How often do you return to a game for the DLC content?
DLC is as established a concept in games as the pause button at this point. Games get new map selections, entire new campaigns and worlds, smaller content drops, sometimes all of the above and more. By their nature, DLC has to come after the games release. Day one DLC is absolutely a thing but I’m not here to disparage or encourage that. For the most part, DLC comes out a fair while afterwards, encouraging players to step back in. The question is, do you?
Some DLC has proven to be truly stellar, the best parts of their games – Any Souls game has brilliant DLC – The Old Hunters for example. I eagerly awaited Shadow of the Erdtree for like a year and a half. The Witcher 3’s Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine are considered massively successful games in their own right. Yet, I played the Game of the Year edition of The Witcher 3, meaning the DLC was already waiting for me when I wrapped up my adventure in the main game. Would I have returned to the game for the DLC otherwise? I would like to think I would but I couldn’t be sure.
A Hat in Time was a game I loved, a silly charming 3D platformer oozing with style. DLC packs were announced and I was very excited. Yet, the DLC was only on PC for a good long while. Eventually I lost hope and moved on. They’ve since been released on Playstation but it might very well have been too little too late.
Fans of Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2 have been begging for DLC since release. It’s understandable, the original game got ‘The City that never sleeps trilogy’ (Which I thought was complete dogwater but that’s not the point) and the Insomniac Leaks that happened early this year fanned the flames showing DLC of some sort was in the pipeline. If the DLC got announced tomorrow, would I go back to the game? Honestly, probably not. God of War Ragnarok got a surprise free DLC in the form of ‘Valhalla’ but not even fRee was motivation.
Back when the DLC for Final Fantasy XVI was announced, I bought the season pass. There was to be two DLC – the smaller combat focused ‘Echoes of the Fallen’ and the more story driven ‘The Rising Tide’. I told myself I may as well wait for both of them to release so I could play them together. The former released last October and the latter in April. It’s August as I write this and I’ve not gone back to the game yet. I really liked FFXVI and new content should be a perfect reason to return (especially since I’ve paid for it), I just lack that yearning. I’ve done a similar thing with Alan Wake 2 but I do intend to be on time for that. June saw the release of the first DLC – Night Springs. The second DLC – The Lake House, is due for release in October. My plan is to marathon the original Alan Wake (Remastered) and it’s DLC, American Nightmare, Alan Wake II NG+ and finally the two DLC.
I don’t even really have a point here, I suppose I’m wondering is DLC even enough to bring somebody back. More of a good thing is good but if it’s side content or otherwise not relevant to things you’ve already done in the game then it might be a harder sell. DLC like map packs work obviously since you’re consistently playing the game, the DLC supplements the experience you’re still having.
What’s the solution? Shorter games need shorter times between game release and DLC? If you announce the DLC prior to the games release, there’s a real chance a person might just wait for the inevitable Game of the Year edition – cheaper and the whole experience together. It’s not lost on me that this might just be being a bit special. If you like a game, why wouldn’t you want to come back for the DLC? It’s more content for a game you love!
Since I have no audience, this articles question is more rhetorical than anything. If nothing else, I’ve just highlighted that I’ve got some games and DLC to get back to.
