Gamers have been very critical of the way many game developers have handled DLC and expansions for video games. Some of the most critical players claim that developers are looking to rake in as much money as they can from a single game, without providing any more content than they have in the past. Whether or not this is true, there's no doubting that the discussion has become fairly heated as of late.

So when a game developer decides to offer free DLC on top of an already massive title, gamers definitely take notice. That's the case for CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which along with it's 200-plus hours of gameplay, is receiving 16 free DLC packs, in addition to a couple of paid-for expansions.

Impressively, this free Witcher 3 content goes well beyond just a few extra weapons and pieces of armor. It also includes full-fledged quest additions, at least one of which launched today on all platforms. Today's new DLC includes an alternate look for one of the game's main characters, Yennefer, as well as a new Witcher Contract quest, which sends the game's protagonist on a hunt for missing miners in Skellige.

Not only is free DLC for Witcher 3 an impressive offering on its own, but to make it available so quickly shows CD Projekt Red's dedication to their customers. This is especially true considering the game already has so much content, with around 50 to 60 hours needed to complete just the main story.

In fact, with so many gamers calling for consumers to avoid preordering games in an effort to show developers they want completed, quality games, this is a great opportunity to truly show approval of a company that's doing things right. Chances are this simple new Witcher 3 quest will take most players at least 20 minutes to complete, an addition many other developers would likely charge for.

Besides the positive PR this kind of offering gives CD Projekt Red, the decision to give away free DLC in regular intervals may prove to be a smart marketing move as well. It's likely the regular content, along with the free DLC packs, will challenge most players for months to come, which means many players may still be fairly entrenched in the story when the first paid expansion, Hearts of Stone, drops in October. This, in turn, may drive higher sales of the DLC. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out.

What do you think about this week's free Witcher 3 DLC? Will the strategy pay off for CD Projekt Red? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is now available for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.