Downloadable content (Japanese:追加コンテンツadditional content), often abbreviatedDLC; referred to asadd-on content in PAL regions, is additional content provided for released video games which is separately obtained after release to expand the base game. This can constitute both patches and updates to the pre-existing features of the core game and entirely new content which is often sold for additional money, the latter being the form the term usually refers to. Paid downloadable content takes a variety of forms in many games, selling everything from simple costumes for pre-existing characters to entirely new story and gameplay scenarios.

TheFire Emblem series first started using downloadable content in 2010, with the release ofFire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem. All games since then have made heavy use of DLC.

Precursors to modern DLC

Before the advent of modern digital distribution and the release ofNew Mystery of the Emblem,Intelligent Systems conducted several experiments with other forms of distribution of additional content forFire Emblem games. These included:

• Fire Emblem: Archanea Saga, where each of its episodes was downloaded toSuper Famicom systems via live broadcast for limited periods of time
• The rare promotionaltrial maps ofFire Emblem: The Binding Blade, which appear to have required being manually loaded into copies of the game
• The ability to usea pre-order disc for another game to unlock bonus items inFire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
• Distribution kiosks for Japanese copies ofFire Emblem: The Blazing Blade andFire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, which unlocked bonus items the same way theMario Kart: Double Dash!! bonus disc did.

Downloadable content by game

With the closure of Nintendo eShop for Wii U and 3DS on March 27, 2023, the DLC released for games on these two consoles is no longer purchasable.

Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem

Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem featured a small number of free digital distributions of bonus content. Although described as downloadable content by Nintendo, the "download" actually just unlocked content that already existed on the cartridge. The content constitutes three bonus chapters and three items, which were released over a period of weeks after release in 2010.

New access to this DLC on physical cartridges is no longer possible as of May 20th, 2014, as a result of the discontinuation of most Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection services.^[1] However, the Englishfan translation comes with a save file which has all downloadable chapters episodes and items already unlocked.

Downloadable content inNew Mystery of the Emblem
Item	Type	Release DateJP[2]
Wind and Thunder	Chapter	July 15th, 2010
Growth Drop	Item	July 22nd, 2010
Three Assassins	Chapter	August 5th, 2010
Bond Drop	Item	August 12th, 2010
By the Sword	Chapter	August 26th, 2010
Rainbow Tonic	Item	September 2nd, 2010

Fire Emblem Awakening

Main article:Downloadable content inFire Emblem Awakening

Fire Emblem Awakening was the first first-party Nintendo title to support paid downloadable content in Japan (elsewhere in the world,New Super Mario Bros. 2 did it before the international release ofAwakening). InAwakening, DLC is distributed in the form of individual chapters, many of which offer a major character from a priorFire Emblem game as an obtainablebonus unit at the end. Each chapter has a different intent: the original set is a long series of battles against characters from priorFire Emblem games, one set is intended purely for grinding for experience, money andregalia weapons, another set is devoted to character interactions, a fourth set provides an alternate scenario for the doomed futureLucina came from, and the final set provides challenges greater than the core game.

Fire Emblem Fates

Main article:Downloadable content inFire Emblem Fates

Fire Emblem Fates makes use of downloadable content in an expanded form. In addition to several series of challenge maps and stories set in an alternate scenario, DLC is also used to handle the game's split-version format. After purchasing one edition of the game, the player can buy the opposing campaign at a somewhat reduced price as DLC, and outside of the special editions theRevelation campaign is only available as downloadable content. Additionally, the Japanese version of the game featured DLC available by purchases of the original series ofFire Emblem Cipher products, which would allow Japanese players to recruit a small number ofbonus units.

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

Main article:Downloadable content inFire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia features five packs of downloadable content with different purposes: two series of episodes which assist with grinding and collecting items, a third which gives access to a series of even more powerful classes for those who have reached their maximum class and level, a fourth collection of stories about the origin of theDeliverance, and a fifth which features the mascot characters ofFire Emblem Cipher.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Main article:Downloadable content inFire Emblem: Three Houses

Fire Emblem: Three Houses features four packs of downloadable content with different purposes: two series granting new outfits for playable units; one serie of auxiliaries battles which assist with grinding and collecting items; a third which gives you new quests, access to the sauna, new battalions; and a fourth collection of stories about theAbyss and theAshen Wolves which can be recruited in the main story.

Fire Emblem Engage

Main article:Downloadable content inFire Emblem Engage

Fire Emblem Engage features four waves of downloadable content as part of an expansion pass. The first three waves each add newemblems and associatedparalogues; the first two also add bonus items. The fourth wave adds a new story campaign and playable characters.

Super Smash Bros. series

This article or section is a short summary of Downloadable content. SmashWiki featuresa more in-depth article.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS andWii U began to sell paid downloadable content in April 2015, alongside the release of free update patches.Roy andCorrin were two of the seven available DLC characters for purchase.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate began to sell DLC on February 1, 2019 with the release ofPiranha Plant as a standalone DLC fighter; further fighters were released in two waves and purchasable in packs.Byleth was the fifth and final fighter released for wave 1, and was bundled with theGarreg Mach Monastery stage.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE

Main article:Downloadable content inTokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE

Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE has some costume downloadable content as well as some downloadable quests. The costumes are for the playableMirage Masters, and the quest DLC offers things like experience and challenging battles.

Fire Emblem Warriors

Main article:Downloadable content inFire Emblem Warriors

Fire Emblem Warriors's downloadable content adds new characters, scenarios, weapons, items, andcostumes, among other things. The downloadable content is available in packs, with each pack generally focusing on a certain theme, typically a game-specific one.

Etymology and other languages

References

External links

• Downloadable content on Wikipedia