EA is quite intent on taking share away from Call of Duty this holiday season, and part of that strategy involves the publisher's social Battlelog service for Battlefield 3. Unlike Activision's Call of Duty Elite, which offers a premium version for the price of $49.99 a year, Battlelog comes in one flavor only: free. EA wants it to stay that way, it would appear.
Earlier today, Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter commented that EA may seek to copy Activision and also introduce a premium Battlelog. "Battlelog is a free service for Battlefield 3 players that will provide statistics, social networking tools, friend list management, squad setup, and platoons, all with built-in voice chat. Although Battlelog and non-premium Elite memberships are free and offer many similar features, we think that many hard core Call of Duty gamers will opt for premium Elite, particularly if the total DLC spend for Battlefield 3 is expected to exceed $50. Ultimately, we expect Electronic Arts to emulate Activision and charge for Battlelog by including map packs with the service for a $50 fee," Pachter said.
IndustryGamers reached out to EA for comment, and was provided with the following statement: "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."
Of course, plans can always change, and while EA might have "no plans" now, 6-12 months from now, it may be a different story, especially if EA's missing out on a golden revenue opportunity.
