EA scrapping Online Pass from existing titles

Publisher EA has removed all Online Passes from existing games.

Eurogamer reports that titles that had previously required the purchase or activation of an Online Pass to access either additional content or online multiplayer are now free of such restrictions.

Titles that until now prompted users to enter a code will no longer do so and those who previously locked content behind pay barriers will now offer users the chance to download the content for free.

"As we discontinue Online Pass for our new EA titles, we are also in the process of eliminating it from all our existing EA titles as well," a spokesperson stated. "We heard the feedback from players and decided to do away with Online Pass altogether.

"Players will see it first with some EA Sports titles, where a prompt to enter an Online Pass code will no longer appear in-game; with other titles we are simply making Online Passes available free of charge online.

"These are rolling updates that are taking effect over the next several weeks. We hope players continue to enjoy our games and online services for a long time to come."

Games that have had content freed up include Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age 2, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Skate 3, Bulletstorm and Medal of Honor.

EA first revealed plans to abandon the Online Pass earlier this month, although it was presumed this would be a pro-active as opposed to retroactive move.