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EA scraps Bad Company weapon DLC

Publisher settles collectors' edition controversy by making all weapons available free of charge; Gold Edition purchasers gain instant access to extra firearms.

At the end of March, EA invited a select number of gamers to participate in an online multiplayer beta for the Xbox 360 version of Battlefield: Bad Company. Shortly after the Xbox Live server opened, gamers discovered that while many weapons would be available out of the box, 10 firearms appeared to be available only as downloadable content or through the purchase of the collector's edition of the game.

A firestorm of controversy followed, with fan site Sarcastic Gamer organizing Battlefield fans into a boycott of sorts due to the downloadable content for the title. EA moved quickly to diffuse some of the complaints, saying that five of the 10 locked weapons will actually be given away as part of a promotional campaign, and as such were incorrectly flagged. However, the publisher also noted that the remaining five would indeed be premium content, available only in the Gold Edition of the game or as downloadable extras purchasable over Xbox Live.

EA's clarification on the issue acted as a gentle breeze on the conflagration, working only to further fan gamers' rage over the issue. Taking heed of the outcry, EA today confirmed for GameSpot that it has scrapped plans to charge extra for the weapons included in the Gold Edition of the game. Instead, those who purchase the Gold Edition will receive the weapons out of the box, while all others will gain access to the weapons by ranking up their online personas to the maximum level.

Karl-Magnus Troedsson, senior producer on Battlefield: Bad Company, laid out the situation for GameSpot in an interview earlier today.

"It all started when the beta came out," said Troedsson. "The beta is a beta. We had some problems with explanation of the weapons that are available or you can see on the unlocking page. We had some weapons that we were planning to release through various marketing programs, but they were actually flagged there like you were supposed to buy these weapons through Xbox Live Marketplace, and that was a misunderstanding between marketing and us the developers. We clarified that in the last statement that went out, but lately there's been a lot going on about the Gold Edition weapons."

"I should pretty much start at the end, we listen a lot to what people say out there. I think that's important to show, because we don't have time to comment on everything, because there's so much noise out there, but DICE is built upon the multiplayer community, and we do listen to what people say out there. When we saw this big uprise about people that really felt it was dissatisfying that some people bought the Gold Edition, those five weapons you couldn't get or that you had to buy if you had the ordinary version of the game, that we just decided that all weapons will be free in the game, and that's how it is now."

"These Gold Edition weapons, we won't give away, you have to do something as a gamer. The Gold Edition guys and girls that actually buy that game will have some time where the weapons are exclusive, because if you don't buy the Gold Edition, you have to earn them. That means you have to rank up all the way to the top rank, which is rank 25, and then you have a massive unlock of five new weapons which are the same that are in the Gold Edition."

When asked whether DICE has any future plans to release weapons as downloadable content, Troedsson commented, "It isn't something we've announced at this point. DICE wants to support the product out there. We won't say that we won't do it, but it's not something that we're planning right now. It all depends on the feedback we get and how much people like the game." An EA representative picked up on Magnus' comment, saying, "There's other content we're looking at after the game releases."

Battlefield: Bad Company will arrive for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on June 23. The standard edition carries a $59.99 price tag, while the Gold Edition--which includes unlocked versions of the five controversial weapons and various behind-the-scenes bonuses--will run for $69.99. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

308 Comments

  • Weemanrulez

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 2:44 pm GMT

    its like most things nowadays thers always no battries in the box
    and i mean why the hell would anyone in their right mind think of doing that its just a nice money making scam by EA / DICE (even though i'm pretty sure they make enough money on the sale of games alone)

    EA, try sticking your downloadable content where the sun dont shine if you can!

  • Weemanrulez

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 2:41 pm GMT

    its like most things nowadays thers always no battries in the box
    and i mean why the hell would anyone in their right mind think of doing that its just a nice money making scam by EA / DICE (even though i'm pretty sure they make enough money on the sale of games alone)

    EA, try sticking your downloadable content where the sun dont shine if you can!

  • DarkGhost32

    Posted Jul 13, 2008 11:30 pm GMT

    ha yea ultra i kinda agree with u cuz im getting a ps3 in 2 days and i wanna know what they r gonna do with that and downloading! but seriously all u guys gotta calm down, cuz its over now so stop whining u babies

  • The_Ultra

    Posted Jul 13, 2008 7:49 am GMT

    Seems they were more concerned about talking about Xbox in this review.

  • acerx7

    Posted Jul 3, 2008 9:23 am GMT

    Way to screw everyone over and slump on your own screw up Nice Job EA/DICE. "Let's make everyone pay extra for guns that should be in the game" Nice initial plan...Morons

  • cocomacoco

    Posted Jun 30, 2008 3:23 am GMT

    that just is terrible, i payed extra for the gold edition, so my bucks are for nothing???, everyone have to understand, money does make a difference, otherwise why to bother with buying limited edits, huh?

