Post-release DLC seen as the key in building strong customer loyalty.

dragon age - BioWare outlines plans to combat piracy

Piracy is an ever present problem for the video game industry, in particular the PC platform in which it seems anyone with an internet connection can easily obtain the latest releases without paying a penny.

So severe is the problem that Crysis developer, Crytek, has opted to move away from its previously PC focused development to a multi-platform strategy to bring in higher revenues from console game sales. BioWare, having already moved into console development, has other plans to ensure PC sales are high.

"We're doing a lot of post-release downloadable content on all of our PC titles going forward," BioWare co-CEO Ray Muzyka told MTV Multiplayer. "We think it's a good thing to encourage players to make them want to buy a PC title. That's ultimately the best, most successful path to prevent piracy - to have players that want your games, want to believe in them and think they're high-quality and realize they're going to get a lot of value out of them as platforms for long time afterwards."

In addition to strong post release support for its critically acclaimed Mass Effect, BioWare says it plans the same for upcoming title Dragon Age.