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Should FreshWomen: Season 2 be a Standalone Game or a DLC?
🕑 Added 2025-01-31 21:19:11 +0000 UTCHello, my dear Freshmen!
Today I’d like to ask your opinion about something very important, and special for us.
Ever since we started working on Season 2, our plan was to release it as a DLC on Steam. Looking at the market at that time, it made sense. We were working with limited data (as DLCs have less market data than Standalone Games), but it was what other studios were doing at the time, so it seemed like a good path for us too.
In these 2 and a half years since we started working on Season 2, we learned a lot, though. We studied a lot about DLC sales, marketing, we’ve gathered more data, and, today, we’re not so sure that a DLC is the right path for us.
Specifically, there are a few things that worry us:
Standalone games have way more space than DLCs on Steam pages and Marketing. This is a big one. If you open Steam right now, and scroll down until you see a DLC, you’ll see that you have to scroll quite a lot. DLCs also typically don’t appear on the Featured & Recommended, and not being there would be very disappointing. This means that releasing Season 2 as a DLC would make it less visible, and virtually invisible to new players.
In our marketing and sales studies, we saw a clear pattern of DLCs selling less copies than Standalone games. This is obvious, as you need to have the base game in order to play the DLC. What we didn’t expect was by how much DLCs were underperforming compared to the base game. Originally, we thought DLCs would sell about 60% - 70% of the number of copies of the base game. We found out that those numbers are, in most cases, closer to 10% - 30%. And it tends to sell less as more Seasons are added.
A DLC naturally alienates new players, as they would have to play Season 1 in order to play Season 2. Although our story is continuous, there are players who want to jump straight into the action, without playing previous episodes. Another thing to consider is that we evolved a lot graphically since the release of Season 1. Although Season 1 is very pretty, Season 2 is on a whole other level, and this could be something of a shock to new players.
Based on these points, we’re inclined to release Season 2 as a Standalone game, instead of a DLC.
A Standalone release would be the same price as the DLC, the same that we discussed with you last year, and would have a save loader, to import Season 1 choices and relationships.
There are, of course, a few downsides to this, and it’s important to talk about them too.
The first, and simpler one, is that we’ll have to create a recap of Season 1 for players that start their FreshWomen journey on Season 2. Something like a “Previously, on FreshWomen” segment. This isn’t an issue, as we have a dedicated video editor, and we’ll be able to include this quickly in the game.
The second downside is bigger, and trickier: We’ll lose all wishlists. FreshWomen Season 2 DLC has 100.000+ wishlists right now. This is a HUGE number, and wishlists are VERY important on release week. We’ve contacted Steam to ask if they could change the game from a DLC to a Standalone game, and they said it’s impossible. If we decide to release Season 2 as a Standalone game, we’ll have to create a brand-new page, and collect those wishlists again. I believe that, if we decide to release Season 2 as a Standalone game, we’ll be able to get a reasonable number of wishlists until the release date, but, this is a big blow.
Having said that, we’re still inclined to release Season 2 as a Standalone game. It’ll be better from a marketing perspective, bringing new players to the franchise and, possibly, selling more copies, which will enable us to tell more stories.
Obviously, this is a HUGE decision for us, and we want to hear your thoughts on it before we make a final decision on this matter. Our vision is that we’re creating FreshWomen together, our team and our community, side by side, creating amazing games together. Our community is our most important pillar, and we don’t want to make a huge decision such as this without talking to you about it first.
So, please, let us know what you think about this in the comments below!
As always, thank you so much for your love and support. Thank you for believing in us, and for loving our games as much as we do! Together, we’re creating great things!
See you soon,
f1r3
Comments
The123Shield -Kevin dallu
Stand alone for sure!
William
Standalone, though it may depend on how big the wish list is relative to the projected set of initial sales.
雁夜 间桐
not dlc
loveslgame
agree a Standalone Game , not a DLC
TheYisus I'dk
standalone
Hector Winter
Not dlc
Alejandro Rivenson
Standalone Will be ok
GregKun
Hmmm, that is a hard decision to make... I want to say DLC... but considering all the content. I would have to go with Stand lone.
