Capcom's DLC Practices: Are They Undermining Their Own Great Games?

The video game titled “Monster Hunter Wilds” embodies the essential features of a contemporary Capcom production. It’s an acclaimed addition to a long-standing series, effectively capturing what makes that franchise shine while introducing novel aspects. This visually stunning game is fueled by the RE Engine, though it experiences some technical glitches on certain platforms. Regrettably, it also features more DLC of questionable quality than one might expect in a game with such strong points.

Even though Monster Hunter Wilds has just been recently released, its DLC page is already brimming with more than 20 items. These include freebies like emotes and useful items, but the majority are cosmetic enhancements such as an eyepatch, face paint, a wind chime for weapons or mounts, and even a secret mount. The individually priced items, excluding bundles, cost between $1.49 and $6.99, which is significantly cheaper than a big crossover skin in Call of Duty, for instance.

As a gamer, I get that cosmetic DLC can be a bit frustrating sometimes, but it’s not the main issue I’m facing right now. The real concern is about the Palico and character customization vouchers. For $6.99, I can tweak my character or my furry Palico companions up to three times. Here’s the catch though, each voucher type is exclusive to its respective category. However, there’s a $9.99 bundle that gives you three vouchers for both sides.

Despite having one free pass for each side and some modifications not needing vouchers, it remains annoying to find out that customizing characters is still confined behind a paywall, especially since this feature is commonly offered in games. In the case of Elden Ring, players can easily visit the Roundtable Hold’s mirror to make adjustments. Interestingly, Baldur’s Gate 3 also introduced a magical mirror post-launch, allowing users to revisit the character creator and choose differently, though with certain conditions, without requiring in-game resources.

It’s even more frustrating when you consider how long “Monster Hunter World” is expected to be supported. Not only has it received updates well after its launch, but also an extensive expansion over a year and a half later. Given that players are likely to stay with this game for quite some time, it’s particularly annoying to charge for changes when you’re in it for the long run.

As a devoted gaming enthusiast, I’ve come to realize that the practice of nickel-and-diming in the video game industry is quite widespread, even affecting revered publishers like Capcom. For instance, games such as Devil May Cry 5 offer multiple orb packs that allow players to level up swiftly or enhance their health, which some might consider crossing a line. Similarly, Exoprimal features early unlock tokens for alternative classes, a feature that’s not without controversy.

In Dragon’s Dogma 2, there are numerous goods available for purchase that offer conveniences such as fast travel, attracting harpies more effortlessly, earning unique currencies, and generating keys among other things. Additionally, items related to pawns can be bought which resurrect allies, alter their behavior, and modify their appearance. However, it’s important to note that these items make the game, although challenging, seem less daunting by spending money, rather than through improving accessibility options.

In many Resident Evil games, including Dragon’s Dogma 2, there are often quick ways to acquire powerful weapons or additional resources that can provide an advantage, even if they don’t break the game entirely. This series typically offers a gradual progression system where players become increasingly stronger as they overcome tougher challenges, eventually transforming into formidable powerhouses with infinite ammo. However, offering these shortcuts can detract from the journey and the thoughtful design behind a well-balanced reward system, making the experience feel less satisfying.

It’s even more perplexing because Capcom has persistently delivered exceptional gaming experiences that outshine most other publishers. For instance, Street Fighter 6 and Devil May Cry 5 successfully revitalized their respective franchises. The Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a well-considered update of a classic game. Kunitsu-Gami and Exoprimal are innovative creations that also hark back to simpler times. Resident Evil deserves special mention, as Capcom is nurturing two distinct branches of the series, both of which have been remarkably successful so far.

Since the debut of Resident Evil 7 in 2017, the company has been meticulously reviving classic franchises by sticking to their original essence, producing high-quality compilations, and avoiding trends that have tripped up numerous others. This inconsistency is what makes it so disheartening to see them adopt the practice of selling questionable DLC. Unlike other companies that are pumping out live-service games or hastily produced hero shooters where such microtransactions would arguably be more fitting, Capcom isn’t resorting to these practices.

It’s uncertain if early sales of unlocks or customization vouchers are profitable for Capcom, as they don’t disclose their DLC sales statistics. It’s plausible that these tactics help justify high prices for their games. Shuhei Yoshida, former Head of Independent Developer Initiative at PlayStation, made a similar remark about Sony’s strategy of remastering games to fund new titles.

Regardless of how good or bad a DLC might be, it’s still hard to accept it immediately after release. However, Capcom seems to understand this, as they usually put these DLCs on sale shortly after the game launch, presumably to dodge harsh criticism during the initial release period. But in the case of Monster Hunter Rise, all DLCs are available at launch, which is more upfront and not a particularly encouraging sign, especially from a publisher that’s been doing so well recently.

2025-03-02 05:10

Capcom’s DLC Practices: Are They Undermining Their Own Great Games?

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