how DLCs work

[Snort-o-matic]

Hi, I know this is basic stuff but can't find info on the Steam documentation. I want to know how DLCs work. If I set a DLC package as free, will people who don't own game be able to download it for free? I want to give a free DLC to people who have already purchase the game, but obviously, not free to play for people who don't own the game. How do I do this?

[ReBoot]

Downloading a piece of DLC without the base game isnt possible. But why DLC? Is it possible to just put the free stuff into a game update? Many games do that

[Black Blade]

First of all, if someone does not own the game they cant download DLC or buy DLC for it, so even if its free they cant download it (except maybe if there is a free weekend or the like)

Besides that, however, I don't have a game on Steam yet so I cant go into the actual way to do it, however, I do know some games I own added a DLC to my account without me needing to go to the store page to download it, so I do think there is a way you can basically just send out the DLC to all current owners of the game/package

[Snort-o-matic]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

Downloading a piece of DLC without the base game isnt possible. But why DLC? Is it possible to just put the free stuff into a game update? Many games do that

That's good to know. It makes sense that the DLC is only available for people who already own the base game. I needed confirmation because I've read in the discussions here that you can search for the game in library and just get the DLC from there without owning the base game. Misinformation!
DLC because the content is not compatible with the base game and has to be run separately.

[Snort-o-matic]

Originally posted by Black Blade:

First of all, if someone does not own the game they cant download DLC or buy DLC for it, so even if its free they cant download it (except maybe if there is a free weekend or the like)

Besides that, however, I don't have a game on Steam yet so I cant go into the actual way to do it, however, I do know some games I own added a DLC to my account without me needing to go to the store page to download it, so I do think there is a way you can basically just send out the DLC to all current owners of the game/package

Thanks for that confirmation. Thought as much!
So does the DLC show up as a separate game that can be run independently without running the base game?

[Seraphita]

Nope. It is shown as DLCs, literally. Game. DLC list. This is where you find it. If done properly, you'll find the content of the DLC in the game itself. Only case where it's separate is if you buy a separate game offered along with the game, I guess? I've seen something like that before...

[ReBoot]

Originally posted by Snort-o-matic:

Originally posted by ReBoot:

Downloading a piece of DLC without the base game isnt possible. But why DLC? Is it possible to just put the free stuff into a game update? Many games do that

That's good to know. It makes sense that the DLC is only available for people who already own the base game. I needed confirmation because I've read in the discussions here that you can search for the game in library and just get the DLC from there without owning the base game. Misinformation!
DLC because the content is not compatible with the base game and has to be run separately.

Then DLC is the wrong vehicle for you. Either put your side-project as a separate executable in the game files (which you can do as DLC or game update) or publish a separate game.
Going the uodate route has the huge advantage of you beimg able to create a launcher sl Steam will ask your players if they want to start the base game or your bonus. Many games do that. Or you just dump your bonus in the game folder and tell your players that theres now a bonis game there. Games do that too.
But again, games having free bonus games are a thing too. There are also some addons that are not DLC, but require the base game nontheless. You have several possibilities, its just that the one youre looking for doesnt exist.

[Snort-o-matic]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

Then DLC is the wrong vehicle for you. Either put your side-project as a separate executable in the game files (which you can do as DLC or game update) or publish a separate game.
Going the uodate route has the huge advantage of you beimg able to create a launcher sl Steam will ask your players if they want to start the base game or your bonus. Many games do that. Or you just dump your bonus in the game folder and tell your players that theres now a bonis game there. Games do that too.
But again, games having free bonus games are a thing too. There are also some addons that are not DLC, but require the base game nontheless. You have several possibilities, its just that the one youre looking for doesnt exist.

Yes that's what I want. A separate launch option. How do I do that if not via DLC? You mean just adding another depot as the original?

[ReBoot]

2 possibilities:
1. Add your bonus game to your main game and have Steam ask what to launch.
2. Add an entirely separate game which is free (you can do that) for previous owners. Example: Shadow Warrior '13 gave a free Viscera Cleanup Detail: Shadow Warrior
I cant think of an example flr the first one from the top of my head.

[Black Blade]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

2 possibilities:
1. Add your bonus game to your main game and have Steam ask what to launch.
2. Add an entirely separate game which is free (you can do that) for previous owners. Example: Shadow Warrior '13 gave a free Viscera Cleanup Detail: Shadow Warrior
I cant think of an example flr the first one from the top of my head.

I think there should be also something more then that, like they used to have Left 4 Dead 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 Beta
Also pretty sure there was some other game that set it up wrong and had like windows one and a Mac one

@OP

so what you want is to have a stand-alone second game (DLC) that will be available to anyone that has the game now, or anyone that will also get it later?
And you want it to like show as its own game? did I get it right?