'Command & Conquer Generals 2' merged into free-to-play 'Command & Conquer' platform

Command & Conquer Generals 2, the PC-exclusive real-time strategy game, is being transformed into a free-to-play digital platform, Electronic Arts revealed today.

Command & Conquer Generals 2, the PC-exclusive real-time strategy game announced at the 2011 Spike Video Game Awards, is being transformed into a free-to-play digital platform, Electronic Arts revealed today at Gamescom.

The existing portion of Generals 2, which is under development at BioWare Victory, will continue on as part of a "new digital experience" for the long-running franchise. While it will remain a strategy game powered by DICE's Frostbite 2 engine, General 2's single-player missions may have been lost in the free-to-play transition in favor of multiplayer, according to a report from IGN.

"For nearly two decades, this franchise has existed as something you buy; now we are creating a destination where our fans will be able to access the entire Command & Conquer universe, starting with Generals and continuing with Red Alert, Tiberium and beyond," said Jon Van Caneghem, vice president and general manager at EA.

Command & Conquer is accepting beta applications at the game's website in advance of its 2013 release. In the meantime, you can watch the just-released gameplay trailer from Gamescom 2012 below.