Bill Trinen on the Addition of DLC to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Still don't see what all the complaining is about. You either get more Zelda or you don't. If they decided not to do this then we get a one and done, I'm always down for more Zelda!

Although the explanation eases my fears a bit, I still think the timing was godawful. One week after launch would have been a lot better. The problem for me is the price. The game will already cost me 90$ (79,99 + taxes), and now you're telling me that I'll need to add 25$ more to that to get the full experience? That is just insane, I barely get that much per paycheck with my part-time job

@Spoony_Tech I agree. And the fact that he likened it to the Mario Kart DLC makes me quite hopeful. That was more than worth the price.

Let me translate this into 90s pop music:

Money, money, money.... Nintendo wants your money!

The content is done. They are holding it out to get more from the consumer. They've been working on the game since 1775. There's nothing left to do.

GOTY edition with DLC included, can't wait.

Except they have things like a hard mode and map feature locked up with the real extra content (new story) so it's a cheap tactic to take stuff that could/should have been in the base game and use it to lure you into slapping an extra $19.99 down to get the full experience.

If the hard mode turns out to be something rather major like remixed content and not something like a mirror mode with double damage, then I'll feel at least a little bit better about paying extra for it, perhaps still slightly irked, though. DLC is just a horrible precedent to set for a series like Zelda, so I'm naturally very against it.

Yeah, I'm all for it. They definitely could've delayed the announcement as that obviously was going to set certain people off, but I guess that was bound to happen regardless of how they chose to do it.

Oh well, I'm just excited for even more Zelda down the line!

It's all well and good. I have bought dlc before, so I'm not totally against it. But it's just the way the brought it everyone's attention. Nintendo should've have waited to speak about dlc at a later time imo. As for me, I got my mind maid up and not buying the dlc at all. I'll just enjoy the base game. Cool if anyone else wants to buy into it though.

We had better not wait another 5 years for the next 3D Zelda game.

@dronesplitter we don't know what the hard mode entails (or what the 'map feature' is either). Get mad if you like, in all seriousness, but shouldn't we at least wait until we know exactly what those ARE?

@9th_Sage I'm mad either way, because I don't like DLC being adopted as typical by Nintendo for a series like Zelda. It will lead to bad things, mark my words. It will let the developers grow lazy with base content.

@dronesplitter The fact that they labelled it as a "new" hard mode makes me question what they mean by that. It doesn't sound like it is simply dealing up the enemy difficulty or anything. I suppose it could be that, but it sounds like it'll be something other than a typical hard mode.

@XCWarrior umm i hate to break it to you but... they don't really do game of the year like at Nintendo, at least not in past anyway. the best you get is the Nintendo select line and there the base games most of the time still just a little cheaper.

Yes Bill, that's why the Legend of Zelda has a whole bloody series and believe it or not, people do revisit videogames.

As for the debate about whether Nintendo is getting with the times or getting exploitive, I firmly believe Nintendo is getting with the time and trend of being exploitive.

@dronesplitter um the games done, if you don't buy the dlc it's still the game you'd have gotten in the past.

bill trinen reminds me of the dad on alias. the guy who is now half of firestorm on flash and legends of tomorrow.

I'm happy to have more Zelda, if I have to pay a little for a whole new storyline then take my money.

I've paid more on other consoles for less so this is fine with me.

His reasoning makes perfect sense to me, and is pretty much what I thought from the start. While the announcement timing is definitely odd, I think they just want to prevent people from selling their copy of the game, which is fair. But of course, this is the internet, there'll be complaints.

The problem I have with DLC, especially with portable games, is that it is locked to the console, and so additional users in the same household will also need to buy the DLC, even though they may not own a copy of the full software.

I'd rather pay an extra $20-$50 for a more expensive retail SKU that includes the DLC on the cartridge (similarly to how Fire Emblem Fates was handled, however, that too had separate DLC maps that were not included on the cartridge and required separate purchases), even if that is in the form of a "complete/game of the year edition" somewhere down the line. In fact, I would consider double-dipping in those circumstances.

I've got no problem with this at all. Additional modes and little goodies and an entire new story sound like a pretty good deal for 20 bucks. I also have a feeling that there may be more content intended in the future, maybe a way to keep the game alive throughout the lifespan of the Switch. Just remember Call of Duty charges 15 bucks per map pack which only includes 4 maps and a zombie map, not like an entire new story or mode to the base game.

I would like a bit more info on what exactly the DLC entails, we have a general idea of what they are, but it seems needlessly vague.

I don't have an issue with DLC as a whole if it's done properly. Which I would like to believe is the case with this one.

"It would be a waste to just make one game and have that be it"

99% of the games you make disagree with you, Nintendo.

That explanation makes some sense. You don't go through all the trouble to build a world as elaborate as Breath's and then leave it once it's done. However, I'd rather them modify the engine for a new game and devote the resources to that instead of DLC.

I'm not nearly as against the DLC as I initially was, and after seeing how others reacted to the Mario Kart DLC, I'm willing to give Nintendo a chance with the Zelda series. As long as they don't go overboard and start abusing the DLC like some other companies, things may be fine.

@Phin68 What are you referring to? Not necessarily disagreeing, just not sure what you're getting at.

Glad to see more Zelda down the line! Awesome

this topic is a sensitive and controversial one, and I'm getting tired of repeating my stance on this so...
when the time comes my money will give the most valuable take on the matter: to buy or not to buy.
Let's hope this doesn't extend to other franchises though...
save us all Y.H.V.H.

@Thermoclorn Bill Trinten's statement that 'releasing BoTW without DLC would be a waste of time' kind of baffles me. Especially when you consider that most Nintendo games have been perfectly accepted without the paid extras. That's where I was getting at.

@business-scrub
I admire your principles, especially considering we pretty much know nothing at all about the DLC content currently. You'd hate for it to be awesome and well worth the extra money, which it has every chance to be. You might end up being a stubborn fool or a hypocrite.

@dronesplitter so it would have been better from them just to release a finished Game and ignored dlc altogether instead of just adding more things to do in the game. Are you serious? You don't have to buy it. Your not missing anything if you buy it. The game is completed. If you want more buy the dlc. Cause I honestly keep hear more DLC for smash! More dlc for Mario kart. So now they add dlc to Zelda everybody whines? I remember the Mario golf World Tour dlc. Even though the game was complete everyone complained about it and got over it.

I think it's just the shock Nintendo are doing what Nintendon't normally do. I havent got an issue with DLC!

