The Rise of Standalone Expansions: A New Trend in the Gaming Industry?

The gaming landscape is witnessing a shift towards standalone expansions, with titles like Dying Light: The Beast and Assassin's Creed Mirage being reworked as separate games. This approach, known as "expandalone" games, involves building upon the foundation of a previous title to create a new, albeit shorter, experience. The concept of expandalone games is not new, with iconic titles like The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City having originated from this approach. In recent years, the trend has been towards large downloadable add-ons, but anecdotal evidence suggests a pivot back towards expandalone games. A notable example is Insomniac's Spider-Man series, where the developer released a series of DLC episodes, The City That Never Sleeps, which felt like a new, shorter game. This was followed by the release of Spider-Man: Miles Morales, a standalone title that sold around 15 million copies. The appeal of expandalone games lies in their ability to provide a new experience without the need for a massive development cycle. As Tymon Smektała, Dying Light franchise director, noted, "Games get bigger and bigger, with bigger budgets and longer production times. But sometimes, it's more appealing to spend less time, less money, and fewer resources on creating something that players will enjoy." The question remains as to why developers still bother with big DLC releases. One reason is that expansions are generally cheaper to develop and market than full games. Additionally, DLC can boost sales of the main game, with some titles seeing significant increases in sales after the release of new content. For instance, Elden Ring sales jumped nearly 500% after the release of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. However, there is evidence to suggest that the trend is shifting towards more expandalone releases. While big expansive DLC is still prevalent, some studios are opting for standalone releases to reach a larger audience. The decision ultimately comes down to the game and the studio, with some titles benefiting from the expandalone approach and others thriving with traditional DLC releases. The AAA industry faces challenges, including longer development cycles and increased costs, which can make studios risk-averse. The trend towards shorter, standalone, and more experimental projects may be a response to these challenges, but it may not suit every game. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how the balance between expandalone games and traditional DLC releases shifts.