Gears maps to cost in future

By Tom Bramwell Published 10 April, 2007

Mark Rein defends decision.

Epic Games' Mark Rein says that a new Gears of War map pack featuring four battlegrounds will be coming soon, and you'll be expected to pay for it.

That wasn't the developer's first-choice strategy though, as Rein explained. "Epic thinks the way to maximise the return on Gears of War is to give the maps away for free and Microsoft thinks the way to maximise the return on Gears of War is to sell the maps," Epic's vice president told forumites at EvilAvatar.com after it became clear that the maps would cost.

"So what we've agreed to do is to put these maps on sale at a reasonable price then make them free a few months later," he wrote. "[Microsoft] did this with the original Halo 2 map pack and it was a huge success. Lots of people bought the maps and lots of people downloaded them when they became free.

"That's what is going to happen and it seems like a fair compromise for both companies and a win-win for Gears players."

In the meantime, Epic has released a Gears patch introducing the Annex multiplayer mode for free, and you should find your Xbox 360 downloads that automatically when you next load up Gears.

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. Follow him on Twitter.

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

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Comments (17) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • mkreku #1 5 years ago

    The world's richest man is apparently not rich enough.

  • numptyboymatt #2 5 years ago

    Well, that'll be me just waiting until they are free then!

  • ProtoformX #3 5 years ago

    Yeah, me too. When the Halo 2 map pack was released in stores, there was some small print on the back of the box that said the maps would be released for free at a later date.
    This is bad PR for Microsoft. There you have Epic who want to make all the DLC free so everybody can enjoy the same Gears experience regardless of money and then Microsoft just come along and say "Nope, you're gonna charge for them so we can have more money." It's the usual sad case of people doing this as long as people will pay for them and the die-hard Gears players will want the maps from day one.

  • matrim83 #4 5 years ago

    I know it sounds like Epic are trying to make MS out to be money grubbing whores but considering Epics support when it comes to their games in the past I can believe them. Epic has always given away new content for free. They are fucking legend, in PC gaming anyway.

  • Pirotic #5 5 years ago

    I can tell you first hand that Microsoft won't let you release anything half-decent for free, not because they could have made money off it, but if Epic release 4 maps free of charge then when Call of Duty 3 or Halo 3 try to charge £2 just for one map, people are going to think twice.

    It devalues all the other content when one company decides to start giving good content away, and that puts the frighteners up microsofts trouser legs.
    Edited by Pirotic at 10/04/07 @ 09:02

  • lasermink #6 5 years ago

    It worries me that Microsoft hold all this power over the companies offering their services. Will it be the same on Windows Live and even PC gaming in general? No doubt that's what Microsoft would like.

  • WiseNail #7 5 years ago

    Interesting when Unreal Tournament 3 hits. Free content on PC and probably PS3 but paid for on the 360.

    Do I go 360 for the achievements or PS3 for free content?
    Edited by WiseNail at 10/04/07 @ 10:22

  • asphaltcowboy #8 5 years ago

    Well, at least it will be free eventually, not a BAD system... certainly much better than the alternative! (EDIT: The pricey alternative I mean :p)
    Edited by asphaltcowboy at 10/04/07 @ 09:43

  • Hypnopedia #9 5 years ago

    Come off it, if you buy a CD do you expect to get Free Extra tracks every few months? Or when you buy a DVD, extra Bonus features sent to you for nowt?!

    Think of the work in constructing 4 new maps, player testing them, etc. As long as they don't take the piss with the price then charging for them is fully justified.
    You always have the option of NOT buying them you know...??

    With the P2P and Torrent world you young'uns are growing up amongst everyone seems to think that everything should be for free !!

    /sticks his flap cap back on and feeds his pigeons

    ;D

  • SeesThroughAll #10 5 years ago

    It worries me that Microsoft hold all this power over the companies offering their services. Will it be the same on Windows Live and even PC gaming in general? No doubt that's what Microsoft would like.

    This is exactly what will happen to gaming once Sony leaves the console business. Microsoft will have gained another monopoly and all the ass-raping Sony gave consumers in the past will sound gentle in comparison.

    Sorry, couldn't help it.

    /Leaves

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #11 5 years ago

    "I can tell you first hand that Microsoft won't let you release anything half-decent for free, not because they could have made money off it, but if Epic release 4 maps free of charge then when Call of Duty 3 or Halo 3 try to charge £2 just for one map, people are going to think twice."

    I think this is the crux of the issue: it's not so much MS wanting to rake it in off Gears, but that they're trying to create this microtransaction economy of paying for additional content. I hope they're successful at this, because maybe then they'll lett Silver account holders play for free or something... However, the way it's been handled is pretty crap, and I'm amazed they've let Epic speak out this way.
    Edited by Britesparc at 10/04/07 @ 10:39

  • DUFFKING #12 5 years ago

    OH MY GOD

    Companies... trying to make money?

    /faints

  • SomaticSense #13 5 years ago

    I've no problem with paying cash for something that has been developed after the games release.

    I do have a problem with going back on the promise that all DLC will be free, though. Once you stop living up to your promises, then people will start to doubt anything you say in future. Then it's not good.

    Make a promise and follow up on it is the lesson here. Ask Sony.
    Edited by SomaticSense at 10/04/07 @ 11:44

  • 3william56 #14 5 years ago

    I expect Epic are going to refuse to sully their bank accounts with that dirty tained Micro$oft money they get given for these maps, and give it to cripples and old people and starving babies in Africa.

    Oh.

  • Skooch #15 5 years ago

    "I do have a problem with going back on the promise that all DLC will be free, though."

    Link to this promise would be appreciated SomaticSense, thanks.

  • Feanor #16 5 years ago

    Well he'll have to fake up a website with a fake story before he links to it.

  • Barenbik #17 5 years ago

    "Link to this promise would be appreciated SomaticSense, thanks."

    [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=71062
    ]http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?art...[/link]

    Link to the article right here on Eurogamer. :D