I don't like dlc and I don't condone holding out content to nickel and dime the consumer. So in the first article I was pretty set that I wouldn't be buying it.

I have thought about it. This is my first foray into hyrule. It looks huge. I'm thinking animated witcher 3 type huge, but with hyrulian lore. With that type of scope, couldn't they make a very large story in the dlc, that offers lots of gameplay, as well as fleshing out the story? And as a new visitor to hyrule, might not this heighten my understanding/enjoyment?

I still can't say I like dlc in theory, but I'm going to wait and listen from others about how the dlc shapes up. If it's too notch, I might be adding my first dlc to my first Zelda purchase.

Is the DLC coming to Wii U too?

Not ordering the DLC for a while, if at all, but it has me intrigued. Looking forward to more info.

I'm calling the DLC right now - the new storyline will have you playing as Zelda.

Exactly! You tell them how it works Bill!

@Yrreiht The DLC is essentially a smaller game of sorts that gets added onto a fully complete standalone game. Kind of like what Majoras Mask was to OoT. It's just that now, we have the technology to just add on these new labors of love onto the game to extend its play value. You already have the full game. The DLC is separate work they have to spend time and resources on. Can't just give that out for free.

@dronesplitter Every good story driven open world game I've played that got DLC after it was finished was worth it. They weren't lazy, and the DLC was just as well crafted as the base game. You need to get yourself out there and play more games instead of being close minded. You simply don know enough about the matter, so you're just giving in to irrational fear of the unknown and hearsay.

@XCWarrior
Well they have to finish the game at some point, make DLC is actually a way a game complies keep people on the pay role as their next project moves forward. If they finish something before launch great.

It's already confirmed there will be a hard mode within the game to begin with. The DLC hard mode was considered a NEW hard mode, which probably means more of a Hero mode (mirrored world and harder enemies maybe?).

Regardless, I pre-ordered it because I'm already going all in on the Switch (even got the collector's edition of BotW), so why not.

It all depends on how finished the packaged version is. If it ends up being something as insulting as Wind Waker's final half, then you have a reason to be angry.

The sad part is that Wind Waker never got the cut content in any form...

I think its awesome if your a fan and its optional . I think Nintendo up to this point have done a good job with what they bring in terms of DLC.

I bet the new story part of the DLC gets delayed.

Never seen people rage like that over DLC for a game brimming with content- good content, from a quality dev team... and especially not when it's coming from a company with such an immaculate DLC track record.

You'd think they were releasing a game where you're paying $60 up front for a "half-game" with multiple $35 expansions, substantial day one DLC and microtransactions. Half my favorite 3rd party games have truckloads of day one DLC (Tales), microtransactions (Dragon Age, Tomb Raider, Halo), and some even charge for multiplayer mode (Killzone- although I don't like that game), though I do stay away from those with cut content sold piecemeal as expansions. None of those games got even a fraction of the outrage as this $20 Zelda expansion coming nine months after release.

And I agree. They spent all this time making such a beautiful, enormous masterpiece... go on and make that expansion! In fact, do us one better and make an entirely separate follow up too. Might as well. No sense in all that fine work going to just one single release. We could get a 2nd new Zelda this gen (and ya, despite Wii U only getting 1, it did get 2 other remasters which was cool).

I agree with Bill Trinen. It's exciting to know you get to play all of the new content in Breath of the wild and after you finish it, more is coming. From what I understand, the standalone game is huge so it doesn't feel like a cash grab.

@JaxonH Honestly, it's like living in medieval times with a bunch of superstitious peasants that don't try and do real research themselves, instead they blindly follow negative hearsay. I really hope some of these people give other open world games like this a try, go ahead and buy DLC for that game, and then come back admitting just how wrong they were.

A lot of people are doing some kind of DLC witch hunt here...

I think the only bad thing about this Zelda DLC was its announcement. Nintendo should have announced it as an E3 surprise, not 2 weeks prior to the launch of Breath of the Wild (or the Nintendo Switch itself).

@dronesplitter if it was locked up why would they wait to send it out months later, it would make no business sense to do that. In this case I believe it's a part of the game that they didn't take away but instead are adding.

@Ps4all Really tho. I think it's quite shortsighted to assume that the base game somehow won't be enough. This is the most ambitious Zelda game ever, and people are complaining that the DLC will somehow ruin it.

Hard mode behind a paywall. A arceus damn mode. Adorable. Edit I can't say god? You serious?

@Spoony_Tech But it's not just more Zelda, it's a hard mode, which companies don't make you pay for normally, and it's a map fix/improvement/update/thing which most companies, except MS, would probably give you free in an update, and it's a "bonus pack" only there is no bonus, it's part of the pack. A bonus is "buy 2 get 1 free" like the shirts in MK8 when you bought both packs. But there aren't separate packs to buy, there's only the expansion pass, so calling it a "bonus" is kind of meaningless.

Plus, while a lot if other games do have season passes, not many also have $80 worth of amiibo to buy. 10 days to release and we don't know if they actually do anything yet, but if they do, we'll that's more money to spend.

Also, game was due out in 2015, 2016, now 2017, and they wait until 3 weeks before release to tell people, seems a bit late, or early, depending on who you ask. People may have already spent extra money buying those Switch special editions.

And really, from what I've read, more people are actually complaining about the people complaining than the number of people complaining. The survey showed half planning to buy this.

So the DLC holiday story pack is probably a good idea, or you know, a sequel, but the expansion pass to me looks like a pre-order bonus free t, a map and hard mode update patch which should probably also be free, and a $15 DLC story, all lumped together as a $20 expansion pass. Seems like Nintendo is still new at this DLC stuff. Old hands at amiibo though, 5 new ones for 1 game, plus Wolf Link. We'll get the game and the pass for Christmas. Can't decide about amiibo until I know what they unlock, I'm funny that way about my toys-to-life purchases.

@rjejr
You don't know what it's going to be at so how about we make a deal and you wait-and-see.

And if we come to find out that it's the exact same hard mode you get from beating the game, well then fair enough. We come to find out it's a master quest or something more, I don't want to have listened to six months of griping about something that wasn't even warranted.

Criticizing a new map feature when you have no confirmation of what it even is... come on man. It may not end up worth much (maybe it will, who knows?) but that doesn't mean it should've been free.

Oh, and enough with the whole amiibo thing as if it's a compulsory purchase. You only have $80 worth of amiibo to buy if you're a chronic collector who can't pass up owning every single figure (like me). Anyone else (like you) likely has no amiibo to buy, except maybe Wolf Link who everyone in the States got for free with their copy of Twilight Princess (except for you because you're still waiting for the $5 dollar clearance sticker 😆 Sorry, jus sayin).

