DICE's free-to-play web-based multiplayer shooter Battlefield Heroes, originally expected to launch last summer, is now available for all to play via BattlefieldHeroes.com.

The launch comes as a moderate surprise, with no formal announcement whatsoever. The oft-delayed game had been running in closed beta for some time.

Though free-to-play, real-world currency can be used to purchase a variety of in-game items and bonuses, including the ability to "level up faster [and] get Valor Points (VP) faster," new clothes, "ultra exclusive limited-edition items," and special emotes. However,, you must first purchase the virtual "Battlefunds" currency available in $5 (700 Battlefunds), $10 (1400 Battlefunds), $20 (2800 Battlefunds) and $50 (7000 Battlefunds) bundles.

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The open beta for DICE's free-to-play, micro-transaction and ad-supported Battlefield title will begin this summer, according to EA.

Publisher EA had previously expected Battlefield Heroes to be released no later than March 31.

A large closed beta for the game is currently running. To appeal for a key, hit up the game's official site.

After a bit of a hiatus, the next closed beta phase for D.I.C.E's Battlefield Heroes will begin tomorrow.

To sign up for some testing, head on over to the official site.

Battlefield Heroes--a free, casual version of Battlefield 1942--will be released no later than April of this year, according to publisher Electronic Arts.

DICE's free-to-play PC multiplayer shooter Battlefield Heroes will be released no later than March 31, 2009, according to financial documents from publisher Electronic Arts.

In the documents, the oft-delayed game is listed among the company's releases for its current fiscal quarter, which runs from the beginning of January to the end of March.

Revealed over a year ago, Heroes will be free-to-play through its web site, and will be supported financially by out-of-game ads and microtransactions for in-game items.

Developer EA DICE today began accepting applications for the next round beta testing for its free-to-play, web-launched multiplayer shooter Battlefield Heroes.

Those interested in participating are required to sign into the the official Battlefield Heroes website with their EA Account, and must then proceed to the sign-up form.

Those who have participated in past Battlefield Heroes beta tests are automatically signed up for the next phase, and do not need to enter. It was not said when the next phase will begin, though DICE noted that more players will gain access over time.

The last round of beta testing concluded on November 14, 2008. The free-to-play game, which relies on microtransactions and out-of-game ads for financial support, was originally slated to arrive last summer, then late 2008, and is now expected this year.

Thanks to Luckyg for the tip.

Once slated for this summer and then pushed until the end of 2008, the launch of DICE's free-to-play PC shooter Battlefield Heroes has been delayed until next year.

The game, currently in a closed beta test, will see the current testing period end this Friday, November 14. "We expect to re-open the beta early next year," senior producer James Salt wrote on the game's official page, as noticed by Blue's News.

While the closed beta is, er, closed, DICE will work on the game's backend.

"You know the old saying about icebergs being 10% above water, and 90% below? Heroes is a little like that," Salt explained. "There's the 10% game part you can see, and the hiding 90% is what we call the 'backend.'"

"The backend does a lot of things," he added. "From running the website's features and looking after the items you have, to collecting the results from each Heroes game and matchmaking players into games."

EA DICE has provided a new trailer for its upcoming free-to-play multiplayer shooter Battlefield Heroes (PC), showcasing the various customization parts that will be available when the game launches on Battlefield-Heroes.com later this year.

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EA DICE's upcoming free-to-play PC shooter Battlefield Heroes has been delayed and is now expected to arrive late this year, publisher Electronic Arts announced today.

The ad-supported, web-based shooter was previously expected to launch this summer. During a conference call today, EA CEO John Riccitiello revealed that the game is now "launching at the end of the calendar year."

"We decided to increase its focus on some of the social networking features," Riccitiello noted, stressing that the studio hopes to incorporate beta tester feedback and implement new features. "The last thing we want to do is jab it in the marketplace."

Riccitiello seemed optimistic about the title's development despite the delay, adding that Battlefield Heroes "still feels like it's progressing much like we anticipated."

