Capcom exec Christian Svensson got called out by his customers to explain the puny size of the RE5 DLC, which some took to mean it simply unlocked code already on the disc. He responded.
In reply to "RE5 DLC 1.8MB EXPLAIN THIS TO US SVEN or whoever can," Svensson says:
Keys are 100K or less. It is not a key. We have said in the past, it uses assets from the disc (like levels, models, audio, etc.) but the code is new and does not exist on the disc.
IGN had definitively said on Tuesday that the download was a key. "You are downloading a key that unlocks content already on the RE5 retail disc. The same disc you paid $60 for a month ago." We and other blogs politely asked Capcom WTF, but didn't get any official comment.
But then the Cut Scene's Ben Fritz, arguing a point of view I've found myself gravitating toward in these DLC dustups ("a rather ridiculous attitude of entitlement that gamers need to lose") found Capcom's reply in a now-locked thread. I will say that, parsed out, IGN and Capcom can still be correct. Capcom has said the download makes use of code already on the disc. Again, IGN said "You are downloading a key that unlocks content already on the RE5 retail disc." The difference is what, exactly, is on top of the 100K Svensson says is taken up by a key.
Capcom Says 'RE5' Versus Mode Legit, Not a Key [MTV Multiplayer, sourcing The Cut Scene]