Whatever game disc you currently have lodged in your console, chances are, there’s a season pass to go along with it. Glancing over at the PlayStation 4 on the other side of my desk, currently it’s holding a game that can be described as one huge glorified season pass. Of course, I’m referring to Destiny, but as I pull open a drawer to scan the other PS4 titles in my possession, there’s a similar story to be told. From expansive RPGs like The Witcher III to smaller titles like The Evil Within, it’s become a pervasive trend in the modern gaming landscape and one that draws a divisive reaction.
One of the main concerns with season passes, and with DLC in general, is studios extracting content from their games, bundling it up and drip feeding it to fans post-launch. However, given how their offerings are usually spread over the course of several months, this argument has lost some of its punch. Still, in some cases, this re-portioning of content is quite apparent. It’s out of principle, then, that Dave avoids games that adopt such a practice. For him, a season pass needs to offer something that feels akin to genuine expansion.
Therefore, the biggest problem most consumers have with season passes is whether or not they’re getting value for money. In fairness, a lot of publishers are upfront about what you can expect from this pre-emptive purchasing of content. However, there are also those that fail to outline exactly what it is you are getting or when you’ll get it. Then there’s the issue of whether this content is actually worth the down payment. When it comes to DLC, even the best developers can get it wrong from time to time so you can see why many hesitate from making such a financial leap of faith.
After all, as Tuffcub points out, season passes can price anywhere between a tenner and twenty five quid. To some gamers that’s not much, but without all the facts, it becomes hard to gage whether we’re getting the most bang for our buck. Using Fallout 4 as an example, Tuffcub seems to be enjoying the game enough to fork out on additional content, yet the lack of concrete information surrounding Bethesda’s future plans for the game presents a roadblock.
That said, when it comes to huge franchises like Fallout 4, there will always be a sizeable number of fans who pick up the season pass without batting an eyelid. This is exactly what happened to me and Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. Having fallen hopelessly in love with its predecessor, I threw £20 at the season pass as soon as it went live on the PlayStation Store. Aside from seeing it as an act of brand loyalty, I also saw it as an opportunity to save a few pennies. You see, although we call the value of these passes into question, some offer much better rates on DLC bundles as opposed to buying each pack individually. Still, prior to the launch of Uncharted 3’s map packs, I had no idea whether I’d made a good investment and that worried me. The same, as Kris points out, applies to pre-ordering games as well – even with copious amounts of pre-release info, at the end of the day we’re still making decisions largely based on predictions.
Thankfully, not all games have time-limited passes. For DriveClub, as with most current-gen titles, the season pass can be purchased well after a game’s launch. In fact, DriveClub’s chunky season pass was the second one I ever purchased. Dom picked it up too, praising it as one of the better passes out there. As he explains it, the content offered should also feel like an add-on or bonus. If you’ve just purchased the latest online shooter, for instance, you shouldn’t compelled to buy the season pass out of pure necessity. Although my opinion differs, many felt this way about Star Wars Battlefront and it’s fairly spartan array of content at launch.
Perhaps even more egregious than this was last year’s Evolve, as Aran recalls. Despite being propped up by a sound premise and sharp gameplay, 2K Games arguably shot itself in the foot before Evolve could even get out of the blocks. From the word go the publisher began an aggressive campaign to promote the game’s season pass, seemingly ignoring complaints that Evolve’s stock content didn’t quite fit the bill.
That said, we can’t tarnish every season pass with the same brush. As previously mentioned, Evolution has done a stand-up job with its content plan for DriveClub with other big titles no doubt living up to their post-launch promises as well. It’s just a shame that when developers crack the season pass formula this largely goes largely unnoticed. As Teflon argues, Dying Light is starting to look like another promising candidate. Although we’ve know about the game’s season pass for a long time, its chief slab of post-launch content “The Following” will launch next month, more than a year after its original release. When done right, he goes on to say, season passes can line up a series of mini events for your collection of favourite games, whether it’s just a new map pack or a full-on expansion.