學典 陳
DLC
rusty
MUST stand alone
Bavak4
Standalone with the ability to select choices if you played the first game
ChiefSensei_
DLC
Ellis Alden
Stand Alone with some flashbacks.All these Chapters & Parts always get confusing.
OppaiMan
Unfortunately, that isn't an option.
OppaiMan
Great idea! We'll add that!
OppaiMan
That is... Incredibly specific xD I'll look into it!
Sam
I think stand alone would make you more money in the long run, and would be significantly more convenient for us
Bob
Stand Alone with ability to select choices if you played first game
C A
DLC But you need to make things less messy. Seasons, I get, but you really get confusing when you get into your parts and chapters. I'm really getting to the point of just waiting until a complete season comes out instead of wondering what I should even be getting next. I don't like to get 1 part and play for only 20-30 minutes. I'm used to waiting i.e. B.A.D. so it doesn't bother me that much.
Mister Alex
So, you've already analyzed everything. If you want to know my opinion, it should look like this: 1. The game should be released separately; 2. Why not remove saves for new players? There will be many people who want to start with FreshWomen 2. A new player should just choose the options of what the MC could have been in the first season. If anyone doubts this, take a look at the movie "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." Millions of people watch it every year, including in theaters, and many haven't even seen the first film; 3. Some time after the release (a year later, for example), the second season can be added to the first season on Steam. Not as DLC. So that the 2 seasons are a single whole. For example, on Steam, the game Fates: Determination is a single whole but includes 6 episodes. To summarize: At the moment, everything should be released separately, but ultimately the project should be cohesive. It's convenient when all parts, episodes, and seasons are an integral part of the game, not DLC.
Ed F
DLC might be OK
rusty
MUST Stand Alone !!!
CMDR Marcus Shepard
DLC
Joshua
Perfer DLC reason being is the random amount of clutter that will come with standalone especially when comes to importing saves.like good example Lust academy all are standalones seems interesting to me but not going buy cause having to boot up each one then have to set the settings for it and then have to go through the hassle to import an old save and etc. To me that's just to much work if the game was just package all together in one go and just contuine the story. Besides sales number the only thing I can see standalone being justify is if the coding in the season 2 isn't compatible with season 1 therefore creating lots of extra work for the files to work in one big folder. Yes of course it's not going to be as visible but even if you have it as a standalone it's not going to always bring in new players as they will see it saying season 2 and there going be like oh I need season 1 but do I really want to buy both right now? And the one thing we all know what people would do is like oh it's a ***n game do i want to pay that much for it? From a marketing stand point I would wonder if steam will allow you to update the page with newer stuff or instead of free women season one can change it to freshwomen. And have the page changed the pictures more updated and etc to appeal in others showing off why this does look good. Since ill be honesty the page does seem like it needs an update
John Smith
Do whatever’s gonna make you more money honestly.
Tomas Devat
Standalone, and for your Wishlist change it on steam as soon as possible and send us a memo.. i think everybody will go and Wishlist it ...
Munch
Standalone
Brandon
DLC.
Brian D Thietje
I prefer DLC
T-Man
I prefer a DLC. Keeps me from having 5 copies of every game for each chapter. Its annoying.
Gonzalo Martino
The main problem is not dlc/standalone, the real problem why you take it so long to develop? Cause the history is too long? Then is not a dlc is a standalone…. The dlc has to be extra content, short one with good stuff but no entire new game, with rapid iterations
Long Beetle
DLC
Michael Diamond
Standalone seems to be the best option
Jackie Brewer
I am particale to the stand alone and it sounds like it could be better for your product marketing also.
Penelope Jane
I’m glad the Devs are transparent about this and didn’t randomly do it. Honestly makes me want the game more :)
Bubbles
It doesn’t matter to me, whatever is best for you guys! I am curious when do you expect season 2 to be finished?!
