Age Ratings and DLC

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

So I was playing Batman: Arkham City (And why wouldn't I? Game is awesome) and I was just checking out the Character Models I unlocked and I got to thinking.

Now, if you played the game, you notice that there is no blood while you beat the shit out of everything that moves and few characters in game actually die outside the main plot.
Then I looked at Azrael, A DC Character that replaced Batman after Knightfall (I think) where they tried out the idea of Batman killing people (Don't think it went down well...)

Then I thought of all the playable characters DLC in the game (Catwoman, Robin, Nightwing) and what would happen if Azrael was to join that roster and start mowing down inmates with that sword of his and generally killing people explicitly.

My point is this: Can you make DLC that increases the rate rating in a game?

(Notice: This Thread is on the DLC Question, not Arkham City, I was just using it as an example)

 

[DoPo]

I suppose you could - I don't know of a reason that would actually stop you. It's still somewhat undesirable, though, since you're directly ignoring part of your market share - you have a target audience of, say, 13 and up and if you add a DLC that's for 18+, you normally expect ages 13-17 to not get it. Thus reducing your target audience after release.

Not saying it can't work, though, just that there is a reason not everybody to do it.

EDIT: Although, now that I think about it, maybe when a game gets rated, it's expected all DLC to also be the same rating. I'm not sure how it works.

EDIT 2: Now that I think about it more the Hot Coffee mod comes to mind. Sure it wasn't a DLC per se[footnote]Yes, before I get the "But you DOWNLOAD IT!", that's not what you mean when you say DLC and you know it. DLC refers to official content that was released to be an addition to the core game. Think stuff ranging from expansion packs to mods/addons done by the devs.[/footnote] but I see strong similarity that and what a DLC for a game would be. It seems more likely that a DLC shouldn't go over the original game's age limit but again, I'm not sure.