New THQ 'Fan Axxess' Program Tries One-Time Fee For Ongoing DLC

THQ this week revealed "Fan Axxess," a program that offers for WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 players the option to pay a one-time $10 fee for ongoing DLC supplied "throughout the life of the video game." The fee (800 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live or $9.99 on PlayStation Network) is completely optional if a player is not interested in downloadable content, and is a separate charge from the initial price of the packaged video game. The program differs from THQ's recent introduction of one-time use online access codes, which the company included with new copies of this year's UFC Undisputed 2010. Customers who bought that game used were required to pay an extra $5 to play the game online. EA Sports previously introduced the similar "Online Pass" program, which gives new game buyers access to online multiplayer and other content, while charging second-hand buyers $10 for the features. Players that pay for Fan Axxess in WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 will receive numerous playable WWE Legends wrestlers, WWE Superstars and WWE Divas, as well as content like ring gear, new arenas, a "WWE Superstar Attribute Customizer" and access to unlockable content. The DLC is not exclusive to Fan Axxess customers -- gamers will be able to pay for content separately as well. The first DLC package will include six wrestlers, alternate ring gear and a new arena for $7. The next pack will have less content and sell for $3, and smaller pieces of content will sell separately for as little as $1. Axxess customers receive all of the content for the flat $10 charge. WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 is the latest in THQ's wrestling series, which has sold over 50 million units franchise-wide, the publisher said. The new game will launch on October 26 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP system and Wii.