The ever-resourceful members of the NeoGAF forums have uncovered a very credible looking fact-sheet for EA and DICE's much-rumoured premium service offering for Battlefield 3.

The document reconfirms much that we had already heard about the planned Premium Pack, serving as a bundle for downloadable content packs and featuring mostly cosmetic benefits for eager BF3 players, however there are a couple of new stand-out points. Firstly, it reveals that it's not a subscription service, seemingly rendering all those comparisons to Activision's Call of Duty Elite service inaccurate. The document explains that the pack will be offered for a one-time fee of US$49.99 or 4,000 Microsoft Points (we'd expect an Australia Tax price will likely be implemented as with other BF3 DLC).

The biggest new stand-outs appear to be sever queue-priority, the ability to reset stats at will and exclusive "members-only events", which we presume will be in the form of online tournaments.

Given that PC BF3 players rarely find themselves in server queues any more, we're not sure that one will be a big deal to non-premium players on that platform, but it might be a bit sour for the consolers out there.

You can view the full image here, but here is the bullet-list summary:

• 2 weeks early access to all future Battlefield 3 expansion packs starting with Battlefield 3: Close Quarters.
  
• Unique in-game knife
  
• Unique in-game dog tags
  
• 10+ unique soldier camos
  
• Unique weapon camos
  
• Stats reset feature
  
• 10+ unique Platoon emblem decals
  
• Increased Platoon emblem layers
  
• Server queue priority
  
• Save up to five of your favorite Battlefield Reports
  
• 5+ unique Assignments
  
• Exclusive events
  
• Exclusive Double XP weekends
  
• Exclusive videos
  
• Strategy guides
  
• Additional bonus content

The Battlefield 3 Premium release date is expected to coincide with the June 4th launch of the Close Quarters DLC.

Sounds like a load of crap. If you bought this you would need your head read.

Word is it'll be $80 AU.
Which is insane, unless you think the normal DLC price is fair.In which case you save 16 bucks if you already have B2K.

Details are out June 4th. So prob June 5 in aus.

It's a bit disingenuous to include b2k which everyone has.

So it's 16 maps, less weapons and vehicles ect. Also I think all the new weapons are just in Close Quarters.

The original game only had 9 maps. So it does add a lot I guess.

Still $80 bucks seems a bit steep.

Why would anyone new buy the game, knowing they have to pay such a huge amount.

I'll probably get it. I spend more every few months on steams on old games I play for like an hour each. So I can justify it from what I waste on games as actually being good value.

The stinger is the server queue issue - you could have payed full price and played the game religiously since release but if you don't cough up the dough well you can suck it up.

Tollaz0r put it beautifully.

My feelings exactly trauma.

Everything included is completely worthless... what the fucking fuck are EA thinking? Are they trying to turn this into CoD with all the cammo BS? how long before I get shot by some douchebag with a bright red .50 and purple cammo?

ಠ_ಠ

Oh EA, never cease to amaze me. Will we see BF2143 selling gun pieces for $1 each?

This is what happens when you sell your soul to DLC retardedness. They keep taking more and more. Soon you will just be able to pay EA $0.50 and they'll kill everyone who is still alive whenever you pay.

From comments I sometimes get the feeling people miss the point that this is just buying all DLC at once.

it's not just DLC though.

boycott