DLC question

[lawnspic]

I googled but cant find an answer, how long is DLC (mainly full games) that you paid for will be available when the console is not current gen. I tried finding MS and Sony's policy's regarding downloads but cant find anything in the fine print about how long content will remain available. I ask because if it is uncertain i will by hard copies from now on.

[Ganelon]

Obviously, online distribution providers don't want consumers worrying about that issue so they won't outright tell you. Individual DLC can be permanently taken offline at any point but the legal standard has been to allow any account that purchased the DLC before its cutoff to re-download.

Judging by the fates of DC and Xbox DLC (as well as even earlier console online distribution methods), there will come a time when the download interface becomes unsupportable. At that point, you'll no longer be able to download anything. Providers normally give advance notice (say, one month) of termination dates, at which point you'd better download your last games, DLC, and patches before the entire system is gone. Ironically, the future of such content will then depend on piracy.

It could be argued that we're now in the first big age of DLC and that the situation will be different from now on. That's possible in the short term, especially if the next few generations remain backwards compatible. But eventually, the hardware will be too different and game companies will want the extra revenue of consumers purchasing collections, ports, and remakes of old games (with DLC ideally packed in). At that point, the game providers will also have no business incentive to keep outdated resource and support hogs running just for the sake of a few consumers and/or for "historical" purposes.

[CMoon]

While we're at it, what is the current policy on DLC if your current console breaks. When you buy a new one, can you restart your account there or are you just screwed?

[gameoverDude]

It sucks that the DLC games aren't offered in disc compilations. Some games like Out Run Online Arcade end up gone because of expiring licensing deals.

On the 360, license transfers can be done every 4 months. I'm not sure about PS3.

[njiska]

On the 360, license transfers can be done every 4 months. I'm not sure about PS3.

There's no such thing as license transfer on PS3 as the system uses an authorization method like iTunes. You can authorized and deauthorize systems at will. Previously up to 5 could be authorized, but due to account sharing it's been reduced to two. Still, being able to have two authorized systems is rather nice. If you don't have the system any more to deauthorize it, you can call Sony, they'll clear it up.

[Ganelon]

Meanwhile, in Nintendo Land, it's still the Dark Ages. If you send your system in to Nintendo for repair, then they'll take of the DLC transfer if need be. Otherwise, you need to have exceptional pleading abilities or be related to someone high up on Nintendo's organizational chart to have DLC rights transferred to a different system. The Wii U is apparently getting a unified account system, but Nintendo is way behind the game.

[sjewkestheloon]

What worries me is the patch culture. Many of my games are nearly unplayable without their patches and the 360 only stores a handful of patches at a time. Basically, as far as I can see, we will have to choose which ones we want patched and the rest will have to remain broken unless there is a way to burn patches onto DVD and install them manually.

[Fudoh]

Basically, as far as I can see, we will have to choose which ones we want patched and the rest will have to remain broken unless there is a way to burn patches onto DVD and install them manually

you can pretty much do this by now.