Epic’s Capps: some devs want to make game endings DLC… say what?
You know how we reported before that some developers are fighting video game rentals and second hand sales by offering DLC to only new copies of the game? Well take that idea to the extreme. Epic Games‘ Michael Capps says that some developers are talking about making game endings DLC. If you didn’t buy the game direct from retail, you’ll have to pay extra to download the ending.
WTF. Seriously.
Thanks to PacoDG for the tip!
You know how we reported before that some developers are fighting video game rentals and second hand sales by offering DLC to only new copies of the game? (The list includes Gears of War 2.)
Well take that idea to the extreme.
Epic Games president Michael Capps says that some developers are talking about making game endings DLC. Meaning if you didn’t buy the game direct from retail, you’ll have to pay extra to download the ending. Here’s his own words on it, when asked how he saw DLC evolving in the next few years:
I’m not sure how big it is here [in Europe], but the secondary market is a huge issue in the United States. Our primary retailer makes the majority of its money off of secondary sales, and so you’re starting to see games taking proactive steps toward that by… if you buy the retail version you get the unlock code.
I’ve talked to some developers who are saying “If you want to fight the final boss you go online and pay USD 20, but if you bought the retail version you got it for free”.
We don’t make any money when someone rents it, and we don’t make any money when someone buys it used – way more than twice as many people played Gears than bought it…
This is a bad idea. WTF. Seriously. I get that devs want to make as much money as possible from game sales, but if they’re seriously considering this as an option to make gamers cough up the cash, it’s a sad, sad day for gaming. Not to mention there are poor saps who don’t even have Internet.
Thanks to PacoDG for the tip!
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