CK3 devs are being passive-aggressively criticized for announcing new DLCs

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Developers at Paradox Interactive, known for their strategic game prowess, have been creating hits like Crusader Kings 3 that garner wide appeal. However, the way they handle DLC releases in their publishing strategy has stirred up quite a bit of debate. The recent announcement of two smaller expansions for Crusader Kings 3, though, was greeted with a particularly critical response from fans on Steam and Reddit.

Expensive pleasure

Ever since Crusader Kings 3 was launched, Paradox Interactive has been putting out approximately four DLCs each year. These expansions come in two sizes: the larger ones typically retail for $29.99, while the smaller ones, historically referred to as “trimmed” from the previous major expansion, are priced around $4.99. Unfortunately, Paradox has chosen to price these small DLCs equally with the larger ones. Additionally, they offer Content Creator Packs, collaboratively created by the modding community.

To acquire Crusader Kings 3 along with all its small and large expansion packs, you’ll need to shell out approximately $170, as it’s rarely offered at a discounted price on Steam.

Reaction to new Creator Packs for CK3

Recently, Paradox unveiled two fresh Content Creator Packs for the game Crusader Kings 3, scheduled to launch on the 25th of February.

  1. “Monuments” set – will introduce, among others, 20 new buildings. Each of them will provide special bonuses for the county in which it is located. In the base game, Stonehenge was included, and now additions will feature, among others, Wartburg, the Great Mosque of Damascus, and a palace in Ghana (similar to wonders in Civilization 7).
  2. “Arctic Attire Pack” – a cosmetic add-on introducing new outfits for Finnish tribes (and 1 additional track – Saami folk song).

Although the cost has yet to be disclosed, all signs point towards each package being priced at $4.99 individually once more.

Steam gamers are increasingly sharing a witty, skeptical remark. Some even questioned, “Will we be required to pay monthly for mods as well?

Thanks, really appreciate that you are offering it for free.

Absolutely, it’s a deliberate use of irony here – it’s understood that there’ll be a price tag on this package. Once more, fans are making their displeasure known, suggesting these aesthetic upgrades ought to be free or at least part of the season pass.

In response to the previous allegations, Paradox clarified that the costs for Downloadable Content (DLC) will stay the same, and they emphasize these extra paid cosmetic packs as a means to financially sustain the team who creates such content.

Excessive split with negative impact on the game

The passionate community of CK3 enthusiasts, found on Reddit, remains undeterred following the unveiling of upcoming DLCs by Paradox, causing quite a stir within the forum.

In the comments section, some users have pointed out that maintaining the expansions can be costly and not necessarily enhance the game itself. As User ProblemSavings8686 put it, the issue of content fragmentation has a negative impact on the game’s overall consistency.

A comprehensive strategy is even more impressive when everything interacts with everything else. Many of these mechanics and expansions seem overly independent when marketed as individual downloadable content, which means they must function independently within the DLC and other DLCs cannot leverage or expand upon their features.

Paradox Interactive’s approach to DLC (Downloadable Content) has been a subject of debate for some time, but recent criticisms indicate that the company could find it challenging to maintain satisfaction among its player base. At present, a significant number of players are still enjoying Crusader Kings III, with approximately 23,000 concurrent users during peak times. However, the resilience of strategy enthusiasts might eventually wane.

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2025-02-19 17:03