Peter
I hope Dev reads this. Another problem I have with MC is that his calves are way too big. I hope Dev reduces MC's calf size. I might sound weird, but MC calves are more weird.
Jack Strack
The size of the story for sure justifies a standalone. Especially being able to import saves, and having a recap for new customers, though I would add that ut would be suggested that they do play through season 1 to fully immerse in the story amd characters.
Peter
Standalone for me
Scott Smith
Standalone
Toneio
Sounds like a no brainer and that you have already made a decision. There is no serious impact to players. Though if anything makes it easier for you all freeing up some time and money then maybe content could come out faster and or better . That would impact players in a good way. I would not think twice about the wishlist thing. A seriously interested person is already going to purchase. Make the decision final and start building a new wishlist if you’re concerned. And the new number will probably be way more accurate as to actual sales now.
Claustin
I suppose you can’t do both
James Flopps
What happened to the weekly updates?
TheGrimLord
Standalone. Annie from Sex Positive Gaming showcased the stats in her video. A DLC won't make as much money and it never has. Even BADIK's Season 2 DLC made less money than the first season. If you want to make the absolute most profit, the standalone is a no-brainer.
Timothy Gjerde
There is no data to back up my point here, but I've wish-listed many games, and once they came out, I found I wasn't all that interested anymore. With 100,000 possible players, there is a good chance many have forgotten they've added it to the wishlist, their financial situation, or their life circumstances have changed. I notoriously ignored the wishlist for months and didn't drop games I eventually didn't care about. Wishes don't always come true. Sorry, I couldn't resist. I think a stand-alone game makes the most sense from that perspective.
Chris Bold
I always found one thing weird! Why (prior to being a patron and knowing the deal) on steam is there only this game Freshwomen season 1?? Right off the bat that's weird, especially not seeing it with other games who release, saying season...without any other material on steam. I remember these thoughts clearly purchasing from steam. I'm inclined to agree with your strategy. But I am not inclined to agree with implementation..i don't see a strategic plan. Nor do I see people joining the party years after the game releases..that's just ny experience. So..marketing it is easier sure..Will it be a value add or tradeoff for us? That's something left to show us please
Kurtlooping
Hi ! No problem with standalone.
evog35viii
Seasons: standalone Episodes: dlc
Ryan Coleman
I'd say standalone personally with the choices able to be carried over
squeezemybratwürst bratwürst
Standalone
João Pereira
dlc please. less clutter on the desktop
John Sherwood
I'd be down with getting it as a standalone game if that helps you increase visibility and sales (and subsequently budget for ongoing seasons). The key decider on this for me is that your roadmap includes a save loader/parser so that our game state for all characters is maintained. One advantage of doing it standalone is that if you have ideas for expanding what is tracked in the game state, the new save (after import) doesn't need to maintain backwards compatibility with FW Season 1, giving you more freedom to expand as ideas come to you (likewise the lifting of all sorts of compatibility constraints you'd be saddled with under DLC development, since the fundamental game structure would be locked). And I personally think that would support you in making the best FW Season 2 we could get. As always though, that's just my 2 cents on it. Edit: Though I'm willing to put my 20 dollars with my 2 cents (just upgraded to Level 20 patron).
Emanuel Monteagudo Flahaut
Standalone
Mila Kuroashi
Perfect, I think it's a better idea that it's an independent game and not a dlc, it was a great decision and assured support, thank you very much for taking us into account
Minalan
1000% stand alone - dlcs get confusing to manage esp with episode based games like this
Saniya
I would also say stand alone on steam but keep it all in one on the site like you have been and make sure save locations are set to the same place or itll get annoying to get working as intended
rusty
stand alone
john
Definitely a separate game, for the amount of content alone it's worth its own title as a sequel. The only worry is how will the game know what decisions we made in season 1.
Mike Ingram
Whatever gets you the most eyes on the pages and money in your pocket I’m good with.
Bosrel
I’d say stand alone game. There are some that have 3 seasons all in one game but most that I’ve played have been separate games per season and that seems totally acceptable to the market
