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Ken Levine Addresses Status Of Bioshock Infinite DLC

by Mike Futter on June 26, 2013 at 10:19 AM

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We've been fielding questions from readers wondering what's going on with the Bioshock Infinite DLC. Fans, especially those that pre-purchased the season pass and are waiting for their investment to pay off.

Today on Twitter, Ken Levine commented on the status of the additional content.

DLC Update: We are working on it- have been since the game shipped. Things are going well, but plz understand: game development takes time.
— Ken Levine (@IGLevine) June 26, 2013

Complaints about the long gap between retail release and DLC availability are interesting because we've been seeing frustration about exactly the opposite. Gamers have been left feeling abused by content that arrives day and date with the core experience. On-disc material, simultaneously developed with the retail product and unlocked with a code has drawn fire this generation, as consumers claim that publishers are holding back material already in-hand to sell back later.

So, we put it to you? Where is the sweet spot? How far out from a retail release should DLC be made available?

Comments

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by The Duchess Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:28 AM

Not so soon that it feels like it was content that should be on the disc and charged for, but not so long that we've beat the game once or twice and have shelved it to play something else.

There's a sweet spot, but it depends on the game. Bioshock is great, but it can be beaten relatively quickly. In Bioshock's case, a month after would have been perfect. It's been 3 months now with no update.
by Brittany Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:29 AM

I would be fine with no DLC. I love Bioshock Infinite, but I can do with or without DLC for this game.
by Number3 Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:31 AM

I don't mind waiting for the DLC, but some kind of info would be nice.
by Mike Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:33 AM

Sorry Ken but I already sold my copy of Infinite, as well as my 360 for that matter.
by Downside Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:33 AM

I forgot the game even had DLC.
by awwnuts07 Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:34 AM

No one's ever happy. It's either:

"OMG!!! This DLC came out too soon, why wasn't this included with the game!"

or

"OMG!!! DLC is taking too long to come out!!"

lol
by Okay_at_Destiny Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:35 AM

Can't wait to see what the DLC is. Here's to hoping it's mostly, if not completely, an expansion of the story and not a lot of new skins. Some new weapons/upgrades or another level or two would be nice imo.
by archemires Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:35 AM

I don't get it, what will DLC add to this game exactly?
by Algorhythm Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:36 AM

I think just short of 90 days is reasonable. Longer than that and you're in a different season. I have to admit, that would be a hard thing it gauge...glad it's not my problem.
by Rebekah Lang Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:38 AM

the date is arbitrary. if the dlc is quality, i don't care when it drops. i will gladly wait as long as irrational needs if it means the dlc will be of better quality, depth, and breadth.

so a great big thank you to ken levine for taking his time and not letting all the impatient folks get to him. no one was forced to buy the season pass in the first place.
by Skyhawk Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:39 AM

Between 1 and 3 months is the time my interest stays with one game so anywhere in that period is perfect
by ETERNAL SHADDAI Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:41 AM

To be honest. I know that making games takes time but since we are waiting so long for the DLC to come out and now he is writing a movie so it better be worth it
by ØFF THE WaLL Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:42 AM

It sure does take time!
by TMac53 Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:43 AM

Since they are having several batches of DLC the first one should have come out at least sometime after the first month, like sometime in May.
by The Man of Contradictions Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:43 AM

Am I the only one who laughed when reading the Season Pass guarantee that all the dlc would be out in a year from the games release, knowing how meticulous Irrational is with their content? For goodness sake look at how many delays Infinite had and then expecting them to serve dlc like a short line cook.
by dimension_11 Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:46 AM

It doesn't matter to me how long it takes the DLC to be released, as long as the content good. In the case of Infinite, I am glad to see Irrational taking their time to make a good, story-based DLC. You definitely cannot rush a DLC (or a game) and expect it to be good, and Irrational knows this better than anyone. So honestly, I'm okay with waiting another 2-3 months for the DLC to be released, as long as it's worth the wait in the end.
by Tiger_Drummer Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:47 AM

I think the sweet spot is whenever the developer thinks it's ready to be released.
by Companion Cube Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:48 AM

I'm fine with the wait. It shows they didn't start until the game was done
by adrcaniii Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:48 AM

It depends on the game. If it is a game that you will invest a large amount of time in, for example Skyrim, dlc could come out half a year later and still feel fresh. At the other end of the spectrum, games like COD or BF have to release dlc within the first few months of release and continuously afterwards in order for it to feel relevant and to keep the attention of the gamers playing said games.
by PGZ4sheezy Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:51 AM

Two weeks minimum, six weeks maximum, just for the first DLC of course. Subsequent DLC should be at least a couple weeks apart as well. Enough time for people to experience the entire core game, absorb it's message, reflect, and realize they want more. Not long enough that the game begins to fade from their minds or for them to realize that its been too long since they last had something new to do in the game and become impatient. Under two weeks means that the DLC was practically ready to go and could've been released with the game for everyone to experience, or it was rushed and is not as of high quality as paying gamers would expect.

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Ken Levine Addresses Status Of Bioshock Infinite DLC

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