EA DICE executive producer Ben Cousins today revealed that the studio currently at work on a total of five titles in the Battlefield multiplayer shooter franchise, reports GamesIndustry.

In a keynote at Paris GDC, Cousins said that in addition to the previously announced free-to-play Battlefield Heroes (PC) and the just-shipped Battlefield: Bad Company (PS3, 360), the company is working on three unannounced Battlefield titles.

Among them are a new traditional core game bound for home consoles, and another title developed in collaboration with South Korea-based online game developer Neowiz aimed at the Korean games market. No details on the third Battlefield title were mentioned.

Cousins added that DICE's move towards the free-to-play market arose out of a business trip to South Korea, where web-based and free-to-play games flourish in a region dominated by piracy.

"If you ask me, the future is web games," added Cousins. "And I don't think many people will see it coming."

EA DICE has opened registration for its upcoming free-to-play PC effort Battlefield Heroes through the QAboss website.

The signup form and its respective NDA, both of which are loading quite slowly, require that applicants complete a free QAboss registration before the application can be submitted.

The free-to-play web-based shooter is currently expected to arrive sometime this summer. For more on Battlefield Heroes, scope out our hands-on impressions and interview with producer Aleksander Grondol.

Every time that EA DICE's free multiplayer shooter Battlefield Heroes (PC) is mentioned, someone always brings up its similarity to the artistic stylings of Valve's multiplayer shooter Team Fortress 2.

You'd think it would get a little grating after a bit, but Heroes producer Aleksander Grondol sure doesn't mind. In fact, he seems proud of the comparisons between Heroes and Valve's J.C. Leyendecker-inspired efforts.

Battlefield Heroes (Left), Team Fortess 2 (Right)

"If they want to keep comparing it to TF2, I think that's perfectly okay," Grondol told Shacknews in an interview. "It's an honor to be compared to a great game like Team Fortress 2, and I think the art style in TF2 is awesome."

"We're obviously not trying to take anything from TF2 in terms of... Read more

Battlefield Heroes was one of the more popular games at Electronic Arts' Spring Break event, held recently in downtown San Francisco.

EA DICE producer Aleksander Grondol was lording over a bank of the popular demo stations when I ran into him. The busy man was kind enough to step away from his duties, allowing me to pick his brain on Battlefield 1942 similarities, Team Fortress 2 comparisons, wing-riding, and more.

Shack: Every time we cover this game, we get a number of comments from people remarking on how it reminds them of Team Fortress 2. How do you guys feel about these comparisons?

Aleksander Grondol: First of all, it's an honor to be compared to a great game like Team Fortress 2, and I think the art style in TF2 is awesome. If they want to keep comparing it to TF2, I think that's perfectly okay. I think once you actually start playing it and see the difference for yourself, then it becomes quite apparent that it's not TF2. We're obviously not trying to take anything from TF2 in terms of gameplay.

... Read more

Real battlefield heroes have flashbacks to moments of horrifying combat. Halfway through a round of EA DICE's Battlefield Heroes, I was having flashbacks to World of Warcraft raids. Not quite the same experience, but almost as scary. After shooting my first enemy soldier, strange numbers popped out of his head: -20, -3, -25. There were more clothing options than weapons, more time spent slotting pirate hats than strategizing. People were ditching their medic packs for area effect heals, and waiting longer for sprint cool-downs than for vehicle respawns. And did I get killed by an Ornery Arathi Nazi, or was that just my imagination?

I went into my hands-on time thinking that Heroes was essentially a pared-down version of Battlefield 1942, and in many ways, it is. From the speed of the jeeps, to the slightly sluggish feel of the infantry controls, I was instantly at home, feeling pleased with the game's clear nod to the first--and still my favorite--entry in the ... Read more

Fresh from EA's Spring Break event are a bonanza of screenshots from the publisher's lineup, including Mass Effect PC, Warhammer Online and more.