So there we go, we’ve had our say on season passes. Are you particularly keen on the concept, yourself? If not then why? Which season passes have you purchased and did you find it good value for money? Let us know in the comments section below!
Starman
I’ve only bought the Titanfall season pass at full price, but I enjoyed the game so much I didn’t mind paying a bit more than it was worth for the new maps.
I really wanted the Arkham Knight season pass but £32:99 was almost what I paid for the game. Instead I bought a few packs separately and then sold the game once I was done with it. I’ve always felt it’s screws over the initial buyers when season passes get discounted before all the content is released.
beeje13
As for Titanfall, the Season pass content is now free. That definitely screwed over the initial buyers.
Starman
It is, though it was something like a year after release so that’s not so bad, and it reunited the fragmented playerbase. I’d like to see more games do like Rainbow 6 & Evolve did by giving map packs free so to avoid it.
JR.
I don’t think I ever have and I don’t think I ever will.
JustTaylorNow
Nope, season pass are for stupid people who are the reason developers keeping releasing half a game to sell you the other half. People who buy into season passes have money to waste.
In all my life I have only bought one DLC which is bloodborne but they finished the game then extended the story unlike half of these unfinished games out there
Avenger
Steady on. I’d agree there is a reason for the whole season pass culture to be expanding like it is (i.e people are buying into it), but not all passes are the same and in some cases they’re a lovely way to keep a game reinvigorated with good solid post-development content.
I might, quite possibly, be stupid to say this though. That kind of confuses things.
Forrest_01
Bizarrely, was discussing this the other day – It’s rare that I would pick up a season pass, as who knows what the hell you are getting for your money? So you spend £20 on a season pass & it turns out to just be a bunch of interchangeable heads for the year. For a FPS.
Of course, that is the extreme, but some are not far off that.
There are of course exceptions to the rule – If a season pass is reduced in some sale, I may be tempted if I have the game & am still actively playing it. Did this with Battlefield (& maybe something else?), but it doesn’t happen too often. In fact, it’s pretty damn rare.
Generally though, unless it’s a GoTY or whatever, I just won’t bother. Don’t have enough time to complete main stories of games a lot of the time, so that DLC (whether its priced sensibly or not) would just be going to waste.
Starman
The Fallout 4 season pass is the best example for what you said. It was in the top 10 dlc purchases via psn last year despite their being no content released at all yet!
beeje13
No. You’d be absolutely mad (or carelessly rich) to preorder a season pass aswell, as most of the time it’s vague as to what you’ll get. Also sometimes I look at season pass content and think it just looks like stuff that didn’t make it into the game, ‘deleted scenes’ if you will.
Now I’m not saying all season passes are bad. Driveclub gets mentioned alot.
Only bought 1 season pass and that was around £5, and I still didn’t use/like all the dlc.
IMO anything above £20 on a season pass on a full price game is starting to get ridiculous. The profit margins on DLC are huge as it’s just content creation, the engineering is already done from the full game.
In the future, if I really like a game, I know the content, the content is worth the price, I will consider a season pass.
matthangzhou
I used to buy them as I would be loving the game at the time and thought I would want to prolong as much as possible. However by the time the dlc had come out id of lost interest and moved on.
For example I bought dark souls 2 season pass and I’ve never touched it. Same with bioshock infinite.
I have however bought the witcher 3 dlc (not pass) given it seemed to get good reviews and at a reasonable price.
I am still on the fence with Star Wars. Loved the base game but the dlc will have to be extensive to warrant a £40 purchase!
TSBonyman
I generally don’t do season passes. I’m more likely to trade in my original copies for goty editions – when the latter have been discounted heavily.
But i picked up the pass for Resogun as it was free on plus and i enjoyed it so much it only seemed fair to send a few quid the developers way.
Secondly Driveclub. Again, a game i’ve gotten huge enjoyment from so the season pass was a steal.
bunimomike
Haven’t so far but maybe one day something will tempt me. Just not likely, that’s all.
freezebug2
Not very often but have to agree with the masses, Driveclub season pass has been the most incredible value for money over the last two Gens without doubt!