Why You Should Rethink Buying a Season Pass

Matt Trovalli of Gamers Heroes writes:

The trend of Season Passes in the world of gaming is only becoming more standard. If you don't know what a season pass is, generally, they guarantee access to DLC (Downloadable Content) for whichever game the pass was purchased for. For example, Ubisoft recently released a Watch Dogs DLC that adds 3 missions and a few guns and player customization options. Now, this DLC is selling standalone for $6.99 without the season pass, or players who purchased the season pass for $19.99 get access to the DLC a week early and also get it "free". Free meaning they don't have to pay the additional $6.99 because they bought the season pass for $20. The trend of "Season Passes" is definitely something I wouldn't mind seeing an end to. Here's why I'm against the concept of a season pass and why you may want to think before you buy.

[ArchangelMike]

I agree that season passes are abit of a scam. I mean look at Battelfiled Premium. You're basically paying £100 for the full game. £60 for the original and £40 for premium.

However, with the industry getting high off DLC, I can't see the practice stopping anytime soon unfortunately. Especially as some games do offer very good DLC/Season Passes. Games like Bioshock Infinite and TLOU which offer extra episodes as well as other content I don't really have a problem with.

[Ghost_Nappa]

The full game is $60. Dlc maps are not part of the full game.

[admiralvic]

"The full game is $60. Dlc maps are not part of the full game."

I think Mike is doing the oh so tired and practically obligatory "its not the full game unless you buy everything, so you suckers are practically paying $100 for the 'full' experience" argument / post.

[guitarded77]

Some games have free DLC maps, making the DLC part of the 1 time purchase experience.

I can understand huge franchises like CoD, Halo and Battlefield doing it. They have a large enough player base that charging for maps doesn't tear the community apart, but too many niche, or fewer players are riding the DLC train.

I've only bought one season pass, and it was one of the earlier games to offer a season pass. Being early into the Season Pass thing, I expected all DLC to be included... I as well as many other gamers at the time didn't know that it just included certain DLC. So when they kept releasing costumes and skins and other things for an additional charge, I kinda felt like the season pass wasn't worth it.

I saved like $10 off buying all the map packs, but I really didn't play the game online enough for it to be worth my wild. I'm just not that into competitive MP. What does bother me is when they add a mode like co-op through DLC only, and don't include it in the core game. That's annoying. I'd like all game modes included with the $60 game I bought. If they want to add maps, costumes and skins with DLC, fine. Just don't take something that should be included (like a game mode) and make me pay for it separately. Most shooters include the campaign, competitive and co-op game modes on the disc, but recently, one of my favorite shooters decided to add co-op (my favorite mode) through paid DLC after I paid $60 for the game... pissed me off.

Sorry if I rambled... it's 6am and I've been up all night.

[admiralvic]

"I agree that season passes are abit of a scam. I mean look at Battelfiled Premium. You're basically paying £100 for the full game. £60 for the original and £40 for premium. "

I don't really get this math or really why people act like Season Passes are these separate entities. Season passes are, in the most literal of terms, nothing more than a bundle. Premium or not, if EA wants to charge £40 for a series of map packs, they're going to charge £40 for a series of map packs.

Naturally being that season passes are a bundle, they hold the same risks / rewards you would expect from a bundle. That is you're trading choice and options for a lower price and or some sort of bonus. Thats it and really season passes in a nutshell.

"Games like Bioshock Infinite and TLOU which offer extra episodes as well as other content I don't really have a problem with."

I'll probably get a bunch of disagrees for this, but how are extra episodes and such less problematic than map packs? Speaking for myself, I have less of a problem with map packs, since they don't feel necessary and are only important if you really enjoy multiplayer. Whats also great about map packs is that they release after a couple of months, which is usually enough time for them to make multiplayer feel fresh, even if you play the game every day. So even if you want to argue someone is paying "£100 for the full game," said person could still potentially squeeze 200+ hours out of it versus what, 30 max BioShock Infinite?

[ArchangelMike]

Admiralvic,

I hear what you're saying, and you are right that, bottom line no one forces a gamer to buy DLC. But the fact is that while a game is being made, more often than not, when it is "content complete" - that content then gets split up and sold separately as DLC. Heck most of the time the DLC gets announced before the game has even gone gold, just to prove the point. So yeah, essentially gamers are getting charged more for the "full game".

Why I sited Bioshock and TLOU is because the extra DLC content (the expansions) were made after the game had already gone gold. So they are true expansion packs in that sense, and were not just held back at the time the game went gold, so as to be sold separately.

My issues (and I think what the article is getting at) is not as much what the gamer chooses to buy at the consumer end; but the problem is that games are being sold 'piece by piece' to the gamer by the publishers.

Watchdogs is the best (worst?) example of this. There was so much DLC content for Watchdogs before it was even finished, and Ubisoft did not offer a single bundle that included all the different DLC. So the gamer doesn't really get to play the "full game" with all the 'content complete' missions - but only selected parts of the content complete game - depending on what version they chose to buy.

There is no doubt that in 6-8 months Ubisoft will release the 'Complete Edition' with all the DLC for another £60. It's a scam!

[ITPython]

I rarely ever buy DLC, never seems worth it. I think the last time I did buy DLC was back in my Killzone 2 days in 2009. Usually the only DLC I get is from promos/pre-order bonuses and whatnot.

I always find it amusing the people who buy these season passes, I'm guessing they are the very same people who buy the "Limited Editions" of games for some outlandish price.

[fenome]

I've never bought a season pass and never will, I'm not down with grab bags. I did get the Limited edition of Destiny though, because I'd rather spend money on physical things (unless it's a vacation).

I like all the little stuff it comes with, and I'm interested in the lore. The Ghost edition didn't appeal to me, I would've prefered a statue over a toy. Honestly, I was hoping for a better Collectors edition. I would have swooped on a statue of The Traveler with a quickness.

