Many games also have players who create in-game content and make it available for download. Not all DLC is published by game developers. Because players don’t get most of the content in a season pass until months after they purchase it, it’s difficult to determine if it’s worth the cost.Īdditionally, many publishers don’t include more expensive DLC with season passes-they tend to sell those separately. However, many people have criticized season passes, claiming they’re overpriced and lacking transparency. These are commonly used in game franchises that are refreshed periodically so players can get a steady stream of content until the next game is released.
They’re often packaged for a lower price than if a player bought them separately. It allows players to download all current and upcoming DLC released within a certain period. Microtransactions are an especially common way to monetize free games.Īnother option they use is the “season pass.” These are often sold near the initial launch of a game. These small purchases are often items, costumes, or playable game modes.
It can cost anywhere from a few cents to as much as the base game, or more.ĭevelopers usually split DLC into small purchases called “microtransactions” to monetize it. Many publishers use DLC as a form of additional monetization. DLC as Monetization Activision/ Call of Duty Today, the word “expansions” still refers to expensive downloads that have a lot of content. Expansion packs were also very common in massive multiplayer online games (MMOs), from Ultima Online to World of Warcraft. They were often distributed as discs players could add on top of a game via their computers. Expansions often included items, characters, or abilities that increased a game’s longevity and kept players invested.Įxpansion packs later came to video games-primarily, PC gaming. They offered a way for publishers to add content without creating an entirely new game. The concept of game expansions came from role-playing and card games.
Blizzard/ World of Warcraftĭownloadable content is, in many ways, a natural successor to expansion packs. Developers often use DLC as a way to update a game and keep players interested for months (or even years) after its initial release. Some content packs add hundreds of hours of additional playing time. Some are just simple cosmetic changes, such as skins and voice-overs, while others feature entirely new areas, stories, or game mechanics that completely overhaul the game. Other times, you might have to purchase it separately, or it might be included in bundles that come with the base game.ĭLC can encompass a wide variety of things. DLC can be distributed online within the game or via a gaming platform, such as Steam or the Playstation Store. DLC stands for “downloadable content.” It’s additional digital content a player can install on top of a complete video game.
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