2K confirms BioShock 2 DLC plans

By Tom Bramwell Published 19 January, 2010

"Pretty aggressive plans" at that.

2K Marin is already hard at work on downloadable content for BioShock 2, according to senior systems designer Kent Hudson.

"Absolutely!" Hudson said when asked if there were DLC plans by Australian Gamer (thanks Joystiq).

"We are working on pretty aggressive plans for DLC and that's actually something that is already under way.

"That is something that is mostly being run out of the Marin studio because like I said the Australian studio is already ramping up on the next big thing."

The original BioShock was supported by the release of a downloadable Challenge Rooms package on PS3 post-release.

BioShock 2 is due out for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on 9th February. In addition to a substantial single-player campaign, 2K has introduced a whopping multiplayer component set before the fall of Rapture.

Check out our hands-on with the first few hours of the game for more, and look out for our review nearer release.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (33) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Rizo #1 2 years ago

    This is why I plan on waiting 6 months for the game of the year edition. £30 with all DLC :)

  • RedPanda #2 2 years ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012

  • Murton #3 2 years ago

    Game isn't even out yet but the marketing campaign for the DLC is beginning. By aggressive I'm assuming there's going to be quite a bit of it and it's going to come in early after the main game is released. These sorts of DLC plans are more likely to put me off from buying a game on release day in favour of picking up a better deal later on, thus saving myself the ten quid required to buy the DLC should I enjoy the main game enough to want it.

    I'll admit that there is a small cynical part of me that believes that the "aggressive" and "intense" DLC strategies we've seen announced in the last week or so may just be a patch for an otherwise lacklustre game that doesn't quite meet up to expectations. I hope to be proven wrong many times, but sadly I don't think I will.

  • HermitArcader #4 2 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:17:39 22-12-2011

  • MORZTAN #5 2 years ago

    "We are already planning heeps of downloadable content, instead of actually putting it in the game. That way we can make you pay for the pieces of the game, that you would have gotten for free 4 years ago"

    I have said it before and I will say it again: I hate the concept of DLC!!!!

  • damascus #6 2 years ago

    oh my. I understand the point of view of Vertical Stand and its actually quite a good one too.

    but, i still see it as extra effort to profit from the game... I'll probably do what Rizo will do and grab it when its in the bargain bin. I can wait anyway.

  • Caimbeul #7 2 years ago

    "aggressive plans for DLC" appears to be the new "in" phrase. . .

  • Miths #8 2 years ago

    I admire the willpower of those able to just say "I'll wait several months for the GOTY edition". When I'm looking forward to a game I NEED it on release day, even if I'm up to my neck in other games I barely have time to play :).

    That said, BioShock 2 isn't really one of those games - although given how much I enjoyed the first, I imagine it's quite likely that I nevertheless will end up buying it on release.

  • Monkey_Puncher #9 2 years ago

    "Would you kindly play some team deathmatch"

  • Retroid #10 2 years ago

    If it's single player then good luck to them, personally I couldn't give a toss about multiplayer stuff for Bioshock; the 'incentives' I've seen from certain shops for exclusive multiplayer characters just leave me completely and utterly cold.

  • Bazfrag #11 2 years ago

    Ship it on the disk ffs. Oh well.

  • LiveForever #12 2 years ago

    Everyone wants to cash in. Show me the money !!!

  • Skooch #13 2 years ago

    The judgement on whether DLC is worth paying the extra is only worthwhile on a game-by-game basis. Play the full game and see how it goes - if you love it and want more then buy the DLC and you probably won't be disappointed. If you don't rate it, then trade in the game and the lower cost plus the opportunity to extend the game will be attractive to others, keeping the trade-in price a little higher.

    It really is a very straightforward decision - but one that YOU can't make until YOU have played the game. People on comments threads denouncing the DLC before they've even played the game is ridiculous.

  • Hantheman #14 2 years ago

    Why are DLC plans always "aggressive"? Why can't they be friendly?

  • Ged42 #15 2 years ago

    Aggressive RAARR

  • kristo #16 2 years ago

    Skooch: But maybe I don't want to take the risk and buy a incomplete game. I mean, yay for them trying new things, but it just smells like a money grab. Which is fine, just don't involve me and don't expect me to pay to see if I am ok with it. I'll wait and see.

  • Yossarian #17 2 years ago

    Yeah, "aggressive" is a really poor choice of word. Don't they have PR handlers to help them with this stuff?

  • andywilkie35 #18 2 years ago

    There's so many games coming out that I was considering putting off Bioshock 2 for a bit, now that there's DLC being released that Rizo's idea of waiting for a cheaper version with all the DLC (in other words, the full game) is an excellent idea

  • M4RV #19 2 years ago

    Why developers insist in stating the obvious every single time...?!?! We all know it will have DLC, specially having in mind its brand new MP component, but I'd appreciate the idea of actually getting the full package for like, 35 quid, instead of having the game piece by piece. It's like I'm trying to assemble a puzzle, but if I want to have it finished, I need to buy more pieces, other than the ones already included in the original package. Paradox really... :\

  • tobsen #20 2 years ago

    I understand the concept of 2K wanting to aggressively exploit my wallet, but I am not sure if it makes me more likely to buy their game.

