If I go to the steam page for a singleplayer game and see a bunch of paid DLC content, I usually skip it. Look at Stellaris, for example
Depends on how old the game is and how big the DLC is IMO. Rimworld, for instance, has quite a few DLCs now, but they are all well worth it if you like the base game. OTOH if a game just has cosmetic DLC or the DLC is coming out super near release that’s a red flag.
I’m of the opinion that Rimworld DLCs don’t actually improve the base game, they simply build an extra layer of isolated complexity ontop of the base game. I like the base game but I didn’t really enjoy the DLCs (at least not the first 2) because they didn’t actually expand the base game. They felt like mods I paid for.
At the very least, you can still pirate it and play cracked multiplayer with friends.
I made the mistake of buying the game year ago, and bought a bunch of DLC at 50% or greater sales, and now the sunken cost fallacy has taken hold on me, and I still want to buy more . . . . (at least I’m broke so I can’t right now hehehaha)
I feel the same about multiplayer games without gated progression and LAN server hosting. (Or local/splitscreen)
These days I can’t even play a multiplayer game with friends somewhere with shitty internet. And because of progression you have to force yourself to only play together, but never with different people or by yourself because then you will get ahead.
Complete games. They are called complete games.
Thing is, I’ve seen funbucks stuffed into various single player games over the years. The first was probably Mass Effect 3, but some of the Assassin’s Creed games have it too.
But who are they for? Who buys them? They’ve never really felt like anything that would be useful. It’s usually just some crappy cosmetics, or something you can get through normal play. It’s like they’ve been stuffed in at the request of management, but also like nobody has ever checked up on what they actually put in, or whether anybody bought it…
Who buys them?
- People who dont game buying a present who just go “oh deluxe version, not that much more expensive, lets treat them”
- wealthy people that just pick the priciest option
- people with completitionist tendencies
- streamers and wannabe streamers for whom the extra cost is a trivial operating expense
- children and others that dont understand the value of a dollar
- people whose primary draw to the game is the photomode
- “i like game, I want more game therefore I pay more” (yes this logic is terrible when applied to microtransactions)
I don’t buy single player games with other monetization. You want another $30 you add another 30 hours of good content.
CDPR get this, at least. Phantom Liberty, Hearts of Stone, Blood and Wine. All well worth it.
I love the game, but I’d like to point out that baldur’s gate 3 does have a single microtransaction, it gives you a custom dice skin, a tie in item from divinity original sin and a bunch of low level potions. It costs 12CAD.
Spider-Man 1, 2, Miles Morales & Dragonage: Veilguard also deserve to be mentioned. I’ll buy a game on launch at full price if it’s not loaded down with bullshit or shoving the rest of the game behind a paywall. Otherwise I’ll just be a patient gamer and get it in a few years cheaper and patched up.
There’s a difference between a game made with passion and a game by EA/Ubisoft.
Nice, now release Judas >:(
Yup I do not buy single player games that have monitizacion, indiana jones game was so far game of the year for me
What about games like Fortnite? Are they rewarded?
I would say its less that they’re “rewarded” and more like they’re turning every customer upside down and shaking them until the money falls out
Hell yeah! Give us more of that!
