Mass Effect's 'Bring Down the Sky' DLC free on PC

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Apr 18th 2008 at 1:30PM }

Though they've had to wait several months before experiencing the thrills of chatting up aliens and gallivanting across the galaxy, PC gamers are going to receive yet another bonus alongside their version of BioWare's planet-hopping RPG, Mass Effect. The first batch of downloadable content, entitled "Bring Down the Sky" and available on Xbox 360 since March, will be offered for free to registered members of BioWare's community website. The 90-minute, $5 add-on won't be packed inside the box, but we imagine you PC folks can handle an internet registration and download.

Provided your system meets the technical requirements, you can also look forward to an improved inventory system, an enhanced HUD and (hopefully) much shorter elevator rides. Mass Effect PC is out on May 28.

Tags: BioWare, BreakingNews, Bring-Down-The-Sky, DLC, EA, Mass-Effect, RPG

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mutant @ Apr 18th 2008 1:36PM

If the PC guys are getting the content free the least they can do is suffer throught the elevator rides like the rest of us.

JonFitt @ Apr 18th 2008 3:12PM

Looks to me like it's just early adopter syndrome. PC Gamers get it better in every way.

Now if people we just please buy it, it'll convince BioWare that it wasn't wasted effort.

mike @ Apr 18th 2008 7:07PM

N+ was never a free flash game. N was a free flash game, which is completely missing the multiplayer, along with a few enemies and tiles and more. N+ is the sequel to N, not a port. Its even developed by a different company.

TomCo @ Apr 19th 2008 12:14PM

Except you know, we had to wait around 6 months or so for the game to come out.

Also, joystiq, would it hurt to post the EUROPEAN release date too.

It isnt May you know.

Yuccadude @ Apr 18th 2008 1:39PM

Doesn't MS have a policy where content is free on another console, it becomes free on 360? I remember something of the sort, so hopefully this becomes free soon.

pandlcg @ Apr 18th 2008 2:39PM

People keep mentioning this but I cannot find a definitive answer anywhere. Any help?

Arttemis @ Apr 18th 2008 5:11PM

I don't see being a real policy at all... seeing as how N+ was a free flash game before it was sold on XBLA and the marketplace sells videos that can be (legally) watched for free --- just look at the Robot Chicken Star Wars episode.

mike @ Apr 18th 2008 7:08PM

jynxycat @ Apr 18th 2008 1:42PM

The elevator rides are tied to disc streaming, and probably smaller system memory of the 360.

Assuming you're living in the here and now, you'll have enough memory to make the load times no worse than any other game.

HighFiveJesus @ Apr 18th 2008 1:43PM

pc users are a traditional bunch. when a game is bought, we expect it to be supported heavily by the community and by the developers, none of this nickel and dime crap. Its suppose to be free, because its kinda like an update.

el serpiente @ Apr 18th 2008 1:45PM

Cool, another "exclusive" I can play on my PC.

Martez @ Apr 18th 2008 1:50PM

That avatar rocks.

Mutant @ Apr 18th 2008 5:29PM

It seems that with so many of the "exclusive" Xbox games ending up on PC that a PC and a PS3 for Sony exclusives and blu rays makes a pretty good combination.

So which combo is better a PC3 or a Wii60?

Shmil @ Apr 18th 2008 1:54PM

Ludwig, are you paid by the pun?

FrankTheCrank @ Apr 18th 2008 2:03PM

They could at least patch the game so when your'e in the elevator "the girl from impanema" is playing in the background.

Another 360 to PC title for me...woot! *pumping fist

JakubK666 (Ninja Defence Force) @ Apr 18th 2008 2:13PM

Only Console-Gamers get screwed over like that.MS knows that if they tried it on PC's, people would torrent it.

Nuff' said.

tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 18th 2008 2:38PM

eh well ya gotta give the PC gamers something to boost their morale. It was only $5 anyway I'm not exactly living under a bridge because of it.

JonFitt @ Apr 18th 2008 3:00PM

No morale problems here. What with Sins of a Solar Empire, and TF2, I haven't been back to my 360 in some time. New content coming free soon for TF2. w00t!

Just wishing I'd waited to pick up Mass Effect on PC. Can't say the same about Assassin's Creed though, that one is well avoided on the PC.

StuScotsLazyEye @ Apr 18th 2008 3:02PM

Care to give any examples why my morale should be low right now? Are you telling me games like...

Sins of a Solar Empire
Supreme Commander
Team Fortress 2
Half-Life (and all related games afterwards including HL2, episodes, etc)
Any and all community created mods for all games

...are reason to be bummed? Go check yourself, idiot.

tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 18th 2008 3:05PM

Chill out it was a joke. Btw console gamers really aren't super high on RTS games and we have orange box.

But that's beside the point. I hope you never a roast done on you for safety reasons.

Jeff @ Apr 18th 2008 3:00PM

PC gamers, put simply, will not pay for minor DLC. Huge expansions like Shivering Isles? No problem.

Horse armor? Nay (pun intended).

This minor expansion is the kind of thing we're used to receiving for free from companies like Valve and Epic. If they tried to charge for it, it would be pirated almost 100% of the time, and many PC gamers would lose respect for Bioware and pirate the whole game as a result.

This is a smart business decision as much as it is kindness.

JonFitt @ Apr 18th 2008 3:05PM

They wouldn't pay for Halo 3 or CoD4 tiny map packs either.

Alex K. @ Apr 18th 2008 3:22PM

The only thing I hate about the elevator rides is that they normally take more time than just putting up a loading screen.

Maybe the elevator rides look prettier and break the game up less, but they take up more time. For example, in the Citadel on the way down from landing, the lobby area of C-Sec is obviously loaded but the elevator is still doing down, and then it takes 10 minutes for the freaking door to open. Seriously, 20th century elevators are faster than they are in the future.

If I had a good PC, I'd definately buy the PC version.

theturtle363 @ Apr 18th 2008 4:41PM

Oh god, that's the worst pun i've ever read

Imadogg @ Apr 18th 2008 7:59PM

the pic is hilarious!

Robin @ Apr 18th 2008 6:47PM

I won't pay for Halo 3 or CoD4 tiny map packs either. I'll just wait for free or go without. I already paid $60 for the game.

MOT @ Apr 18th 2008 9:15PM

Well, the thing is, since the console is a closed system with no user creation allowed, in most cases, it's easier to charge for things their than on the PC. On the PC, you have all kinds of people who make mods. So if a company tries to charge for some content, it can be recreated (with a few changes of course; too similar and the mod may get into trouble) for free and everyone will get that.

On consoles, since there are no mods, the same is not true. Why do you think Microsoft is unwilling to allow mods? For this exact same reason. If you don't want to buy map packs, pictures, etc, but to get them, you have to.

Infinity Ward is currently trying to figure out how to bring their maps to PC, probably for money, but that's probably not gonna happen easily. They're probably gonna wait until they can get all the money from consoles before they bring it out free on PC.