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Game DLC Costs Should Go Down

Game DLC Costs Should Go Down

Gamers have accepted DLC. It is inevitable. With the idea of games as a service catching on, titles that just offer one, reasonably priced season pass, a comprehensive expansion or two, or DLC that would be totally optional become even more appreciated. However, in a bid to keep making money and perhaps capitalize on those with disposable income and maybe an unreasonable love for a game, some companies are going overboard. A few are pulling out the stops when it comes to DLC and their costs, and it is getting to a point where some companies need to cut back.

The most egregious and recent example is Dead or Alive 6 . The game right now is $59.99, following its March 2019 launch. If someone wants its Season Pass 1, that is $92.99. This only covers four months of 2019. You only get the characters and costumes released between launch and June 2019. That’s The King of Fighters ‘ Mai Shiranui, one other character, and 64 costumes. It is, in short, absolutely ridiculous. It is coming close to double the price of the main game in an era where additional fighters for a game tend to only run between $5-8.

There is no reason for it be so extravagant, especially when 10 of the costumes appear to be the sort of debut costumes that people can unlock for the fighters already included in the base game. But then, single characters like Nyotengu go for $3.99 each, so the bulk of the money here is going toward costume sets. For example, the 13 outfit Happy Wedding COstume Vol. 1 set, with its 13 bride and groom outfits, is $19.99.

Fallout 76 is another offender in this ring, though at least its extraneous purchases are optional and cosmetic, unlike fighters that lock away additional playable characters. Bethesda’s game has come under fire for overpriced outfits, which shouldn’t be surprising from the makers of The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion ‘s $2.50 Horse Armor. Except this era of gaming’s Horse Armor is instead the Comin’ to Town bundle. This was a Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus outfit set for the game that, when not discounted, was 3,000 Atoms. While these can be earned at a slow rate, the cash to Atoms exchange is $10 for 1,000. So when not discounted, the outfit was $30, and when it was on sale for 33% off, it was $20. Ho, ho, ho, indeed. Similarly priced items have appeared since.

There are some instances where the DLC costs may seem reasonable, but things fall apart when you really look at it. Take Tekken 7 . Bandai Namco keeps supporting the fighter, in the hopes of drawing in more players. As such, it has received two season passes. The first is a $24.99 Season Pass 1, which includes The King of Fighters ‘ Geese Howard and Final Fantasy XV’ s Noctis as playable characters, the Tekken Bowl mode that is the sort of minigame that used to be included in Tekken games for free, and a ton of costumes. Except that wasn’t enough, so Season Pass 2 was introduced for $29.99. That gave people Anna, Lei Wulong, Marduk, Armor King, Julia, and Negan as playable characters, in addition to three character customization sets.

Game DLC Costs Should Go Down

But, even with these two packs, it doesn’t give you everything. You still have to pay an additional $4.99 for Eliza. That’s $59.97 for every add-on. Someone who came in later could just get everything for $89.99 now, via the Ultimate Edition. But someone who paid $59.99 for the game at launch would have to be $119.96 in the hole for everything. It is not in the same boat as Dead or Alive 6 or Fallout 76 , but it does point to how things can add u and people should probably wait.

It really is a case of buyer beware out there. In fact, people should try to avoid extravagant. Give the games some time. See if a company will pull a Bandai Namco and release a handy bundle later with all of the add-ons at a slightly more palatable price. In the case of something like Fallout 76 or Dead or Alive 6 , don’t give in.

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