After garnering such goodwill from interested gamers with regards to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and its free DLC plans, developer CD Projekt Red has just announced that the upcoming role-playing game will actually boast an expansion pass.
Offering two "massive" expansions, named Hearts and Stone and Blood and Wine, these new adventures will launch in October and early 2016, respectively.
Previously, the studio claimed that it doesn't believe in charging for smaller pieces of DLC, and has since confirmed that there will be 16 pieces of content to download free of charge after the game's launch.
As for the aforementioned expansions, there's no word on pricing just yet, but the Polish developer is keen to point out that they'll both contain a hefty amount of additional content.
Do you think that charging for larger add-ons is fair, especially if the smaller bits of DLC are free? Nickel and dime us in the comments section below.
[source buy.thewitcher.com, via uk.ign.com]
Comments 17
Fair dooz
Well, I was behind this studio, guess it's just another corrupted by the scum at WB.
fair enough if you don't want to pay for it you don't have to play it the more content the better I don't mind paying extra for more game time
Yeh same. Anything that is good value is worth paying for. If you don't like it, dont buy it.
Of course you'll have a few complain about it. Boo hoo, don't buy it then. It's not forced upon you, so don't even start.
Those that complain: "I DONT CARE IF THERES 16 DLC DROPS FREE! I REFUSE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING I DONT HAVE TO BUY BUT WILL JUST TO COMPLAIN!" This. This is how you sound.
Its almost like some people want the whole world Chico, and everything in it…
If this was any other developer I would have my doubts, especially after feeling scammed with the Watch Dogs season pass. But CDPR have a fantastic record, and a sterling reputation with Witcher fans. They are giving 16 free pieces of DLC away, and have made clear the average timescale for each expansion. I'd say it's down to the individual to decide if it's for them or not.
Season passes are usually terrible, but the only one I've got after the Watch Dogs fiasco was for DriveClub. That one was totally worth it, and a bit of a bargain considering. Still, I'm not a fan of passes, but for the Witcher I'll no doubt take the plunge.
@ToOGoodOfAPlaya I disagree. What they're pledging here sounds totally fine, but you don't go around boasting about your free DLC — only to go and announce a Season Pass anyway.
There should be no backlash at all for this, but I'm afraid they've brought it on themselves.
@get2sammyb
Exactly. I'm actually a fan of CDPR's work so if the content is worth it I'll pay. Hell I bought the season pass for Injustice when it hit PS3 because I like Netherrealm. CDPR is well within its right to charge for any extra content it makes but I'm within my rights to be disappointed they're taking steps into EA territory after previously acting better than everybody else. And it's funny, if this were EA doing the exact same, the hypocrites would be up in arms.
Just found this elsewhere on gamer rant CD Projekt Red confirmed the prices of everything to Game Informer:
Hearts of Stone – $9.99
Blood and Wine – $19.99
Expansion Pass – $24.99
Game + Expansion Pass – $84.99 (PS4, Xbox One), $79.99 (PC)
Seems quite cheap really for 20 hours additional gameplay, I would def get the expansion pass...
Not sure what's that in pounds though....
I have a feeling this is something that was requested on the publisher side, dlc expansions ensure users will hold off on trading in their game copies.
I can't prove a thing but really games with season passes keep the user around for 4-6 months after release.
Spending too much time on beard growing has obviously led to a conflict of interest at boardroom level. I was chuffed when they announced all dlc to be free - finally a game everyone who purchases will have the full game. But actually its not the case - but hey ho who cares right? If you don't want it don't pay for it right? Its not as if only 6 million copies can sustain a studio right? Oh we will just lie for pr that's fair game right? Ahhh actually that is right - we are so predisposed to this nonsense we all just nod and carry on, even worse some of us make excuses for this insane behaviour.
Unlike EA or Activision, the best examples I can use, the people in charge at CD Projekt Red are intelligent enough to know how to market their game while getting the majority on their side. They know 'DLC' is usually frowned upon (unless it's from Nintendo of course because as you know if you've ever visited NLife, Nintendo's sh*t don't stink), so they were going on and on about how we'll get these nice little pieces of DLC for nothing. And to be fair, I'll give CDPR that it could easily charge for the useless pieces of armor and other cosmetic nonsense that Capcom, Ubisoft, Rockstar, Naughty Dog, EA and pretty much everybody else charge for, so thanks for not pulling the same bs in regards to that. But to act like you're above paid-for DLC then to turn right around and create paid-for DLC just does seem ridiculous. Again, if it's good content, I'll buy it, there's no doubt the main game will be awesome and this is a very good studio so I'm confident in the quality of what it will deliver. I'm not hopping on the 'this is how it's done' bandwagon though. To me, it's the first step towards EA territory. Everybody will say 'no, they'd never do that.' But next thing you know, there will be DLC - cosmetic nonsense - that is technically 'free' but locked behind a season pass.
Honestly for what they provide, I can't get mad at CD Projekt Red. They are developers that understand what players want, and they make sure when they charge extra, it's definitely worth it.
So $25 for 30 hours gameplay. Remind me, how much did The Order retail for again.....
@get2sammyb I dont see an issue.
Did they actually state they wouldnt have a season pass?
I have only read the article specifically regarding small DLC, which these certainly are not.
Nobody is losing out on ANY of the aforementioned free DLC, with or without the pass.
If the developer chooses to have a season pass on top of a load of free stuff, which they could have charged for to begin with, why is that a major concern?
My point is, unless anyone directly loses out, which at present is simply not the case, why is it such a horrific thing to announce?
CDPR always said that smaller pieces of dlc should be free whereas the bigger story driven dlc that takes time and money to create would have a price. I think its great that not only are they giving us 16 pieces of dlc for free but they're also going to be working on much larger dlc which gives us more time in the Witcher universe. They did say that they would only charge us for dlc if they thought it was worth the money. If it was any other studio we wouldn't be getting anything for free let alone 16 pieces.
You don't have to purchase the paid dlc and unlike Destiny if you choose to avoid it you won't be locked out of content you previously had access to.
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