BioWare DLC codes do not expire

By Robert Purchese Published 12 April, 2010

Bonus DAO, ME2 content is timeless.

EA's told Eurogamer that codes for bonus Dragon Age: Origins or Mass Effect 2 content do not expire and can be redeemed beyond what the leaflets inside the retail boxes say.

"EA BioWare has confirmed there is no expiry date on DLC codes," the publisher relayed to us.

Comment comes after eagle-eyed Eurogamer readers spotted a 30th April expiry date written in small letter on the back of the bonus DLC leaflet inside a Dragon Age: Origins retail box.

These 'bonus' codes are a part of the Project Ten Dollar initiative at EA, which aims to stamp out 'invisible' second-hand sales by offering first-hand buyers extra incentives.

Both Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2 provided extra armour, items and even in-game companions.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (25) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • Teejvan #1 2 years ago

    Good!

  • Murton #2 2 years ago

    Dragon Age Origins is currently £20 in most high street stores, can't help but wonder if the supposed expiration date played a part in that. Reduced price in combo with an approaching expiration date would be an inviting combination for an impulse buy.

    Great news that they don't expire though.

  • Ferral #3 2 years ago

    The probs with the DLC codes on the PS3 has been a big thing I'm guessing also. On the Bioware boards there are so many threads about DLC going missing after the codes have been put in (happened to me on the PS3). Guess this is a way of saying apologies for people that cant get their free DLC

  • bad09 #4 2 years ago

    Good news, it did sound a bit too evil even for EA. But why have the expiry date in the first place? Maybe they were going to but came to their senses at the last minute.

  • iamian #5 2 years ago

    Im not sure the expiry date would account for the cheapness of DAO

    Don't know... when you think that the game came out in November and has been selling at pretty much full price ever since. I thought the price drop might have been because of the expiry date

  • mingster #6 2 years ago

    Project $10 - Me love you long time.

  • ignatiusjreilly #7 2 years ago

    @mingster

    Wow, that joke has been done a thousand times on EG but that's the first time it's been done well and appropriately. Well done Sir :)

  • kangarootoo #8 2 years ago

    "but have to wonder why the box mentions the expiry date then. A mistake or cynical marketing idea of EA. Who knows."

    Occam's razor applies here methinks.

  • Xerx3s #9 2 years ago

    "These 'bonus' codes are a part of the Project Ten Dollar initiative at EA, which aims to stamp out 'invisible' second-hand sales by offering first-hand buyers extra incentives. "

    Have bought ME2 and BFBC2 and so far, I haven't been too impressed with this service. Most is stuff that was either on the disc already or just isn't worth playing at all.

  • geeza2020 #10 2 years ago

    Xerx3s -
    i dont particularly care if the content is already on the disc. If it prevents the dirty retailers getting their mitts on ridiculously over-priced second-hand sales (MW2 brand new: £39.99, second hand £37.99 WTF??) then im all for it.

  • ignatiusjreilly #11 2 years ago

    @geeza2020

    Those "dirty retailers" are the only reason you can get MW2 for £39.99 in the first place. If it weren't for their discounting you'd be paying £54.99, making a £37.99 second-hand copy seem like not such a bad deal.

  • metalangel #12 2 years ago

    None of the Project Ten Dorrah stuff has been earth-shatteringly great. They've got to pull a trick out of their hat and quick.

  • photoboy #13 2 years ago

    It's probably more work for them to take the DLC off the server than it is to just leave it there!

  • raion #14 2 years ago

    I'm sure servers will be timeless too.

  • Pastici #15 2 years ago

    So people can only complain if they don't like free stuff now?

  • rogermellie #16 2 years ago

    Couldn't they give anyone that bought the game say within 3-6 months of release a big IOU for future DLC at the inital purchase. At the same time make the redemption of this voucher mandatory to unlock the last 1/4 of the full game to snag 2nd hand customers.

  • Dragul #17 2 years ago

    Well the FIFA 10 bonus Stadium sure did disappear from the store... :(

  • thefinn #18 2 years ago

    "Don't know... when you think that the game came out in November and has been selling at pretty much full price ever since. I thought the price drop might have been because of the expiry date"

    But why would it drop now then? After all, even with the expiry date, the codes would still be valid for another couple of weeks. Would make a bit more sense for the price to drop once the codes were actually expired.

    In any case: Good news. Now I don't have to worry about getting ME2 before the DLC codes for that expire. I'm a bit Bioware'd out after playing DAO incessantly for a month and a half.

  • INSOMANiAC #19 2 years ago

    Those were my eagle eyes ! Woop Woop !

  • Gastrian #20 2 years ago

    YOUR eagle eyes? Myself and others had been mentioning it in the comments thread for various project 10$ pieces since Dragon Age came out. The fact that it had an expiry date is old news.

  • metalangel #21 2 years ago

    At the same time make the redemption of this voucher mandatory to unlock the last 1/4 of the full game to snag 2nd hand customers.

    The day that happens is the day I stop gaming. If you really think that's a good idea, you need punching very hard in the face.

  • rogermellie #22 2 years ago

    @metalangel

    I do and who said gaming doesn't make you aggressive?

    Anyway, I'd start looking for a new hobby now before ADSL bandwidth improves. Then it will be 100% DLC RRP with no re-sale value.

  • geeza2020 #23 2 years ago

    - ignatius - you really would have to be seriously retarded to pay £54.99 for a game. I mean SERIOUSLY retarded. Just order it online. i got my copy of MW2 for 37.99 brand new. And anyway my point wasnt about MW2, it was just about retailers ripping people off with their second hand prices.

  • Murton #24 2 years ago

    "Anyway, I'd start looking for a new hobby now before ADSL bandwidth improves. Then it will be 100% DLC RRP with no re-sale value."

    Will never happen. Firstly we're at the limit for ADSL bandwidth, the only way to improve it would be to have put a clause in the DEB outlawing BT from selling their less than 4mbps average as a 20mbps superfast broadband, but as our government lacks such understanding in broadband they didn't. Secondly, MS and Sony have strict guidelines for release on their platforms and would never allow a retail game to ship with so much of it intended as a "new buyers" only access.

    I agree with Metalangel on this though and I seriously hope that nobody with any decision making powers shares you level of misunderstanding with regards to DLC.

  • Bluetooth #25 2 years ago

    @mingster

    Due to the pound > baht exchange ratio, it's now $15 dollar for a thai bride who love you long time!