Inevitable ‘Battlefield Hardline Premium’ Announced With No Platform Exclusivity

It was only a matter of time, but Electronic Arts announced Battlefield Hardline Premium on Monday ahead of the game’s release on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. The Premium DLC package has been a major part of the series since Battlefield 3 and Visceral Games is continuing the tradition with four expansion packs and extra perks.

Premium is available for pre-order now and will launch alongside Battlefield Hardline on March 17. In addition to the four expansion packs, players who purchase the subscription will gain access to the expansions two weeks early. That’s a nice change from past Battlefield editions and competing shooters that have timed platform exclusives.

Here are the official details on the four Battlefield Hardline expansion packs. Each will come a story theme plus new multiplayer maps, modes, vehicles, and in-game content.

• Battlefield Hardline: Criminal Activity – Players have to make a name for themselves in fast-paced, highly-destructible new maps littered with small-time crime jobs. Available summer 2015.
• Battlefield Hardline: Robbery – Take down the opposition head on and progress through key locations with major cinematic action. Available summer 2015.
• Battlefield Hardline: Getaway – This is frantic, high-speed chases that immerse players deeper in the heist. Available fall 2015.
• Battlefield Hardline: Betrayal – There is a rat in every operation and players will have to find out who to trust. Available winter early 2016.

Not mentioned is the quantity of maps, modes, and vehicles in each expansion. Three to four maps plus one mode and one or two vehicles seem likely, though based on previous Battlefield releases.

Those who purchase Battlefield Hardline Premium will also gain access to some features that those who don’t purchase will not have. This includes the new “Legendary Status” that appears to be copied from Call of Duty‘s Prestige rankings and competitive play via tournaments and ladders.

• Masks – New player masks with unique gameplay benefits tied to the theme of each mask.
• Gun Bench – Provides players with the ability to visually customize their weapons and track their kills per weapon.
• Competitive Play – Support for competitive play through Battlefield Hardline Premium-access only tournaments and ladders.
• Legendary Status – Provides replayability of the entire progression system.

The masks and gun bench are a new twist that will need some further explanation from Visceral Games and Electronic Arts to determine their value. The restriction on Competitive Play to Premium-access only is already ruffling feathers based on comments from the Battlefield Hardline sub-Reddit.

Battlefield Hardline Premium will also come with the following perks. These are pretty standard and are on par with previous contents of Premium subscriptions for Battlefield games.

• 12 Gold Battlepacks
• New personalization options including gun camos, ammo skins, and more Battlefield Hardline Premium exclusive in-game items
• Access to double-XP, in-game missions, and more Battlefield Hardline Premium exclusive events
• Priority position in server queues

As previously covered, EA Access members will be able to try out Battlefield Hardline five days early for up to 10 hours.

What do you think of the Premium approach for Battlefield Hardline? Sound off in the comments below.

[Images via Battlefield]