Announced at E3 earlier this year during the Sony press conference, all PS3 copies of Battlefield 3 were supposed to ship with a free copy of Battlefield 1943 on disc. Patrick Bach, executive producer on Battlefield 3 confirmed the announcement in an interview with the PlayStation Blog. Fast forward the video to the 7:45 mark on the linked video to see it for yourself. This bonus was planned to be a PS3 exclusive.

There was no announcement from EA prior to Battlefield 3’s release that the previously advertised plans had changed. Instead, the game simply shipped without Battlefield 1943 either on-disc or available as a redeem code. When multiple customers asked EA’s official Battlefield Twitter account about the missing game, the company responded with the following statement:

“In lieu of Battlefield 1943 being available on disk with BF3, EA has made all expansion packs available early to PS3 customers.”

In summary, EA removed a free game from the PS3 package without informing consumers and in exchange has offered PS3 players the ability to purchase DLC early.

In Battlefield 3, players step into the role of the elite U.S. Marines. As the first boots on the ground, players will experience heart-pounding missions across diverse locations including Paris, Tehran and New York. As a U.S. Marine in the field, periods of tension and anticipation are punctuated by moments of complete chaos. As bullets whiz by, as walls crumble, as explosions force players to the ground, the battlefield feels more alive and interactive than ever before.

Battlefield 3 leaps ahead of its time with the power of Frostbite 2, DICE's new cutting-edge game engine. This state-of-the-art technology is the foundation on which Battlefield 3 is built, delivering enhanced visual quality, a grand sense of scale, massive destruction, dynamic audio and character animation utilizing ANT technology from the latest EA Sports games.

The experience doesn't stop with the engine — it just starts there. In single-player, multiplayer and co-op, Battlefield 3 is a near-future war game depicting international conflicts spanning land, sea and air. Players are dropped into the heart of the combat whether it occurs on dense city streets where they must fight in close quarters or in wide open rural locations that require long range tactics.

Key Features:

• Frostbite 2 - Battlefield 3 introduces Frostbite 2, the incredible technology that takes animation, destruction, lighting, scale and audio to new heights. Built upon this powerful game engine, Battlefield 3 immerses players physically and emotionally to the world around them like never before.
• Feel the Battle - Feel the impact of bullets and explosions, drag your fallen comrades into safety, and mount your weapon on almost any part of the terrain. Battlefield 3's cutting edge animation, spectacular visuals and real as hell battle gameplay attack your senses and make you feel the visceral warriors experience like no other FPS.
• Unparalleled Vehicle Warfare - The best online vehicle warfare experience gets even better with a fitting sonic boom as fighter jets headline impressive lineup of land, air and sea vehicles.
• Urban Combat - Take the fight to iconic and unexpected places in the USA, Middle East, and Europe including claustrophobic streets, metropolitan downtowns, and open, vehicle-friendly landscapes as you fight your way through the war of tomorrow.

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