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A retailer listing, a pulled PlayStation Blog post and an alleged fact sheet all point to EA and DICE's plans to launch a paid "Battlefield Premium" service which grants early access to Battlefield 3 DLC, as well as a few other perks.
A retailer listing, a pulled PlayStation Blog post and an alleged official fact sheet all point to EA and DICE's plans to launch a paid "Battlefield Premium" service which grants early access to Battlefield 3 DLC, as well as a few other perks.
The service was first rumored earlier this month to be announced during EA's E3 press conference next week. Yesterday, European retailer Coolshop posted a listing for the PC version of "Battlefield 3 Premium Service Code in a Box," a bundle which gives free and early access to expansions Back to Karkand, Close Quarters, Armoured Kill and End Game, the latter three of which come out later this year. The listing was posted with a price tag of £34.96, but that cost has been removed from the page.
Earlier today, an EU PlayStation Blog post (via Joystiq) outlining the PlayStation Store's new releases listed "Battlefield 3 — Premium" for a release on Monday, June 4th; the same day as EA's E3 presser. No details about the package were mentioned, but it did carry a price tag of £39.99, €49.99, and AU$79.99.
Those lingering questions might be answered by a purported fact sheet submitted by a Kotaku tipster. According to the sheet, the Premium package gives access to five — the four listed above, and "Aftermath" — DLC packs two weeks before their release, starting with Close Quarters (as Back to Karkand is already available). It includes other bonuses, too, like a "unique in-game knife," new dog tags, camos, assignments and other multiplayer functionality, all for $49.99.
We've reached out to EA to see what the deal is, but we're certain to hear something during EA's E3 press conference next Monday, June 4th at 4 p.m. EST. Check back here for our liveblog for all of EA's announcements as soon as they drop!
