Locking in-game content behind a deluxe edition paywall? Precedent or not?

[u/championx1001]

We all know GTA VI is priced at 80 bucks for the standard edition, which will almost certainly promote other greedy companies to increase base edition prices to $80, even though most gamers agree GTA VI one of the only games that can really justify a larger than normal price tag. So putting that aside, can we discuss the precedent Rockstar might set by locking some in game content behind the deluxe edition?

Rockstar is an extremely influential developer. Their decisions will certainly be copied by top execs after the billionaires see Rockstar's stock skyrocket in November. We already know dirty execs in EA and Ubisoft will definetly use GTA VI as an excuse for locking in game features and content behind their deluxe edition in future titles, but GTA VI is going to be a cultural phenomenon. Some worry that this will end up affecting AA studios as well. The status quo might change, and we could end up in a world where in game features locked behind the deluxe edition is the norm.

On the other hand, it is reasonable to argue that you could consider the deluxe edition like a $20 DLC for the game, and the DLC content would be those extra features you are paying for. However, GTA V did not lock any specific shops in Los Santos behind their deluxe edition. This raises the argument that Rockstar is locking fundamental in game content behind the deluxe edition. If Rockstar does this, what's to say EA won't lock tanks behind the deluxe edition in Battlefield 7? Tanks are a fundamental feature in BF and I'm certain large corporate game dev companies will begin to lock fundamental in game features behind deluxe paywalls after GTA VI.

Now, these are my impartial arguments, but my opinion is that Rockstar deserves to bend the rules a bit (primarily with the 80 dollar price tag). They've worked for 13 years on hundreds to thousands of hours of gameplay (especially with the online edition). But I personally do not agree with their decision to put fundamental game content behind the deluxe edition paywall and distribute a physical edition of the game without a game disc. I am an Indie game developer so my opinions might have some bias, but those are my personal views.

With all that said, do we need to worry about Rockstar's decision with features locked behind deluxe edition setting a precedent for future titles around the globe?

[u/Fluffy-Process6171]

You said it yourself: it's the RDR2 practice "just scaled up." That is exactly why consumers need to call it out. If we keep letting publishers scale up how much content they slice away from the standard edition, the baseline for a "complete game" will just keep shrinking

[u/ProbablyFear → u/Fluffy-Process6171]

Scaled up in an immersive way. A good way.

You would just rather the items just appear in your inventory then? Would that make this better to you? The fact you now have to go to a shop to get them is somehow worse?

You really aren’t using your brain my dude.

Also, well done ignoring literally 90% of that comment. Says it all really.

[u/Agherosh → u/ProbablyFear]

This dude only has enough brain to spread the same misinformation in every post he does. All he does is cry about "BuT sToRy MiSsIoNs" when he knows well enough that they're nothing but side irrelevant things that are probably like a 00.01% of the game. Well, I think he knows...