when you start to think of Season Pass as a Service Pass. For our Season Pass holders, I know we hold events for them specifically, so it's little bit more than just DLC content. So there's an evolution going on there.”
The Ubisoft VP isn't wrong, while gamers might not always like DLC, it is generally accepted at this point, as are season passes. However he does agree that games shouldn't be designed to force you in to paying more money:
“Where it hurts is when you feel like you're forced, or you're at a disadvantage or can't do it unless you pay money. That's kind of a remorseful feeling, and nobody likes that.”
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KitGuru Says: Ubisoft isn't the most popular company right now after all of the recent controversy surrounding graphical downgrades. However this is a good topic for discussion, how do you guys feel about DLC and season passes? DLC can be good when it's done right but sometimes it is just a waste of time. One thing the Ubisoft exec didn't comment on was the company's stance on cutting content from the main game to release as DLC later, I think we can all agree that we shouldn't accept that.
I almost never buy DLC. If I love a game enough I’ll buy the GOTY edition 2nd hand.
When you buy a game, it should be complete. You wouldn’t buy an iPhone and realise you have to buy a battery as an optional extra… I’m not saying DLC shouldn’t exist, DLC should be an optional extra, maybe if you had a car, an optional extra could be Alloy Wheels. They cost more, but make the experience better for those who choose to pay extra.
Back in the days, before Steam and DLC, there was still additional content to the games. And we all accepted that.
They were called “Expansion Sets”.
They added more levels, factions, campaigns, stories, whatever to the original game and it was all good and fine. There was also just a few (usually 1-2 per game) and came months after the initial release.
Now we have a game, with multiple day one DLC, meaning they just want to sell a part of the already made game, for an extra. Then DLCs for new colours, clothes and other minor stuff appear. Some of them really gives some new content, i admit, you can do it that way and that is fine.
But it’s not the same feeling as with the “Expansion Sets” when most of the times you really felt, that you got something more, not just different.
Don’t mind DLC if its essentially an expansion, a few months after release so a separate project (not day 1 which could have been included in the game), fairly priced and worthwhile content (not a new map or skins that does little to change experience) .
I predictably sympathise with the article in general, but what I find worrying is not the acceptance of DLC or Season Passes (actually, I do find the latter annoying). Instead, I find this particularly worrying: “Maybe there were 12 guys somewhere who said something, but whatever. As a whole, there wasn’t a problem.” I don’t think that’s an acceptable attitude at all. They can’t just discard fans who disagree with their policies.