Trion Worlds' upcoming MMO-ish persistent world shooter Defiance promises "no subscription required" to play. But, online games aren't cheap to sustain, and it should come as no surprise that there will be much more content to pay for beyond the game's standard $60 entry fee.

Defiance will have at least five DLC packs rolling after the game's launch which will be bundled into a "Season Pass." The $39.99 bundle will add new playable alien species, new weapons and vehicles, missions, and rewards. According to Trion Worlds, the bundle offers a 20% savings over buying the add-ons individually.

Given Defiance's deep integration with the television show, it's likely players will be highly encouraged to buy into the Season Pass structure to fully enjoy Trion's transmedia vision. So, while the game technically doesn't require a subscription, today's DLC announcement makes it seem like it pretty much does.