The official Mario + Rabbids account confirmed that its first wave of DLC content forMario + Rabbids Sparks of Hopewill only be playable by those who purchase the entirety of its $30 season pass, or the $90 Gold Edition that includes the Season Pass. This tidbit of info came at the end of astring of tweetsthat revealed for the first time how the title’s DLC would be structured.RELATED:Mario + Rabbids Director Felt “So Sure” People Would Hate The GameThree waves of DLC will be doled out throughout 2023. The first wave is called The Tower of Doooom (yes, Doooom). It’s touted to include a “new combat game mode” and seems to feature an unseen mechanical marionette Rabbid. It’s set to release early 2023. The second wave is still untitled, but its picture shows a menacing-looking Rabbid in a forest, alongside a description that reads “Heroes confront a mysterious foe on a new, enchanting planet.” DLC 2 is set to release mid-2023.Finally, DLC 3, also yet to be named, will release in late 2023, and it’s thepreviously teasedRayman expansion, where he, Rabbid Peach, and Rabbid Mario, “embark on their own adventure.” Both DLC 2 and DLC 3 will seemingly be purchasable individually. The first wave, however, The Tower of Doooom, was singled out to be a Season Pass exclusive, meaning that unless fans are willing to put down $30 for all waves, they will be unable to play it.

Season passes have been present in the gaming industry for a while now. If a studio knows it’s going to have several waves of DLC for its recent game, it bundles them together in a season pass that comes out being a bit cheaper than if the player paid for each wave individually. It’s often a win-win situation, as fans can get all the DLC content at a lower price, while the studio gets all the money up-front.

Furthermore, it gives consumers options, presenting a reasonable alternative for those who’re sure they’re going to play it all, and for those who would rather wait to see if they’ll have the willingness and time. This exclusivity, unfortunately, slightly hinders consumer choice, as fans who would prefer to buy individually, even if it’s more expensive, will be forced to pay for the season pass if they want to check out the DLC’s first wave.

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