Ubi to consider Splinter Cell DLC later

By Tom Bramwell Published 15 March, 2010

"Too early to even think about DLC."

Ubisoft has told Eurogamer that it's "too early to even think about DLC" for Splinter Cell: Conviction.

"Right now we're focusing solely on delivering the best game possible," Maxime Béland said during our recent extended Splinter Cell: Conviction hands-on.

"Once the game has shipped, we will shift our focus towards DLC content."

We also asked whether Ubisoft's decision to make more Splinter Cell more often meant for gamers.

"I think it's a great thing, for you and for us," he said, "as long as we keep focusing on making great experiences with high quality production values.

Sadly our interview was conducted prior to the PlayStation Move unveil at GDC, but we did ask whether there was any interest in getting Splinter Cell to work with Project Natal.

"Personally, I would love to play with Natal and see what the possibilities are," we were told. "As a company we are investing in lots of R&D for Natal, so if they find an interesting angle for it with Splinter Cell you never know what might happen!"

Check out our recent Splinter Cell: Conviction hands-on for more. The game's out for PC and Xbox 360 on 16th April.

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 (15) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • INSOMANiAC #1 2 years ago

    Ubi 'Its on the disc, we'll charge you for it later'

  • coomber #2 2 years ago

    Yeah, because that is how developers work. They release the game and then sit around and discuss ideas for DLC. Of course....

  • Murton #3 2 years ago

    Could Ubisoft have learned a lesson from their previous DLC releases and thus aren't talking about it before the main game release?

  • jellyhead #4 2 years ago

    I believe you, Ubisoft. Thousands don't but i believe you.
    Nah, i don't believe a word of it. It's Ubisoft! They've got the DLC planned and made and on the disk ready to go.

    I'm sure someone will be along in a minute to explain why it's a good thing the DLC is already taken out of the game and put on the disk ready for later purchase. I mean license.

  • muscleblade #5 2 years ago

    This is nothing but damage control after the ill received AC2 Dlc. 2K take note.

  • zuljin #6 2 years ago

    @jellyhead
    I don't think anyone here ever argued on disk is a "good thing", I think people are mainly arguing that the location of code doesn't matter. You pay for the game that is advertised, not everything and any use of anything on the disc.

    The game will be out in a while, and we'll see the review. You can then make a decision on whether you want to buy it based on what the game contains, rather than what you think is owed to you.

  • sneetch #7 2 years ago

    @Bowlby

    I know, I find it difficult to believe that for any modern game intended for the consoles they don't have a DLC plan drawn up alongside the game design. If nothing else they need to code hooks into the game so that DLC can be added.

  • UncleLou #8 2 years ago

    I love how people complain about the Bioshock DLC having been made during the development of the main game, and when another developer says they'll think about DLC afterwards, noone (and rightly so) believes them. Only on the internet. :p

  • sneetch #9 2 years ago

    @UncleLou
    I love how people complain about the Bioshock DLC having been made during the development of the main game, and when another developer says they'll think about DLC afterwards, noone (and rightly so) believes them. Only on the internet. :p

    Only on the internet do different people have different attitudes towards things? You sure? :p

  • makeamazing #10 2 years ago

    I dont have a problem with DLC on the whole... just rubbish and expensive DLC.

  • Slipstream #11 2 years ago

    That's fine, as Resident Evil has proven, DLC can work even a year later, when the quality is good people WILL be interested in DLC, even if it means buying the game for a second time.
    When the fruits of effort are for sale, people will invest.

    Besides, wouldn't want to see anothr ACII effort. (Missing in game segments, rushed DLC) May be wise to produce content based on feedback too and it wouldn't have to be a whole new game. If this one reaches the success UBI hopes for then they could add some fan service for it.

    Again Capcom produced an excellent example of covering a flashback from Resi 5 making DLC out of it. I for one, after I bore witness to that excellent cutscene, had cursed Capcom for not making that seemingly important event playable, and much to my disbelief they added it nearly a year later, thus, my interest in the game was well and truly reaffirmed! (Bought Gold Edition)

    That said, this is one idea that shouldn't be abused, unless the game truly feels like it has reached some sort of conclusion, was an enjoyable experience and has racked up a healthy amount of play time, then the ideas for DLC should become apparant, granted of course, it's nessasary.
    Edited by 1 at 15/03/10 @ 15:09

  • sab3r #12 2 years ago

    /votes for Spys Vs Mercs DLC

  • FogHeart #13 2 years ago

    1) If pre-orders look good, code the game so that DLC will integrate with it as easily and painlessly as possible.
    2) Close to release date, discuss ideas for DLC but don't go so far as producing code or assets.
    3) Release the game. If it's a success, start working on the first DLC.
    4) Release that DLC. If that sells well then assume there's an appetite for more. Code up the next DLC.
    5) Repeat 4 until interest wanes.

    Is this so difficult? I suppose with some dead-cert chart toppers they might start work on DLC before release (sound business sense if smacking of hubris)
    Edited by 1 at 15/03/10 @ 16:08

  • zuljin #14 2 years ago

    @FogHeart
    You forgot an intermediate step:

    "Sit on your ass all day for anywhere from 1 - 4 weeks because your customers want DLC to be made at a specific date".

  • sarcasmoidosis #15 2 years ago

    "Ubisofts PC games have ridiculous, anti-consumer and quite broken always-online DRM"

    ... which hasn't been cracked yet. Yes, this needs to be brought up too.