All you haters are greasy mega nerds. Xbox, PS, and PC games have been doing crazy dlc prices for years and years yet the one time Nintendo offers a moderate (20ish IS reasonable) dlc price it's suddenly WWIII....... start having fun and enjoy life. Please. BREATHE A LITTLE

@Captain_Gonru Except what the Switch has to offer is less than what the Wii U had to offer, it's a little more powerful but only 1 screen at a time.

Of course we haven't seen squat of the Wii U version in so long it might just be black and have the screen turned off. Or a mirror. So had they made the Wii U version first and true to the Wii U the Switch version wouldn't really have all that much to improve upon.

But I'm just so happy at this point Wii U is getting the game and the season pass. No special editions but I guess we can't have everything. Still get the $80 of amiibo though, and Wii U owners actually have a reason to own Wolf Link and have a dozen hearts for our Wolf pet, so the Wii U version is better. Switch players can have it too but they'll need to own a Wii U first.

@rjejr Those Amiibo don't have to do anything for me to jump on them. They simply look amazing.

As for the dlc I do agree that Nintendo is kinda vague on the specifics of what hard mode is. Until we play it we won't know the extent of the content so most will have to wait and see if it's worth the 20$ but fans will pay regardless.

@Captain_Gonru
Nobody thinks you're some hater. But I do think you might be... misinformed.

"Instead, they held it for Switch, and spent the waiting time developing add-on content"

There's just no evidence to support this. If the pass was releasing day one, you would have an argument. A solid one. With the pass releasing 6 to 9 months after launch.... well... let's just say that if they've been spending their time waiting by developing this add-on content and it still has another 6 to 9 months to go after launch? It's going to be one of the biggest expansions I've ever seen in my life for $20.

It's simple. The higher definition, the higher the cost to make the game.

You can't raise the price of games past 60 units, or people flip out, and you can't use last gen quality graphics, or people flip out, and you can't make the game smaller/shorter or people flip out.

So, how do you offset the added cost of making games? You could sell more copies, which means pandering to casuals and pissing of core fans (like RE 5 AND 6) and/or going multiplat to reach the greatest audience. This is also why these expensive games get ported so much.

Another way is by dlc and microtransactions. It's not exploitative, just necessary.

@JaxonH Ok, so let me get this straight, I have to wait and see if the DLC is good or bad before I complain about it, but you get to say it's good and defend it before you know what it is? How the heck does that make any sense to you? If I can't say it's bad for 6 months then you can't keep saying it's good for 6 months. Either we both have to shut up or we both get to keep expressing our opioniin, b/c unless you actually know what it is then my negative opinion is as meaningless as your positive one b/c neither of us knows what it is.

I'm not telling anybody to buy it or not, I'm not giving anybody but Nintendo a hard time not b/c of it's value but the way it was presented. But if people want to buy it fine, if they don't fine, doesn't matter to me. But you don't see me telling anybody to shut up for 6 months do you. Find 1 comment in all these threads where I told someone not to buy it. I've said myself repeatedly I'll likely buy it. But that doesn't mean I have to like it, and I'm certainly not shutting up about it as long as NL keeps running articles and people keep saying they don't understand the fuss. I'm just trying to help people see the other side, that's what I do, educate people. I only ask them to shut up when they are insulting other people. I don't like personal attacks, people need to focus on the topic at hand, not others opinions or IQ.

So, how about we make a deal and you wait and see before telling everybody it's a good thing?

@Phin68
99% of the games are not Zelda Breath of the Wild.

Its not a big deal. They are adding the OPTION to purchase extra content. If you don't want the extra content nobody is forcing you to buy it and want to know its value you can wait until it is released to find out more.

@Tarvaax How ironic.

Either way people will still buy the game, they don't necessarily have to buy the DLC, it's just kind of there if anyone is interested. However waiting for a more reasonable price is a good way to go.

I'm not worried about the quality of the DLC. Nintendo has never been known for poor quality DLC. If the hard mode truly is just a boost in difficult, then that should have been in the base game, but we'll have to wait and see what it actually is.

In an ideal world, DLC would be free, but they can't add stuff onto the game and hand it out like candy just because you happened to buy the base game. If you don't care for it, you don't need to buy it. Zelda will be a great game without the DLC, anyway.

@Spoony_Tech "Those Amiibo don't have to do anything for me to jump on them. They simply look amazing."

Well that's great for you, and for Jax and the other "collectors", but what about people who don't like to collect toys and just want to play a game? What about them? Again, we don't know what they do yet, but we do know they look great and Nintendo will like sell every one they can make. But I'm not worried about amiibo selling, I'm worried about people who bought Splatoon but didn't get to do the challenges b/c they didn't want to spend $30 on toys and the squid was only available in a 3 pack in the US. Nintendo could have easily, very easily, said - $5 for each DLC, $12 for all 3. Not cheap, but cheaper than toys.

I do like the look of the amiibo, well except the horse stand and the Bokoblin bores me, but if I want toys I can buy toys. I think Nintendo should tell us what they do already. Probably nothing of importance, but it sure would be nice to know. Guardian is $20, that should unlock hard mode then we wouldn't need an expansion pass until Christmas. Archer should give you arrows, riser calls the horse, Zelda gives you hearts. All something, but harmless fun. But 10 days out we should know.

In alot of ways I do get this. 1 way to see it is if they were to include this dlc in the game, then it would have to have been delayed again, which is something I know fans would cry about as its been delayed for years now. So I get why they released the finish game as is, and then extra content down the road. And the second way to see this is trying to keep the game relevant for the whole year. There are no doubt players who will try to speed run this game on day one, and try to finish it and no doubt every youtube channel will show lets plays of it. But with such amazing games coming out this year, this game may only have a month or 2 of popularity, and then its onto the next trendy game. So if they release a much harder Dark Souls mode later in the year, then it gives fans another reason to keep playing it and the game will once again become relevant to the online gaming community. And if the hard mode is absolutely insanely difficult, then we may see it for the next year as a trend. So I can see the advantages of the DLC. I would ask why pay money for the hard mode, but it does give you another full game, just insanely hard, since the actual BOTW is already bat**** hard. (Judging by how enemy's can take away 2.5 hearts in the beginning, weapon durability, and even the environment is able to kill you in multiple ways.)