Be sure to scope out the full post, as there is simply far too much media to contain on the front page, and don't forget to check out the whole of our EA Spring Break coverage.

Left 4 Dead (PC, X360)
Valve, Turtle Rock Studios / November 2008

Battlefield Heroes (PC)
EA DICE / Summer

Battlefield: Bad Company (PS3, X360)
EA DICE / June 23, 2008

... Read more

Following up on that new trailer, EA DICE has released four new screenshots of its free-to-play PC effort Battlefield Heroes.

Slated to arrive this summer, the free multiplayer title will be supported by out-of-game advertising and microtransactions. For more about Battlefield Heroes and its casual-oriented take on the beloved franchise, check out our in-depth preview.

How about some new footage from Battlefield Heroes (PC) to spice up your Sunday? EA DICE's free to play shooter is due out later this year.

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To learn more about Battlefield Heroes and its casual-oriented take on the beloved franchise, check out our in-depth preview.

EA DICE's free multiplayer effort Battlefield Heroes (PC) will initially launch with two maps when it arrives this summer, senior producer Ben Cousins has revealed.

Launched from Battlefield-Heroes.com, the title will be supported by website advertising and micro-transaction revenue.

"We're launching with an infantry-focused map, and a vehicle-focused map," he explained to Gamasutra. Earlier this year, Cousins described the sole gameplay mode of the class-based shooter as a mixture of Capture the Flag and Team Deathmatch.

Despite the low number of initial maps, Cousins noted that DICE will be continually developing and expanding on the game based on player feedback.

"It's down to the community to define what type of game this is," he continued. "If they want to play the infantry-focused map then we will continue to make infantry-focused maps. And, similarly, if they think of this as a vehicle-based game, then we'll make the maps which reinforce that feel."

For more on Battlefield Heroes, check out our recent preview.

Despite being a free-to-play ad-supported web title, EA DICE's upcoming cartoony shooter Battlefield Heroes (PC) will not feature any type of in-game advertising or product placement, senior producer Ben Cousins revealed during a presentation attended by Shacknews.

Rather, the advertising revenue will come from the title's official web site, which players must visit to launch the game. A bright yellow "Play Now!" button will be prominently featured on the page, along with news posts, details on purchasable items, and, of course, banner ads.

Similar ads are affixed to game's loading screens and registration page, guaranteeing a number of ad views whenever players launch the game. Cousins also touched on project's low system requirements, which mandate that players have a 1GHz processor and an integrated graphics chip in their system.

However, the producer remained mostly silent about the title's oft-mentioned micro-transactions, refusing to specify whether purchasable items will be restricted to fashion accessories or if they will include game-altering weapons and abilities.

Sporting a number of casual-oriented tweaks and modifications, Battlefield Heroes is slated to arrive this summer. For more information, check out today's bonanza of details.

There are so many strange things in EA DICE's first Battlefield Heroes trailer.

World War II drama mocked with a record scratch? Yahtzee-like ramblings with a Pirate Bay name-drop? And you can ride on the wing of a plane while upside down? Seriously?

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At least the core game is looking interesting. Launching later this year, Battlefield Heroes will be a free-to-play PC download, fully supported by out-of-game, web-based advertisements. A cartoon take on the 1942 formula, the title is aimed squarely at the casual crowd, featuring a simple third-person perspective and basic teamplay modes.

EA DICE has also released a batch of screenshots, showing off the Royal and Axis National armies.

For more information on the game, check out our preview.

Shacknews editor Chris Faylor got a long look at EA DICE's upcoming free-to-play, ad-supported title Battlefield Heroes at this year's GDC. Take a look at his full report.

Battlefield Heroes will sport three character classes: the standard Soldier, the fast-moving Commando, and the heavily-armed Gunner. Instead of picking their faction at the beginning of each round, players will be forced to swear their allegiance to the National Army--a politically correct Axis team--or the Royal Army when registering their account. The conflict between the two has something to do with a dispute over the Olympics. Yes, really. Read more..