Battlefield 3 Premium Edition announced for $69.99

Battlefield 3 and Battlefield Premium, the one-time subscription service that provides access to exclusive events and all BF3 expansions, have been extremely popular for EA and DICE. But there's still some gamers out there who haven't yet experienced DICE's award-winning game. So it's only natural that EA combines them all into one retail boxed edition, Battlefield 3 Premium Edition.

Announced today at Gamescom, Battlefield 3 Premium Edition will include the Battlefield 3 base game and Battlefield 3 Premium (which includes five themed digital expansion packs), as well as a multiplayer welcome kit packed with in-game upgrades. The welcome kit automatically unlocks 15 different weapons, gadgets, and vehicle upgrades. That's in addition to the 25 maps, 70 weapons and vehicles and dozens of unlocks and upgrades provided in BF3 Premium.

"Since launch, over 15 million people worldwide have enjoyed the thrill of Battlefield, and with the release of Battlefield 3 Premium Edition the community is set to surge once again. Packing a ton of gameplay at an incredible price, there has never been a better time to jump in and see what all the fun is about. We look forward to seeing some new faces on the battlefield," said Battlefield 3 Executive Producer Patrick Bach.

Battlefield 3 Premium Edition will be available in North America on September 11 and in Europe on September 13 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. PlayStation 3 players will also receive an additional week of early access to all remaining digital expansion packs. It will cost $69.99 and considering the value is worth well over $100, I'd say it's a pretty good deal.