NEWS: EA Giving Away Free Games

Whilst just one title is currently available to download free of charge, more games are to be added eventually.

A new promotion known as On The House has launched, which has an initiative to provide free content on a regular basis via the Origin webstore. Origin claims:

"There's no catch. Grab full games, expansions and more at absolutely no cost. Just make sure to act fast because On The House specials can appear and disappear at any time."

This could be an attempt to ease the frustrations of many PC gamers as recent criticisms against EA and Origin has emerged. Currently, the 2008 survival-horror Dead Space is available to download - the original price stands at £9.99..

NEWS: New NBA Jam Game Becomes Highly Possible

Very brief details regarding a new NBA Jam has emerged from EA.

EA Sports has tweeted today requesting users to retweet if "you're ready for a new NBA JAM!", with no indication if the game will be another reboot or a remake of the original arcade game.

Originally released in 1993, players competed in 2v2 matches and would become one of the first basketball games featuring fully licenced teams and players.

In 2010, EA Canada published a reboot of the game using the same name; NBA Jam - since then, an enhanced version of the game known as the On Fire Edition, which included improved graphics, gameplay, and audio.

NEWS: EA Games Sale On Xbox LIVE

Savings up to 75% are currently applied to a bunch of EA games, including FIFA 14 and Crysis 3.

The sale includes many popular titles as well as various DLC packs for Mass Effect 3 - the sale began today with no indication of how long the discounts will apply, so its advised to get involved whilst the promotion is still active. For a full list, including discounted prices, see below.

Full Games

FIFA 14 - £24.99 

Need For Speed Rivals - £24.99 

NHL 14 - £24.99

Mirror's Edge - £4.94

The Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning - £9.99

Dead Space - £4.99

Battlefield 1943 - £4.99

Shank 2 - £1.68

Crysis - £7.49

Crysis 3 - £18.49

Skate 2 - £4.94 

DLC

Mass Effect 3 Citadel - £4.99

Mass Effect 3 Genesis 2 - £1.34

Mass Effect 3 Groundside Resistance Pack - £0.64

Mass Effect 3 Alternate Appearance Pack - £0.64

NEWS: Latest Battlefield 4 Update Will Fix Various Problems

The latest patch for the PlayStation 4 version of the game should take care of problems players have been experiencing of late.

A 600MB update has been released for Battlefield 4 on the PS4 - the announcement came from the Battlelog forum today.

Its purpose is to fix certain client crashes, audio drop outs, among other various issues. You may need to restart the game for the update to start.

Check out a detailed list of the fixes below.

• General stability fixes that should remove a large amount of the client crashes we are currently seeing on the PS4.
• Fixed the audio drop outs that could occur when playing on large maps. Typical maps affected was Golmud Railway in Conquest with 64 players. Ambient sound would sometimes cut out, like foley sounds from players running, vehicle engine sounds, vehicle movement sounds, and map ambient sounds.
• Removed the blur effect on soldiers that appeared when Commanders were using EMP attacks.
• Further reduced the probability of getting a corrupt save file by doing miscellaneous changes to the save file system. These include removing the save file saving again when quitting multiplayer.
• Fixed multiple crashes that could occur when bringing up the in-game Battlelog during round transition.
• Fixed a crash that could occur when using the BattleScreen.
• Fixed a random crash related to destroying vehicles.
• Fixed minor destruction issues in the terrain.

NEWS: Battlefield 4 - Second Assault DLC Maps Revealed

DICE have confirmed a total of four maps will be included in the Second Assault DLC, which most players will already be familiar with.

During the recent Battlefield 4 Showdown event, Larry Hyrb revealed that four maps from Battlefield 3 will be redesigned for Battlefield 4 using the Frostbite 3 engine. The maps include Operation Firestorm, Operation Metro, Caspian Border, and finally Gulf of Oman.

It has also been confirmed by EA that the DLC will be available November 22, launch day for the Xbox One, whilst PC and PlayStation dates have not yet been announced.

The Second Assault will be the first of five planned DLC releases which will periodically release through the game's lifespan - the other four are titled China Rising, Naval Strike, Dragon's Teeth, and Final Stand. 

NEWS: Battlefield 4 China Rising DLC & Premium Member Details

Details have surfaced regarding the first Battlefield 4 DLC and what premium members have in-store.

With only a few days until its release (in the UK, at least), details have emerged regarding the advantages of taking part in the premium membership Battlefield 4 offers its players.

Premium members will have access to the China Rising DLC a whole two weeks before it's public release, allowing players to familiarise themselves with the 4 new maps and new vehicles.

The Battlefield UK website describes the DLC:

"Fight for dominance across the vast and majestic Chinese mainland in four massive maps, using all-new vehicles and high-tech military equipment."

Also detailed were periodically released bonuses for premium members, which will begin November 4 until December 23, with no further dates or planned content added. The list of what's on offer can be seen below.

November 4 - Gold Battlepack

November 11 - Premium Emblems and Soldier Portraits

November 18 - Premium Camo Paints

November 30 - Double XP

December 1 - Double XP

December 9 - Gold Battlepack

December 16 - Premium Dog Tags

December 23 - Premium Knife

Does any of this want to make you become a premium member? Leave your comments below.

NEWS: Battlefield 4 - PC Pre-Loads Available This Week

PC gamers will have the chance to pre-load Battlefield this week, "at least 24 hours before launch".

EA are offering PC users who pre-ordered the game to pre-load Battlefield 4 a day before the game is released - the official Battlefield twitter said:

"Now accepting #BF4 preloads in Europe! Pre-order #BF4 for PC on Origin and you can preload the game immediately."

Although the tweet specifies Europe, a list of other countries eligible can be found on the EA website - the territories involved include East and Central Asia, North and South America, Russia, Australia, European Union, New Zealand, India, United Kingdom, Ireland, Portugal, and Japan.

NEWS: Battlefield 4 Open Beta Begins October

Players are to get an opportunity to test out the game before its official release.

Electronic Arts has announced the open beta for the upcoming Battlefield 4 will go live October 1, just sixteen days away from now. The beta will be available for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC users.

However, EA stated back in August that an exclusive beta would be available to current premium members of Battlefield 3, those who are owners of Medal of Honor: Warfighter, and to the people that pre-ordered Battlefield 4.

On the official EA website, this can be seen:

"When will the Battlefield 4 Exclusive Beta Access start?
The Exclusive Beta will take place around October 2013. Stay tuned over at battlefield.com for more information as it becomes available."

It's strange how they say October, the same month the open beta will launch. All of a sudden, this exclusive beta access doesn't seem so exclusive after all. We'll see in due time.