I'm gonna be spending a lot of time with this game

I think this is for the best. If you think about it for those wanting the game as is, the game is ready as it was intended to be at launch. For those wanting even more post-launch content, it's in the works. A lot of people would be upset with day one DLC, but the day one DLC on offer here is not what you are paying for it's just a few helpful items with the real reason to purchase coming at the end of the summer and then holiday. Personally I'll grab it, but it might be in a month or so. New console launches are always costly.

@Spoony_Tech you are right... I have always wanted more Zelda.. Even before DLC existed. I am glad they are actively adding more content to their franchises, so even after you finish the main game you have stuff to do..

Isn't this just the 2017 version of how Ocarina of Time became Majora's Mask?

Anyway, let's put our pitchforks away at least until the DLC is released!

Man, I wonder how much people moaned about having to buy an expansion pack for Majora's Mask back in the day? lol

I really like the idea more story etc
I hope they will continue to do so till the next zelda comes out to keep us Playing this a longgggg time.

@rjejr the issue with Amiibo is if Nintendo makes a paywall for important additional content people will cry foul. Amiibo mainly are used to unlock small bonuses.. Amiibo need an exclusive game that lets you use what you have to play (like Lego dimensions or sky landers).. I completely understand your view that not everyone wants to collect toys... thats why Amiibo functionality needs to remain limited and could be used way more with an exclusive Amiibo game.

Maybe play the game first to see if your experience feels "whole" or "complete". DLC is an option, not a requirement. The more Zelda, the better. If I decide I want more, I'll buy it like an adult. There isn't enough cheese to go with your whine guys.

I think the most hilarious part of their DLC is that it's not even included in the crazy overpriced special edition of the game.

The first DLC pack sounds worthless, but the second could be alright.

@rjejr your splatoon example should be rethought - there is nothing those Amiibo unlock that gives you an advantage in other than looks and a couple of extra challenge stages. Those Amiibo are there for fans who collect and want something "more" from their collecting.

Why people are complaining about the Amiibo again when it's unlocking stuff for the collectors (which I think is fair and cool) is silly. While we haven't seen anything yet - wolf link isn't necessary at all but is a cool extra for those of us with it. Nintendo is developimg this kind of content for its collectors - nothing is missed story wise or epic loot wise by not having them. Yet people who refuse to buy Amiibo cant appreciate that small fact - because they simply want everything!

Not attacking you here.. but outside the Amiibo the season pass is also a smart move. I want reasons to come back and play this game months on, and this does that. Complaining about something we don't know all the details of is silly.. nobody is forcing you to buy it, and can buy it later if you feel differently. Right now it's either "be excited for more content" or nothing. There is nothing Nintendo has announced with this dlc that should have anyone complaining about. Its OPTIONAL content - IF you want it. And I for one, do!

@Rumncoke25 I don't know if you've seen it yet, but the following video - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0fYnsMZbt8 - shows that these people did some math and came to the conclusion that this game is much bigger than both Skyrim and Witcher 3. And they included all the DLC for those two games in their research.

Still can't believe Nintendo is being "exploitative" with something nobody has to buy against their will. Either our obsessions are getting so out of hand that we can't help spending our money on this stuff and can only cry bloody tears of rage at Nintendo, or it's just the same price lament where whatever extra is announced "should be already in the main package for that much money". Or else the game will premiere "incomplete".

"It would be a waste to just make one game and have that be it."

Oh my God.

More of a great game is a good thing , but what i dont understand is why reveal this before the game has come out?

Surely in a years time when people have played the hell out of it you then say...surprise surprise look what weve got for you and people lap up the new content.

@rferrari24 me, I hope we do. Imagine a new 3D Zelda pumped out every 1 or 2 years. Horrible. I like how it's an event. How every new Zelda - 3D in particular - feels a labour of love, not just a generic cash cow.

Has it been explicitly said that the DLC is coming to Switch AND Wii U? (As someone who is buying the Wii U version, I hope so, but just wasn't sure if this had been said anywhere...)

I guess I'm fine with this and see Bill's point

Regardless of where people stand on the issue, they really should allow the option purchase each pack separately. That's pretty much standard and was something you could do in Mario Kart 8 as well. Or have they changed that aspect of it?

DLC isn't something that should ever really be pushed onto consumers "when they're at the store buying the game," especially not on day 1.

seeing as the DLC isn't going to be finished till quite a while after release, i thinks it dope

they have a point! why waste such an awesome experience with 1 playthrough!? just add more to the world that you didn't have time to finish, and go from there!

They should have a name for DLC like this,
perhaps "Honest DLC" ??? mainly because of how it's not pay-walled pre-made content like EA or Activision does.

There is a lot to dislike about the announcement but hopefully it's done as well as the DLC for MK8. The first pack is complete rubbish. The second pack details are very vague. The Wii U version of this game is costing me €40. The DLC is €20. Will I get 50% of the content from the main game? I very much doubt it. We'll be lucky for it to be even 5%. So when put in those terms, it doesn't represent great value.

That's to say nothing of the Switch T-shirt. Or the hard mode or The Cave of Trials which were free in previous games.

No, Nintendo.

Don't use Trinen's widely adored face and demeanor as an advocate for DLC in Zelda.

I will let this incident tarnish management rather than Bill. For now.

While I'm looking forward to the DLC, I also can't help but think about the trade-off... what would the developers have been working on if they weren't working on this?

Who cares. Dlc is probably already finished, probably could have been added to the final game. But you don't HAVE to buy it. The main game is gonna be massive.
Calm down children.

@Yrreiht again: with the main game you ARE having the full experience. The DLC is EXTRA content. You DO NOT miss anything if you do not buy it, you GAIN something if you buy it. Is it really so difficult to understand?

I will eventually get the dlc just not at launch. I will however buy a guardian amiibo if they are still there.

@XCWarrior
Which 90's song? Genuinely interested. 🤔

It's all fun and games until we start paying Tingle £1.99 for "chests".

I'm all for adding more substantial content, though what I think is irking people (myself included to an extent) is locking an increased game difficulty to DLC. There's no objective way to justify their logic with that aside from being unscrupulously profit motivated. It sets an ugly precedent and creates a negative talking point to surround Nintendo's future DLC plans.

Either way, it's fair to assume the story additions will be a worthy continuation of what already looks to be a wildly breathtaking game.

@Julien Ha, I never thought of it like that. They even reused most of the old assets! Just makes the final product all the more impressive, what a unique game.

Hope they sell the physical download cards with the artwork on.

@rjejr
Wow, I can see I pissed you off, so I'll tread lightly here.

