this post was submitted on 17 Jun 2024
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My problem with endless DLC isn't the cost, but the fragmented result of each 'feature' needing to stand separately and not interact with any other DLC feature. You end up with some really janky gameplay where nothing works intuitively and the stuff you can implement is all hurt by those limitations.
Not to mention the sheer code hell that all this results in with an exponential increase in possible install states to account for. Which the devs just give up on and the game becomes a little buggier with every new expansion.
Honestly think they should move to a sort of MMO model. Charge for the most recent expansions and older DLC eventually gets merged into the base game. Cuts down on complexity and most of your sales will happen in the first year anyway.
While PDX-published games may suffer from the decouplement of features between DLCs, at the very least PDS-developed games have a built-up expertise when it comes to managing this.
As for MMO model, it's a hard sell because purchased things get made "free" for new comers. It's one of the crux that EU4 faced when they rolled many DLC features into the base game.
Nobody seems to care that WoW expansions get rolled into the base install later on.
The trick is to have the merge happen a lot later. Like 1+ years, not a few months. That's long enough that anyone who's a decent fan and actively playing is going to typically shell out the money. It also makes it easy for new and returning fans to jump in. I'm absolutely certain that there are lots of potential Sims 4 players that see the $500+ worth of DLC and just... never start playing because it's completely overwhelming. Especially when you see the titles and realize stuff that seems basic isn't included in the base game: seasons, pets, etc
Different model, unless you’re advocating for a monthly subscription model for these games. That’s the only reason that “roll up” happens, to try and get people to subscribe. Much harder to subscribe if I need to buy 10 DLCs + base game first.