Metro: Last Light's Ranger Mode Pre-Order DLC Controversy: Deep Silver Blaming THQ

Metro: Last Light’s pre-order DLC could be a major deal-breaker for all those who are looking forward to the game, and Deep Silver has blamed THQ for everything.

The Ranger Mode DLC, essentially a hard mode that is available as a pre-order bonus or for $5, for Deep Silver’s upcoming title Metro: Last Light has generated quite a backlash from fans. After various complaints and rumors suggesting that retailers forced Deep Silver to include the Ranger Mode as DLC, the company’s community manager has finally decided to speak out about the situation.

The community manager claims that the Ranger Mode DLC “is not something we would have chosen to do, had we have been in charge of publishing this title from the start.”

And basically, Deep Silver is blaming THQ, the game's former publisher, for making Ranger Mode paid DLC.

“Ranger Mode as part of the Limited Edition for Metro: Last Light was something that was decided last year by the former publisher, and which has been active for pre-order (outside of Steam which tends to start pre-purchase closer to launch) since that time,” the community manager writes. “By the time Deep Silver took over publishing duties, changing that within the time left to getting the game ready release was no longer an option.”

“As long as the first batch of Limited Editions for any platform are in stores, you will be able to get Ranger Mode for free. A pre-order simply guarantees you one of these Limited Editions. Ranger Mode as DLC like this is not something we would have chosen to do, had we have been in charge of publishing this title from the start.”

For those who are not aware about the Ranger Mode DLC, it’s a mode for Rangers, and while the original mode has three difficulties (Easy, Normal, and Hardcore), Metro: Last Light’s Ranger Mode has two (Ranger Normal and Ranger Hardcore).

“Fans of Metro 2033,” the official Steam Community writes, “who have completed Ranger Mode on Ranger Easy (1.5% of Steam owners) and Ranger Hardcore (1.7% of Steam owners) often consider Ranger Hardcore to be easier than the regular Hardcore mode, due to the way damage is increased for both the player and all enemies; provided you have the skills to survive, you can take down enemies faster.”

Although the manager goes on to explain why some Limited Editions of Metro: Last Light are featuring the Ranger Mode DLC for free, he doesn’t really explain, per DSOGaming, “why the company could not cancel the DLC-thing when it took over the publishing duties, or what would be different had Deep Silver been in charge from the get-go.”

When Metro 2033, the previous game in the series, released PC gamers got the Ranger Mode for free, while console gamers had to pay for it.

Metro: Last Light is currently set for a release on May 14 for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.