Sony VP Rob Dyer has stated that he would like to stop using DLC and instead offer all of a games content via the initial disk.
Dyer stated that if content were on the disk to start then “100 percent of the users are going to get it. 100 percent. What are we, north of 70 percent on the network now? 73, I think. Microsoft probably the same…”
He added, “[That’s] still a significant number of people that aren’t able to get it, whether they don’t have broadband, whether they just flat out can’t get on the network. Whether or not you do it, they’re not using it. I want it on the disc, that way when they buy it, they get it.”
This concept is most likely only meant to apply to day one DLC. If it were to be that Sony tried to phase out all DLC then it would simply be a loss instead of a way to get the most content to the most people.
Dyer also touches on the fact that many people see DLC as a way to stop piracy and used game sales.
“I’m all about that, too. I love that,” said Dyer. “But I want it on the disc so that 100 percent out there can play this thing.”
He then discussed how DLC is used to aid pre-orders for specific outlets.
“What has now happened is that you go to a publisher or developer and say, ‘Look, guys. You got to start planning things in like pre-sale. What’s your pre-sale DLC? What are you going to do for the Amazons, the GameStops, or whoever has that presale?’…So, you have to literally plan this in your [pre-production] in order to make sure you have the time, the assets, the resources because it’s not just about used games; it’s about, ‘How do I get more pre-sale business, which absolutely determines my day-one initial orders. Am I going to get support from a first-party? How am I going to do that?'”
It is interesting that this far in to the current generation, there are people arguing against DLC. 12 years ago, it would have been unheard of for a gamer to buy a game and not receive all the content on day one.
Ideally, if Dyer had his way then DLC simply would cease until a larger majority of consumers had access to faster internet connections. This would indeed benefit gamers in the sense that they would no longer have to pay for content post-release; however, this would also mean that less content for games would be created in the long run.
Dyer’s concerns are ultimately just a culminated rehash of the pros and cons of DLC. These have been argued over since the first implementation of the content form. It remains unlikely that DLC will disappear any time soon. Gamers should just hope that Dyer’s state of mind on the issue means we will never see another implementation of horse armor on any PlayStation game (Is that joke even funny any more…or has someone beaten that horse to death?! Oh God).
