Downloadable content

Downloadable Content (DLC) is a form of digital media distributed through the internet.

The phrase is used to refer specifically to content created for computer and videogames that is released separately from the main videogame release. "Downloadable Content", however, has sometimes been used to refer to any type of digital entertainment media distributed online.

History

On personal computers

As the popularity and speed of internet connections rose, so did the popularity of using the internet for digital distribution of media. User-created game mods and maps were distributed exclusively online, as they were mainly created by people without the infrastructure capable of distributing the content through physical media.

On consoles

File:Halo2downloader.png

The Halo 2 Downloader, featuring its first four downloadable map packs

The Dreamcast was the first console to feature online support as a standard, DLC was available, though limited in size due to the narrowband connection and the size limitations of a memory card. These online features were largely considered a failure, and the Dreamcast's immediate competitors, the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube did not ship with built-in network adapters.

With the advent of the Xbox, Microsoft was the first company to successfully implement downloadable content. Many original Xbox Live titles, including Splinter Cell, Halo 2, and Ninja Gaiden, offered varying amounts of extra content, available for download through the Xbox Live service. Most of this content, with the notable exception of Microsoft-published titles, was available for free.

With the Xbox 360, Microsoft integrated Downloadable Content more fully into their console, devoting an entire section of the console's user interface to the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Sony adopted much of the Xbox 360's Marketplace into their downloadable hub, the PlayStation Store. With Gran Turismo HD, Sony planned an entirely barebones title, with the idea of requiring the bulk of the content to be purchased separately in many separate microtransations online. The project was later cancelled.

Nintendo has yet to feature downloadable content on their Wii Shop Channel, making them the only major console manufacturer to offer no support for Downloadable Content.

Criticism

Since Microsoft popularized the business model of microtransactions, many people have criticized downloadable content as being too expensive, overpriced, and an incentive for developers to leave items out of the initial release. Some criticism stems from the fact that many of the items sold on sites like Xbox Live Marketplace are not downloadable content at all, but are instead keys used to unlock content already on the game disk, people feel as if they are paying to unlock content they already purchased when they bought the game itself.

Criticism of Microsoft

Microsoft has been especially the brunt of criticism regarding Downloadable Content. Microsoft was the first to introduce downloadable content to consoles with the Xbox. Microsoft has since then been known to force developers to release their content at a charge, when the developers would rather release their content for free. Some content has even been withheld from release because the developer refused to charge the amount Microsoft required. Epic Games, a developer known for their continual support of their older titles with downloadable maps and updates, believed that releasing free downloadable content over the course of a game's lifetime helped increase sales throughout, and had succeeded well with that business-model in the past, but was forced to implement Microsoft's strategy of limited-time fee-based downloads when releasing content for their Microsoft-publish IP, Gears of War.