  • division_9

    Posted Jun 21, 2008 7:14 am GMT

    Looks like the battlefield series is heading downhill which is a shame because BF 1942 and BF2 are such enjoyable games, when punkbuster doesnt have their money filthy fingers up youre nose.

  • Smoolander

    Posted May 4, 2008 9:03 am GMT

    Coming to future EA games

    Microtransactions for bullets. That's right folks, you will now need to purchase your bullets in 100 lot amounts. Only the tiny price of 1 point per bullet.

  • halo1579

    Posted Apr 27, 2008 4:18 am GMT

    battlefield: bad company is going to be better then any shooting game!!!!!!!
    free weapons??? good idea folks!!
    better then call of duty 4

  • danthegamer32

    Posted Apr 22, 2008 1:49 pm GMT

    Gotta love them guys at Sarcastic Gamer!

  • OGKNav

    Posted Apr 14, 2008 5:48 pm GMT

    I'm sick and tired of EAs DLC bull****. I seriously wanna burn that place down. Specially crap like they did to Pro Street.

  • jakeunit44

    Posted Apr 14, 2008 4:12 pm GMT

    hey does ne one know if this game will have customizable features with weapons or ne thing

  • BloodMist

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 4:18 pm GMT

    This DLC crap is gettin outta hand, seriously.It's almost getting to where you're paying another 60 dollars for it.What's worse is that you suckers are going for it.Tsk tsk.

    But at least EA didn't go TOO far.

  • sykesstunt

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 9:13 am GMT

    Props to the guys at Sarcastic Gamer for first bringing this issue to light , then organizing the boycott. It did indeed make a difference.

  • NovruzeliH

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 8:21 am GMT

    Man just cuz of that i wont be buying this freakin game

  • Richmaester6907

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 7:35 am GMT

    I think for most fans the phrase rhymes with clucking bell
    on the other hand as a COD4 player and HALO 3 i cudnt give a flying fudge!

  • lovemuscle13

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 7:08 am GMT

    I remember first reading about this and seeing that "new" weapons for Battlefield: Bad Company were going to be an additional charge. If the game is new, aren't ALL THE WEAPONS NEW!!!!!!??? I love the fact that EA can obtain a plethora of music license and I think a system like the DLC for Rock Band is fair, but a shooter lives by its guns. Don't kid yourself on how a first-person shooter works and just admit that we, as lovers of shooting faces, buy these games for tools by which to perform our face shootings. When you buy the game, you are buying the weapons within the game, and the right to make a face go flying into the wall behind it. When a company is charging extra for new ways to do this and talking about these charges before the game is even released, I say ERRONEOUS! I'm glad they are no longer charging for the new weapons, but I'm not put to rest. I'll deal with the charge to play mentallity of EA because they are releasing games that I want to play, but I can't say I agree with what they are doing. "The weapon's free, but the trigger is gonna cost ya!"

  • frog154

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 2:13 am GMT

    I don't understand what the fuss is about? If people don't like it, why don't they just not buy the game instead

  • drangel_jam

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 10:36 pm GMT

    more people need to put EA and MS to shame, some of those XBL prices are ridiculous, and MS needs to stop sucking people's balls. They need to have the last say-so just Apple does with iTunes. 1) $2 for music videos. Those should be free because are basically demos that promote artists albums. And besides everyone can watch for free on the web.
    2) How can game downloads like maps cost about the same as fully featured XBL arcade games and Xbox originals? where's the value?

  • drangel_jam

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 10:36 pm GMT

    more people need to put EA and MS to shame, some of those XBL prices are ridiculous, and MS needs to stop sucking people's balls. They need to have the last say-so just Apple does with iTunes. 1) $2 for music videos. Those should be free because are basically demos that promote artists albums. And besides everyone can watch for free on the web.

  • rygar9

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 7:50 pm GMT

    hell no its not worth it ive got the demo for free i may add thank god if i paid for this game id be pissed

  • OhhSnap50893

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 7:24 pm GMT

    What aren't you guys getting? EA was trying to charge money for extra guns, in a SHOOTER. If this was successful do you think it would stop there? Other developers are gonna join the bandwagon, then the games are gonna come with automatic weapons only. You've gotta buy the snipers.

    What a load of crap, the guys at Sarcastic Gamer have done an awesome job.

  • darobinson67

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 6:02 pm GMT

    is this game going to even be good enough for a gold edition and a regular edition.

  • KLONE360

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 5:30 pm GMT

    Yah thats great good job guys dont let EA rip us off anymore

  • fattyxboxbutt

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 5:10 pm GMT

    15% increase in price for 5 extra guns sounds right to me.

