PC Battlefield 3 on Steam evidence arises

By Robert Purchese Published 31 October, 2011

Jets be friends?

More evidence has surfaced that suggests Battlefield 3 will, at some point, be sold on Steam.

Code within the game's PunkBuster anti-cheat installation files refers specifically to a Steam game directory.

  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\Battlefield 3\
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\battlefield 3\
  • C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\common\battlefield 3\
  • C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\Battlefield 3\

But this could be old, non-removed code.

The other piece of evidence comes from graphics card maker Sapphire. A competition on the Sapphire Select Club website purports to be giving away PC game codes for Battlefield 3 on Steam.

  • One (1) PC Game code for Battlefield 3, redeemable for the game on Steam (www.steampowered.com) with a Suggested Retail Price of $USD 59.99

A mix-up? We're checking with EA.

Battlefield 3 notably wasn't sold on Steam - EA took the opportunity to shine the headlights on its own digital distribution platform Origin.

Digital Foundry faced all three versions of Battlefield 3 - PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 - up against each other at the weekend.

Eurogamer narrates Battlefield 3 campaign gameplay footage.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (29) Latest comment 7 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Ryboy #1 7 months ago

    Really hope this happens.

  • Laythe_AD #2 7 months ago

    Not buying it unless it -does- appear on steam.

  • WiZZyWiGG #3 7 months ago

    Past caring about having it on Steam now I own it, Steam wouldn't add much to it anyway now. Battlelog handles it all just fine.

    Not sure why people need to have this on Steam, doesn't matter what program opens your web browser surely.

  • will. #4 7 months ago

    @WiZZyWiGG I like all my games in one place, a place where updates are applied automatically and my friends list works across every game.

  • UncleLou #5 7 months ago

    One (1) PC Game code for Battlefield 3, redeemable for the game on Steam (www.steampowered.com) with a Suggested Retail Price of $USD 59.99

    €59,99 on Origin. They're even copying Activision's RRPs, making BF and CoD the two most expensive games on the PC.

  • WiZZyWiGG #6 7 months ago

    @will. The game does update automatically, and you can even add it to Steam to keep your overlay if you wish. I love Steam as much as the next Steam loving guy but not buying a game because its not on Steam? madness.

  • DozyKipper #7 7 months ago

    This will be old code before the EA/Steam falling out. No chance of it appearing on there. I'll eat rice pudding if it does. And I hate rice pudding.

  • subjectxen #8 7 months ago

    IT'S AN ARG!

  • geox30 #9 7 months ago

    I haven't received my BF3 copy yet,but I can't launch Fifa 12 cause of Origin.I hope I won't have the same issues with it,but bottom line is that Origin sucks big time.

  • bad09 #10 7 months ago

    Really don't get these guys who say "I'm not buying if it's not on Steam" DRM is DRM whether it's Steam or Origin, still goes to show you how easily led many gamers are. Give them a "service" and they'd die for your DRM.

    Go buy a console if you want a closed off monopoly system people.

  • rojjer #11 7 months ago

    you know it has to launch Origin too though right? and Origin auto-updates BF3? Seriously.. I used to be like a lot of you guys, 'Steam or GTFO' but its made zero difference, and I've been playing it for a week instead of going without.

  • Red930 #12 7 months ago

    Rojjer is right, sold on Steam or not you'll still have to install origin...

  • Stratix #13 7 months ago

    Games like BF3 don't come around often. I couldn't give a damn what program I use to open the battle log in my browser, as long as it works! I can still have steam running anyway, so that's not a problem.

  • jyrque #14 7 months ago

    Even if it did release on Steam, it would still have to run through Origin to be able to run. Sort of like how Games for Windows works for Steam games.

  • deadstoned #15 7 months ago

    I've already got the game, but I'd pay and buy Battlefield 3 again to not have to put up with Origin. Well when BF3's on Steam sale anyway :p

  • ISmoke #16 7 months ago

    @deadstoned

    As foolish as that is, I'd do the same. I bought it retail already so I would be annoyed if it did launch on Steam but what can you do!!

  • wayn3h #17 7 months ago

    How is it foolish? When people complain about stuff like this why are they told to vote with their wallet, but when they do people call them stupid?

    To be honest, I dislike Origin enough to hold out buying BF3 at least until they sort it the hell out. Steam being out longer is no excuse for it being (quite frankly) shit.
    Edited by wayn3h at 31/10/11 @ 14:30

  • barkertron #18 7 months ago

    I ended up buying it via Origin because the alternative was to not play Battlefield 3 at all. I've got to say, it's a buggy and unintuitive piece of software in many ways, but once it's all set up it's not really all that different to Steam - it actually reminds me of what Steam was like when it first came out. Which is to say, not very good.

    Battlefield 3 is ace though. Utter carnage.

  • bantamenace #19 7 months ago

    @will
    Sounds like Xbox Live to me! ;)

  • Rack #20 7 months ago

    Can this happen or are you going to be tied in to EAs spyware regardless and this is just double dip DRM?

  • jetsetwillie #21 7 months ago

    i hope this doesn't happen. just to piss off all the weird steam fanboys

  • Lukree #22 7 months ago

    What's wrong with rice pudding..?

  • Darren #23 7 months ago

    I'm not a big fan of Steam personally with its non-customised installs and expensive new release pricing but I'd take it over the awful Origin beta any day as it has been nothing but a pain in the arse with FIFA 12, continually insisting on downloading the same 406 MB patch over and over again. I managed to disable it but now get nagged that there's a patch to download everytime I load the game. *sigh*

    How EA have the nerve to force beta/pre-release software on people I'll never know but there should be a law against it IMO.

  • hiddenranbir #24 7 months ago

    Who cares. I've got the game, playing it, enjoying it. I couldn't give a monkeys.

    Games all in one place? Yeah, I have it all in one place. Called a hard-drive innit bruv.

  • Lunatic4ever #25 7 months ago

    OH PLEASE! BECAUSE I STILL CAN'T ACTIVATE MY GAME ON ORIGIN!
    ITS A DISASTER ! FUCK ORIGIN!

  • SteelPriest #26 7 months ago

    please please please let this be true.

  • apoc_reg #27 7 months ago

    @will.
    I too like them in one place... as a preference and yes all on steam would be nice.

    But it's really not that big areal is it! It's so good in multiplayer your really missing out if your holding off

  • sam_spade #28 7 months ago

    @barkertron - so EA have failed to progress on an experience on a fledgling system designed god knows how many years ago?

    I'll wait for the steam version. Call me a fool, but ask me who I prefer as a publisher and it's Valve every time.

    And I'd rather put money in their coffers when it comes to kneeling at the church of gaming.

  • Lord_BeeJee #29 7 months ago

    Fifa 12 is freaking out almost every time when i start it because for some reason origin hangs unless I start it manually. After this demonstration I'll skip any origin game.

    If it comes to steam without origin requirements (which i doubt), I'll be happy and gladly buy it.