Can you install cracked DLC?
As a passionate gamer and content creator myself, I completely understand the temptation to grab some free DLC instead of paying full price. But before jumping on the cracked DLC train, it‘s important we consider the legal and ethical ramifications.
The Straight Answer
Technically speaking, yes you can install cracked downloadable content (DLC) on your games. By modifying game files and bypassing authentication checks, pirates find ways to unlock paid DLC without purchasing them.
However, this violates the End User License Agreement (EULA) you consent to when installing games from platforms like Steam or Origin. Doing so can result in severe account penalties or even legal consequences.
How Game Publishers Try to Stop It
Game publishers are certainly aware that DLC piracy exists and threatens their revenue sources. Anti-piracy measures are implemented, such as:
- Encryption and authentication checks on DLC files
- Watermarking asset files that are locked behind DLC paywalls
- Tracking usage statistics to catch unusually high percentages of players using paid DLC items
Crackers have found ways around many of these protections with custom patches, emulators, and spoofing tricks. But in response, some publishers have doubled down on more aggressive DRM systems.
Latest Repercussions and Bans
Over on SteamGridDB forums last month, users reported receiving bans soon after unlocking DLC for Borderlands 3. 2K Games appears to have tracked the sudden uptick in usage statistics and flagged those accounts.
| Game | Publisher | Recent Bans Reported |
|---|---|---|
| Borderlands 3 | 2K Games | Jan 2023 |
| Dead by Daylight | Behavior Interactive | Sept 2022 |
These bans demonstrate that even popular AAA publishers are stepping up enforcement against DLC piracy. Installing cracked add-ons carries increasing risk, even if protection measures are circumventable.
Motivations Behind DLC Piracy Trends
DLC piracy undoubtedly cuts into publishers‘ revenue, reducing resources they can invest into future game development. Yet it‘s worth examining what motivates this behavior before outright condemning it.
Price and Access Issues
Gamers in less affluent regions often turn to piracy due to high relative DLC prices. For example, a major game‘s DLC can cost over 25% of the average monthly wage in countries like Brazil. Geo-pricing and regional locks also play a role.
Protesting Aggressive Monetization
Some adopt a "consumer advocacy" stance against business practices they consider anti-consumer. This includes segmenting desired content behind multiple overpriced DLC packs, or "pay-to-win" multiplayer advantages gained from elite skins or weapons locked in add-ons.
Chasing Achievements or Customization
For achievement hunters aiming to 100% everything in a favorite game, purchasing all major DLCs presents a costly barrier. Cosmetic collectibles in skin packs also provide motivation, especially in popular online games like CSGO.
So while impact on developers and legality remain important concerns, piracy sometimes represents deeper player frustrations as well.
Viable Alternatives to Explore
Instead of resigning ourselves to either excess DLC expenses or risking legal trouble through piracy, there are a few consumer-friendly options worth consideration:
- Wait for sales – Major platforms like Steam run seasonal sales where DLC price drops by 40-60% are common.
- Buy game bundles – Many franchises now offer a base game + DLC bundle at launch for a discounted total price.
- Support DRM-free games – Games sold without DRM checks generally have modding communities with free customization.
- Provide publisher feedback – Constructive posts on forums or social media can influence future DLC pricing and anti-consumer policy revisions.
Parting Words
Like most fellow gamers, I don‘t enjoy being nickel-and-dimed by publishers for tiny increments of new content. But DLC piracy paints our entire community in an unethical light that will only motivate more aggressive monetization tactics.
There are always legal means to voice our frustrations and fight back against true corporate greed. If we reflexively turn to piracy instead, we only undermine our shared long-term interests for access to cheaper, fairly-priced game content.
