I laud his attitude, but wouldn’t begrudge him one or two DLCs.
I think ConceredApe could follow the Deep Rock Galactic Model.
All content/story additiona are free updates. But to keep the lights on, every few months a cosmetic DLC drops that had no affect on the game what so ever, just lets player put money in the tip jar and get some cool threads and a hat for their troubles.
Alternatively tgey could use the Rimworld model: release DLCs that heavily change how you play the game, allowing you to tailor the game to your wants and needs that way.
While I do enjoy rimworld and tynan’s model, I don’t think it would be a good match for Stardew given how the game has a particular branching story it wants to tell and share with the player navigating choices, where rimworld is more heavily into an (almost) entirely randomly generated story where your long lost brother might show up as a pirate or deceased cousin offended some govt official so now they are applying pressure to your settlement as pay back. The cosmetic option would be a much better fit so players could have alternate options on how characters, tools, plants or monsters appear, to say nothing of the home making segment. Yes mods already make this an option, but the entire point of Cosmetic DLCs is a tip jar for the developer you get something back for, and a way to show your support. New content and story pack expansion by contrast can seriously change the flow of the game and many players do not view them as optional in the discussion.
I mean, he’s in a similar situation as Toby fox. He has the freedom to spend as much time as he wants on developing updates without worrying about money, so he doesn’t need to charge anything or ask money from players.
Would love some expansions, and many people don’t consider those dlcs
Good for him, he has the luxury of selling a bazillion copies! Most (indie) devs still need to keep the lights on 😔
Most companies charging for dlcs are AAA devs, not indie. I assure you they can afford to keep the lights on.
Wasn’t talking about AAA, plenty of indies sell dlc
The worst culprits though are the EAs and Paradoxes of the world that sell dozens of DLCs for games that cumulatively cost far more than the base game itself.
That practice doesn’t invalidate the need of extra revenue streams for smaller studios
Edit: updated original comment to make context clear
Then this isn’t about them?
Edited my comment to make it clear that I was talking about indies, I can provide some more context later if it’s still not obvious why
I feel like this is him saying exactly that - he’s acknowledging the outrageous success he’s had and saying he won’t (need to) charge for dlc ever
Probably true, it’s so funny that he has to promise his fans that he won’t charge for any bonus content even though he’s totally earned it 😆
I swear on the soul of my father, Stardew Montoya, you will get all DLC for one price.
Meanwhile devs at blizzard felt a chill run up their spines
Let’s give him more money anyhow!
I’ll just buy the game again on a different steam account when I like the content added in yet another major update.
Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone is a shining star of how honesty and genuine care for the community can make you MUCH more successful than just trying to milk your content for every penny it’s worth.
Cultivate a following and it will grow. Exploit it and it will shrink. Crazy how nearly everyone in the industry has forgotten this
I don’t even play the game but I want to give him my money for being a good dev.
I wish they’d charge a little. Supporting them feels so good and I’ve run out of children to buy the game for haha
I’d be happy to pay for a large price of DLC, and if that means he needs to hire a couple programmers to make it happen, im fine paying their wage.
paying for cosmetics hats, though…
