Following in the footsteps of fellow free-to-play title Battlefield Heroes, EA is ditching the stylized presentation for a more realistic approach in the newly announced Battlefield Play4Free. Available for the PC, EA boasts that Play4Free offers the same production value, vehicular warfare, sandbox play and large scale online battles as its larger franchise counterparts.
“We broke new ground in 2009 with the launch of Battlefield Heroes; a game that has 6 million registered players worldwide. Now we are complementing that arcade shooter with a core, realistic Battlefield shooter experience that fans have been clamoring for,” said James Salt, Senior Producer, Battlefield Play4Free. “Battlefield Play4Free is for serious shooter fans who are looking for a premium – but free – experience that rivals top console titles.”
Play4Free will mix fan favorite maps from Battlefield 2 with classes and weapons from Bad Company 2, in addition to 16 vehicles such as the Mil Mi-28 attack helicopter and the Russian T-90 main battle tank. As players progress in the game they will bolster their bank account with in-game currency that allows for equipment and arsenal upgrades.
Battlefield Play4Free is slated to go live spring of 2011 and requires an EA Account to play. If you’re interested in putting the beta through its paces, register here for a chance to start playing November 30.
Check out the first footage below.