EA to Remove Three Battlefield Games from Sale
EA has announced that it will be delisting three older Battlefield games from sale by the end of this month, along with shutting down their online services in November. Specifically, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Battlefield 3, Battlefield 4, and Battlefield: Hardline (released in 2011, 2013, and 2015 respectively) will be removed from digital storefronts on Wednesday, July 31st. After this date, purchasing the games or their DLC will no longer be possible.
Moreover, online components for all three titles will cease to be available from November 7th of this year. EA has mentioned that the single-player modes for these games will remain accessible even after the online services are discontinued.
It is important to note that this decision applies specifically to the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. Battlefield 3 will still be playable on PC, while Battlefield 4 and Battlefield: Hardline will continue to be available on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.
EA has not provided a specific reason for sunsetting these titles, but an accompanying FAQ suggests that such decisions are typically made “for legal reasons, or because players are asking for resources elsewhere.” The FAQ further explains, “There comes a time in every game’s lifecycle when it makes sense for us to remove it from online stores.”
This recent announcement follows EA’s previous decision to remove Battlefield 1943 and Battlefield: Bad Company 1 & 2 from sale last year. The company stated that this move was part of their strategy to shift focus towards their current and upcoming Battlefield experiences.