Though the PC version of DICE's Battlefield 1943 won't be out until sometime next year, the game is now available for preorder on the EA store.

The downloadable game has been priced at $15, a figure in line with the console versions. Unique features of the PC version include 32-player multiplayer matches, joystick support and a server browser.

Originally scheduled to be released simultaneously on all platforms, Battlefield 1943 was eventually delayed to early 2010 on PC, with DICE calling the step necessary "to ensure the features and functionality that PC players have come to expect from Battlefield on PC are not missing."

The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Battlefield 1943 combined to sell over 600,000 copies in the game's first week of release.

The PC release of DICE's World War II shooter-driver-flier Battlefield 1943 has again been delayed, producer Gordon Van Dyke told G4tv, now until the first quarter of 2010.

"This was a hard pill to swallow, but it was absolutely needed to ensure the features and functionality that PC players have come to expect from Battlefield on PC are not missing," said Van Dyke. Support for ranked server provider hosting, peripherals such as joysticks, VoIP, and the higher maximum player count of 32 were examples given.

"We haven't released a Frostbite built game on PC, so going into this project we lacked a starting foundation we had on console." Van Dyke explained. "It was and still is the absolutely right decision, for quality sake, to not release until it is ready."

Battlefield 1943 hit Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in July. The PC release was previously scheduled for September, potentially with gameplay closer in ways to Battlefield 1942.

While the economic malaise continues to soften corporate earnings results and retail sales charts, digital distribution outlets are reporting comparative gains in online sales.

Valve now says that year-over-year Steam sales have risen a significant 97%, while competitor Direct2Drive has logged a 56% boost, according to IGN.

In the console sector, Xbox Live saw a 73% year-over-year increase in paid downloads, with the wildly popular Battlefield 1943--a game which sold... Read more

EA DICE today announced that its downloadable multiplayer shooter Battlefield 1943 broke records by selling 600,000 copies since its July 8 launch.

1943 became the fastest-selling Xbox Live game on its opening day, and broke the record for first-week sales as well. It also set similar records for the PlayStation Network in North America.

The brisk sales meant that the community's unlocking of the Coral Sea map, a goal set at 43,000,000 total recorded kills for each platform, came ridiculously fast on Xbox Live, having been accomplished after just six days on Xbox Live.

"We are honored by the reception that the game has received so far," said EA producer Gordon Van Dyke. "Watching and participating in this non-stop multiplayer action has been a real treat for us and we can't believe how fast our fans reached 43 million kills."

Battlefield 1943's dogfighting map 'Coral Sea' has been unlocked for PlayStation 3 players, triggered on Saturday evening by reaching the milestone of 43 million total kills.

The map was the subject of a community challenge which saw Xbox 360 and PS3 players shelling, bombing and shooting their way to the trigger figure. Xbox 360 troops managed to hit their target first, on July 14--a mere four days after the challenge began.

The air-centric map "Coral Sea" has been unlocked for play in the Xbox 360 version of Battlefield 1943 after the game's running kill-count surpassed 43 million today.

Developer DICE's "Coral Sea Challenge" promised the map to each platform's community after reaching the milestone, which was achieved six days after the game's rocky release.

The PlayStation 3 count stands at 22 million, indicating PS3 owners are still in for a bit of a wait.

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DICE's downloadable multiplayer-only shooter Battlefield 1943 launched today on Xbox 360, as celebrated by a new launch trailer, though it's been a rough landing.

"Good news, the game is incredibly successful beyond even my expectations," writes producer Gordon Van Dyke in a forum post. "We have reached server capacity, but the bad news about this now [means] some people can't join unless someone leaves."

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More servers are currently being added to resolve the issue, and in preparation for the PlayStation 3 launch of the $15 game tomorrow. A PC release is due in September.

DICE has announced that Battlefield 1943 will be released July 8 on Xbox Live Arcade then July 9 on the PlayStation Network, priced at $15 (1200 Microsoft Points).

A new trailer introduces Guadalcanal, one of three maps available at launch for 24-player WW2 warfare. A fourth map will become unlocked by a community challenge.

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A PC release is due in September, potentially with gameplay closer to Battlefield 1942.

According to recent comment from developer DICE, the downloadable Battlefield 1943 probably won't make it out on PS3 and Xbox 360 for another week or two. As a consolation, have a look at some new screenshots (below) in the meantime. Three remade maps are planned for the 24-player multiplayer game: Wake Island, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima. A fourth map, Coral Sea, will eventually be available following community challenges.

The PC version of the $15 game will be released sometime in September.

DICE has today announced that PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 edition of its downloadable multeriplayer shooter Battlefield 1943 will contain not three maps but four, setting "a worldwide community challenge" to unlock the fourth field of war, Coral Sea.

Coral Sea will unlock on each platforms once its players have collectively racked up 43 million kills, with the game's website providing information on how close players are.

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Battlefield 1943 arrives on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in June for $15, with a gussied up PC version--potentially with gameplay closer to BF1942--set for release in September.

DICE has released another trailer for its downloadable 24-player revival of the Battlefield 1942 formula. This particular video takes a look at the remake of classic map Iwo Jima, with classic 1942 music blaring in the background.

Battlefield 1943 hits the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in June for $15. The PC version will be out in September. Check out our interview with DICE for more information.

