Why has it taken so long for this DLC to come out this time around?

[kadioguy]

Me: The underlined part means "A DLC for this game has come out before, and now this DLC is out. Why has it taken so long this time?"
Not: "A DLC for this game has come out late before, and now this DLC is out late again. Why?"

Friend: Yeah, that's right. In simple terms that's exactly it, "Why has it taken so long this time when it didn't last time?"

Me: "Why has it taken so long for this DLC to come out this time (around)?"
Is the "around" optional? I can't tell what the difference is in meaning between them.

Friend: Yeah, it is optional, I guess. The sentence still makes sense without "around", but that's just the common phrase "this time around".
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Do you agree with us?

 

[SoothingDave]

It's basically optional. The "around" does give a sense that it is something that is expected to happen periodically.