Electronic Arts' new pay-once map bundle offering for Battlefield 3 hits user milestone in first two weeks topping company expectations.
Battlefield 3 Premium is off to a quick start. EA Games Label boss Patrick Soderlund told USA Today in an interview published today that the $50 pay-once downloadable content offering attracted 800,000 users in its first two weeks, driving $40 million in revenue.
Soderlund said this figure is ahead of EA's internal expectations, but noted it is too soon to know exactly how successful the program is or will be, given it launched just weeks ago.
"We're actually only two weeks into it, so it's a little early to tell how this is going to pay off," Soderlund said. "It certainly looks very promising right now."
By comparison, Activision's $50 Call of Duty: Elite annual subscription for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has attracted 2 million paying members since it launched in November. Like Battlefield 3 Premium, Call of Duty: Elite grants users access to a stream of map packs and other perks.
Battlefield 3 Premium includes access to five Battlefield 3 map packs (Back to Karkand, Close Quarters, Armored Kill, Aftermath, and End Game), which altogether add more than 20 new arenas to the modern-day shooter. Additionally, those who purchase the $50 offering are awarded early access to all forthcoming map packs. For more on everything included with Battlefield 3 Premium, check out the Battlefield 3 website.
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
Honestly, I haven't noticed whether or not anyone has downloaded the entire content of the game. The multiplayer hasn't really changed, from my experience. I still get put on good teams, or on really bad ones. Either way, I'm still having fun and not pulling my hair out. I am unlocking everything the normal way, mainly because I know this game will be overshadowed by B4 sooner or later, and I tend to stick with the same weapons I like anyway. I don't really care. I just plan on having fun.....
Man, people sure do love to complain. Are we being milked by money grubbing execs? Yeah, probably. Do people have a right to complain? Of course. What are we gonna do? I'm gonna keep playing BF3 because it's f*#king fun. I bought the Premium DLC, and I really enjoyed it. The close quarters is a nice change of pace, and absolutely love the REDICULOUS amount of guns I have to choose from now. If you love BF, chances are you'll find it $ well spent. If not, go play something else you like better. If none of that is good enough for you, then open your own studio, develope your own game, give away all your DLC for free, and see how well that works out for you.
Alright people, unless you're all going to threaten EA's market share by simply not buying there games then you all should stop whinning. Most people that complain about the cost of gaming do nothing more than just voice there opinion on forums and then they go and buy the game anyways because they think "well what else am I supposed to do?" The gaming corporations are fully aware of the economic struggle for most people. They completely understand that people are more money concious. They simply just do not care because there still getting your money. Even though we all complain, we still go to the store and buy the damn game. They know that most gamers will not temporarily give up their hobby because of some petition regarding the reduction of DLC's or games in general.
1 Like The reality is, its pretty dam good value apart from the whole " I already bought Karkand thing". Just depends on how much you play the game. Play a shat load, pony up and pay the coin , if not quit your bitchin and move on.
1 Like Why is everyone QQing about this? So what they included Back to Karkand? You still save a bit of money! 15 x 4 = 60 BF Premium is 50. So I still save 10 bucks cause I know I will be buying the rest of the DLC anyway!. If you don't plan on it or aren't sure your going to play it that long, don't get it. I'm saving money and getting some nick nacks on the side.
3 Like I like the fact that premium players get specially labelled as "premium" in an online match, it just screams "hey, noobz, I payd top dolla for dis sheet so imma be superior than y'all" while they kill you with their premium looking AUG assault rifle.
@koospetoors yet another reason why they are ruining this game for me. its like they are rubbing it in
1 Like The price point is okay and I love the extra-value BF3 Premium delivers. It was just a cheap trick to include Back To Karkand, when loyal fans have already purchased this half a year ago.
2 Like So expansion packs are now costing more than the original game??? I bought BF3 LE for £35 in the UK yet this Premium thing is costing £40. EA then canned the number if official servers and to top it off we have people making comments about how this is a good deal. Sorry, EA are taking people for mugs and it's a shame that 800,000 now look like one.
Premium is for the players who are planning to play BF3 at least one more year. (considering last dlc will be released on March 2013) However it doesnt change the fact that it is not cheap at all. In sum if you plan to play this game a lot, premium is definetely recommended. But if you only play it few hours in a month, then there's no need.
I have premium and I have a demand from DICE; could you please change the knife? :) that thing looks like a box cutter or utility knife (whatever you name it) that can be bought from a furniture store :)
@hasancakir Maybe post on their forums? I doubt they are reading gamespot comments for suggestions lol.
