Trend is to 'over-exploit' gamers, says Witcher dev

Sometimes I feel like CD Projekt says the right thing so often that I think they're just telling me what I want to hear so I'll buy their games. But then again, they can legitly say these things because they have actually stayed true to their words. Touché CD Projekt, touché...

Exploitation is such a popular word, especially with the anti-business people. Make content and do whatever you want with it, charge money or pay with advertisements, the market will decide if it is worth the price or not.

EA is *sprinting* towards the "free to play, pay to enjoy/win" model, and more and more of their games are plagued with the on-disc and day-one DLC. Ubisoft is doing the same with the "season pass," and Activision releases pricey on-disc map packs frequently.

As for a good RPG developer, I thought BioWare was that at a time, but then they sold out to the dudebros.

Don't do what BioWare did, CDProjekt, and I'll continue to buy your stuff and support your business. You seem to have the right idea, now how about you do what other developers failed to do: Stay true to your word.

Just buy their games - this is the best way to thank them. :)

See, Marcin gets it.  He knows the proper way to handle DLC.

CD Projekt hasn't been around long, but they're already becoming a big-name RPG developer.  Stuff like this news is part of the reason why.

I hate Day 1 DLC, on-disk DLC, "microtransactions"...all denying content unless you pony up a few more coins.  And I blame all you bastards who are encouraging them even more.  

Of course, I'm not against charging for significant content upgrades (see Dawnguard).

Once again CD Projekt Red demonstrates why it's quickly becoming my favorite developer.  They respect us gamers and understand what's fair in the commercial food chain.  What many developers don't get, but CD Projekt Red gets is that they know asking for $50-$60 dollars for a video game with a bunch of DRM, key passes, or some ridiculous DLC (see $15 for 1 or 2 maps on some FPSes) is insulting the very hand that feeds.  CD Projekt Red famously defied its publisher by offering a free patch that removed the DRM on Witcher 2.  That's ballsy.

I find F2P frustrating, because then you end up having to pay extra for "the full experience" or "to keep up." Micro-transactions in some cases are fine by me, if it's like WoWs pets & mounts or TSW's clothing that has no effect on actual gameplay. I feel no pressure to buy that stuff.DLC though is just ridiculous, the few times I've bought it I've been disappointed with the content so I don't anymore (I'll make an exception for Skyrim DLC, don't you let me down Bethesda). It's become an excuse to release unfinished games. Look at the Sims. By the time the third one came out, you got a game with damn near no content, unless you wanted to go to the trouble of customizing every single piece instead of actually playing with your Sims. It was the first Sims I actually payed for, and it will be the last.

The problem, as I see it, is that developers now hold back on content to charge more later on. When DLC first started coming out, it was to add to the experience, almost as a reward for the gamers. Now that developers can see green coming in, they hold back when the game first comes out; they make incomplete games. It's become less about the gamers and more about the money. Kudos to companies like CD Projeckt Red for not giving into temptation and keeping their integrity.

I am  not against free stuff and never will be. I don not think all the hate towards downloadable content is justified though. I only pay for the stuff that I feel is worth it. If they are going to spend time making more material then why not charge for it? It is not like people are forced to buy the stuff. Do not by what you do not want. Most of the stuff I buy is around ten or 15 bucks. This is hardly a huge sum for some one who has a job. Personally I like the option of purchasing more content for a game that I want to keep playing. This seems to be blown out of proportion to me.

God bless you CD Projekt Red.   You the hero Gotham deserves AND needs. 

I've already started my plan on ceasing support of crappy developers/publishers.  I've  sworn off Bioware/EA months ago and I'm pretty sure I've stuck to it so far.  If customers would only have the spine to vote with their wallet and not spend indiscriminately, then maybe all this DLC bullcrap can stop. 

I totally agree, I did buy the first 3 dlc for Dragon Dogma then I've stopped since I was feeling cheated by the publisher, the content offered wasn't great and far too many.

If CDPR says it, it's probably the truth. The Dev has done nothing but give to the PC community, free updates, free enhanced editions. CDPR has earned my respect and my continued support, I look forward to their new projects and hope this developer is around for years to come.

I'm one of those folks who trust CD Projekt Red thanks to the way they go about their work. Top class games, enhanced for free!

I feel like these responses that are defending 15 dollar DLC are kids that don't understand how money works and just want to throw it out the window.

I totally agree and can't believe that ppl are responding negatively to this.... Does anyone remember Unreal Tournament?  Before DLC was called DLC they released official map pack updates,  for FREE.  Team Fortress 2, even being a F2P model now, still releases major updates for free.  Sure you might have to craft something, but things like new maps are available for everyone right away.

