DayZ Developer Responds To Frostline DLC Review-Bombing On Steam

As a gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a tad sympathetic towards Bohemia Interactive. It’s like they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place – or rather, between their costs and their customers’ expectations.


The enthusiasts of the zombie survival-horror game DayZ have decreased its Steam user-rating following the release of a DLC from developer Bohemia Interactive, which players claim is overpriced and disappointing. Now, the game’s creators have addressed the criticism… by sharing a Beatles song.

“Did you know that 8 million users for whom we have data on Steam played for an average of 188 hours and paid an average of 30 USD gross in Dayz?” Bohemia Interactive CEO Marek Spanel said on Twitter. “That means we received less than 10 cents for an hour of live online gaming, for which we host the online infrastructure and have been updating it for 10+ years. Yet DayZ Frostline is currently being review-bombed on the same platform for being too expensive: $26.99 for ‘just a map,’ and some users demand ‘gimme more for less money.’ Hmm. Please Please Me.”

Did you know that 8 million users for whom we have data on Steam played for an average of 188 hours and paid an average of 30 USD gross in #Dayz? That means we received less than 10 cents for an hour of live online gaming, for which we host the online infrastructure and have been…

— Marek Spanel (@maruksp) November 26, 2024

The post was accompanied by a clip from the Beatles song Please Please Me.

Introduced in October, the Frostline DLC goes for sale at $27, which many players find exorbitant considering its contents. At this moment, the game is garnering a “Mostly Negative” user review score on Steam, with players highlighting the DLC’s numerous shortcomings. The most significant issue appears to be the scarcity of fresh and captivating content.

Initially, let me clarify something: The map that costs $37 CAD isn’t an original creation, it’s essentially a modified version of the ArmA III map ‘Tanoa.’ Although it does have some appealing aspects, at the moment, I don’t think it justifies its price. In time, they might introduce more captivating features to make it worthwhile, but for now, you can find better maps available for free, and Bohemia Interactive is aware of this fact.

As a gamer, I find it disheartening that Bohemia Interactive seems to be taking a leisurely approach with this game update. Year after year, persistent bugs have been overlooked, while the long-promised AI overhaul remains elusive. Instead of expanding our world to explore, we’ve been given a snowy Tanoa with reduced landmass, and to add insult to injury, most of the islands left untouched are barren and empty. It’s hard not to feel disappointed.

It has been noted that certain points of interest in the DLC, such as the Weather Dome and Volcano on the new map, are neither accessible nor interactive. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that the community of modders has already released maps with more content for free.

Beyond Bohemia Interactive’s response connected to The Beatles, they haven’t issued any additional statements regarding the ongoing debate.

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2024-11-27 19:39