How DLC boosts engagement for PC and console games
With the rise of live-service games, releasing a constant stream of new content has become increasingly important for developers and publishers alike. Understanding what kinds of content can attract new players, reengage old ones, and extend a game’s lifecycle is essential to this process.
In this free report by Newzoo, 1,600 DLC releases on PC and console from April 2020 to April 2023 are analysed, and it zooms in on how DLC boosts engagement for games across various sizes (by player base) and genres.
Key takeaways:
- In 2022, DLC sales accounted for 13% of PC revenue and 7% of console revenue in the US
- DLC boosted overall monthly active users (MAU) by +11% across PC and console
- Medium-sized games (meaning 250,000 to 2 million MAU in the DLC-launch month) benefitted the most from expansion packs, with an average month-on-month MAU growth of +22%
- Strategy games experienced the highest MAU growth from DLC between 2020 and 2023, followed by games in the role-playing and simulation genres on PC and console
The report also features case studies on The Sims 4 and Dead Cells to show how free-to-play and premium games utilize DLC.
With so many games battling for players’ attention and finances, it’s essential to have the most in-depth insights on what content works and why.
Download the free report at Newzoo 👇