DLC is one of those terms that can send a gamer into either fit of happiness or anger. To begin with, it provides more content to (presumably) something that was loved to begin with. Moving away from some of the ridiculously overpriced fashion bundles, the best downloadable content can revitalize a dying game or sustain it for years beyond its typical life cycle. Popular titles like Diablo III and Overwatch have shown that if paid and free DLC, or expansion packs, are used correctly – they can keep players coming back for more.
Yet, DLC is rarely ever met with excitement or praise.
As companies are, by nature, greedy and exist to make a profit; there is a tendency to see this practice as a way to trick players into buying content that should have been included with the original game. In some cases, games like Prey and Assassin's Creed Syndicate had DLC content available as a bonus when pre-ordering from certain outlets. Therefore, they would have gone out of their way to block of already available parts of the game before it was even released. Giant Bomb even named this trend the worst of 2010.
This practice goes against the very idea of DLC: which is about providing something new. It should increase the game-time and not restrict it. The phrase 'Day 1 DLC' is something that is frustrating but way too common nowadays.
Doom and Dying Light give away DLC for free
Two huge FPS games, Doom and Dying Light, have decided to hand out their DLC for free - in a bid to increase their player base and to attempt to allow their multiplayer modes to live on for a few more months. The handed out content has been available to purchase for a year, but now can be downloaded and enjoyed by all players.
This might lead to some anger from those who spent their money to buy the DLC, but if someone had not bought them by now, they were not going to.
By letting everyone join in on the party, Techland and Bethesda managed to entice players that might have long left Dying Light or Doom to return. In turn, this will increase the player base and provide an easier means for those who had purchased the DLC to enjoy their content.
Hopefully, other companies take note and start doing the same.
EA did the same with Battlefield 4 and Hardline DLC
A punch-line of the gaming industry, EA remains one of the most hated companies in the world. Still, even a broken clock is right twice a day – as EA did slowly make all their DLC multiplayer maps available for Battlefield 4 and Hardline players last year. They were not released in one whole bunch but were free to purchase and download for a short period. Once downloaded, they were the player's to keep.
