User blog comment:Saratje/PC release date explained - Skyrim: Dragonborn DLC/@comment-1992639-20121203175543

@ various reactions "you don't explain why Hearthfire was released 30 days early": Read again then, Hearthfire content was developed largely at the game jam, as was Dawnguards. It's an extra, something that could have been part of Dawnguard as content of both are largely a result of the game jam. Microsoft'd never accept that as two DLC's, simple as that. The argument of "but we got 2 packs!" is empty, there's without a doubt size and content conditions the DLC must meet to be considered a DLC on Microsoft's side. Except such contracts aren't for our eyes, as is the law. The corporate world isn't sesame street. Making two horse-sadle packs, calling them DLC's and laughing at Microsoft won't make Microsoft frown and accept that fact. There's whole teams of corporate lawyers who spend their days in the best interest of the company they represent puzzling on if they can get the most out of a deal, for example by setting up conditions on what is expected for a release.

@ piracy: Seriously, lol. There's just as much piracy on consoles, well except for the Wii maybe. You can literally extract the files from the XBOX version of Dragonborn, adjust or recreate it so it plays smooth and consider it ported as a .esp and .bsa bundle for PC. Beth's file formats, with TESVsnip and Creation Kit out there, are one of the easiest to play around with. That same thing was attempted for Dawnguard.