@TonnFool23 I posted there as well :) but I believe they follow lots of forums :) I just wanted to try my luck anyway :)
1 Like what happened to the days where the developers would give us free expansions and dlc just to extend the experience of their games. I am ashamed to say i brought premium knowing that i am going to be fuelling the money grubbing executives doing this to more and more games
1 Like @razgriz1972 I totally agree. I missed the days that DLCs were free. and we only had to buy expansion packs which offers tons of things to the original game. Yare yare :) (even BF:Bad Company 2 gave free DLC, interesting, isnt it? )
1 Like not that i wont download the new map packs but when i start thinking about it im paying almost 100 quid for a game, im reluctant to go premium purely because of that reason Copycatting cod with a hefty 40 quid price tag is just feeding the addiction and milking every penny. Or am i being too satirical ? I adore BF can someone tell me what i ll gain from purchasing the 40 quid upgrade as opposed to dlc map packs.
1 Like @itchyflop You actually save quid. 2 week early access to all map packs. Some nick nacks. The biggest reason being you buy all packs at once and you save money.... so yeah.... is there actually anything bad?
@Visualprophet thanks !! you must get the weapon, vehicle short cuts too. I don't disagree its not bad it just feels a little strange paying essentially another game price for dlc content. but i spose yeah you do get early content coverage. i take it you have the content ?? are the maps frustratingly hard (being close) or fun. :)
6 Like "Topping EA's expectations" can't be a good thing in this case.
Now we can expect to pay for premium in all of their other games from now on, too.
1 Like @Sturmfuehrer_ Well BF3 shipped with 9 (big to gigantic) maps. For the $50 your getting an additional 20 maps, along with new weapons and vehicles. The amount of dlc is ridiculous. Well worth $50 for my favorite online game ever.
2 Like getting 75$ worth of DLC for 50$ + exclusive in game content only with premium is a good deal
2 Like I've passed on this premium stuff. I love BF3 though, but I feel like we're getting nickle and dimed a bit. So I'll download the maps as i see fit, but not venture into this premium hoopla.
Also in COD, you can't jump over obstacles, you can't operate armored vehicles and aircraft, and you can't avoid playing a match with some child that screams like a girl everytime he gets a kill.
@mediarays And you can pilot vehicles....and destroy the environment...and it has much bigger maps....guns can have multiple attachments at once.... so a LOT is different...heh
1 Like @mediarays I really doubt you've ever played BF3 if that's the only difference you noticed.
1 Like 800,000? This is why we can't have nice things America! And FYI - I'm a home owner, have a good job, own BF3 and do not want this because I don't play the game anyway.
@Psycold That comment was pointless. You don't play the game anyway? Why are you commenting? How can America not have "Nice" things? What is your definition of a "nice" thing?
4 Like Indeed, worth every penny! All opposers would say rip off...I say: Get a job and enjoy what life gives you. Simple
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@King_TigerMK3 You save money dirtbag. I would say think before you type but that doesn't help when your IQ is the same as your shoe size.
I'm going back to playing Tribes: Ascend... EA you won't milk me! Don't you gain enough money already with your private servers shit?
Your game is broken in many ways and you created updates to focus on close quater combats which is not the BF experience fans expected... Seriously, 50$? Come on! Don't tell me that you need to make players pay that much! How much more profit do you want damn vampires?!
1 Like @GreG975 If you were to buy the map packs one at time, the cost would be much higher overall. BF3 has its issues to be sure but this is a cheaper option in the long run. Besides, they are a company and companies need to make money. So get off your damn soap box.
I do not think this is about the long run and good service. This is about ugly marketing scheme. People who were LOYAL to EA and bought BF3 and BtK as soon as it was out, now can just cry because for the same price, people can have same thing with all DLCs and that is the shame. DLC should be somewhat cheaper and not be like half of the whole title.
Also the point is, that EA had surely some DLC almost finished and planned, but they just have not added them to the game to make more money.
This policy is rotten to the core. That is capitalism I know, I have right to not buy the thing... But this is just showing, how big companies are playing with customers. This is not only about EA, but with Blizzard and so. More bigger the company is, more is trying against their customers for more money to their pockets and they just forget about loyal customers. i guess the very loyal group is now minority and EA does not care about them... but as the time will go, others will realize this too.
And I can say... damn, how I am happy I can play good old 10 and more games still... Also, I am glad there are indie developers.
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