Free DLC and Why it Happens

Free content updates are getting less and less common over the years. Some developers still see the benefit in keeping players hooked through free content but many more feel that paid DLC is the best way to support their games. This is completely understandable right? I mean labour isn't free and neither is bandwidth. So why do developers release content for free?

[sungam3d]

DLCs
The downfall of gaming.

[LoaMcLoa]

I'm fine with free multiplayer DLC (Works great in TF2, Dota 2 and L4D2) but when it comes to story DLC, I'm against it. Most of the time it's just a small, unnecessary backstory that no-one really cares about. One example would be the upcoming The Last of US DLC.

I'm sure it will be great and all but why not include it as a flashback in the game? Instead we have to buy something that could be important to the story. Imagine if you watched a movie and had to pay just to watch 15 minutes of an important part of the movie.

[SamPao]

The Last Of Us Dlc feels more like an Addon thats not a bad thing.

On top of that, did you find the story lacking something? Because if not then how could it possibly lack something just because you now know that there is more to the story?
do you think Lord of the rings is lacking something just because you didnt watch The Hobbit first?

[Jovanian]

All DLC should be free unless it is significant enough to be considered an expansion pack. Unfortunately too many people are content with forking out 15 dollars for the next greatest scam of the video game industry, season passes with chunks of DLC and tons of filler. You should be ashamed of yourself if you bought any of these season passes!

[Phoenix76]

Agree with you there. A work mate of mine has just paid out for bf4 prem pack on his xb1 and was going on about the second assault pack(4 maps from bf3),, shortly afterwards I saw a rumor that's started to get around that EA may end up giving it away for free due to all the f@&£ ups there has been. My mate is now considering asking for his money back if this is true