What is the deal with single player games forcing large DLC updates when one hasn't purchased it?

Evil Calvin

Afraid of Boobs
The latest culprit was Alan Wake 2. I decided to re-download the basic game, as it is spooky season, and yesterday I noticed a 16.4GB forced update. Huh? As it turns out, it is the Lake House DLC which is only available via owning the 'deluxe' version. I don't own the 'deluxe' version but was forced to download the update. As it turned out, it increased the file size from 92.9GB to ultimately 100.7. That is a 7.8GB install.

I understand MP games needing this or just free updates (like Dead Island 2 which just added 6.3GB to the already large 68GB game........but again......it's free)

But why am I forced to install a paid DLC I don't own in a single player game? STOP!!!!!
 
7.8 gb is eye popping, what is the argument for this stuff? It's good for business, essentially they'll be able to market to you better.
 
essentially they'll be able to market to you better.
Aaron Paul What GIF by Breaking Bad
 
It is just to have 1 version with content that can be accessed or not by the user.That way you only have to update 1 version instead of multiple wich should help avoiding "branching"except that in this case it should be moqstly bugfixes and bugs that only happen in X version.Life is easier for the dev this way, not the user though.
 
Forced updates suck. At least with most PS5 games they're optional and you can just cancel patch (and new content) download whenever you launch the game.
 
They've probably made changes to underlying game code to support a major DLC release. It makes economic sense for them to push that out to everyone, rather than maintain two separate code bases. Especially if additional DLC packages are planned.
 
It is just to have 1 version with content that can be accessed or not by the user.That way you only have to update 1 version instead of multiple wich should help avoiding "branching"except that in this case it should be moqstly bugfixes and bugs that only happen in X version.Life is easier for the dev this way, not the user though.
I don't have the DLC and don't intend to. I shouldn't have to install something I didn't pay for or can access. Why not buy it then install it........like games and DLC have usually done?
 
I don't have the DLC and don't intend to. I shouldn't have to install something I didn't pay for or can access. Why not buy it then install it........like games and DLC have usually done?
You dont get it sure it is better for the consumer but the devs chose to be this way so tyhere is only one version of the game to update instead of several different branching with obvious exceptions and things not working exactly the same between versions.It help the devs time to update/fix/improve greatly.
 
I don't have the DLC and don't intend to. I shouldn't have to install something I didn't pay for or can access. Why not buy it then install it........like games and DLC have usually done?

It's a package that includes a lot of anniversary fixes and updates for the base game as well.

And on top of that if you decide to buy the DLC, it's available to you instantly. Helps reduce strain for them, I suppose.
 
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You dont get it sure it is better for the consumer but the devs chose to be this way so tyhere is only one version of the game to update instead of several different branching with obvious exceptions and things not working exactly the same between versions.It help the devs time to update/fix/improve greatly.
Well good for them. It's over 100GB....and one of the first I will delete to make room for other new games. Don't add crap to increase the file size unless 100% needed. 100GB for a single player game is stupid.
 
Nlu3yof.jpeg

The only thing us consumers are good for is consuming. You'll download unnecessary content you can't access and that's that!
 
Sometimes these DLC's include stuff for the main game that you can access without buying said DLC, plus it's easier for future patching and certification.
 
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