Although gaming brings people who love the medium for the amazing moments it produces together, there are also processes that developers and studios have to pay attention to if they hope to stay in business. Sometimes, the capitalist demands clash with what gamers want, and this leads to practices that many view as predatory and exploitative. Fortunately, not all studios have taken this path, and withResident Evil Village, Capcom has demonstrated that it is possible to reap the most from a game without making gamers feel like they’re being milked.
Resident Evil Villageis a single-player game, and such titles are typically hard to continue monetizing after the initial hype has worn off. Capcom has addressed this by providing the game with DLC that is attractive to both newcomers and gamers who have experienced the base game already. Some of the DLC has even been free, demonstrating that Capcom does have gamers in mind when it makes its decisions.
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Resident Evil Village’s DLC Breathes New Life Into the Game
Resident Evil Villagewas originally released in 2021, and it represents yet another stellar entry in the franchise. Like its predecessor, it takes on a first-person perspective, and it features both puzzles and nail-biting enemy encounters. Despite being a standoutsurvival horror game, it is a short title that could have easily been yesterday’s news quickly. However, it is still regularly discussed, and this is because Capcom continues to support the game with DLC.
The biggest DLC forResident Evil Villageis theWinters' Expansion, which was released in late 2022. The DLC adds, among other features, the Shadows of Rose story expansion and a third-person mode that entirely changes how the game feels. The expansion makes it a good idea for gamers who have already playedResident Evil Villageto jump back into the game because the new perspective is very transformative. It also gave the game a second chance to lure new gamers who may have avoided the title because they aren’t comfortable with first-person games.
Capcom has continued to supportResident Evil Villagein 2023 with the recent VR mode which made the game playable on the PS VR2. Once again, the new mode transforms gameplay entirely, as the gunplay is a much more involved experience and the jump scares feel more real than ever. Although thePS VR2 has plenty of launch titles,Resident Evil Villageis easily in the running to be considered one of the best horror titles currently available on the PS VR2.
Capcom’s Approach to DLC With Resident Evil Village is Less Invasive
Gamers have to pay forWinters' Expansion, though newcomers can purchase the Gold Edition ofResident Evil Villagewhich comes bundled with all the DLC. The VR mode update is entirely free, however, which is a surprising move, but it benefits both gamers and Capcom. Gamers get easy access to an amazing horror title that they can now play in VR for free. Capcom also gets to attract new customers who are looking for a horror title for their new headset and find thatResident Evil Villageoffers a full-scale AAA gaming experience in VR.
Though many studios have leaned toward aggressive monetization, resulting ininvasive microtransactions and expensive DLC, Capcom is demonstrating that this isn’t the only way to be financially successful. Sometimes, simply providing a game with a steady stream of high-quality is more than enough to keep gamers coming.
Resident Evil Villageis available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS VR2, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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