Some of EA's Online Pass Downloads Are Now Free on XBL

119
Richard Walker

Having scrapped its Online Pass initiative earlier this month, EA has now made the accompanying Online Passes for the likes of Mass Effect 2, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Dragon Age II and Shift 2: Unleashed all free from today on the Xbox Live Marketplace.

So far, there's ten titles that have had their Online Passes nixed and made free, so anyone who's bought the listed games (spied on NeoGAF) pre-owned, can now play with their online content and multiplayer modes, previously locked with the absence of a pass.

This includes Mass Effect 2's Cerberus Network that added additional squad member Zaeed among other things, Dragon Age II: Signature Edition's Black Emporium and others that added extra content to the game. Here's the list of the free EA Online Passes available thus far:

More recent titles like Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 and Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel still have paid Online Passes, but it looks as though EA is making its back catalogue of Online Pass titles free, and could continue to do so with other titles, though nothing has yet been confirmed on that front.

[Via EG]

Comments
119
  • I might have to gamefly some of those I missed now.
  • So, something that should have been free, now is?
  • i dont see Battlefield 3 in there.
  • They should refund everyone who paid for them.
  • Skate 3 is going to be downloaded later then :)
  • @3 Just go buy the premium edition for $40. over $120 worth of content for 1/3 the price? It's a steal. No need to make BF3 online pass free at the moment.
  • Finally, I can play Bulletstorm online.. now to rebuy the game.. used of course..
  • I bought American Macgee for 800 msp like a month ago, Grrrrrrr SUPER ANGRY But on a whole it's a great news, don't have online pass for Shift 2 Unleashed Might grab Skate 3 too or go back to Bulletstorm hmmmmmmm
  • Except you can't use the Skate 3 one anymore for any purpose, ffs.
  • just a heads up, this is going to impact all of the games with online pass, and might take a few weeks before the process is done. http://www.polygon.com/2013/5/30/4379728/ea-free-online-pass-dlc
  • This is awesome! Gonna be playing Bulletstorm again!
  • Wow, didn't see this coming. It's almost like EA is apologizing for creating online passes, which I never would've predicted.
  • Nice, EA. I'm going to get the Kingdoms of Amalur pass.
  • Fantastic news. I might have to rebuy some of these games now.
  • BC2 is not even a online-pass, it´s like full map-packs, FOR FREE! So cool lol! Going to download it now (already had Limited edition, but diff. profile)
  • I can't believe my eyes. Still no ME3, but it looks like just a matter of time. And anyone who doesn't have Alice Madness returns stuff needs to do so ASAP
  • Just to let everyone know - Alice: Madness Returns' online pass included the original Alice game which I am now downloading for free ! At least I hope that's what I'm downloading at 961.82MB......
  • Dragon Age 2 and Shift 2 for me. I can't believe EA did this. FREE?! What!?!?!?!?!?
  • People will rebuy these games and next thing you know, EA will shut their servers lol!
  • Have EA left the dark side? They seem to be on a real charm offensive at the minute
  • I think it's to do with the internal shift in power at EA... Someone that isn't a greedy arsehole now has the reigns.
  • The Skate 3 stuff was removed from online or at least will be shutting down the use of the Share Pack.
  • Good news don't want to moan but i hope nfs hot pursuit comes soon all in all . Thank you e.a
  • I've now pretty much added the contents of that list to my download queue and will be going game shopping on Saturday for some 2nd hand bargains !
  • EA is microsoft's exclusive partner with XBOX ONE, because of the no used games policy. They'd rather please the fans now, because it's gonna be the same shit but shown from a different angle with new gen of XBOX. Just a calm before the storm. While it's nice of them to do something good, i'd not expect them to continue doing what they do at the moment. They're only about money, nothing else.
  • Go home EA you're drunk!
  • Shame I already have the KoA and Mass Effect 2 online passes anyway. But that's a good move by EA. Maybe they hate band wagon will come to a grinding halt.
  • so EA online passes are no more, but you still have to pay for ones like in tiger woods 14, so really they have not stopped the online passes they have just made the ones for old games they won't sell anymore free.
  • I want a refund for some of these passes
  • @27 - Yeah, I doubt that. If it were just online passes that were the problem maybe, but it isn't.
  • Anyone else not able to DL MOH pass?
  • I thought medal of honor servers were already closed
  • @17 Just a heads up; you need the Madness Returns disc to play the original title.
  • Alice and Mass Effect 2! Here I come.
  • Mass effect 2/MOH "This item is not available for purchase from this device."
  • @ 31 - do it from your 360 and it should work fine. At least it did for me...
  • @ 35 - same to you, try it from your 360 and it should work fine.
  • but didnt they turn the servers for skate off.
  • I can confirm mass effect 3 online pass also is free now this is great news everyone!
