[nerdponx]

I think DLC is a matter of inflation. publishers don't want to raise sticker prices, but their input costs are actually increasing, so they need to increase prices directly somehow.

Also, expansion packs for AAA games have always been a thing, and it's always felt kind of painful to buy them.

[bentley]

Another reason to produce DLC is that it keeps market attention on your existing game (thus diverting eyeballs from your competitors) without having to devote the resources required to develop a whole new game since most of the base is provided by the previously finished game.

[CE02]

I think it’s the pain more than anything of paying $60+ for a game only to have paid expansions and in game currency.