14 DAY TRIAL // Video game developer DICE and publisher Electronic Arts are announcing that all those who want to play Battlefield 4 can now get access to the first-person shooter on the PC for free via the Origin service as long as they do not play for longer than 168 hours.
The official announcement states, "Origin Game Time for Battlefield 4 is currently rolling out across the world over the next few hours. If you don’t see it available in your area yet, you will soon. You’ll be able to grab Battlefield 4 on Origin Game Time until August 14 at 10:00 AM PT, but once you’ve snagged it, you can download the game and start your 168 hour Game Time clock whenever you want."
Gamers who take advantage of the offer will be able to play the single-player campaign of the shooter or to jump into multiplayer in order to enjoy its unique mechanics and the impressive 64-player battles that develop in interesting ways.
Electronic Arts adds, "It’s easy to start your Game Time. Simply add the game to your game library and download the game. Don’t worry about the download times: Your Origin Game Time clock will not begin until you’ve launched the downloaded game for the very first time."
The company also says that existing Battlefield 4 players will be happy with the new Game Time offer because it means that more players will be available to partner with and new enemies will be there to attack.
The Origin PC offer does not include the four downloadable content packs that have been already launched for the shooter, with the most recent of them being Dragon's Teeth, which means that a smaller selection of modes and maps is available.
At the moment, DICE is also running a special Battlefest event that's designed to celebrate players who have stuck with Battlefield 4 since it was first launched and gives them the chance to earn both in-game and physical rewards.
At the same time, the studio is working on a final DLC pack that's probably set to land in the fall and will include more maps and a new game mode for players to enjoy.
DICE is also putting time into Battlefield Hardline, the new installment in the franchise, which was expected to arrive before the end of the year but has been pushed back into 2015 to give the team more time to polish the single and the multiplayer.