Paralives Choose Free Updates Over Paid Expansion Packs

In an unusual approach in the simulation genre, where games like The Sims 4 frequently depend on expansion packs, the developers of Paralives have chosen not to release any paid DLC. All upcoming material will instead come via free additions to the base game. Based in Quebec, the tiny indie team is completely independent and takes advantage of tax discounts that lower development expenses. 

This enables them to retain all profits. They think strong early sales will pay for long-term development. They point to Minecraft and Stardew Valley as thriving examples of games lacking paid expansions. While Minecraft uses several platforms and microtransactions, Stardew Valley emphasizes one-time sales and goods. Though its success will rely on sales, community support, and perhaps future monetization like merch, Paralives seeks to create loyalty by providing value upfront. It's a brave but deliberate approach aimed at equity and accessibility. 

Particularly after the developers clarified why they are not releasing any paid DLC, Paralives is creating some debate among fans. Given that so many other simulation games like The Sims 4 keep generating tons of extra packs. This is a significant move by the developers since EA won't publish The Sims 5. Some games have such a significant amount of DLC content that they are nearly unaffiliated. For Paralives, one can clearly see going the other path. 

The team claims that every future upgrade will be free and included in the core game rather than, as is usual, sold separately. Games like Stardew Valley and Minecraft, which have remained popular without additional charges, inspire them. The studio benefits from video game tax credits that assist in lowering development costs, giving it a little advantage.

Moreover, being completely independent means they keep all the sales money instead of sharing it with publishers or investors. They also noted that many individuals have already added the game to their Steam wishlist and think it would provide enough money at its pricing point to keep the crew going for a long time. Their reasoning is rather simple: if the main game flops, paid DLC most likely would not either. 

Those are both great success stories, but right now, it makes sense to compare oneself to games like Minecraft and Stardew Valley. From several platform variants to microtransactions and products, Minecraft has become a major brand with several revenue sources. Originally a paid game, it also developed over time. By remaining faithful to its main gameplay and providing frequent free upgrades, no microtransactions, and just afterwards branching into merch, Stardew Valley has been quite successful. 

Certainly not every game could hope for the same level of popularity as those two, but the Paralives team is betting that concentrating on cheapness and value would enable them to develop a devoted player base. It remains unknown whether that approach will yield results; for the time being, however, they are adhering to their goal of keeping everything free and accessible.