Battlefield 3 Now Has Paid Unlocks on PS3

The PS3 version of Battlefield 3 received a 1GB update today adding Paid Unlocks for the Multiplayer.

EA is calling these purchases “Shortcuts”. Here are all the currently available shortcuts you can pick up today.
Kit Shortcut Bundle ($24.99) Unlocks all items unique to the four playable classes
Vehicle Shortcut Bundle ($17.99) Unlocks all vehicle upgrades
Assault Kit Shortcut ($6.99) Unlocks all items unique to the Assault class
Engineer Kit Shortcut ($6.99) Unlocks all items unique to the Engineer class
Support Kit Shortcut ($6.99) Unlocks all items unique to the Support class
Recon Kit Shortcut ($6.99) Unlocks all items unique to the Recon class
Air Vehicle Shortcut ($9.99) Unlocks all items for all air vehicles
Ground Vehicle Shortcut ($9.99) Unlocks all items for all ground vehicles
Co-op Weapons Shortcut ($4.99) Unlocks all weapons otherwise unlocked via co-op play
The Ultimate Bundle ($39.99) Unlocks all items from all other shortcut packs

[GraveLord]

Not surprised EA is doing this. They are the ones who introduces online passes after all.

Anyway good thing it is optional. I feel sorry for anyone who buys this stuff just because they're lazy.

[Laxman]

There is nothing wrong with EA offering this to people. True, its lazy and anyone who actually want to get thier moneys worth out of the game wouldnt be doing it, but dont act like EA is some kind of monster for offering people who might not have the time to sit there and play for hundreds of hours to unlock everything, yet still want to use all the best goodies the game has to offer. They're not forcing you to do it.

[dark-hollow]

They are not forcing me but is it fair that I spent days upon days to unlock weapons only to get some noob douchebag unlocking it in one second?
Why bother then? I will not ever buy those things but a "leet gaymers" gonna buy it and earn advantage just because they spent more?

Think about it, there will be more usas users, more overpowered tanks, little birds and jets and it will be a huge fricking mess!!!

[LackTrue4K]

i would get this for sniper class, i have yet to use him. and a skin or 2 would be nice! like the ones in BFBC.
EDIT: Wait....7 bucks....na. "too much, and no skins" (-_-")

[NewMonday]

i have 21 service stars, but every time i try to level up my assault class i find the team gets un-balanced, so i have to be the "bigger man" and pick a needed role. so the Assault Kit Shortcut is welcome, i just need the smoke grenades that nobody use but every team needs.

and another thing is that the game is full with maxed out players, so new ones can use a little help.

but it seams that weapons still need kills before getting upgrades so their is still work to do.

[Solid_Snake37]

And you know what's funny? People will buy this.

[SilentNegotiator]

So now the people with the advantage are those who have been playing longer AND those that pay more?

[Perjoss]

It's not just about being lazy. Someone who has just bought the game and has a friend with all unlocks can sort of catch up a bit. There are also many people that have jobs with long hours but still like to play games in the little free time they have, for them it might be a good option to just buy unlocks.

[SilentNegotiator]

But you shouldn't have to solve poor unlock balancing by throwing more money at EA.

[Fylus]

I've already unlocked everything, excluding stupid crap for the mobile AA so this is kinda meh to me personally. I suppose lazy new players can be excited though.

[dark-hollow]

So now not only people who wasted centuries to unlock overpowered guns have the advantage over new players, but those who pay extra too?

Man, if you just bought bf3 then Get ready for the onslaught of famas's, exploding fiery usas frag fury, tanks with two foots of steel armor and jets with air radars who can spot you and hit you right in the a**!

[NewMonday]

the full pack costs 40$, so i don't think everyone will have everything

[Solid_Snake37]

People actually stopped using the frag rounds, and famas had its mags reduced to 25 shots.

[Persistantthug]

Just more 'Call of Duty'ing' the game up.

Whatever

[caperjim]

Is it lazy or the fact that some people dont have time to play the game long enough to unlock all weapons?

Its nice to have the option to purchase them. More games should do the same.

[badz149]

seriously, what do you want? lazy and maybe stupid people deserve to be milked! this is not even new. it has been done in MoH and BFBC2 but why complaint now?

true they might have all the cool stuff buying their way to it but doesn't mean that they will dominate either. experience matters!

[Tapioca Cold]

Do you play on XboxLive? Then that is an online pass!

No different.

"Anyway good thing it is optional." What kind of moronic statment is that? Of course it's optional! Do you actually think they're gonna force you to buy this stuff?

Fail!

[CoolBeansRus]

"I feel sorry for anyone who buys this stuff just because they're lazy."-Gravelord

Naw, they probably have the money and dont have the time so they just pay for it. It's good as a option for those players who just joined and dont want to get trampled by a lvl 50 colonel because they have no stinger or w/e. It's just and option. Good option imo. Better to have options than not to.

[MPGamersheep]

Agreed.

[Hufandpuf]

why the hate over something that's optional? Just because noobs will pay to get all the guns and weapons (Which is utterly stupid), they will still suck and not have enough playtime to compete. They did this for BFBC2 and no one complained.

[Laxman]

But these cool kids only jumped on the BF bandwagon with the latest and greatest instalment!

But in all seriousness, its just because these people love to hate something, and when they'r enot hating on something or someone, they have a void on the inside.

People go out of thier way to hate on EA simply because its the 'cool' thing to do to hate on big companies. It also gives them some kind of self-righteousness and lets them think they can do things like download the companies games to fight the man.