  • gettinthatfasho

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 4:51 pm GMT

    yay now everyone will stop crying

  • CrazyRabbi

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 4:19 pm GMT

    I'm still gonna check out this game at least. I wasn't gonna pay extra and still won't but i liked the last BF game and can't wait for this one. I'm glad we won this!

  • teirdome

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 3:37 pm GMT

    From what I've heard/seen, the beta has revealed some major flaws in the game. But now that there are no longer micro transactions the title went from "avoid" to "rent" for me.

  • shroom76

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 3:27 pm GMT

    its a good thing that i think battlefield is stupid.

    cuz thats stupid.

    don't you have enough money to throw around at rockstar?

  • BigSmitts07

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 3:09 pm GMT

    see what happens when people stand up agasint that crap EA pulls with DLC on weapons that should be in game but they leave seperate for charging..theyre forced to put them back...we need to do this more often

  • Whitewind617

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 2:51 pm GMT

    okay, sure...u do that.....

    Why do i care again?

  • Sydwynder

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 2:35 pm GMT

    I'm going to absolutely NOT buy this game just because EA was going to rake us over the coals, just because they thought they could, so I'm not giving them my 60 bucks because I can.....Microtransactions like this have the ability to completely kill a game and honestly, I hope this game sells terribly just because they were going to do it........

  • HeartlessSavior

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 2:06 pm GMT

    NAH, I'd rather play Galo thanks....

  • imperial_agent

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 1:48 pm GMT

    I'm going to get the regular edition of the game. I'm not going to shell out an extra $10 for 5 guns. Silly.

  • Waffen_SS84

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 1:30 pm GMT

    So they tried (again) to f*** us in the a** uh?
    /fail Greedy EA don't you have enough money already? Seriously I'm glad the gamers community made a difference for once. High-five to them!

  • funnysplay

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 1:29 pm GMT

    How good are these weapons? 5 extra for 10 bucks count me out.

  • ctg867

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 1:17 pm GMT

    Ha, so many people were at their throats about it that they had to drop the whole thing. Good for them, otherwise Bad Company would of taken a serious sales hit. I can guarantee you that. I sure as hell wouldn't buy it, just out of the principle of the thing.

    As far as the new set up is concerned, it's better, but still dumb. But this isn't going to make me boycott the game...

  • wazzup987

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 12:49 pm GMT

    thank goodness maps are ok DLC (ild like future maps packs for games be like halo3 and/or unreal 3 have them free off the start or free eventually the latter sound more realistic) but gun and cars are bad almost evil DLC good call ea you saved your self... for now

  • wazzup987

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 12:49 pm GMT

    thank goodness mag are good DLC (ild like future maps packs for games be like halo3 and/or unreal 3 have them free off the start or free eventually the latter sound more realistic) gun and cars are bad DLC

  • rbenns2

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 12:48 pm GMT

    See guys? It pays to complain. EA no doubt would have hosed players for more money, but refusing to play along and threaten to boycott the game hit EA right where they'd feel it - in the pocketbook. Remember this lesson if they try to pull the same stunts with Madden this year that they tried in 07.

  • coldblooded101

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 12:36 pm GMT

    even though i'm not gonna but it....
    thank god, that was probably one of the worst ideas that i've ever heard

  • Hellknight2005

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 12:25 pm GMT

    Haha, i guarentee most of the people who say they are going to avoid games, cant help but try them in some form...

  • ScottEFresh

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 12:18 pm GMT

    EA sucks! I hate them and all their money grubbing ways. You can bet if there weren't complaints they woulda keep it the same.

  • Tree06

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 12:11 pm GMT

    That's a great move for them.

  • DY357LX

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 12:07 pm GMT

    Now all EA have to do is reduce the price of Rock Band in Europe and we'll be happy.
    Well, until EA f*** up again. Which they're pretty good at.

  • frankeyser

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 11:49 am GMT

    would have been funnier if the regular edition came with no guns. so you would have to just run around the game karate chopping if you were not willing to pay for them. that would be my idea if i was an EA ceo

  • hazuki

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 11:48 am GMT

    Just cancel the gold edition, and only put out the standard, and nobody would really complain anymore on this issue. Having to rank up to get them, and potentially giving a newb great weapons, isn't going to turn out well.

  • mattcake

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 11:44 am GMT

    You would think with the recent takeover attempts for Take Two putting them in a somewhat bad light, EA would be doing their best to not look like the big bad money grabbing company. Way to screw up EA, charging people to get an advantage in the online component of a game? Thats never going to work, fire the idiot who came up with that idea and move on Kudos to those who kicked up a stink about this and made sure EA, or anyone else, dont try something similar in future.

  • iceveiled

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 11:29 am GMT

    This is extremely good news...but I still kinda hate EA.

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