The only thing I'm defending it from is, what I perceive to be somewhat reckless, uninformed attacks, the idea that making DLC is inherently evil, or that every single amiibo has to be purchased (not all of which applies to you, some of it does).

Maybe, it won't be good. Maybe it will. But I'm excited to see it, and given the quality of the actual game, there's little reason to question it imo. If that difficulty mode turns out to be something that should have been in the game, speak out. But you (and it's not just you, but I responded to you because I know you can be reasoned with) are speaking out without knowing anything. You're not saying "if, then" you're saying "it is" and then complaining about it.

I'm not telling you you should buy it, or that anyone else should either for that matter, but you're complaining about something you know nothing about as if it's a matter of fact. Is it not fair for me to say let's wait? You say to me I should wait, but I'm not passing judgement on it yet- I'm not saying "the hard mode is definitely Master Quest and it must be defended"... I'm simply defending its inherent right to be proven good or bad in due time. Innocent until proven guilty so to speak- I'm excited for the DLC, mainly the story and trials, but if it comes out and it's crap I'll pass judgement on it at that time.

Anyways, I'm sorry if I pissed you off. We've agreed on very little over the years, but I respect the heck out of you and I hope you know that.

"We really wanted players to be able to explore this world again... but with Link wearing a Nintendo Switch T-shirt"

Seriously though, Bill, we all know the sole reason DLC is created, you don't need to make up an excuse that it was for creative/design reasons... We get it.

This YouTube generation of gamers are turning in to a new form of SJW; like another version of Anita Sarkeesian/Jack Thompson, in their own way. They demand games be this or that way, just like Anita does, and they have no thought, respect or consideration for the talented developers who are actually making the content.

Yes, you pay for the product and yes, it is nice when the developer includes some things you want in it, but chill the f out with the rampant demands; these people aren't your slaves. I don't know, I'm just so sick of all the cynicism that surrounds gaming today.

@msvt Yes, both versions will have the same DLC with the same contents.

Ok mister.. but why not free DLC instead charging almost 2/3 of full game price?!
I'm not buying that. And... in development my %#%. In debugging process - maybe..

@rjejr I'm pretty sure Nintendo has said what some of them do with the exception of the Guardian.

And one more thing.. correct me if I'm wrong but zelda botw is in development for 8 years and it costs £50. Ok, you need to pay development costs, people etc... and basically for DLC priced at £20 it means they had or should work on that DLC 3 years and should be a massive content. When I say massive, I mean like whole new game massive ffs.
Why don't you just say "yea, we are becoming very, very greedy" and be fair to people that have something in their heads but love Nintendo in general and supporting it by paying for all that gimmicks you are throwing at us lately

The DLC might be great, we have no way to tell. But the announcement was absolutely terrible. Terrible timing. Terrible lack of detail. All people would come away with is: "Hey, this game you haven't got yet, guess what, we want £20 more for some trivial sounding extras"

My hope is that the game is good before I worry about the DLC. Too many games have come out released in a broken state and I hope this isn't the case for this.

@chardir Not to mention, there's been plenty of examples given, as to why announcing pre-launch DLC isn't the best idea. It reminds people of practices such as these: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-04-29-total-war-warhammer-dev-backtracks-over-controversial-chaos-warriors-dlc in which DLC is used as a pre-order incentive, but the devs cracked under pressure and decided to loosen up on it overall. And that's just one example, I'm sure there are plenty more, and I would be sincerely surprised if Nintendo is unaware of this.

Usually the youtube comments and NVC facebook group is a good place to talk about Nintendo. Nice community without the constant negativity and trolling MS and Sony fans you find here.

@Cheech89 I assume that comment was directed at someone else, perhaps the user who commented below me? I, personally, have every hope that it will be awesome, yet I'm still being cautious and waiting for more info before I throw the money down on it.

More Zelda is a good thing. Nobody says you have to get it. Just like you didn't have to get the wolf Amibo. I'm all about it.

Watch what this happen:
They decide later rather than sooner that all the ideas they have for a DLC would be better suited for a new game. The "DLC" now a sequel, get's delayed two years.

I'll consider buying it but why would anyone pay for the dlc in advance unless it's at a discounted price? Much better to wait until the dlc is released than give them the money months in advance.

I've got the Wii U game on pre-order but that's because I think it will have a low print run and could become difficult to get hold of. DLC will always be available.

@kenrulei Remember when Nintendo didn't do:

1) online
2) Make you play for online
3) mobile gaming
4) DLC
5) Paid DLC
6) Announcing BS DLC before the game even comes out
7) Patches
8) Overpriced controllers
9) Discounts on things on the digital store
10) Name their systems poorly
....

If you are going to start doing games with lots of DLC, then GOTY edtions will follow. Actually, it's already happening. See Mario Kart 8 for Switch, Smash for Switch, Hyrule Warriors for 3DS, etc. They might not call them GOTY, but that's what they are - game + extra stuff included.

@Fandabidozi Wow, had no idea how old the song I was thinking of was.

It was from the 70s - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXE_n2q08Yw

Also found this from ABB which is also insane.
http://www.vevo.com/watch/abba/money-money-money/SEAY87601060

Either one could be Nintendo's new mission statement. Making consistently quality games was certainly was tossed out the door.

There are many sides to DLC. It helps make bigger games actually worth developing and mitigates risk so more types of games get made. It offloads some of the development costs to super fans who are glad to pay for extra content. People who are complaining about "is it really worth one third the price of the original, am I getting that much content?" No, of course you aren't, but the other side of that is the main game is bigger and deeper because the costs will be paid for by fans who buy both. So, you are already getting a better game for less money.

People are happy to pay full price and never finish the game or see 50% of the content it offers. The percentages of people satisfied with this experience always shocks me a bit because I like to complete games. They are helping to pay for those of us who get much more value out of the game than they did. DLC could be compared to the other side of this. People who like to complete games are getting more value already, but people who buy DLC help to make that possible.

Anyway, these simple views of "lazy developers" and feeling nickel-and-dimed from consumers are knee-jerk reactions to actual poor value propositions and bad experiences, too, so balance is needed here. But it's the same type of balance that happens with setting prices and deciding on game length and the amount of content. Problem is it seems some people can't get past the surface level of understanding DLC. Bringing up "it was done before release" or "it was planned from the start" or "there at launch" is all meaningless as far as I'm concerned. Never understood why it mattered to people "when" it was done. Has no meaning to anyone. If publishers don't think they'll make the money already invested back, something needs to be done. Otherwise, development studios go out of business, that type of games doesn't get made anymore, etc.

