Battlefield Heroes fully operational

Battlefield Heroes is officially open for business. EA confirmed for GameSpot today that the heavily stylized installment in EA DICE's popular open-warfare shooter series has launched, with players able to download the free-to-play, microtransaction-supported PC game through its official Web site.

Battlefield Heroes will earn its keep through the purchase of in-game items and enhancements with real-world money. As detailed in GameSpot's most recent hands-on with Battlefield Heroes, the game features a robust lineup of character customization options, which play into the game's over-the-top aesthetic. Staying true to the series' roots, the multiplayer-centric game offers a number of vehicles and weapons.

Battlefield Heroes is just one of several franchise titles in development at EA DICE. In February, EA announced that Battlefield: Bad Company 2 would ship out on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC in early 2010. Earlier this month, EA COO John Pleasants confirmed that Battlefield 3 was in development, noting that the game isn't expected to launch during the publisher's current fiscal year (ending March 31, 2010).

EA DICE was also eyeing the late-June window for its downloadable multiplayer-only shooter Battlefield 1943. However, that game's release on Xbox Live, the PlayStation Network, and PCs has since been pushed back to an as-yet-unannounced date.

For more on Battlefield Heroes, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.