Downloadable content: Difference between revisions
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'''[[wikipedia:Downloadable_content|Downloadable Content (DLC)]]''', also referred to as Expansions or Expansion Packs, are a method for developers and/or publishers to extend the monetization of their products. This practice is not inherently anti-consumer, such as Factorio's Space Age DLC being regarded as paying for a new game according to fans, however, companies such as [[Electronic Arts|'''Electronic Arts''']] and '''[[Ubisoft]]''' have been known to use DLC to break up their complete products into multiple purchases with no regard to the consumers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hruska |first=Joel |date=14 August 2015 |title=Executive calls on disc dlc complaints nonsense but the truth is more complicated |url=https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/212245-ea-executive-calls-on-disc-dlc-complaints-nonsense-but-the-truth-is-more-complex |access-date=17 August 2025 |website=extremetech.com}}</ref> | |||
==Dark patterns involving DLC== | ==Dark patterns involving DLC== | ||
=== | ===Pre-order bonuses=== | ||
A very popular method used by companies to incite the customer to purchase their game is to offer them additional content for pre-ordering. | A very popular method used by companies to incite the customer to purchase their game is to offer them additional content for pre-ordering. | ||
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These pieces of pre-order pieces of content rarely will see a re-release, only in some scenarios where special edition re-releases will allow consumers who miss out on pre-ordering to have access to this content. These bonuses are reliant on a phenomenon known as [[FOMO]]. | These pieces of pre-order pieces of content rarely will see a re-release, only in some scenarios where special edition re-releases will allow consumers who miss out on pre-ordering to have access to this content. These bonuses are reliant on a phenomenon known as [[FOMO]]. | ||
=== | ===Day-one DLC<!-- Source to reference: https://forum.level1techs.com/t/problems-with-the-gaming-industry-day-one-dlc-and-pre-order-dlc/365 -->=== | ||
Often seen mostly from larger companies, day-one DLC | Often seen mostly from larger companies, day-one DLC is offered as a way to further monetize a product on launch. This has however caused concern from consumers since these games that are hasty to offer DLC on launch appear to essentially break up the base game content, thus harming consumers. These games can also have the DLC content already available on-disc, and it has historically caused outrage from consumers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Watts |first=Steve |date=3 Mar 2010 |title=BioShock 2 DLC is Already On the Disc |url=http://www.1up.com/news/bioshock-2-dlc-disc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108174303/http://www.1up.com/news/bioshock-2-dlc-disc |archive-date=8 Nov 2015 |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=1UP.com}}</ref> | ||
===DLC overload=== | ===DLC overload=== | ||
A more recent trend among major publishers has been live-service games. What this has brought however, is the need for monetization to keep development persistent. Unfortunately, these same companies have also been excessive with offering large amounts of DLC. For example, [[Electronic Arts]]' [[The Sims 4]] has currently over $1000 in DLC,<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/1222670/The_Sims_4/</ref> ranging from what could be considered as micro-DLC with kits and stuff packs, to larger DLC such as expansion packs.<ref>https://fictionhorizon.com/heres-why-the-sims-4-dlcs-are-so-expensive-how-to-get-them-cheaper/</ref> Consumers have | A more recent trend among major publishers has been live-service games. What this has brought however, is the need for monetization to keep development persistent. Unfortunately, these same companies have also been excessive with offering large amounts of DLC. For example, [[Electronic Arts]]' [[wikipedia:The_Sims_4|The Sims 4]] has currently over $1000 in DLC,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Sims 4 |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1222670/The_Sims_4/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=[[Steam]]}}</ref> ranging from what could be considered as micro-DLC with kits and stuff packs, to larger DLC such as expansion packs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Naletilic |first=Dora |date=11 Jan 2024 |title=Here’s Why The Sims 4 DLCs Are So Expensive (& How to Get Them Cheaper) |url=https://fictionhorizon.com/heres-why-the-sims-4-dlcs-are-so-expensive-how-to-get-them-cheaper/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=GameHorizon}}</ref> Consumers have criticized the games for being lackluster without purchasing DLC,<ref>{{Cite web |title=TS4 feels empty? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/thesims/comments/f009sl/ts4_feels_empty/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Crane |first=Maris |date=5 Jan 2024 |title=Why Does Playing The Sims 4 Make Me Feel Empty Inside? |url=https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/why-does-playing-the-sims-4-make-me-feel-empty-inside/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2024 |website=SuperJump}}</ref> with theories surrounding that it may be intentional.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Is it just me or does TS4 feel 'empty'? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/thesims/comments/161t8eq/is_it_just_me_or_does_ts4_feel_empty/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> These theories are more solidified when comparing how DLC is handled between each game in the series.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
====Micro-DLC==== | ====Micro-DLC==== | ||