Didn't even my Limited version came with the expansion pack too, so at least it got me the little extra goodies I like and also came with its moneys worth of in game content as well. Win-win for me.

[matt139]

Who the hell pays £60 for a game?

If you shop around a next gen game won't cost you anymore than £45.

[Dark_Overlord]

I've not paid more than £25 brand new (and that was for the Wolfenstein Occupied Edition), just waiting a week or 2 from release makes all the difference :)

[fenome]

I don't have a problem supporting certain developers. If someone makes games you like then you should contribute that. You do have to be careful though, because there are a ton of get the money and run, shady, and BS business practices going around right now. It kinda feels like some people will try the absolute worst just to see what they can get away with on BS hype and PR alone.

If you do actually support a developer though, you need to actually support them, unless you'd rather play a casual game on the phone of your choice.

Off topic:
I don't even own a cell phone anymore (haven't in over a year), and love the freedom after it's gone. I'm always around someone that has one, and have landlines at my house, either get a hold of me or I'll get a hold of you. If we don't end up talking then it obviously wasn't that important to begin with. I'm sorry, but my phone beebing at me at 2am because you posted a video of your daughter sneezing just makes me want to throw my phone at the wall.

[CorndogBurglar]

I usually dont buy them unless its something like Battlefield or Halo. Something that I know I'll come back to in between other games. Most games I just usually get tired of before the 2nd or 3rd DLC is released, so season passes usually aren't worth it for me.

[showtimefolks]

Bought my one and only with borderlands 2 and wasn't happy. Never buying one again. L:e the dlc come out and than we will see, too many times the dlc isn't worth it anyway

also its pretty sad that a game developer usually has a separate team doing DLC while the main game is in development.

but the other side or atleast the argument i hear all the time is this. Well now games are supported long after release as to where once you were done with the game before that was it

I am a single player gamer so if something comes along than i am interested

[XtraTrstrL]

I bought one for Resogun recently, though it was more reasonable at $8. That's the only one I recall ever buying. Microsoft made the charge-em-for-everything idea popular. These greedy pubs and devs aren't gonna stop anytime soon, as long as people buy it - they'll dish it out.

[stripe814]

i never bought one stupid season pass..if i know a game is incomplete i get when its on sale bin..

[Soldierone]

Only season pass I ever got was Black Ops 2 and that's because the game was awesome.

Otherwise nope. They milk our wallets for every little thing, so I'll save that 50 dollars and buy other stuff they rip us off with. Or you know.... another game.

[Nodoze]

If nobody would buy the DLC...it would be 'released' for FREE! Well not free, but it would be a part of the original purchase. On disc unlock DLC is a snake oil scam and needs to stop. 60 bucks is a tidy sum to pay to play.

[Soldierone]

Problem is no matter how hard we try, people still buy it.

Facing facts season passes to games like COD or Battlefield could be 100 bucks and a few nimrods would still run out to buy it.

That's why it's a good idea to just not buy the game at all until a "game of the year" edition comes out with all the content unlocked.

[Kyosuke_Sanada]

Haven't bought Season Passes for any game no exceptions. Too much of a shot in the dark.....

[sungam3d]

I always pirate DLC's
Screw paying again for something that should have been in the game to begin with.

I lost all faith in DLC's with Mafia 2.
I loved the original game, loved the look of the new game, and wanted to support them. But literally the DLC's all came with the game, they just wouldn't work, they needed to be 'unlocked' with a single text file.

That is outright scamming thievery.

Never going to buy DLC ever again, unless I can get the Game of the year edition for $5-$10 on Steam.

[ArchangelMike]

And that right there is the problem I have with DLC. Alot of the time the DLC is already on the disc of the game you bought, but you still have to pay again to unlock it. It is a scam!

[mydyingparadiselost]

Never buying a season pass, if the content isn't in the game then it obviously isn't important enough to spend money on.

[AlexFili]

Some DLC can be fantastic (Rock Band songs for example) but more single player missions? Those I put on a low priority since I rarely finish games as it is, DLC or not.

[ArchangelMike]

Yup, I've probably spent more money on Rocksmith DLC than any other game. But man, I'd pay to learn soo many rock songs every time! :)

[DualWielding]

For big games the best option is to wait until the release an edition with all DLC included

[Nodoze]

This is what I do. Saves a ton of money. You get the game, all DLC, and get it at a discount (usually 1/2 off original msrp).

Anyone who preorders, or buys DLC is a sucker.

[DefenderOfDoom2]

Well i have only bought 2 season passes ./ BIOSHOCK INFINITE and METRO LAST LITE/ Both was only 20 dollars and had story DLC . I played both campaigns before i bought the DLC - And i bought both games from GAMESTOP on sale , new for only 40 dollars (US) . Both campaigns and DLC was awesome and fun to play ! So if you have a little patience, you can find some good deals and still support the developers at the same time!

[frankied101]

Battlefield 3 season pass was amazingly fair. Lasted over a year and kept me playing that game and coming back because so much new content. Like the maps game modes and everything and new vehicles over a 2 year span. So I got the bf4 .... Nope one year and new games is coming. I'm not spending $110 on a game every year.... For a 2 year support hell yes but yearly? F that

[Slugfest321]

I buy some season passes mainly the battlefield ones and about another 2 games. But i always wait till 2-3 dlc have been released so although i dont know what the other dlc will be like i can base the quality off of what ive seen about the others.

[RosweeSon]

Because depending on the company you buy them from generally they are a rip off, specially when buy the time all the content is out finally not only is it normally getting put into various sales for cheaper prices that or if you wait it out you can just get the whole season pass at a discounted rate in the sales, Ubisoft's assassins creed one (3) was poor.