@aaronsullivan When I buy something, I don't want to have to buy more elements to it later. I do like to complete games like you do, but when I start a game, I want all of it to be there and not hidden by a pay wall in the future.

All DLC says to me is, "wait 12-18 months, and the game will be $5-20 on Steam (obviously not for Zelda, but any PC game) complete with all DLC included." I don't need to play something Day 1. I won't buy BOTW now until they finish the damn game and it goes on sale.

More like we want more of your money.

The first DLC pack seems like junk. Some treasure chests and a hard mode? Come on now.. How does that even constitute DLC? The second pack seems vastly superior with the new dungeon and story. If I buy the pass it will be just for that 2nd pack... Honestly though, it is not a big deal. It's 2017, this is the way the video game industry operates now. Accept it or stop playing modern games. I'm sure we will get our moneys worth and then some with the base game. It's Zelda and it is going to be a MASSIVE adventure.

Glad to see it sounds like it's genuinely still in development. So the problem is just the really poor choice of timing for the announcement. I see why they did it. They want the impulse buy money when buying the whole setup, and he plainly admits it. But I wonder if the returns on the impulse buying are worth the negative publicity of the early DLC announcement.

@XCWarrior It depends if the DLC is really part of a game or if it's removed from the disc. It can go both ways and depends on trust of the developer unfortunately. Blizzard used to be famous for that. Diablo II the removed chapter 5, left the game short, and sold chapter 5 as the Lord of Destruction expansion pack (along with some new characters and skills etc to make it an actual expansion.) EA sells you day 1 stuff that should have been on the CD. If Bill's telling the truth (and he probably is in this case) the DLC really doesn't actually exist yet, it's just extra content made later, but not big enough to be a sequel or anything.

For a sandbox game I can understand DLC more than most game types because the base game is all about the world, but you can tell lots of smaller stories within that world almost like episodic or indie games. As long as the add-ons are worth it, and as long as the base game is worth it. That kind of DLC is usually either non-canon, or is a prologue for a sequel.

Remember the creative part of the team has been sitting idle with nothing to do for a year because the game was actually done for WiiU a year ago before the technical team had to retool it for Switch. Might as well give them extra content to make in the mean-time and sell it as DLC.

@vio I really think the whole thing is about the second pack, the first pack is just kind of a bonus to give you incentive to buy it earlier when you're more likely to actually buy it. By November most of us will be done the game and will probably have moved on to a new game and be less tempted by the DLC than if we already pay for it now, so they're trying to prod us to pay up earlier than later.

I still don't like the concept of DLC in general but I'm less bothered by it than the day it was announced. I think my big issue is we have no idea what it is we're getting. Why would I want to pay $20 for something that I have no idea how good it will be? I mean it's Zelda and I trust Nintendo and the Zelda team so logically I should be okay just blindly giving them money but I mean what is the content? We have no idea. "Vague story mode. Vague map feature. Vague hard mode. Vague treasure chests". Like, give us more info then I'll buy it if it sounds good.

Hoping the Hard mode is akin to OoT Master Quest, perfect reason to revisit the game months after you've already completed it's main story.All the way through you'll be like, 'i don't remember that boss being here? and just outside the spawn point? with no equipment?, noooo this is impossible'. Bring it on.

Just to put in into perspective, you all buy remakes and releases of these games, to play the Exact same game.Why not have some DLC 'new content' to help change what you already loved playing.
The whole negative argument is hypocritical of the games industry as it stands to this day.An you have a choice of Not buying it, if the main game dissapoints you for whatever reason.

I am happy with the content. I am already sold.

Now, if Ninty wanted to DLC enthusiasts on board, they should add a little more: horse armor 😝😝😝

@Spoony_Tech Totally agree.

@XCWarrior Stop trolling

"was Nintendo being too exploitative or just catching up with the times"

Hah! Almost correct. It's doing both. It's catching up with the times by being too exploitative, something its competitors have been doing for a long time.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
People saying "yay more Zelda" .... or does tacking on paid DLC keep them from making the next Zelda for longer?

See with Smash, adding levels and characters, or with MK8 adding tracks and drivers extends the game. No need for MK9 then.

But with Zelda - it keeps us from getting the next sweeping epic because the story is done (main game) and now they're just trying to keep us busy for some extra cash.

I am glad the explanation is "we finished the game and then were like... should we do more?" that is FAR BETTER than "we should make a game... but with dlc". I'm glad it's excitement to make more rather than a front-end plan to hold back.

Still, I don't think it's a fit like Smash or MK8 as explained above.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am paying $59.99 and getting the exact same game that everyone else is paying 75-100 bucks for (Master version). Thus I have no problem spending a little extra for the paid DLC.

How does this not make sense? They did it before with Majoras Mask. It might not a be a whole new world but it's not full retail price either.

@XCWarrior
I suspected it was, being old enough to remember that one at the time. 😄

@rjejr I still don't get what the "other side" is? The DLC has no bearing on experiencing the complete game. It's extra content, whether $20 worth or not. So what exactly is the problem here? I still have no clue how anyone found any issue with this. And if its the timing of the announcement, what difference does it make if it were weeks before or after? Those who want to moan and find fault with it would have regardless.

If your just buying stuff that adds no replay value then it's DLC done wrong.
In the case of the zelda DLC part 1 sounds like the above but part 2 is the correct way to do DLC (add new stories and adventures to an open world)

ITS NOT A SEASON PASS! IT'S AN EXPANSION PASS!

@rjejr Seems that the BotW amiibo unlock rare items like Zelda gives a shield. Given the usage of "rare", the items must be available ingame normally and so the amiibo are all useless!

@Sonic200012 I'm not trolling. I hate paid DLC. I thought it was BS the first time someone introduced it, and I still think its BS now.

You can be the whale that keeps handing over money to these money-sucking companies, but not me. Loved how Nintendo stayed away from a lot of the BS for so long, but no apparently gamers have tons of income they can't wait to burn, so to survive they are joining the whale hunting program.

I'll continue to buy all games on sale and on clearance or on a Steam sale. You enjoy spending $70+ dollar for BOTW and I'll enjoy the game just as much when I get the whole thing for $20 in a year or two. I got the backlog to keep me busy.

@bezerker99 Try 130$ for the master edition. Of course I'm only paying 107$ through Best Buy.

