Few concepts have proved to be as controversial in the gaming space as the DLC (downloadable content) Season Pass. While DLC was originally thought to be a way to extend a game’s life after it came out, it has now become a planned part of the business plan for almost every major release. While there isn’t anything inherently wrong with this concept, many have been skeptical about purchasing DLC ahead of time when the player has no clue if the quality will be there.
In order to find out if season passes are a good deal, PlayStation LifeStyle has decided to take a look back at 12 different PS4 releases to see how several developers have handled DLC on Sony’s latest system. Take a look at what we found below:
Ultimately, compared to the full game there is rarely enough content in the season passes to justify the premium price that they are offering. That said, they are still the best way to purchase a sizable chunk of DLC if you’re set on having every add-on for a particular release. However, it doesn’t make much sense for those not planning to repeatedly go back to the game. Throw in that the DLC is more often at a lower quality than the main game (although there have been some notable exceptions) and you have a recipe for failure.
We’d also like to point out that not all games fall into these trappings. A few of the games we looked at including Resogun offered up a good amount of content for a reasonable price. It should also be stated that Resogun was the only title that wasn’t announced to have DLC until months after the original release. Hopefully more games will take Sony’s example and offer compelling content, at a proper price point, that is developed after the game has been out.
Let us know your thoughts on recent DLCs and Season Passes in games. Do you regret buying them? Have you accepted that they’re now part of every big AAA game release?
Season Pass
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Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Advanced Warfare's season pass is predictably multiplayer-focused and costs $49.99. For ten dollars less than the full game itself, players get access to four DLC packs. So far, two out of the four scheduled packs have been released. Each pack comes with four multiplayer map and an Exo Zombie map, a new mode developed exclusively as DLC. Considering the game launched with 13 different multiplayer maps, $49.99 for 16 new ones isn't the most outrageous price (as long as you are serious about playing Call of Duty for the next year). Throw in the Exo Zombies mode that is a draw for many players and this season pass seems fine (although far from a bargain) as long as you are a hardcore fan.
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Battlefield Hardline
Similar to Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare's season pass, Battlefield Hardline is offering a premium service for $49.99. However, there just are not enough details known to really make a judgement yet about the service that will offer four different expansions in the next twelve months. If we go off of Battlefield 4's precedent with DLC then each pack will feature four different maps and new weapons. While the quality of these maps are currently unknown, this also seems like a fine deal as long as you are really into Battlefield Hardline. Otherwise, $49.99 is a lot of money to be spending on something that you won't get all of until 2016.
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Dead or Alive 5 Last Round
Dead or Alive is a series that is known for its extensive fan service and it easily has the most ridiculous season pass out of all the games listed here. For the price of $92.99 (yes, you read that right), you gain access to 78 new costumes including the exclusive "Angelic Maid Costume" for character Marie Rose. Money may not be able to buy happiness, but it can buy Angelic Maid costumes, whatever that may be. It is already ridiculous that Dead or Alive 5 Last Round (the second re-release of Dead or Alive 5, if you are counting) has DLC at all, let alone the gall to charge $92.99 for it.
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Dying Light
Techland's latest zombie adventure features a season pass that will set back gamers $19.99 for three pieces of content. Combined, these packs include two missions, three outfits, four new weapons and a horde mode that can be played in single player and co-op. While these packs will certainly extend your time with the game, it seems overpriced at $19.99 as it is certainly not a third of the full game's content.
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Evolve
Despite Evolve garnering a lot of press and criticism over its DLC offerings (most of which were cosmetic skins), its season pass isn't the most ridiculously priced collection of DLC we've seen. That doesn't mean it is a good deal, however, as $24.99 will gain you access to four new playable Hunters (one of each type) and three new Monster skins. Also worth noting is that a Monster Expansion Pack is available for $14.99 which brings the total amount of non-cosmetic DLC to around $40. Adding what consists of a third of the content on-disc to the game for 2/3rd the price is not a good deal, but it also isn't the most outrageous offering we've seen.
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Far Cry 4
Ubisoft's season pass for Far Cry 4 will cost gamers half of the game's retail price ($30) if they wish to play more of their fantastic shooter. This offering features the timed challenge mode Escape From Durgesh Prison, six new missions, a new PvP mode, and the Valley of the Yetis expansion. That is a solid amount of diverse content for a game that is already packed with things to do. Although, if not all of the modes appeal to you, it might be better to purchase the DLC you like piecemeal rather than combined.
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Mortal Kombat X
Mortal Kombat X's Kombat Pack costs $29.99 for four characters. Yes, half of the game's cost for four characters. Now, admittedly the pack also includes 12 skins (including a hilarious version of Jax that is Carl Weathers from Predator), but it is outrageously overpriced. While licensing beloved characters like Jason Voorhees and the Predator could not have been cheap, there is no reason that this DLC should be so expensive. Throw in some nasty DLC (including paid versions of easy fatalities) and Mortal Kombat X might leave players feeling a bit scummy.
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Resogun
Resogun is DLC done right. For $7.99 gamers were treated to two new expansions - Heroes and Defenders - that both feature a lot of new content for one of the PS4's best launch titles. It also helps that this DLC occurred because fans wanted more content, not a marketing plan that was set before the game was out.
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The Evil Within
If you dug The Evil Within, then it probably left you wanting more. Well, for $19.99 you can get three downloadable pieces of content that flesh out the game's story. Two of the pieces has you playing as the game's deuteragonist, Juli Kidman, while the final piece has you playing as the enemy called The Keeper. For any faults that the main game has, The Evil Within deserves credit for doing something interesting with its DLC and letting players experience something new.
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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is set to be a huge game that the developer says will take over 200 hours to complete. If you want more content, CD Projekt Red will give you more in the form of the expansion pass. For $24.99, the pass gives players access to two different expansions - Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine - that the developer says will take 30 hours to complete. While that isn't quite the deal that the main game is ($60 for 200 hours), this expansion seems worthwhile. Well, as long as The Witcher 3 turns out to be any good.
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WWE 2K15
WWE 2K15 was a mixed bag as a final product, but its DLC at least focuses in on its most interesting mode. For $24.99, players will be able to relive the best moments of the Ultimate Warrior, Mark Henry, and the feud between Randy Orton and Christian. Throw in a bunch of playable character such as WWE Diva Paige, Sgt. Slaughter, and of course the Macho King himself, Randy Savage, and you have a decent offering for the price.
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Assassin's Creed Unity
Assassin's Creed Unity is an example of a season pass gone wrong, at least for the publisher. After the title's less than stellar launch, Ubisoft announced that the Dead Kings DLC would be free to all. Great, right? Well, not for the Season Pass owners who had already purchased the DLC that was now free. To remedy this situation, Ubisoft ended up giving Season Pass owners a free game of their choice out of big name titles such as The Crew, Far Cry 4, Watch Dogs, and Rayman Legends. For those who bought the season pass this actually became quite the deal (as long as they were interested in Far Cry or The Crew).
