Sid Meier's Civilization VI - New Frontier Pass to Deliver Bimonthly New Content Beginning May 21

[btarunr]

2K today announced the Sid Meier's Civilization VI - New Frontier Pass, a new season pass that brings eight new civilizations, nine new leaders, six new game modes and more to the critically-acclaimed strategy game. Content will be released in six downloadable (DLC) packs delivered on a bimonthly basis starting May 21, 2020 through March 2021.

"It's been four years since we first announced Civilization VI, and the support from fans and players has been overwhelming," said Ed Beach, franchise lead designer at Firaxis Games. "After two giant expansions in Rise and Fall and Gathering Storm, four years' worth of balance updates and more, Civilization VI has grown into the flagship title for the series."



"We're very excited to be adding even more content to Civilization VI, ensuring longtime players and franchise newcomers have something fresh to look forward to in the months to come," added Anton Strenger, lead game designer at Firaxis Games. "By delivering new content on a regularly scheduled basis, we'll have more opportunities than ever with the New Frontier Pass to connect with our community as we actively develop and deliver content."

The Civilization VI - New Frontier Pass will be available for $39.99 on Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC, Mac and Linux, with mobile platforms arriving later this year. Each individual DLC pack will also be available for individual purchase; the first DLC offering, the Maya & Gran Colombia Pack, will add leaders from each respective civilization, a new Apocalypse game mode, new City-States, Resources and Natural Wonders, and will launch on May 21, 2020.

Anyone who purchases the Civilization VI - New Frontier Pass will receive exclusive bonuses - the Teddy Roosevelt and Catherine De Medici Persona Packs. Each Persona Pack contains a brand-new take on a favorite leader, with a new leader model and background, new gameplay bonuses and an updated agenda that reflects the changes to the leader's personality. "Rough Rider Teddy" excels at keeping the peace on his home continent, while "Magnificence Catherine" can use Luxuries to overwhelm the world with Culture and Tourism. The Persona Packs will be available with the second DLC Pack in July.

As part of the overall content roadmap for Civilization VI, Firaxis will also provide free updates in between DLC packs that feature new maps, scenarios, balance updates and more, available for anyone who owns the game.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Vayra86]

Pass is the word, indeed... this is just shameless milking, and without a heavily revamped AI, doesn't look good.

Still have only 30 odd hours clocked in Civ VI (including xpac!), but I can pick up Civ V any time and add another playthrough. VI just isn't quite up there.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Pass is the word, indeed... this is just shameless milking, and without a heavily revamped AI, doesn't look good.

Still have only 30 odd hours clocked in Civ VI (including xpac!), but I can pick up Civ V any time and add another playthrough. VI just isn't quite up there.

Why is it shameless milking? What are they supposed to make money from, since there are not stupid micro transactions in the game, nor any other means for them to make reoccurring revenue. I don't see a problem with selling expansions, you're not forced to buy them.
Even if you don't buy the new expansions, you'll gain some benefits, as some of the content is free.
I've played well over 500h, as with the two larger expansions they released, the game actually became quite good.
Sure, the AI could be better, but it's not as stupid as it was. I think VI is better than V ever was by now.

 

[Parn]

I actually enjoyed VI as much as V. So new contents (provided the DLCs are reasonably priced) are always welcomed.

As for making the AI more competitive, I simply create some of my own mods with lua to give a few advantages to the computer civs.

 

[Vayra86]

Why is it shameless milking? What are they supposed to make money from, since there are not stupid micro transactions in the game, nor any other means for them to make reoccurring revenue. I don't see a problem with selling expansions, you're not forced to buy them.
Even if you don't buy the new expansions, you'll gain some benefits, as some of the content is free.
I've played well over 500h, as with the two larger expansions they released, the game actually became quite good.
Sure, the AI could be better, but it's not as stupid as it was. I think VI is better than V ever was by now.

Look at the content. 40 bucks for what, some civilization perks (literally a bunch of settings and a portrait...) and a wealth of totally vague nonsense - of which half is... well it could be anything because its not even specified.