@Spoony_Tech Good gosh! I went for the exact opposite. Wii U version, ftw! lol

I enjoyed Ninty's DLC pricing with Mario Kart and Smash Bros. I've purchased Skyrim and Oblivion DLC, Batman Arkham game DLC and I've never felt ripped off.

Most of the time you get what you pay for. As long as ya get a full game for $59.99 then what you pay for DLC afterwards is on you. Making these huge open worlds that only a handle of players get 100% on anyways = a lotta wasted programming. I got no problem if developers want to get more mileage by offering DLC packs to serve as additional incentives to revisit and explore their huge extravagant worlds.

@UmbreonsPapa

Agree, completely. Like many of critiques made toward Nintendo, this one is one of the most ridiculous. DLC is optional. It is the consumer's choice to buy or not. This isn't a Street Fighter V situation where you don't really get much for the price of admission and you have to pay DLC to get a full fledged fighting game.

More Zelda is always good in my book. Bring it on. Bethesda announced their season pass for fallout 4 before they finalized what would be in it. Why is Nintendo doing the same a bad thing?

@Yrreiht incorrect. The full Breath of the Wild experience is in the box. If you don't want to wait 4-7 years for the next game, then there is post Breath of the Wild content coming.

If you want to wait for the next one, please do. As for me, I appreciate that we no longer have to wait for a new engine or console to get more Zelda.

@Grawlog Hearts of Stone and Wine and Blood were way more than an extra dungeon and just a little bit of extra story content... And the other DLC of Witcher 3 is all free, and not hidden behind any paywall. So no, this is not as good a deal as Witcher 3. But it's not as bad as Street Fighter 5, Marvel vs Capcom 3, etc.

@Grumblevolcano Well unless they mean "Rare" as in "You can only get this shield w/ this amiibo". Nintendo doesn't say much, and they like their enigma language.

And I wouldn't call it "useless" if the item is so rare it's hard to get w/o going thru a 12 our random sidequest that you can only find if you accidentally fall down into a gully and land on a frog while it's mid-hop. Or it's only available late in the game or the "after" game but the amiibo gives it to you to start. May not be overly useful, but useful for a bit.

I finished the main story in FFXV last night, about 80 hours in but I could have done it in 40, and 1 of the best items in the game, Regalia-F, only gets handed to you after you beat the story. It would have been worth a $12 amiibo to have that from the beginning. And then of course there's the "random drop" missions that require you to keep killing the same creature over and over again until it finally drops the item you need. I gave up on 1 of those after a few ties, not a fan of random. So if the amiibo wants to give me that item, I'll take it.

amiibo as DLC as toys is about as subjective as it comes, I get that, half your fanbase is always going to be mad, either it does too much or not enough, but they should still be up front about it.

This explanation still doesn't... explain... why they don't just give away all of this content as a gift throughout 2017 for early adopters? They delayed this game for nearly 2 extra years, and neutered the original control features of the Wii U version. I think offering the DLC content for free during a limited amount of time would do wonders to generate good publicity, and soften the blow from this roller coaster ride of a development period.

@UmbreonsPapa "I still don't get what the "other side" is?"

Well I'm guessing you already read my long post giving several examples of what the "other side" is so you are either refusing to acknowledge it could be an issue w/ some people or you just don't want to get it, but I'll try 1 more time since you asked nice and didn't insult me, which is becoming a rarity on here these days, a difference of opinion w/o insults.

First, what you said - "The DLC has no bearing on experiencing the complete game. It's extra content,"

Well first, we don't know if it actually does have any bearing on the experience b/c we don't know what it is, so how can you possibly know that? DLC pack 1 reads in part - "New Hard Mode" and "Additional Map Feature". Neither of those sounds like "extra content" to me. Hard mode sounds like hard mode, which isn't extra content, just a setting; and map feature, well it says "Feature", so it's not a new map, that wouldn't be extra content, it's a feature.

The bonus pass says "Contains useful items". We still don't know what those are yet. If they are something that is in the game you find later, well you are right, no big deal just a little less hunting for those who pay. Though I'd say that changes the experience but that's kind of nit-picky so lets skip that debate. However if the useful items aren't in the game, only in those paid chests, well then the game isn't actually complete w/o it.

And that brings us back to the original topic or comment, which is really the crux of the problem but maybe you missed it.

What you said - "the complete game. It's extra content,"

Who gets to decide what's complete and what's extra? If there is "Extra" content, well then the game simply ins't complete w/o it is it? If people who pay get to put it in the game, thus making the game complete, then it wasn't "Complete" before. "Complete" and "Extra" are opposites, you can't claim the game is both "Complete" yet there is "Extra" content.

Lets use a real world example to demonstrate and illustrate.

The Witcher 3 comes out, it's $60. Sells a season pass that has 2 separate story segments, you can buy those together or alone. After those 2 DLC packages release the dev bundles the original game and the DLC together and sells it as 1 package for $50. Guess what THAT version of the game is called. I'll give you a hint.

See also -
Midnight Club Los Angeles: Complete Edition
LA Noire Complete Edition
Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition

It's only a "complete" game, when it is in fact a complete game. Before that it's a "game" w/ extra content sold separelty. Extra content might matter, it might not, it might already be in the game, it might not, might change the experience, it might not, it might be worth the money, it might not. We don't even know what this stuff is yet, so it's tough to discuss, but I can understand people being unhappy about it - more $, and thrilled about it - more Zelda.

@Grumblevolcano Here's the video, I like a handy reference point.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XdANVP7QXHo

@PlywoodStick Well that was brave of you. Not sure how many of the previous comments you read but the overall feel seems to be we give Nintendo all of our money no questions asked.

@Captain_Gonru What's the Wii U disappointment here? Wii U is getting the Expansion pass, which I'm surprised about b/c part of it won't be out until the holiday, which means they have to keep online working until at least then. After the Internet free Wii Mini that's a huge Wii U win right there. I'm disappointed about no special bundles for the Wii U version but the system is getting the game and the pass, that's practically cause for celebration as a Wii U owner. The amiibo packaging is Wii U and 3DS only. Take that early Switch adopters.

@yomanation My suggestion would be to have customers pay for the DLC in 2018 and beyond, but for 2017, all new copies would get the DLC as a thank you gift. I think that strategy would also really boost sales around the holidays, since that's when the final and most significant DLC pack will be released.