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"It's not supposed to be the game that's gonna replace your big games, like Battlefield 2 or 2142," producer Gordon Van Dyke tells me of the upcoming Battlefield 1943. "It's more action-based and it's not as heavily [focused] on the strategy, per se."

Powered by the Frostbite engine--the same technology that was behind last year's destruction-happy Battlefield: Bad Company on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360--the downloadable multiplayer shooter packs remakes of three Battlefield 1942 (PC) maps.

But make no mistake console Battlefield fans, this isn't just Bad Company with three different maps. Even though it uses the same overall technology, the gameplay has been tweaked, focusing more on fast pick up and play action than strategy.

Those that have played Battlefield 1942, you're in for some surprises too. Sure, you may know the maps by heart, but the addition of destructible environments changes things a bit. A fence blocking your progress? Go ahead and knock it down with... Read more

DICE has released new screenshots of its download-only multiplayer shooter Battlefield 1943, accompanying tales of battlefield hijinks from producer Gordon Van Dyke.

"Imagine with me flying your Corsair airplane over the tropical Wake Island," Dyke wrote on the PlayStation Blog. "[You] notice your squad mate's tank about to be flanked by the enemy...quickly bank to the left, swoop down, and drop two bombs perfectly on the enemy, saving your friend and helping him capture a critical control point."

Priced at $15, the downloadable game and its three maps hit PS3 and Xbox 360 in June, with the "proper" and possibly enhanced PC edition following in September.

Following last week's revelation that the download-only Battlefield 1943 would hit consoles a few months before PC, developer DICE has spoken out to make sure that everyone knows "this is in no means an intentional ploy to punish our PC fans."

"You might feel disappointed about the PC release being in September rather than June, but you should be very happy to know this is to give us the proper development time to create a proper PC version of Battlefield 1943 and not a console port," producer Gordon Van Dyke wrote of the $15 download, as noticed by Blue's News.

"We want to make the best damn PC version we can for our PC fans... Read more

Earlier today, we learned that Battlefield 1943 will be $15 when it hits PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in June, and then PC in September. Now, publisher EA has released a new trailer for DICE's downloadable shooter, showing off one of the three included maps.

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DICE's downloadable 24-person multiplayer shooter Battlefield 1943 will arrive on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this June, the studio announced today, priced at $15.

The promised PC version will then follow in September, carrying the same price point. Technically, it hasn't been delayed, as a vague "summer" release date was originally announced, and summer doesn't end until the autumnal equinox on September 22.

As before, the download-only game packs three maps from 1942--Wake Island, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima--that have been remade with destructible environments.

"We want to offer gamers the most accessible online shooter experience and the best value found in any premium download title," said producer Gordon Van Dyke.

Ensuring that Battlefield: Bad Company 2 doesn't get all of the attention today, EA has released a few new screenshots from DICE's other major Battlefield effort, 1943. The download-only game brings 24-person multiplayer and three classic maps--Wake Island, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima--to PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this summer.

Earlier this week, developer DICE revealed that it was readying Battlefield 1943, a download-only Battlefield 1942 sequel, for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 this summer.

Now, Kotaku's had the chance to actually play the game, bringing to light some of the changes that the latest entry has undergone to make it more pick up and play friendly.

Priced somewhere between $15 and $20, the game will pack three classes: Infantry, Riflemen, and Scout. DICE wanted to make sure that players could fight in any situation regardless of the chosen class, so each has weapons that can take down a tank.

The 24-player game will also grant players unlimited ammunition, as well as automatically regenerating health. While these steps are being taken to ensure that the game has wide appeal, they also remove the team-centric strategy of past titles.

Destructible environments, now possible through the use of the Frostbite engine, should be similar in "destruction depth" to those of Battlefield: Bad Company, according to associate producer Gordon Van Dyke. And while the game will only ship with three maps, Dyke suggests that more maps could arrive depending on player feedback.

Hot on the heels of today's announcement, here's the first trailer for Battlefield 1943.

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Featuring the classic Battlefield locations Wake Island, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, Battlefield 1943 will be released for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this summer. All three versions will be available as downloads, with the console releases selling through the PlayStation Store and Xbox Live Marketplace. The price point is not yet known.

Visitors of the New York Comic Con (February 6-8) will have the opportunity to see the game early, as it will be featured at booth #1441.

Electronic Arts studio DICE today confirmed that Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is in development, as Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello revealed a few days ago. In addition, the company revealed the development of Battlefield 1943.

Unlike the first Bad Company, which was only released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, Bad Company 2 will also get a PC release. DICE promises a "level of fervor to vehicular warfare never before experienced in a modern warfare action game."

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is not expected until early next year, but gamers will still get their Battlefield fix this year as Battlefield 1943 will be released this summer.

A presumably budget-priced release, Battlefield 1943 is a downloadable multiplayer-only title coming to PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It will feature 24 player action, three classic Battlefield locations--Wake Island, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima--and uses the same Frostbite engine that powers Bad Company 2.

"Bad Company 2 takes everything that players liked in the original and ups the ante - more vehicles, more destruction and more team play," said Battlefield franchise executive producer Karl Magnus Troedsson. "Battlefield 1943 is a new take on a blast from the past classic coming to life with brand new technology."

DICE is also working on the free-to-play Battlefield Heroes, which is expected by April.