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In a world of season passes and microtransactions, developers should be turning to developer Eric Barone for guidance on how to approach DLC. Barone, also known as ConcernedApe, was speaking with a fan on X who voiced that they wouldn’t be interested in procuring any more of Stardew Valley’s (seemingly endless) updates in the future if the developer were to begin charging for them. Here was Barone’s reply:
I swear on the honor of my family name, i will never charge money for a DLC or update for as long as I live. Screencap this and shame me if I ever violate this oath
— ConcernedApe (@ConcernedApe) July 22, 2024
In case you can’t view the above post, Barone said:
I swear on the honor of my family name, i will never charge money for a DLC or update for as long as I live. Screencap this and shame me if I ever violate this oath
That must be pretty reassuring to the legions of fans who adore Stardew Valley and want to continue experiencing the new innovations that Barone keeps bringing to the game. That said, as nice of a promise as it is to see made, not every developer (especially indie developers) can afford to keep adding content to their games without charging a fee. On the flip side, however, there are many devs (particularly in the AAA space) who are all too happy to charge very high fees for additional game content.
Finding the balance between fair and exorbitant remains elusive to many game studios and publishers, so it’s nice to see Barone be so giving in a time where many are not.
Source: ConcernedApe X Account
