DLC (downloadable content) is additional material for an existing video game that is delivered digitally. It can include new levels, story expansions, characters, weapons, cosmetic items or quality-of-life features.
Why it matters
DLC lets developers extend a game's life without releasing a sequel, and lets players buy only what they want. It also affects how you manage a game: DLC often requires the base game, may be tied to your platform account, and adds to disk usage. Some DLC is free, some is paid, and a season pass bundles several planned releases at a set price.
Example
A base game is 60 GB. A story expansion adds 12 GB and a cosmetic pack adds 1 GB, so the installed total is about 73 GB. If the expansion needs version 1.4 of the game, the launcher first downloads a patch for the base game.
Common mistakes
- Buying DLC for the wrong platform or region edition of a game.
- Assuming DLC works without the base game. Standalone expansions are the exception and are labeled as such.
- Forgetting that digital licenses depend on the store account and its DRM.
Related
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