Downloadable content: Difference between revisions

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~~{{ToneWarning}}~~

'''[[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>

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===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]]' [[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" />

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 due to the way DLC is handled between each game in the series.<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><ref name=":0" />

====Micro-DLC====

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- u/PierreSimonLaplace</ref>

~~===Season Passes===~~

~~[stub section!] This section is a stub and the person who included this section appears to have left it blank~~

===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==

[[Category:Common terms]]

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-{{ToneWarning}}
 '''[[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>
@@ Line 21: / Line 19: @@
 ===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]]' [[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" />
+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 due to the way DLC is handled between each game in the series.<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><ref name=":0" />
 ====Micro-DLC====
@@ Line 31: / Line 29: @@
 -  u/PierreSimonLaplace</ref>
-===Season Passes===
-[stub section!] This section is a stub and the person who included this section appears to have left it blank
 ===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 --><!-- There was a blank section here for Season Passes. It would be a good idea to add a paragraph mentioned that, if anyone is up to doing so. -->
 ==References==
 <references />
 [[Category:Common terms]]