We are all familiar with DLC. Heck, it seems like every game that is released these days has some DLC either available from the start or set to be released later in the game’s life cycle. But, what I’ve recently been thinking about is the value of DLC. Is it worth its price? Should it just be included with the game from the start?

These are all valid questions, but it is hard to come up with a concrete answer for any of them. In my opinion at least, DLC is partially worthwhile. It gives gamers a reason to keep playing their favorite games, and allows them opportunities to enjoy even more content for those games. See, if DLC was already integrated into the game from the start, games like Call of Duty may launch with 5 or 6 extra maps, but they would grow old at the same rate as all of the others. Sure, it may slow down the process as a whole since there are more maps and thus more variety, but the time will inevitably arrive when players are bitching and complaining about the maps and the developer needs to release more.

Then where would we be? Well, we’d be back to square one so to speak, releasing content as it becomes available and as it becomes relevant. So, I guess I feel that DLC being released after/long after a game is released is good, but should it be free?

Yes, yes it should. Think about it: you paid for the game, you’ve invested time into making the game a success (continuing to play it, telling your friends how good it is, writing reviews, etc.), the least the company could do is make the DLC free. Now, I am aware that there are games out there that offer just such a thing, but on the whole, it’s not exactly common. I know there are some that say gaming companies have every right to charge for original content for games since it takes them extra time and money to produce it, and I understand, but I think that is a business expense and it should be tacked onto “customer satisfaction,” if you catch my drift.

However, I do think that (in large part) paid DLC is worth the money. Oftentimes, DLC is very well thought out, like the zombie expansion for Red Dead Redemption, or the upcoming Dawnguard expansion for Skyrim.

Anyway, I’m interested to see your opinions on the matter. Should DLC be free? Should it be included with the game from the start, or should it be released later?