Electronic Arts (in conjunction with DICE) has announced a new free-to-play Battlefield title that is in development for release in the spring of 2011. The new Battlefield title is said to be described as a core-focused Battlefield title that samples a number items from signature Battlefield products.
DICE is no stranger to the free-to-play model, as the company has experimented with it before with its release of Battlefield Heroes, which has over six million registered players worldwide. The new Battlefield will be a premium quality offering that is positioned to be equal to top tier PC and console offerings.
The title will be developed by Easy Now with assistance from DICE. The model for the free-to-play design will offer a micro-transaction model as well as a number of other free-to-play models to achieve revenue from the release. EA has a longer term strategy to continue the growth of free-to-play titles as the company intends to grow this market segment.
DICE thinks that this Battlefield free-to-play offering is what players really want, as after the release of Battlefield Heroes the company believes that players wanted a more Battlefield realistic experience; and this title will offer that.