I very much agree with this sentiment, as I'm feeling nickled and dimed to DEATH by DLCs.  It's actually one of the main reasons I don't buy a game, if there's a list of 5 or 10 DLC's to go with a game (Arkham City for example)  I'll just wait until they release a version with all the DLC included.  Or, just not buy it at all.  ME3 having day one DLC was one of the main reasons I will NEVER buy that game, or another Bioware or EA game again.

Deus Ex: HR is another great example.  I have a feeling that that 9 month extension was done so they could hack out Missing Link from the main game and rebalance it.  Which is really sad, b/c that part of the game, if it had been in the main game, would have made HR a much fuller, richer experience.... HR, as it is, doesn't hold a candle to the original game.  Plus, it made the level awful. I finished Missing Link in just under 6 hours.  Pitiful.  Really, 15 bucks for under 6 hours?  Glad I got it on a 75 percent off sale.... otherwise I wouldn't have even bought it!  

A stand alone DLC really takes away from the experience of the main game.  If I'm going to pay for a DLC, I want to have something new to do in the main game.  Bethesda's DLC is a great example, b/c their DLC adds to the main game, even if you have to travel to another area outside the main map, you can still get new weapons, items and XP to bring back to the main game

Major game makers are forgetting how us core gamers were raised... you pay for a game ONCE.  If you want to make an expansion, to add on to the original game, that's fine, but making a individual DLCs for costumes, or weapons, or planes (like in Ace Combat) etc etc etc.... just makes me want to go take a nap and not buy or play a game that has that much DLC...

Bravo CD Projekt, I applaud you for your bravery to say that while EA is stating the exact opposite.  I really wish the DLC craze would go away, I wish F2P would go away. What's sad, is that with the next gen of gaming, like with the UT4 engine, we are told that dev time will be cut in half.  You think they'll pass those savings on to us?  Nope.  They are setting us up, getting us used to paying out the nose b/c devs "have to work so hard."  Soon, they'll be making even MORE money and act like it was a few years ago still talking about massive dev costs, which will be a lie.  

Stop making so much crap (I'm looking at you Lollipop Chainsaw... did we really need that game to be made???), spend more time on what's good, and everyone will be happier.

I think this message has some truth to it....let me explain, I as one love a great game. I also remember playing games before the DLC rave became about. I for one think that as long as a true entire game was released that DLC is okay because it will not effect the games ability to unfold a story and give me closure after completing. But on the other hand it seems like the devs are tending to leave things out of certain games just so they can turn around and get more money....that to me is fair. I do not play golf but in  the case that I bought a 60 dollar tiger woods game for instance, If I only started with the driver club and had to unlock my putter, wedge, irons, and wood clubs I would be pi$$ed. Same thing if I only got 1 course and I could see 8 more on my screen but had to pay to unlock those....Games like Mortal Kombat for instance gave you the story line for the Kombatants and was fine as a entire game to me. The added skins and few Kombatants no big deal did not effect the story. As well as they re-released it with the Kompete Edition, which was fine with me as well as that is when I planned on getting that edition anyway, At least that was what I was hoping for. Mainly as long as they watch what they are doing with DLC and commit to making a true game first then worry about the DLC but we also know that most of these devs work the DLC into the game. All I can say is if the trends continue in a negative way. The devs that count on that DLC will all start to struggle just a little bit more....

I approve this message.

Free DLC basically means the DLC is bad. I don't think CD Projekt Red has enough industry experience to profess anything remotely universal for game publishers. I would never download a free dlc.

It's counterintuitive, but seems to work well for them. I certainly wouldn't have bought either game if I thought I had to pay another 20+ bucks on top of the base for all the DLC. I'm one of those word of mouth people he's talking about, and it's something that shouldn't be underestimated.

Visionary.

I completely agree with this. I only wish EA, Blizzard, and other companies would listen. The only company I think that comes close to CDProjektRed is Nintendo, it's only a shame that they don't have some better games coming out for the 3DS, Wii, or Wii U. I'm excited to see what CDProjektRed puts out next.

Completely agree with this.

great, great company i will buy whatever you put out just from the way you treat ur fans this should be the standard not the exception

I would have bought Tiger Woods if they didn't charge extra for every freaking course....my god what a cash grab that game is.

I dont mind paying 15 dollars to play the battlefield add ons... I get way more than 15 dollars worth the fun out of it. 

I can 15 dollars in 10 seconds at a bar... and that doesn't stay with you for more than a short night. 

this seems like such an obvious strategy, no matter the business.

Everyone says they hate EA but why are you still buying their games?!!!

Seriously, STOP BUYING THEIR GAMES!!!