Blockbuster to rent 'Battlefield 3' sans multiplayer

Gamers eager to try out military shooter "Battlefield 3"'s deep multiplayer component before deciding whether or not it's worth the $60 price tag are out of luck. Blockbuster is stocking the title, but yanking included online pass codes.

Renters beware: you're essentially walking out with half a game. Talk about being FUBAR.

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Image: DICE/EA

Blockbuster's decision to rent the game despite the missing multiplayer is nothing new. Just last week the company pulled DLC codes from rental copies of "Batman: Arkham City," leaving those customers unable to slink through Gotham City as Catwoman. But that was single player content. With "Battlefield 3," the main draw is shooting it out online in large-scale warzones. The loss is considerable.

A Blockbuster employee told MyCE that the company's policy on games that feature gated content is to remove the codes to incentivize the sale of pre-owned copies. Those who purchase a used game receive the code. The company does not currently label rental titles which contain locked-out features, the worker added.

Renters can still access "Battlefield 3"'s multiplayer modes for $10 through Xbox Live or PlayStation Network, or by simply picking up a new copy - which is the whole point of the system.

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"Battlefield 3" developer Alan Kertz argued that the online pass is necessary "because servers cost money, and used games don't make developers any money." However, preventing curious gamers from trying out the title's critically-acclaimed multiplayer via rental - then upgrading to a "buy" if they love it - also doesn't make developers any money. And that's not counting lost revenue from the potential sale of future downloadable content, such as map packs.

EA believes its online pass system has earned $10-$15 million in revenue to date. The publishing giant employs the anti-used games measure in most of its high-profile titles, including annual releases of its "Madden Football" franchise. Other companies including Sony and Ubisoft have since adopted the model.

The option to try multiplayer games before you buy is becoming increasingly rare. If there's a happy medium for the video game industry, it has yet to be found.

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