Speaking to IGN, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt developer CD Projekt Red has expanded on why they decided to give away 16 different DLC releases for free after the game is released later this year on various platforms. The short answer? "We owe" our customers who will buy the game.

"Because people just paid full price for our game," CD Projekt Red co-founder and joint CEO Marcin Iwinski tells IGN. "We owe them."

The ever outspoken Iwinski went on to say that he thinks that this decision is CD Projekt Red "making a statement" about DLC. He did note that the 16 free Witcher 3 add-ons aren't of the large variety like DLC releases for other games.

"We, as gamers, would like to be treated this way, 'Hey, give me free DLC.' It doesn't have to be something huge," he explained. "And I'm saying we aren't giving out huge stuff, we aren't giving tens of hours of storyline here; we are giving small bits of pieces that don't cost a lot. And I think people would feel better about our game, and so, they will enjoy the adventure even more."

Iwinski also thinks this approach to DLC could lead to fewer copies of the game being pirated or lead to people keeping the game instead of selling it at GameStop or other retailers.

"And maybe the ones who thought about pirating would not pirate it," he said. "Maybe the ones who wanted to trade it back and get something else will keep it on the shelf. That'd be great--I would like this to happen and if not that's fine as well. I hope they'll have fun."

The first bundle of DLC for The Witcher 3 will be released later this year and includes the Temerian Armor Set (horse armor - a shot at Oblivion's horse armor DLC) and the Beard and Hairstyle Set for the game's protagonist, Geralt.