  • It's a trap.
  • Hey is online pass and season pass the same thing?
  • great to see ea quit this program and is making the passes free
  • I can confirm that the Battlefield 3 Online Pass is now free as well! Just go into the game, click Multiplayer, and it will ask for an online pass and you can purchase on for 0 Microsoft Points! :) - T0X1C
  • @8 & 17 - you still need the disc to play alice, downloading that won't get you the game for free.
  • Can anyone 100% confirm that Skate 3 servers are down? Because I wouldn't want to get it then
  • Since I buy almost all my games new after they've dropped to $20 or less, I guess this saves me from having to enter the code for the one game (KoA) I haven't gotten to yet. I can call that a win, entering the codes is annoying.
  • Bulletstorm was never an online pass it was just extra skins/maps/etc and such. The same for MoH, DA: Origins/II, Bad Compamny 2 and KoA
  • @47 you needed the pass to play co-op (anarchy)
  • no new games on the list, shocking.
  • Translation for this... "Better play these games online real quick as we are shutting down these servers at the end of June."
  • And next week EA will close all the servers for these games!
  • @51 damn you beat me too it :D
  • Yeah, they should have been free. But this also saves me paying £10 for the Alice: In Madness pass. I must admit. EA are doing some good now. There's no redemption from what they've done to games. I can happily say at least they're making amends.
  • Just downloaded a few even though I dont own the games, just in case xD
  • Now I'll just have to wait for Ubisoft to do the same, so I can play ACIII online, I refuse to pay for the Online Pass for it! (I didn't buy the game used, but it said the code was already used, so I'm not gonna pay for something I should've had.)
  • They should do mass effect 3 and battlefield 3. Its juat gonna help get the word out for the next gen sequels, for the ppl who havent already played them. Even if they buy them used now, to try it. They need to think about the future. Had a ton of friends who didnt want to give BF3 a chance thanks to an online pass.
  • Now I can finally get my hands on the Cerberus Network without forking over $15 for it! And I can now play Bulletstorm online and get those bonuses for Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. Good job, EA. You're taking a step in the right direction, a step I hope other publishers and developers will follow :)
  • Was hoping for a battlefield 3 pass. My friend has been pressuring me to play multiplayer with him so I finally borrowed it from another friend and I didn't realize I wouldn't be able to play it until the ea logo flashed onscreen.
  • Wow this is a great idea and really nice of EA....(never thought id be able to write that...)
  • @41 No, Season Passes give you DLC at a discounted price for paying in advance. Online passes give you a pass to ... play online.
  • This content should be free from the beginning. Screw you EA and every publisher with your "online passes" Most publishers have this content for free.
  • @53 How do you figure an ENTIRE game should be free? That's what the Alice pass gives you: the complete first game. Get your head out of your ass. Most everything on this list is DLC classified as an "online pass". And now, it's FREE dlc that includes achievements for these games.
  • 61: Dude, they made a mistake and they're owning up to it... I'm not a huge fan of EA, but even though they know they can't change the past, they're trying to.
  • currently on my dashboard UK. there are no add ons at all to browse. I used the bing search to get to BBC2 pass. anyone else have similar issue?
  • Huh, just now checked these up on PSN and they aren't free there. EA is teaming up with M$ because of Xbone's anti-preowned game setup and making these free on XBL...but not on PSN? O_O Could that mean that the PS4...doesn't have....
  • The ME2 pass is really good. You get a bunch of content. Already got it since i bought ME2 new. But thats a whole load of content for nothing
  • I'd be impressed if they gave a refund to everyone who paid for an online pass over the years. But, nope, this isn't about caring about their customers. This is about them not caring about 7th gen games anymore because Xbox One is coming to screw us over a new way.
  • I am SO going to download the original Alice now. I freaking loved Madness Returns.
  • The fact that they did this, regardless of gamers stance towards EA and their ridiculous policies, shows a lot on their part. Kudos to giving gamers something free for once, EA.
  • 67: Dude, nobody gets refunds on shit they pay for and then later becomes free. Just the same way nobody gets credit applied to their account when somebody buys something at full price only to see it go on sale the following week. It's unfortunate that people paid for the passes and now they're free, but they gotta take their medicine just like the rest of us.
  • The amount they are making in Micro transactions is way more than the passes, which is a good thing. If you want to use them, great. If not, also great, but people who do are supporting servers. Besides, with the new consoles having used game fees, no need for passes anymore.
  • free stuff from EA? i must be a trap...run!
