New Free-to-Play Battlefield Game Announced, Featuring BF2 Maps

For those who like the idea of playing Battlefield for free but are turned off by

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For those who like the idea of playing Battlefield for free but are turned off by Battlefield Heroes, EA has revealed that the "new, unannounced Battlefield game" teased earlier this week is a free-to-play PC shooter drawing from Battlefield 2 and Battlefield: Bad Company 2.

EA explains that the horrendously-named Battlefield Play4Free combines "the most popular maps from Battlefield 2 with the familiar classes and powerful weapons of Battlefield: Bad Company." It's developed by EA's Easy studio, who were responsible the cartoon-y F2P offering Battlefield Heroes.

Player progression comes through learning new combat skills and earning in-game currency to spend on "a massive array of devastating weapons and equipment." You'll also be able to spend real money on them but hopefully it won't follow Heroes' lead, where prices were raised until many felt players had to pay to compete.

Battlefield Play4Free is due to launch in spring 2011. If you fancy playing in a closed beta kicking off on November 30, sign up at the official site.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    November 5, 2010 5:50 AM

    I love the BF series, but...what the hell is this? These giant companies are doing some really strange things lately. It's like they're figuring out how to make little bits of money here and there from marketing existing products here and there instead of actually trying to make something cool.

    When are they going to realize they need to invest in some radical developers? My guess is they saw that an existing company could make several fantastic things in a row over many years (Blizzard/Valve) and that anyone can do that.

    Look at Minecraft and Gratuitous Space Battles. What would it cost a giant company to establish a fund where they pay random people )or even people in their own company already) like that to pursue their "crazy" ideas?

    That's how new genres and "the next big thing" are invented. It has nothing to do with pumping out sequels and PLAY4FREE versions of existing stuff.

    • reply
      November 5, 2010 7:44 AM

      That is what they are doing now, except instead of trying new game types/genres they are using new payment methods.

      • reply
        November 8, 2010 8:58 AM

        well, you put out a game that everyone loves (BF2) and start running a ton of servers and maintain stat tracking and the costs begin to add up. I support EA for trying to make a buck to sustain the gameplay. and BFP4F will have the updated graphics so I will enjoy that too.

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