Micro-DLC functions as the middle child between standard DLC and [[microtransactions]]. This is directly defined by the content it offers, where you are buying a significant amount of items, like a stuff pack, or a small thing that has a noticeable impact on the gameplay, such as a new character. Often micro-DLC is offered among a large pool of other pieces of small dlc. In [[Microsoft Flight Simulator X]], there's over $4k in dlc for planes or airstrips.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/90e436/are_there_any_games_on_steam_with_more_expensive/</ref> This is only surpassed by Train Simulator's $8k+ in DLC.<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/app/24010/Train_Simulator_Classic_2024/</ref> | Micro-DLC functions as the middle child between standard DLC and [[microtransactions]]. This is directly defined by the content it offers, where you are buying a significant amount of items, like a stuff pack, or a small thing that has a noticeable impact on the gameplay, such as a new character. Often micro-DLC is offered among a large pool of other pieces of small dlc. In [[Microsoft Flight Simulator X]], there's over $4k in dlc for planes or airstrips.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Are there any games on steam with more expensive DLC than this? (microsoft flight simulator x) |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/90e436/are_there_any_games_on_steam_with_more_expensive/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> This is only surpassed by Train Simulator's $8k+ in DLC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Train Simulator Classic 2024 |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/24010/Train_Simulator_Classic_2024/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=[[Steam]]}}</ref> | ||
An honorable mention for an excessive amount of micro-DLC is Rocksmith, where the original has had nearly $1k in individually purchasable songs.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/rocksmith/comments/2k39t7/total_dlc_price_question/ | An honorable mention for an excessive amount of micro-DLC is Rocksmith, where the original has had nearly $1k in individually purchasable songs.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/rocksmith/comments/2k39t7/total_dlc_price_question/ | ||
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[stub section!] This section is a stub and the person who included this section appears to have left it blank | [stub section!] This section is a stub and the person who included this section appears to have left it blank | ||
===DLC | ===Imbalanced DLC=== | ||
DLC featured in competitive games can be stronger than base game content, and thus encouraging consumers to purchase this DLC if they want to be able to compete at a high level. This is an issue most prominent in fighting games, such as Mortal Kombat or Super Smash Brothers. In the case of Super Smash Brothers, significant controversy surrounds<ref>{{Cite web |title=DLC characters are overpowered and brainless. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/SmashBrosUltimate/comments/11e977q/dlc_characters_are_overpowered_and_brainless/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> the DLC characters, some of which are generally regarded as the strongest in the game, or as exceptionally easy for newer players.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Littlechild |first=Chris |date=6 Aug 2019 |title=Smash Ultimate: Does The Hero's Down-Special Make Him OP? |url=https://www.thegamer.com/smash-bros-ultimate-hero-dlc-down-special-op/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=The Gamer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Steve is OP 😩 |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/SmashBrosUltimate/comments/jdf910/steve_is_op/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><!-- Historical examples | |||
Products to potentially mention later on: The Sims 4, super smash Brothers ultimate, Minecraft bedrock edition, certain Ubisoft or EA games, Fortnite, Halo infinite, assassin's Creed, Destiny --> | |||
Products to potentially mention later on: The Sims 4, super smash Brothers ultimate, Minecraft bedrock edition, certain Ubisoft or EA games, Fortnite, Halo infinite, assassin's Creed, Destiny | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Common terms]] | |||
Latest revision as of 02:27, 6 September 2025
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This article needs additional work to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines and be in line with our Mission Statement for comprehensive coverage of consumer protection issues. Specifically it uses wording throughout that is non-compliant with the Editorial guidelines of this wiki.
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Downloadable Content (DLC), also referred to as Expansions or Expansion Packs, are a method for developers and/or publishers to extend the monetization of their products. This practice is not inherently anti-consumer, such as Factorio's Space Age DLC being regarded as paying for a new game according to fans, however, companies such as Electronic Arts and Ubisoft have been known to use DLC to break up their complete products into multiple purchases with no regard to the consumers.[1]
Dark patterns involving DLC[edit | edit source]
Pre-order bonuses[edit | edit source]
A very popular method used by companies to incite the customer to purchase their game is to offer them additional content for pre-ordering.
This can range from:
- Extra characters
- Cosmetics
- In-game currency
- Entire gamemodes
- Closed Beta access
These pieces of pre-order pieces of content rarely will see a re-release, only in some scenarios where special edition re-releases will allow consumers who miss out on pre-ordering to have access to this content. These bonuses are reliant on a phenomenon known as FOMO.
