The developers of Paradox Interactive are considered strategy geniuses with historical 4X games like Crusader Kings 3. However, their DLC strategy is now eliciting passive-aggressive reactions from fans. Recently, an announcement regarding Crusader Kings 3 was poorly received on Steam.
This is the situation: The strategy game Crusader Kings 3 is expanded with 4 DLCs per year. The major expansions cost around €30 each. A chapter pass, which includes all 4 expansions, is priced at €44.
If someone wants to buy all 18 DLCs, they will pay €174 on Steam and additionally €50 for the base game. For Europa Universalis IV, all DLCs cost even €370.
In the past, Crusader Kings 3 regularly received free cosmetic updates. However, for some time now, Paradox Interactive has been releasing paid content created by modders as “Content Creator Packs.” So far, these have only included cosmetic items that Paradox Interactive sells as a package for €5.
But players are completely against this.
Crusader Kings 3 announces new packs for €5 each
This is the new announcement: On February 13, 2025, Paradox Interactive announced two new “Content Creator Packs” that will be released for Crusader Kings 3 on February 25 (via steam):
One pack contains 20 new monuments. They function similarly to “Wonders” in Civilization 7 and provide special bonuses for the owners of the respective county where the monument is located. In the base game, monuments like Stonehenge are included, and with the expansion, there will be additions like the Wartburg, the Great Mosque of Damascus, or a palace in Ghana.
Additionally, the “Arctic Attire” pack will be released, bringing some outfits for Finnish tribes.
No price for these packs has been listed yet, but it can be assumed that they will again cost €5, just like the last pack. That also caused a lot of trouble.
Fans react with passive-aggressive compliments
This is the reaction on Steam: Several Steam users respond with the extremely sarcastic remark:
“Thanks, I really appreciate that you are offering this for free.”
That was the first comment. And the phrase is repeated over and over again. While it is – and users know this – nonsense.
Because the Content Creator Pack will cost something, but people don’t agree with that. The phrase implies: “These contents should be free – or if that’s not possible, at least part of the chapter pass.”
This is Paradox’s response: A spokesperson says: The packs will have the same costs as before. It’s about involving content creators in their work.
main expansionfor Crusader Kings 3 has already been announced for 2025: The best strategy game of the Middle Ages is getting even bigger in 2025, allowing you to play in an entirely new way
A drop that overflows the barrel for some
Why is the topic difficult? These packs are compared to “skins in Fortnite” sold for €5.
It is simply a difficult issue for players:
- Crusader Kings 3 already receives 4 DLCs a year and wants €44 for the pass
- The implication is then:
You pay us for the DLCs and the further development of the game – We will also regularly provide free updates for it
- Many players believe that such “cosmetic items” which do not bring new systems should come in these free updates, just as they did before
- The statement about wanting to involve content creators is considered a pretext
Ultimately, players do not want to pay for anything that is purely cosmetic and does not introduce new systems. On the other hand, they want to own the game completely
and do not like the idea of missing out on content. Especially since cosmetic updates were always free before, the idea of now having to pay for specific content is uncomfortable. And this is despite the fact that they are already paying the annual tax
for the ongoing development of the game by purchasing the chapter pass: The strategy game has more players on Steam than in the last 2.5 years – fans love the new DLC that makes it even more of a role-playing game