  • muscleblade #21 2 years ago

    @Miths

    Im like that too. If i dont buy a game at release i probably never buy it. Too many new games are coming all the time so i never need to look back at older titles. Bioshock 2 isnt on my list either. I dont have time for anything but the most wanted games in this busy period. I loved the first aswell but the competition is much bigger now.
    Just when ive finished ME2 and Aliens vs Predator (i have high hopes) Lost Planet 2 and Crackdown 2 is just around the corner.

  • Paulie_P #22 2 years ago

    And there's one less sale of Bioshock 2.

  • metalangel #23 2 years ago

    For years I only bought stuff preowned. But with the 360 games were new and exciting in a way they hadn't been to me for years so I found myself buying on release and preordering. Now, though, with games coming out with parts missing (to be added in later at a vastly disproportionate price) I find myself deciding more and more to wait and buy preowned/GOTY copies. "Free to new purchasers" DLC like Bioware are doing isn't enough to convince me, especially when that gives you just one of what will apparently be many DLCs.

  • aaronali #24 2 years ago

    @ Vertical Stand

    I agree with your post. This plan follows the same thought process as the Bioshock multiplayer. It's a way to diminish the quick trade-in of a primarily single player ip. I have absolutely no problem with this. Bottom line: I love this development crew and trust that they will keep the fans happy. You all can wait if you like, I'm diving in. See you in rapture!
    Edited by 1 at 19/01/10 @ 16:08

  • monkeywithnoeyes #25 2 years ago

    just makes me want to wait for the GOTY edition when i hear how dlc is already being worked on before the games even out. I don't understand how this mentality of asking us to pay for additional content within the same week of the main games release benefits them.

    It;s the same with getting your £50rrp game and discovering locked content on it - which is getting more and more regular

  • DanWhitehead #26 2 years ago

    Why, it's almost as if these games are being made by commercial companies, with bank accounts and overheads and stuff!

    *shakes fist*

  • masterson #27 2 years ago

    This thread confuses me.
    All games will get cheaper and potentially have more expansions packs/DLC available if you wait long enough - this is nothing new.
    As for Bioshock 2 - I'm there on launch day as I loved the first one to bits and genuinely feel it warranted the widespread critical acclaim. If you don't feel the same that's cool, but I sincerely doubt this announcement made any difference to your intentions to purchase it or not.

  • coolbritannia #28 2 years ago

    Surely you're not attempting to justify release week dlc dan? Smacks of desperation if the multiplayer can't last a month without dlc. Do not want.

  • Diabeu #29 2 years ago

    would you kindly give me your money?

  • TRUTH #30 2 years ago

    Is it me or does Bioshock 2 way to similar to Bioshock 1..graphics, look and a majority of the gameplay seems too similar ti Bio 1...It just seems they added a story rather then new gameplay!

  • metalangel #31 2 years ago

    @DanWhitehead: And? I have bills to pay too. I want value for my money, which is not what this sort of practice represents to me. So instead of offering me a complete product and getting my cash, they've offered me a reduced product at the same price with the option to complete it for added cost, and are not getting my cash.

  • Murton #32 2 years ago

    Masterson: there are a few cases in which this simply isn't happening though. In HMV today I saw Modern Warfare, the first one, for 45 quid, same price in Game and Gamestation. That game was released two and a half years ago and cost 40 quid on release, it's actually gone up a fiver and there's still only the one DLC, and that's a pointless multiplayer map pack, which is what I'm expecting from Bioshock actually, at least for the first one or two DLCs, multiplayer maps and maybe some reskins.

    These days when I hear a developer or publisher revving their hype machine about DLC before the game is even released what I actually hear is a marketing guy soiling himself in fear that the game won't meet targets. Is it really the end of the world if you only manage 6 figure sales in your first week? Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga has been in the all formats charts for over two years and they did that without any post release patches never mind DLC. Every publisher seems to think that DLC is the golden road to success right now, but as this thread is proving gamers don't care about DLC, they just want good games, and that's why Lego Star Wars is still in the charts, because it's simply a good game.

  • muscleblade #33 2 years ago

    @TRUTH

    I think you have a point. This is the case with many (most) sequels but in Bioshocks case i think going through the same environments doing the same things all over again could be unsatisfying. It was great in Bioshock but im afraid its not enough for the sequel. Ive heard that the multiplayer is great, but people that buy this for the singleplayer (most people) will feel underwhelmed.

    And where do the drill go when you pick up guns with your right arm?? Tell me.