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Battlefield 3 DLC "not overpowered"

EA defends pre-order bonuses amid outcry.

Amid a player revolt over pre-order bonuses, EA has insisted Battlefield 3 downloadable weapons are not designed to be overpowered or imbalanced.

This morning it emerged that nearly two thousand fans had voted to express their dissatisfaction at exclusive weapons and maps to be given away to people who pre-order the Limited Edition: Physical Warfare Pack. They claim it provides an unfair advantage.

The Limited Edition: Physical Warfare Pack features exclusive "powerful weapons and items": Type 88 light machine gun with bi-pod, SKS sniper rifle flash suppressor, armour-piercing flechette ammo for the DAO-12 semi-automatic shotgun and day-one access to the DAO-12 semi-automatic shotgun. Also included is the Back to Karkand add-on, which offers four re-created maps from Battlefield 2.

EA this afternoon defended the offer.

"The three exclusive items in the Physical Warfare Pack were specifically chosen not to be overpowered or imbalance or break the game in any way," the publisher said.

"Owning these items will give you a more varied arsenal, but it will not give you a significant advantage on the battlefield."

So why offer pre-order bonus items?

"Because we believe in rewarding our core fanbase with special offers - such as giving them the Back to Karkand expansion pack at no extra charge."