Like It Or Not, DLC and Microtransactions Are Here To Stay

In a not so distant past, when you purchased a video game, you purchased the whole game.  DLCs were rare and usually one off map packs for a quick 10 bucks that came out many months after the original game was released.  Over the years, those DLCs packs came more often and closer together.  There were even some instances of DLC being locked behind a paywall on the original retail disc that you paid FULL PRICE for.  Even as gamers across the internet seem to loathe paid DLC and microtransactions, we keep paying for it.  However, there are times when game publishers do go too far with microtransactions and the internet has let them know about it.

We’ve recently seen the outrage at the Battlefront 2 fiasco that caused EA to shut down the paid microtransactions in the game.  The gaming community flooded social media and Reddit with thousands of negative posts, saying the company is unfairly compelling consumers to spend more money for content that should be part of the initial $60 game price.  One Reddit user calculated it could take over 2000 hours to unlock one hero.  EA’s response to this outrage on became the most downvoted comment in Reddit history.

When done correctly however, microtransactions and DLC seem to be considered fair enough to justify buying it.  Here is some of the NPD group’s latest findings about DLC and microtransactions.

• 28% of the US population have purchased additional content online in the past 3 months
• Of thouse who spend real money to purchase virtual currency, 37% did so to have fun and 8% did it to have time.
• Expansion packs were the most popular form of DLC accounting for 55% of purchases.
• The top microtransaction purchases were weapons/tools (31%) followed by powerups (28%)
• There is no surprise that males and teens are the top purchasers of additional content.
• The average amount spent on DLC in the past 3 months was $53.  For those of us who are “heavy gamers” (10+ hours per week), spending rose to $64.

We have gotten to the point where we as gamers are expecting more out of games after we buy them to lengthen their life span.  We want to expand and enhance our experience of the games that we love.  DLC and microtransactions give us access to multiple storylines, cool looking skins, and valuable tools or boosts to take our enjoyment to the next level.  When done correctly, such as allowing all items to be purchased with in game currency as well as real dollars, they personally enhance my gameplay as it gives me a carrot on a stick to chase.  I feel games like Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm are good examples of microtransactions done correctly.  It is all cosmetic, it rewards me for playing the game, and I don’t have to play for an exorbitant amount of time in order to unlock new items.

What games do you find do DLC and microtransactions correctly?  Incorrectly?  Leave a comment and let me know.