PC Games News

Valve won't charge for downloadable content

By Casey Lynch May 25, 2007, 16:36 GMT

EA, you could learn a bit from a company like Valve.

Micro-transactions – everybody knows what they are nowadays, and frankly some are cool (new maps for Halo 2) and some are weak sauce (Madden tutorials, you).

But even though many companies are looking at micr-transactions as away to turn a already high priced $59 game into a $100 cash cow (Need for Speed Carbon comes out to $94.97 if you download all the premium content), PC stalwarts Valve refuse to charge customers for downloadable content.

The crowbar-centric company announced it has no intention of charging for downloadables in games such as Counter-Strike and Team Fortress 2. Designer Robin Walker explains their logic saying: "You buy the product, you get the content ... We make more money because more people buy it, not because we try and nickel-and-dime the same customers."

Considering Valve’s stance on DLC and their decision to release so much content in the Half Life 2: Orange Box (which include the original Half Life 2, Episode 1 & 2, Team Fortress 2 and Portal, all for only $59.99) we have to say we wish more companies would take a cue from Valve’s playbook.

Source: JOYSTIQ