[Fylus]

That could be more appropriately said towards Call of Duty especially. Now, I'm not defending the game, nor even like it, but still. The game received a lot of hate because of that very reason you described.

[AcceptedWalnut]

The only surprise is that they didn't offer them on launch day like they do with Tiger Woods etc

EA cashing in on lazy players.

[Darnokg]

Wow EA is ripping us off at every corner.And i thought Activi$ion is greedy. The unlocks are just like cheating and the server customization should be free like in every PC game. What's next- pay per play?

[raytraceme]

tbqh this is really helpful for people who are really stuck with schoolwork but and to enjoy a game w/out getting their asses owned. ME GUSTA!

[AstroZombie1]

No surprise they done the same in Bad Company 2.

[LackTrue4K]

ya, i got 2 the sniper class and the gunner class (can't recall what the gunner was called) and i like them more cuz they came with skins.

[StayStatic]

This is stupid and contradicts one of the main points of the game. Why do people want to pay to have a game completed for them , just screws with the mind.

[Hufandpuf]

Just because people have unlocked all of the weapons doesn't mean they will win games. They still have to work to win matches. It's not pay to win, it's pay to get ahead.

[MidnytRain]

That still sounds wrong.

It kind of feels like a kick in the head to anyone who's spent the time to unlock stuff. It renders the progression system void.

[christheredhead]

Maybe people get the game at the end of the life cycle? Maybe some just want to play the game? I mean, some people don't like having to needlessly unlock everything and merely want to play a few quick matches here and there.

Nothing wrong with paying for the unlocks if you want. At least the option is there for people who don't have the time schedule to grind XP for their favorite weapon.

[scrambles]

I loathe BF3's unlock system. Its basically a MMORPG style to keep people playing but I want addictive game play not unlocks to keep me going. BC2 was nice. I unlocked each gun and each attachment/perk once.

[FarCryLover182]

They did this for all the other games recently. Makes sense for them to make money. I agree with them doing this: allows people to pay to bypass playing and they make cash. I see the merit in doing this, but if they ever charge for GUNS that you cannot unlock....then #$%^ off EA.

[Genecalypse]

Im pretty sure they did the same thing in BFBC2, as long as its optional for people who want max rewards, who cares

[shackdaddy]

I'm just happy they did it like 6 months after its release...

[AusRogo]

. Unlocking stuff is what keeps it going. Not going to bash on ea though for this optional dlc. Some people would just rather jump in with all guns straight away, fair enough, but I for one am not one of those people.

[MPGamersheep]

As the one who wrote this article, my opinions are covered at the bottom of the story. I suggest you check it out.

[eak3]

Shit thats expensive. I have most of the stuff unlocked already though. The recon would be the only package that would entice me if it was like 3 bucks. I suck at sniping so I very rarely use Recon. Yes I know it has shotguns and stuff but idk, i have much more fun with the other 3 character types.

I always wanted to unlock the MAV, never did, just to be that asshole that buzzes the fucking thing around killing people but they nerfed it so whats the point now!

[PinkPartyPony]

I think lazy is a strong word here.

It is very difficult for a play to come in late, and rise up the ranks.

Take, for example, the jets I got to play Bf3 a few weeks ago I played for 5 days, I rented it, and during that time every opportunity I had I jumped into a jet. Getting used to the controls was hard enough but it was damn near impossible to get a kill without flares, or missiles. Not to mention more experienced players who would camp runways.

The point is unlocks matter in BF3, and wither it's a late player, or one who wants to use different weapons, and doesn't have the time to put in 30 hours per class.
The immediate retort shouldn't be 'lazy'.

[Grimhammer00]

Doesn't this make the experience hollow?
Getting owned by better equipment meant the player was at least experienced.

[ZippyZapper]

This makes EA worse than Activision. That is untill Activision starts doing the same thing.

[urwifeminder]

Ha im still unlocking the guns had it since launch still havnt tried the planes at all im playing more 2142 that game just keeps giving.

[KeiserSosay4788]

RIP Call of Dutyfield 3

1942-2142

[Kaos_Vll]

wow. some of these comments are what's wrong with this gen of gamers. you guys are mad because you put loads of hours in and feel cheated because someone else doesn't have to? it's NOT ABOUT YOU. these gamers have every right to take a shortcut for whatever reason they want.

no one tells you how to enjoy your gaming so what gives you the right to dictate how others should? grow the F up.

[gtxgamer2]

Wow...all i have to say.

[spektical]

am i the only person that doesnt see anything wrong with this?

EA is capitalizing on lazy people. I have no problem with idiots dishing out money to unlock things you can just do with patience and time.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

And people still think Activision is the evil empire. LOL

[hazelamy]

they'll be selling ai that can play the game for you next.
actually scratch that, they'll rent ai that can play the game for you.

[jjb1981]

This is good for people who don't have time to play often.

[Saryk]

if this was a MMO, I would cry like a new born. But BF3 takes more skill than the necessity of equipment.

[Thump1967]

Looks like a COD thing to me BF3 has now moved ahead of COD pay to play at least if you pay the 49.99 on MW 3 you get all DLC lol and we still get the guns and now BF 3 coming out with DLC close quarters that you'll have to purchase both companies trying to make money period

[glennco]

it is EA after all. just like all the tigerwoods courses that have just hit the market BEFORE the game comes out. how about you include them in the game instead of treating every single game as a subscription style opportunity. After your latest performances EA you are treading on thin ice.

Soon i will not be buying anything from activision and EA... i don't need their games that much, they are only games after all. Neither company actually cares about anything but maximum profit