Home Gaming DLC passes can be “really dangerous” for multiplayer, says Xbox’s Major Nelson

DLC passes can be “really dangerous” for multiplayer, says Xbox’s Major Nelson

2 min read
21

LEMME-SHOW-YA-SOME-DLC

Season passes can be annoying sometimes. There’s that FOMO feeling that you’re being cut out on some swell content that could have otherwise made it into the final game. In fact, getting a season pass that actually delivers properly-good post-game content is rarer than a good analogy to end this sentence with.

It can be especially irritating with multiplayer-centric titles, as an evening of frivolity and gentlemanly sport that will in no way whatsoever include slurs at your mom can be broken up when your pal doesn’t have the latest maps to be murdered on. And that’s something that Xbox’s Major Nelson agrees on. DLC passes can be “really dangerous when it comes to multiplayer, because what happens is it fractures the community,” Microsoft’s Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb said in the latest Podcast Unlocked episode.

‘You have the maps, I don’t have the maps, I didn’t buy that map but you bought that map,’ so when we all get together, ‘Oh, you couldn’t play the map.’

Hyrb thinks that 343 Industries nailed the formula for Halo 5: Guardians, by giving away maps every month and supplementing these costs by including microtransactions in the form of Requisition Packs. “So what 343 has done, which I think is rather brilliant, is that everybody gets the maps,” Hryb said.

But they’re going to make things up with the [microtransaction] Req packs. That’s how they’re having some additional revenue, I assume, on the side. It’s such a great way to execute it and keep the fans together.

And he might have a point. Those Requisition Packs have actually been pretty popular within the Halo 5: Guardians community, having made more than $1.5 million in revenue since last year’s launch. That’s nothing to scoff at, and due to the fact that they also purchasable with the in-game economy, there’s a decent balance there for casual and hardcore players to make optional use of them.

As for 343 Industries and their decision to toss maps at players for free, studio head Josh Holmes said that this was done to prevent the community being split down the middle into “haves and have-nots,” something that he mentioned last year to Game Informer. “When you have paid map packs and content, you divide the player base into two groups: the haves and have-nots,” Holmes said.

The people that have the map pack can play together but the people who don’t cannot. That to us is a real problem. So we’re delivering all the maps to all players free so everybody will be able to play together. That, we feel, is really important to having a great multiplayer ecosystem.

There’s a lot of new content hitting Halo 5: Guardians next week with the Hammer Storm expansion. That DLC will throw in a new map called Torque, Grifball and lots of new Requisition Packs.

Last Updated: February 26, 2016

21 Comments

  1. “DLC is bad!..but not the DLC and Microtransactions in the games on our system. Nope.”
    DJ Nelson’s spinning game is on point.
    http://dl.glitter-graphics.com/pub/1112/1112882qmgqa9ubnz.gif

    Reply

    • Pieter Kruger

      February 26, 2016 at 09:25

      So you prefer the season pass, paid for with real world money model? I love Battlefield and will most probably get the season pass with BF5, but I must admit I would’ve loved it if I could get all the Maps for free and still be given the option to pay for micro transactions with in game currency….but that’s jus me! ????

      Reply

      • Umar

        February 26, 2016 at 09:26

        I prefer none of it…At all. I wish Microtransactions never existed.

        Reply

        • Captain JJ the "saviour"

          February 26, 2016 at 09:27

          agreed

          Reply

        • Pieter Kruger

          February 26, 2016 at 09:28

          I hear you, but all I’m saying is that this actually sounds like a very good alternative model as I don’t see micro transactions and DLC becoming obsolete in the near future. Maybe I’m wrong and this whole thing blows up in their faces, who knows?

          Reply

          • Umar

            February 26, 2016 at 09:31

            I know…Free maps are cool, and the ability to purchase packs with in-game currency is good, but MT’s will always skew the balance, making it much more enticing to use real money, but I hear ya. It’s not a HORRIBLE system.

          • Captain JJ the "saviour"

            February 26, 2016 at 09:38

            They added the Pagani Zonda on The Crew, only purchasable with real money (typical Ubi).
            Then people went aapkak about (obviously – Ubi idiota)
            Then two weeks later they made it purchasable with in-game money also.

      • Hammersteyn

        February 26, 2016 at 09:27

        No one wants that shit, Most season passes and DLC is a cancer

        Reply

        • Captain JJ the "saviour"

          February 26, 2016 at 09:28

          Except for Witcher free DLC! 😀

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            February 26, 2016 at 09:44

            It wasn’t free, you had to buy the game first. ;P

          • Captain JJ the "saviour"

            February 26, 2016 at 09:49

            They always get you!

        • Pieter Kruger

          February 26, 2016 at 09:58

          Luckily the Taken King was a stand alone game right…?????????????

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            February 26, 2016 at 10:09

            I said MOST

      • oVg

        February 26, 2016 at 09:27

        Like Street Fighter V, It breaks the record for the most expensive season pass.

        Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        February 26, 2016 at 09:39

        In-game currency is the biggest rip-off in gaming. You spend real money to buy fake money to buy virtual trinkets. Just take a look at those stupid Bioware points. Everything ME-related has been discounted because of age… except DLC bought with… BIOWARE POINTS!

        Reply

        • Pieter Kruger

          February 26, 2016 at 09:55

          If the game itself lends to it and it’s implementation is fair I don’t mind grinding for in game currency. I loved World Of Tanks and spent 100’s of enjoyable hours playing it. The tier based matchmaking was fair but once you get to the higher tiers you get bogged down by too expensive repairs etc. and you actually start losing money “forcing” you to buy currency to advance….that’s probably why the creator is the gaming industries’ latest billionaire…..????

          Reply

  2. oVg

    February 26, 2016 at 09:14

    Its a clever work model. All designed to make your friends jealous so they all jump on board like blind lemmings. I want the Golden Spartan armour so I can play on your map WAAAAAAA!!!!!!

    TRANSACTION ACCEPTED

    WIN

    Reply

    • Captain JJ the "saviour"

      February 26, 2016 at 09:19

      That’s what happens in games like Marvel Online (which isn’t really a very exciting game).
      But you can only choose one of a few heroes, the rest you have to buy.
      So when a guy comes past you as Iron Man in his Hulkbuster suit and you have the daredevil from the Ben Affleck movie then you feel a bit sour.

      Reply

      • oVg

        February 26, 2016 at 09:26

        Good

        Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      February 26, 2016 at 13:53

      Unfortunately for them, we’re old cynical bastards who rarely part with our money! HA!

      Reply

  3. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    February 26, 2016 at 13:52

    Oh Major Nelson… You’re like the really old guy on the dance floor at a sokkie.

    http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110525171519/glee/images/8/8b/SIMON-COWELL-HAPPY-GIF.gif

    Reply

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