The Witcher 2 DLC Won't Cost You a Dime, But Expansion Packs Will -- Er, What's the Difference?

In an era of constant downloadable content, the difference is murky. So we asked.

By Patrick Klepek | May 17, 2011

What is downloadable content, anyway? These days, the term is ridiculously broad. Clothes, interface themes, trailers, new quests, additional worlds--it's impossible to tell, covering basically everything.

So when CD Projekt announced during a fan question-and-answer session on GameStop's Facebook page that all downloadable content for The Witcher 2 would be free and the developer would only charge for "expansion packs," I had to dig a little deeper.

In this case, the free downlodable content will encompass shorter and smaller additions, including "half-hour side quests, etc," according to a company spokesperson.

The first piece of free content available is an additional quest called "Troll Trouble," said to include as much as "90 minutes" of additional gameplay. Bigger pieces of content would move into "expansion pack" territory, harkening to when "expansion pack" meant hours of content and often a retail product.

"The implication is that if we’re going to go ahead and charge for something, it’ll be significant content akin to the expansion packs of yesteryear," the spokesperson continued.

(I'll also take this opportunity to ask CD Project to pleasepleaseplease release this on a console.)

84 Comments

PhatSeeJayon May 17, 2011 at 11:33 a.m.

Expansion packs are good value for your buck. That's the difference.

Only DLC's that can be seen as Expansions in my eyes are DLCs like Undead Nightmare.

RYNO9881on May 17, 2011 at 11:33 a.m.

cool

AWWW so close

anyways, still downloading the witcher, it's taking forever.

altairreon May 17, 2011 at 11:36 a.m.

CD Projekt is fucking awesome! Love those guys and what they´re doing.

Vorbison May 17, 2011 at 11:37 a.m.

I miss expansionpacks.

Scooperon May 17, 2011 at 11:37 a.m.

This is the model I wish more developers would use. Give us cool bonuses for continuing to play your game but don't be afraid to charge for expansion packs that really give huge amounts of content. That's an honest and fair way for both consumer and developer, I think.

Vitor is online on May 17, 2011 at 11:40 a.m.

How very Valve of them. Very much approve.

Game's great so far although optimisation could use a little work judging by how many people on the official GOG forums are having issues. Can see why they originally cancelled the console versions - seemed to struggle a little with the engine.

Still, even so, game is breathtakingly beautiful at times, even if the FPS gets a little choppy for me.

Rayethon May 17, 2011 at 11:41 a.m.

I hope they never release it on a console. There are too many restrictions on the mature content and they would have to compromise on the visuals.

I am perfectly happy this is on PC only. I hope it stays that way.

SaturdayNightSpecialson May 17, 2011 at 11:41 a.m.

I don't understand what the confusion is over this. Maybe if you're 10 and don't remember what expansion packs are, but I think everyone else gets the distinction. Point Lookout is DLC, Shivering Isles is an expansion pack.

Rhaknaron May 17, 2011 at 11:42 a.m.

having just played Dragon Age Ultimate Edition (had already played DA and Awakening on 360 but not the dlc packs), this would be a perfect example of what CD Project Red is refering to, as all the small shitty dlc packs like witch hunt, golems and leilana's song would be free, and awakening would be paid. Of course thats not what happened with DA, hopefully they come through on Witcher 2

lackeon May 17, 2011 at 11:43 a.m.

@PhatSeeJay: That's only because DLC normally are overpriced. I have nothing against the concept of DLC because I am quite a fan of expansions.

Controon May 17, 2011 at 11:43 a.m.

God I love this game. The second Dragon Age has been vanquished.

edit:

The console version is definitely happening, those dudes need to make some serious money on this, especially after stuttering with RotWW.

PhatSeeJayon May 17, 2011 at 11:46 a.m.

@lacke: I never said I hated DLC. Just offered my reflection on what would be considered a DLC / Expansion pack. I have nothing against them either. It's more that an expansion pretty much provides a full game for half the price of the original game, while a DLC is usually just an hour of something added to the main game.

FritzDudeon May 17, 2011 at 11:46 a.m.

I hope other developers will learn from this.

WinterSnowblindon May 17, 2011 at 11:49 a.m.

DLC seemed like a great idea, when it was first introduced. It was supposed to be a way for developers to keep games constantly updated with smaller chunks of content, rather than waiting a year or two for a full expansion pack. It's a shame that the market managed to twist it into something so hated.. Hopefully we see more developers returning to proper expansion packs, I'm done with (paid) DLC.

leebmxon May 17, 2011 at 11:53 a.m.

@Rayeth said:

I hope they never release it on a console. There are too many restrictions on the mature content and they would have to compromise on the visuals.

I am perfectly happy this is on PC only. I hope it stays that way.

I don't know what your problem is with Witcher getting a console release. PC owners always complain about their experiences being diluted by being developed alongside consoles. However here you have the perfect scenario - you get your superior PC version first and then later on consoles get a port for you to sneer at.

Everyone's a winner.

Luck3ySe7enon May 17, 2011 at 11:55 a.m.

Hearing this almost makes me want to wait for an "ultimate edition" that has everything in the package. Thats what i did with the first Witcher... i should probably finish the first Witcher >.<

Cybexxon May 17, 2011 at 11:58 a.m.

Despite the wording this makes sense.

I played some Witcher 2 last night and I am totally blown away. I had not really seen any coverage on the game before I launched it and wow Skyrim has some serious hurdles to try and beat this for RPG of the year. So I would be happy to pay for an expansion pack's worth of content.

Undeadpoolon May 17, 2011 at 11:59 a.m.

No DRM, free DLC...I really, really hope those habitual pirates who complain about those things put their money where their mouth is and support this small developer who are putting an AWFUL lot of trust in their PC-only game.

xxNBxxon May 17, 2011 at 12:01 p.m.

@Luck3ySe7en: yes you probably should, do both, first finish Witcher 1 and wait to the "enhanced" version comes out. It will probably fix what ever bugs and other issues it will most likely have.

AhmadMetallicon May 17, 2011 at 12:02 p.m.

Get yourself a PC Patrick

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