No premium online service for Battlefield 3

EA will not charge users for Battlefield 3’s Battlelog network unlike Activision’s Call of Duty Elite which includes a paid-for service.

The latter allows players to access the online service for free but also charges 34.99 per year for an upgraded version. This includes 20 pieces of DLC over nine months, competitions, exclusive in-game emblems and more.

In a statement sent to Industry Gamers, an EA spokesperson said: We are providing Battlelog to Battlefield 3 players to deliver the best social, multiplayer FPS experience in the market.

We have no plans to charge for this service with Battlefield 3. The Battlefield series has always been about playing with friends, and Battlelog takes that experience to the next level by serving as a unique social network.”

But some reckon EA will eventually introduce a premium service to better compete with Activision.

Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter added: We expect EA to emulate Activision and charge for Battlelog by including map packs with the service for a $50 fee."

Battlefield 3 hits shelves on October 28th while Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 arrives on November 8th.