DLC or downloadable content is a staple of the gaming industry of today. That being that even after you’ve purchased the game itself, you need to buy additional add ons to play the better, and often, complete, version of the game.
For most games, it is a scummy way for developers to make you pay more when videogames are already expensive, as the $60 or now $70 game you just bought will feel incomplete without the $20 DLC.
However, with some changes, DLC can be a valuable addition to the games themselves and the industry as a whole.
The first and most important is that the base game without any DLC should feel complete, you should never need to buy DLC to have a good experience with the base game, which needs to be able to stand on its own, no additional content needed. DLC should be supplementary, not necessary.
In addition to this the DLC should never be designed in tandem with the base game, DLC should be a new addition to the game. On the game’s release there should be no DLC available for purchase.
Another key change is that you should be getting ⅓ of a game value for paying ⅓ of the total game. You shouldn’t just get some cosmetics and a new map, you should be getting much more than that.
Finally, not every game needs DLC. It should be reserved for when the developers have an idea for something to add that is truly worthwhile and valuable, not just to make a quick buck.
