Hearts of Iron IV starts DLC subscription service Rock Paper Shotgun Support us Join our newsletter Visit our store Sign in / Create account If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Paradox launch DLC subscription service for Hearts Of Iron IV today They're still selling DLC separately, mind News by Alice O'Connor Associate Editor Published on Feb. 15, 2022 10 comments Paradox Interactive are notoriously enthusiastic about DLC, often releasing years of expansions and add-ons for their big strategy games rather than leaping straight into sequels. So as an alternative to spending £100-odd for all a game's DLC, Paradox have started dabbling in letting players pay monthly fees to play them. The next game to start such a DLC subscription service is Hearts Of Iron IV, launching today. Like the others, it'll charge £4 per month. Or alternatively, you can still just buy DLC for keepsies. Watch on YouTube The subscription service is now live on Steam, costing £3.99/€4.99/$4.99 per month, with small discounts for buying multiple months at once. It offers access to all the expansions plus the Sound Packs and Cosmetic Packs which add new music, speeches, models, and skins for extra flavour. That's currently £120-odd bought individually, though of course it goes cheaper in sales. Paradox say all upcoming expansions and content will be added to the subscription (as well as still sold normally). But yeah, you do need to buy the base game separately on top of this. "With a plethora of DLC options to choose from, starting out from scratch can be daunting to new players," Paradox say in the FAQ. "This is an affordable way for players to experience the entire HoI4 catalog without having to weigh which items they would prefer to purchase." That's true, but you could also read reviews and wait for discounts in sales. Especially when much of HOI4's DLC is ehhh. Paradox's first DLC subscription was for Crusader Kings 2, launching in February 2021. They followed up with one for Europa Universalis IV a month later. Now HOI4. Stellaris when? As Paradox continue launching sub services, this individual approach does look less and less attractive. Moreso when, unlike CK2 (which offers the base game free), you have to buy the game too. And especially when you compare it to the (possibly unsustainable) quantity of games you get on Microsoft's sub service, Game Pass. Maybe Paradox are missing a trick by having per-game services rather than an all-encompassing Paradox Pass or whatever. Presumably they wouldn't still be launching a new sub service if the old ones weren't successful enough, but I know which service I'd be more interested in. More News Jack King-Spooner's next handcrafted game has a teaser demo out Judero brings chat and action in the Scottish Borders Alice O'Connor 17 hours ago 1 If you were hoping for any Overwatch 2 balance changes then you'll have to wait until season two The next season begins in December CJ Wheeler 18 hours ago 3 The Dead Space remake will chuck random Necromorphs at you as you wander the Ishimura In space, no one can hear you proper bricking it CJ Wheeler 18 hours ago 8 Valve register mysterious new Neon Prime trademark in the US It doesn’t seem to be for a particularly colourful Steam Deck CJ Wheeler 20 hours ago 11 Latest Articles What are we all playing this weekend? Well? Alice O'Connor an hour ago 22 Past Wordle answers Here's an archive of previous Wordle words Ollie Toms 2 hours ago 1 Wordle answer today (Saturday 15 October) Hints and the answer to today's Wordle word Rebecca Jones 9 hours ago Overwatch 2 hero tier list Which are the best heroes in Overwatch 2? Ollie Toms 16 hours ago Supporters Only You're probably better than me at One Many Nobody You go on without… uh, you? Sin Vega 17 hours ago Supporter podcast - The Nate Files episode 13: dry bones Bad science is also FUN science! Alice Bell 18 hours ago Japanese dating show Love Wagon has surprising parallels with Yakuza and Persona My new obsession Ed Thorn 2 days ago If you're hankering after Bayonetta 3, Valkyrie Elysium might be a good substitute It's not out on PC until next month, but the console demo has been a surprise charmer Katharine Castle 1 week ago 4 We've been talking, and we think that you should wear clothes Total coincidence, but we sell some clothes Buy RPS stuff here