Day-one DLC[edit | edit source]
Often seen mostly from larger companies, day-one DLC is offered as a way to further monetize a product on launch. This has however caused concern from consumers since these games that are hasty to offer DLC on launch appear to essentially break up the base game content, thus harming consumers. These games can also have the DLC content already available on-disc, and it has historically caused outrage from consumers.[2]
DLC overload[edit | edit source]
A more recent trend among major publishers has been live-service games. What this has brought however, is the need for monetization to keep development persistent. Unfortunately, these same companies have also been excessive with offering large amounts of DLC. For example, Electronic Arts' The Sims 4 has currently over $1000 in DLC,[3] ranging from what could be considered as micro-DLC with kits and stuff packs, to larger DLC such as expansion packs.[4] Consumers have criticized the games for being lackluster without purchasing DLC,[5][6] with theories surrounding that it may be intentional.[7] These theories are more solidified when comparing how DLC is handled between each game in the series.[6]
Micro-DLC[edit | edit source]
Micro-DLC functions as the middle child between standard DLC and microtransactions. This is directly defined by the content it offers, where you are buying a significant amount of items, like a stuff pack, or a small thing that has a noticeable impact on the gameplay, such as a new character. Often micro-DLC is offered among a large pool of other pieces of small dlc. In Microsoft Flight Simulator X, there's over $4k in dlc for planes or airstrips.[8] This is only surpassed by Train Simulator's $8k+ in DLC.[9]
An honorable mention for an excessive amount of micro-DLC is Rocksmith, where the original has had nearly $1k in individually purchasable songs.[10]
Season Passes[edit | edit source]
[stub section!] This section is a stub and the person who included this section appears to have left it blank
Imbalanced DLC[edit | edit source]
DLC featured in competitive games can be stronger than base game content, and thus encouraging consumers to purchase this DLC if they want to be able to compete at a high level. This is an issue most prominent in fighting games, such as Mortal Kombat or Super Smash Brothers. In the case of Super Smash Brothers, significant controversy surrounds[11] the DLC characters, some of which are generally regarded as the strongest in the game, or as exceptionally easy for newer players.[12][13]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Hruska, Joel (14 August 2015). "Executive calls on disc dlc complaints nonsense but the truth is more complicated". extremetech.com. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
- ↑ Watts, Steve (3 Mar 2010). "BioShock 2 DLC is Already On the Disc". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on 8 Nov 2015. Retrieved 27 Mar 2025.
- ↑ "The Sims 4". Steam. Retrieved 27 Mar 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Naletilic, Dora (11 Jan 2024). "Here's Why The Sims 4 DLCs Are So Expensive (& How to Get Them Cheaper)". GameHorizon. Retrieved 27 Mar 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "TS4 feels empty?". Reddit. Retrieved 27 Mar 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 Crane, Maris (5 Jan 2024). "Why Does Playing The Sims 4 Make Me Feel Empty Inside?". SuperJump. Retrieved 27 Mar 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Is it just me or does TS4 feel 'empty'?". Reddit. Retrieved 27 Mar 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Are there any games on steam with more expensive DLC than this? (microsoft flight simulator x)". Reddit. Retrieved 27 Mar 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Train Simulator Classic 2024". Steam. Retrieved 27 Mar 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/rocksmith/comments/2k39t7/total_dlc_price_question/ "Edit: u/OsagaTheGreat points out that the Rock Hits packs, which I believed were subject to 3-pack pricing, are in fact mere labels for single tracks that were released contemporaneously. The names are at times confusingly inconsistent, culminating in "Rock Hits 70's 2" being distinct from "Rock Hits 1970s 2". I count 19 Rock Hits pseudopacks (including "Indie Rock Hits", which doesn't sort next to the others), each containing 3 songs. Each 3-pack in the original calculation contributed a price reduction of $0.98 compared to purchasing single tracks, so debundling all of them increases the total by $18.62 to $973.39. However, in contrast to my original strategy, you would now purchase the Allman, Öyster, and Pearl song packs to save $2.94. The revised total is $970.45." - u/PierreSimonLaplace
- ↑ "DLC characters are overpowered and brainless". Reddit. Retrieved 27 Mar 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Littlechild, Chris (6 Aug 2019). "Smash Ultimate: Does The Hero's Down-Special Make Him OP?". The Gamer. Retrieved 27 Mar 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Steve is OP 😩". Reddit. Retrieved 27 Mar 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)