Downloadable Content Saving The Traditional PS3/Xbox 360 Development Model?

Variety’s Ben Fritz has written an excellent article on how downloadable content "is saving the PS3/360 development model." Considering how development costs have sharply risen this generation — the lower installed base of the PlayStation 3 to that of the PlayStation 2 over the same release period — DLC has become a vital part of publisher’s and developer’s strategies. It’s not just about extending a gamer’s experience and keeping a franchise alive — DLC is a big money maker.