Witcher 3 Dev Doesn't Believe in Paid DLC

[Steven Bogos]

Witcher 3 Dev Doesn't Believe in Paid DLC

The Witcher 3's game director believes patches, fixes and additional content should be provided free of charge.

CD Projekt Red, the team behind the Witcher series, are no strangers to Examiner [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/115535-Witcher-2-Enhanced-Edition-Hits-360-and-PC-in-April], The Witcher 3 game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz shared the company's philosophy on providing extra content for its games. "We could sell extra content to gamers 'down the road,'" he said, "but we don't believe in that."

"We believe patches, fixes and additional content should be provided to gamers free of charge. Only something really big, and something that will not make you feel ripped off, justifies a price tag."

It should be noted that Tomaszkiewicz doesn't completely rule out the possibility of paid content for The Witcher 3, but stresses that "If we ever decide to charge you for something, we think you will appreciate what you get in return." Considering that The Witcher 2 received over 10 gigs of free content, it would have to be something absolutely massive to justify being charged for it!

Tomaszkiewicz's words offer hope in this world of "nickle-and-dime" DLC, where $15 map packs and $10 alternate costume packs run rampant. Both The Witcher and The Witcher 2 received a very extensive amount of free post-launch support, receiving "Enhanced Editions," which added hours of gampeplay and dozens of new quests and animations, released as free updates for existing customers. The Witcher 2 Combat Mod [<a href=] was released (for free) earlier this year, despite The Witcher 2 being released back in 2011.

Needless to say, you can probably stop holding your breath for pay-to-win microtransactions [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/121640-EA-Brings-Microtransactions-to-Dead-Space-3] in The Witcher 3.

Source: The Examiner [http://www.examiner.com/article/witcher-3-devs-don-t-believe-selling-extra-content]

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[Fappy]

There is never a bit of news that comes out of this studio that I don't like. These guys are awesome.

 

[Falterfire]

Good for them. I agree that patches/fixes should be free and I'm not going to complain about a company that is willing to give me more content for free.

That said, I have absolutely no problems with a company releasing paid DLC, provided it doesn't unbalance the multiplayer and isn't necessary to have a complete game. I don't even have a problem with Horse Armor type DLC - I can always choose not to buy it.

 

[Mister K]

It is quite sad that the company, that treats its customers good is the same company, whose games I am really not interested in. Lets hope that Cyberpunk will change it.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

They are an awesome developer. If its only minor DLC like a few side missions, monsters or clothes. Then thats good free stuff to have. But if they make a huge questline line which can add a few hours of content then i would have no problem paying for that. Just make it a few pounds/dollars and you will make extra cash for your hard work. Problem with DLC is that companies can charge a price that is way more than what the content is worth. Like horse armor was a rip off, but if they sold it for 50p then it would be a fun addition.

 

[NWJ94]

These guys feel like the alternate universe version of EA. Every time they open their mouth I smile instead of grimacing.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

I kind of agree with them. Micro DLC is usually not worth the asking price. Costumes and weapons and that stuff is just worthless.

But extra content is definitely something they could get away with selling, as long as they price it fairly. That Enhanced Edition for TW2 for example I would have been happy to pay an extra £5 or so to upgrade.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

Microtransactions are just annoying, decent, well-thought out DLC can be cool, Bethesda usually do quite well with those.

The only problem I have is it's so long between DLCs that I've forgotten some of the core mechanics when I pick up the DLC.

 

[Freakazoid]

This game is the anti-Saints Row(in terms of DLC).
Quite possibly my favourite developers and I have no doubt(from what I've seen) that the Witcher 3 will set the benchmark for next-gen RPGs.

 

[Irridium]

Kind of funny how this news and this video [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/7811-Fee-to-Pay] come out on the same day

Buy yeah, CD Projekt Red. Good people. Also a sister company to GoG, which is totally awesome.

<3 them both.

 

[spartandude]

while i dont think that we shouldnt pay for additional content (providing what we revieve on day 1 is content complete, and doesnt include things like micro transactions) but i do want to give this man a hug

why cant others in this industry look at these guys and figure out how to get good PR

 

[Rossmallo]

*claps*

This is the sort of thing that makes me think - no, KNOW - there is still hope for the industry yet. Well done, lads.

 

[Doom972]

This is how this industry used to be, and I miss it. Definitely getting Witcher 3 on day one. Maybe other publishers/developers will get the message.

 

[Tinybear]

I personally did not like The Witcher very much, but I still bought the second one while it was on sale just because these guys are so damn nice. They're also the guys behind GOG.com

 

[hutchy27]

I personally did not like The Witcher very much, but I still bought the second one while it was on sale just because these guys are so damn nice. They're also the guys behind GOG.com

They are?! Why are these people so nice, feel bad for not picking up the Witcher 2 when it was on sale now, I was tempted but I heard it's a really big download plus my slow download speed so I gave it a miss.

 

[Azaraxzealot]

All developers and publishers should just think this way in the first place. it's sad we need this kind of clarification in our current industry...

and yet people pile on the love for the developer for saying obvious things, that's like applauding someone who simply says "I don't eat babies."

 

[Erttheking]

*Sigh* Ok, back to powering my way through the first Witcher. It is a LOOOOOOOOONG game.

Seriously though guys, good job. Also please give Wild Hunt a mac port PLEASE! I've got the first two games on my mac, and I'm gonna need a mac port to continue with my save data.

 

[viranimus]

I love CD Projekt & GOG. But even with all the right with this such as "patches, fixes and additional content should be provided free of charge" I do have to disagree because while yes patches and fixes SHOULD be free, and free additional content is great, There is definitely room for paid additional content as well.

CD projekt could have definitely benefitted in its early days by using the original Witcher tools and assets and quickly turned out a fully fleshed out content expansion that would have helped give them budget breathing room in that long winter of 2007- 2011 while Witcher 2 was being developed. Honestly I think many fans would have relished such a side diversion that could have popped out say late 2008 or so and helped to have renewed interest in the franchise while waiting for the next installment.

There is no harm in building additional content for the point of a profit. There is nothing wrong with maximizing the usage obtained out of a set of tools and assets. As long as it is done logically, and practically in such a way that entices customers to purchase the content without mandating it, creating expectations of "need" to purchase or behaving in a generally underhanded, sleazy and shady manner. Some companies do it, most do not and we end up with abominations like Final Fantasy 13-3 which is two sequels more than there needed to be and essentially undercuts the primary installment, or FPS "season passes" that tell you that a game is expected to run for a year before the new installment is released and there WILL be a guarantee of multiple DLCs that every moment you do NOT have access to this content is another less minute you have access to the timeframe in which this content is actually relevant.

Again, Love GOG. Love CDProjekt. Love most of their philosophies. However I have seen that sometimes they bite their nose to spite their face, and other times they try to push toward more profitable concepts that skirt hurting their philosophical positions.

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

It's great in what they believe and I believe in it too but I can't help but feel that we shouldn't keep these guys as the no.1 devs to look up to because we should all know by now that if anything ever happens at all in gaming history it's going to be tacked as "Why can't these guys be like the Amazing (subjective) CD Projekt Red" and then we'll keep on comparing everything to them till a new "rule of thumb" (made by some of you not everyone and not absolute, hence subjective) appears and the cycle repeats.

I like these guys I really do but I haven't bought a game of theirs due to lack of interest but I can respect what they do but I will not treat them as the cookie cutter rule of thumb that everyone should be because if others don't comply then they will suddenly be seen as the bad people when they really aren't.