I happily paid for the previous expansions, but this? This is FOMO inducing crap. Is this really what you expect for post launch content? This is just MTX rolled up into a bigger pack. In a way, everyone pays for the 'free updates' because now your purchase is no longer complete. That is fine when the content added is truly worth it... which is questionable here. They did make sure you miss out on new districts and infrastructure as well if you're not buying in

 

[TheLostSwede]

Look at the content. 40 bucks for what, some civilization perks (literally a bunch of settings and a portrait...) and a wealth of totally vague nonsense - of which half is... well it could be anything because its not even specified.

I happily paid for the previous expansions, but this? This is FOMO inducing crap. Is this really what you expect for post launch content? This is just MTX rolled up into a bigger pack. In a way, everyone pays for the 'free updates' because now your purchase is no longer complete. That is fine when the content added is truly worth it... which is questionable here. They did make sure you miss out on new districts and infrastructure as well if you're not buying in

How do you know these expansions are $40? None of the other ones have been that expensive.
Normally these smaller expansions are $14.99 or something like that, less if it's only a new civilization. Give a couple of months and they're $4.99 or $19.99 for the lot as a bundle. On top of that, it seems like this might be a "pass" so one price for the lot of them, if you read the fine print.

Again, are you forced to buy any of it?

 

[Vayra86]

How do you know these expansions are $40? None of the other ones have been that expensive.
Normally these smaller expansions are $14.99 or something like that, less if it's only a new civilization. Give a couple of months and they're $4.99 or $19.99 for the lot as a bundle. On top of that, it seems like this might be a "pass" so one price for the lot of them, if you read the fine print.

Again, are you forced to buy any of it?

The Civilization VI - New Frontier Pass will be available for $39.99 >> its in the article.

No not forced at all and certainly not going to. But this is not somehow better than an MTX driven shop, if you dissect what's on offer. And the FOMO is a real thing, its not nice never having a feature complete product in your hands. Just the Civs would be fine! But new district and infrastructure is core to the game, it says non optional in a big way.

 

[TheLostSwede]

The Civilization VI - New Frontier Pass will be available for $39.99 >> its in the article.

No not forced at all and certainly not going to. But this is not somehow better than an MTX driven shop, if you dissect what's on offer. And the FOMO is a real thing, its not nice never having a feature complete product in your hands. Just the Civs would be fine! But new district and infrastructure is core to the game, it says non optional in a big way.

Yeah, I'm blind... That is a bit steep indeed for this. $29.99 is more reasonable for what it is, since it's not a full expansion...
Going to hold off on this one until it's discounted, as I bought most of the other expansions and the game at full price.

Sure, it's not nice, but if you don't know what they are, they won't really affect you, no? Anyhow, each to their own, I'm not going to cry over it.

 

[Vayra86]

Yeah, I'm blind... That is a bit steep indeed for this. $29.99 is more reasonable for what it is, since it's not a full expansion...
Going to hold off on this one until it's discounted, as I bought most of the other expansions and the game at full price.

Sure, it's not nice, but if you don't know what they are, they won't really affect you, no? Anyhow, each to their own, I'm not going to cry over it.

Its a similar trend as what you see with for example Stellaris. Core mechanics get tweaked towards favoring the new content. You not knowing is a form of 'ignorance is bliss' but you aren't playing the same game with the same balance anymore. This method is also huge in MMO land, with tiered progress which is in fact more of the same. Keep up, or fall behind.

There are many ways to go about it, this is not the best one IMO. Total War Warhammer did a fantastic job at mixing patch and game system updates as free content, with paid content in the shape of new factions. The factions are in the game for everyone, but you can't select them yourself until you own the DLC. Meanwhile, ALL factions get periodic updates for free to keep them actual to changing mechanics.

Devil is, as always, in the details here. We did cry wolf about Pay To Win, but this is really just that same wolf in sheeps' clothing... so, I cry about it. To raise awareness

 

[Parn]

$40 is a ridiculous price. I'll wait for the next sales.