It was already confirmed by Aonuma that the reason why the Wii U version of BotW was further delayed, with the Wii U controls being axed, was to ensure that the NS could have BotW in it's launch day lineup. If BotW had been released in 2016 for Wii U, with an NS version not being worked on midway through the Wii U development cycle, the NS launch lineup would have been as it is now, except without BotW... In other words, it would have been the worst main Nintendo console launch of all time. BotW's Wii U version became a sacrificial lamb to ensure that the launch of the NS would be astronomically better. (Aonuma didn't use those exact words, but essentially that's what he revealed.)

@rjejr Lol Yeah, I'm an oddball around these parts. I still intend to get the Wii U version of BotW, but I'm not going to buy the DLC. (I've done the same thing with other games I wanted to support, bought the game, but not the DLC.)

I didn't think Majora's Mask was DLC to Ocarina of Time.
I thought the ACTUAL Ocarina of Time DLC (the N64DD Expansion Disk) was canceled.

I might not really like the idea but I'm definitly getting it day 1. I wanted the amiibo too but now seeing (just rumors bc of the box) what they do don't think I want them it's not like it's exclusive content

@Captain_Gonru
Removing the map was bogus. I still think they should have kept it for Wii U version and done HD rumble for Switch... I always liked the map on the gamepad. Some games like Monster Hunter benefitted so much from it (gonna suck going back to one screen). Zelda never needed it, but it did benefit. Quick swap inventory in particular.

I don't think a game ever did truly live up. But I think as time went on, all of us realized how much we hated looking down at the gamepad. It wasn't bad at first but more and more I became disillusioned with it. The benefits were great, but it wasn't convenient like on a 3DS. And of course, when most games arent even using it properly (no rear view mirror for MK8, that's when my turning point came) it's hard to keep caring.

As for the game being pushed back, that's something I just don't care about. In fact, I'm glad they made sure it's a dual release. Now I can enjoy this huge open world on console and handheld and everywhere in between. But see, I don't get all hyped up until the game releases (or in case of Switch launch, NOW, when we're a week away). So all this time others are dying waiting for news, I'm playing games on 3DS, Wii U, PS4, X1, PC... even the occasional Vita game. Too much to currently play to care about a game that's still in development.

Anyways, when you own every platform known to man, you see your fair share of DLC. And this seems nothing out of the ordinary (aside from actually being for a game I really care about and what could be one of the best games ever made) And really, the longer they work on it the better. That's just more value for our money. So either way... it's all good.

@Spoony_Tech I am too. I just get very upset when the Season Pass is to unlock something already on the Cartridge. Pardon my language but doing it that way which seems tne way of the future anyway on all systems , is like... I like getting the game and playing it to the end. Then later in a year or so get an addon Patch or new content all entirely. But whatever im still buying the beastand have very high hopes for 3des'K TYPE OF RUN FOR THE SYSTEM WHICH I DO THINK THEY ARE LAYING IT OUT IN THAT DIRECTION FOR US.. SO I will be all in on probably what will be my last system purchase for a home console ever. Im 51 now and im all in on Switch!

I just hope my order gets shipped on the 3rd. I pre ordered from Gamestop mail order only which has no guarantee of arival or shipping dat on my receipt. Im wondering if camping out at Gamestop might be the trick. Plus alot of fun should it succeed.

@Windy No, we won't pardon your language. You've been here long enough to know the rule on profanity around here, surely.

Zelda DLC is gonna be dope.

@rjejr So we are suggesting its a matter of semantics or how one chooses, individually to define "complete". Fine, I guess I can't argue if someone decides a game isn't complete because of expectant DLC.

As for the DLC itself, I don't think an additional map feature would be integral to the game or completing the game if it weren't already available. Nintendo can do some boneheaded things. Never have they crippled a game for a feature to be paid for and downloaded later.

And I've played plenty of games that have or unlocked a hard mode after completing the initial walkthrough. Again, its a mode you can optionally choose to do and still has no bearing on initially completing a game. Though as you pointed out, if one truly feels a game isn't complete without it, then their feelings are just as valid as mine.

As for your examples of games with "complete" editions released later, I can't really fault developers for trying to entice those who didn't buy the games the first time and for those who feel they need to double dip. I don't think they are necessarily an indictment on whether a game is complete or not if DLC is later released. I think its more marketing terminology than anything to play on the feeling that what you bought before wasn't adequate enough. But again, you make the great point that if someone feels a game isn't complete as it is, their feelings are just as valid as mine.

@PlywoodStick "the Wii U version of BotW"

I was planning on getting that version for the Gamepad screen usage for the map, but the game releases in 7 days and we still haven't seen it. I know they took out the real time map but the consensus was you could still touch it and use it while paused. But who knows, maybe it's just a black screen now at all times. At least if it was black it would save the Gamepad battery.

My kids though want to wait until we get a Switch for Christmas for XC2 and Mario Odyssey, so who knows.

@UmbreonsPapa "Never have they crippled a game for a feature to be paid for and downloaded later."

Your reply was so non-confrontational I wasn't going to reply and risk escalating things to a place neither of us wants to be, but that "Never" caught my eye. You can say "never before" about a lot of things Nintendo has done lately, no? Super Mario on iOS. Wasn't a new Mario game only supposed to be on mobile after heck froze over? DLC for Pikmin 3 I think was first. Then MK8 and SSBU, which they actually said wouldn't have any and if you bought it all would cost more than the game. Then the amiibo, which some people consider to be physical DLC.

So while I think you are exaggerating with your use of "crippled" for effect to make a point, whatever the map is before I'm sure it will be perfectly functional, just not as improved as it will be after, you have a point about Nintendo not having done that before, but it's a new Nintnedo.

A few other things that had people shaking their heads at Nintnedo that Nintendo added later without feeling the need to charge more money for the "improvement" or "variety" or "fix", whatever you want to call it. Doesn't mean the game was crippled before, but even great games can be improved upon without always charging more money for the added whatever.

Pro controller support for NSMBU. Quote - "the absence of which was slightly baffling in the first place;"

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/05/new_super_mario_bros_u_update_arriving_with_luigis_dlc

Touchscreen control added to Pikmin 3. Not a big deal but folk in the comments were very happy for the new way to play.

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/05/pikmin_3_update_adds_new_stylus_control_style

So no, these games weren't crippled before, but something was added later for free that for some people did improve the experience. We don't know what map feature they are adding. I told my wife maybe it will just be thematic, make the map look like it's drawn on an old scroll, or maybe a globe we can spin, or handdrawn ink on paper. So maybe it won't really do anything. Or maybe it will. I still think, depending on what it is, Nintendo should have given that to everyone.

You follow FFXV at all? $25 season pass, but also a lot of items for free. I like a balance.