Battlefield 1943 sets records for download-only game

by: Dan - posted: 7/25/2009 12:55:00 PM

I guess it was a premonition a couple weeks back when John posted that EA had to increase the server capacity for Battlefield 1943 immediately after launch. On Thursday, DICE and EA announced that Battlefield 1943 had become the fastest selling game on both Xbox Live (worldwide) and PSN (North America) for both a Day one and Week one release. Combined, the full game has been downloaded 600K times since launch equating to retail sales of $9,000,000. Not bad for a downloadable only game.

EA’s Battlefield 1943 Shatters Sales Records for Download-Only Games
Becomes Fastest Selling Xbox LIVE Arcade and PlayStation Network (Download-Only) Game

STOCKHOLM --(Business Wire)-- Jul 23, 2009 DICE, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) studio, today announced that Battlefield 1943™ is the fastest selling day one and week one download-only game worldwide on Xbox LIVE™ Marketplace. It is also the fastest selling day one and week one download-only game on the PlayStation®Network in North America. Overall since its launch on July 8th, Battlefield 1943 has sold over 600,000 copies on Xbox LIVE Marketplace and the PlayStation Network.

“We are honoured by the reception that the game has received so far,” says Gordon Van Dyke, Producer on Battlefield 1943.  “Watching and participating in this non-stop multiplayer action has been a real treat for us and we can’t believe how fast our fans reached 43 million kills. We can now truly say that we have set a new standard for what can be done in the downloadable games category and gamers recognize the endless value that Battlefield 1943 provides for just $15.”

Battlefield 1943 is an award-winning First-Person Shooter multiplayer game that G4tv.com says is “…a steal. Great sound, great graphics, great fun, and great price.” IGN even says that “Battlefield 1943 is an impressive package that sets a new standard for digital titles.”

Battlefield 1943 is an all-new download-only multiplayer action game that brings DICE’s first-class WWII action to gamers. The game introduces two thrilling modes where 24 players can compete across four classic WWII Battlefield maps: Wake Island, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima and Coral Sea. These maps are inspired by the award winning Battlefield 1942™ game, and have been redesigned and reengineered from the ground up using the DICE Frostbite™ engine allowing players to wreak havoc and destruction via land, sea or air.

After the worldwide community challenge officially began on Friday, July 10 at 19:43 CET, the Coral Sea map is now unlocked for both the Xbox LIVE and PlayStation communities. The Xbox LIVE community reached the goal of 43 million kills in just 5 days, with the PlayStation community hitting the mark in 8 days.

Battlefield 1943 is now available on Xbox LIVE Marketplae and the PlayStation Network for 1200 MS Points or $15. Gamers who already played the trial and their time expired can access the free 30-minute trial version again on both Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network as of July 18.

For more information on Battlefield 1943 please visit www.battlefield1943.com. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OfficialBF1943.