Category:DLC

Downloadable content (DLC) is additional content for a video game distributed through the internet by the game's official publisher or other third party content producers. Downloadable content can be of several types, ranging from aesthetic outfit changes to an entirely new, extensive storyline, similar to an expansion pack. As such, DLC may add new game modes, objects, levels, challenges or other features to a complete an already released game. DLC and an interested content creating and sharing user base are essential long-term needs in many more complex simulator products such as V-scale model railroading applications (e.g. Trainz, RailWorks, MSTS among others) where in the long term, much of the allure comes from the ability to build new layouts or expand others, including writing customized the "game play" like operating modules. Since 3D asset generation is typically a technically demanding and time consuming activity—a steam locomotive can take 2–4 full man-months of time to implement, and a long large route can consume man years of development—such emulations only grow through the power of numbers of the many producing and sharing the new assets in the hobby community. If theses simulators the commercial world classes as a video game, it is because they attract such a group of users who de facto, make the hobby a part of their lifestyle.

In the case of episodic video games, a new episode may come in the form of downloadable content, whereas music video games utilize this media to offer new songs for the players. Downloadable content became prevalent in the 21st century, and especially with the proliferation of internet-enabled, sixth-generation video game consoles. Special edition re-releases of games often incorporate previously released DLC along with the main title in a single physical package.

Video game publishers sometimes offer a DLC "season pass", which allows users to purchase all of the downloadable content for a video game at a lower price than it would cost to buy each one separately. Users can also buy such a season pass before the availability of its respective DLC; in this case, the player will get access to the content as it is released.