Skip to main content

Long read: The beauty and drama of video games and their clouds

"It's a little bit hard to work out without knowing the altitude of that dragon..."

If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

New Battlefield turns to casual masses

"Play 4 Free," says EA. With ads.

EA has announced it will be releasing a free Battlefield Heroes game in the summer.

Developed by series veteran DICE, it will be a cartoon-inspired war game powered by advertising and micro transactions. This is known as "Play 4 Free".

Aimed at the mass market, the game will offer a downloadable client, lots of character customisation and hours of shooting madness.

Its fresh art direction will help it stand out, too, just like Team Fortress 2 did last year. Oh, it looks quite similar. Perhaps it's just a coincidence like the Burnout Paradise cover image.

"There's something here for all types of players - be it our core Battlefield fans or casual gamers," said Ben Cousins, big cheese at DICE.

"With the new online model we will continually add new content to keep the game fresh and keep players engaged, while integrating player feedback in real time. As a game developer, it is such a cool new way to make games."

Head over to the Battlefield Heroes site to keep up to date with its progress.