  • @69 really thanking them for this is like thanking a kidnapper for giving you a meal... It's shallow empty and disgusting All this is is damage control for the backlash for EA and Microsoft. They were probably gonna shut these servers down soon anyways, and now have a legitimate reason to and it makes business sense ...and... it makes them all look like saints, in the given situation... which their not. pick these up and abuse the hell out of em as much as you can... EA deserves it
  • They all work except ME2 and MoH, get an error when trying to buy. Same for my mate as well.
  • Think Mass Effect 3 is having 3 things for free download as well... not sure if they were always free but just saw them going through the game
  • Aren't you glad you paid for those season passes now?? FU EA
  • Stone Prisoner for free nice.
  • @73 ...but who doesn't like free food??
  • I own all those RPGs and having bought them new meant i already had the codes, as such it doesnt effect me persay but respect to EA for doing it - there is a lot of worth for those who missed out first time... Stone Prisoner and Cerberus Network added characters so if your in the mood for replaying the games then you can see it from a very new angle with a different characters perspective to be added all the way through. Still i dont have the Bulletstorm season pass, ill nab that when next im on even if im not sure ill be returning to the game. As far as im aware it didnt really add anything to what was a single player based game no?
  • @75 All Mass Effect 3's multiplayer content was always free. And added a lot of great content to the game.
  • Am I the only one worried about what ea is doing they are never nice and they nickle and dime you this partnership with the new xbox one should scare alot of people something dark this way comes
  • If EA isn't going to refund everyone who purchased these online passes and wishes to promote some of their "older" titles, then they should consider maybe turning some servers they shut down back on as well in order to actually get gamers to still play their older games that have no online activity today...
  • All you trolls moaning like this is a bad thing,#76 i'm looking at you.Some people are never happy moan if you have to pay,moan when they give it for free.Just wise-up,its business,the way the world is today,not just the gaming industry but commerce in general! For what its worth I never cried when I had to buy an online pass-it comes with the territory the used market-but the fact that a lot of them will now be free is pretty damn sweet!
  • Thank god I never paid for any of these online passes. They should have been free to begin with just like everyone else is saying, but I am happy to see EA trying to right their wrongs. This is a start.
  • Don' know if it has been said already but...@3 and anyone else who has mentioned it, you are confusing Online Passes (which is DLC content that you should be able to download gratis if you bought the game new} with Season Passes (buying all a games DLC in bulk and in advance usually for a discount of 10-15%). If they started giving out hefty content like BF map packs that thousands or millions of people have already paid for, they would have a right shitstorm at hand.
  • @80 Yeah, if you could unlock it from those BS Ultimate team-like packs
  • EA's had a bad public image the past two years, their falling behind in their profit margins, they "fired" their old CEO and are trying to trying to improve their companies image. I kinda suspected this when they announced they were doing away with online passes. Hopefully this also means they would consider changing the privacy terms for Origin(though for most PC users we already block origin via windows firewall), and they improve the quality of games that come out of their own development companies(Dice and Bioware especially). Though I'm not holding my breath on that.
  • @78 i love free food. Agree with you, even will all the hate towards EA im sure everyone has at least 1 title of theirs. Ill say Ive supported them since da:o, minus the battlefield games. Even if it is before a shitstorm, good on EAs part. @73 your hatred towards EA makes me think that you have an agenda with them. Did they molest you? No, gaming today is a business, nothing these days is free ( except food). People need to stop being selfish& get over it. OT most of the games I already have the passes because I find it easier to buy new.
  • Wow...some people are fucking assholes...ea does something right by amending this whole situation with online passes and give some away for free and people still bitch about it and wants everything for free...I makes me wonder who truly are the 'evil' ones...you can't have everything handed to you on a silver platter...the world doesn't work that way...i understand that the online pass system was bullshit but if you expect to be given everything for free then you should consider getting another hobby...
  • $100 worth of free "online passes"? DAMN! EA, what is going right over there???
  • #25 wait a minute..you said that Mircosoft is EA's exclusive partner? Is that mean any future EA games won't come out on PS4?
  • FYI -- Clicking on the Alice link doesn't work. I get a "Ooops! What happened to this page?" page.
  • I will download ALL now just incase EA changes their minds :D
  • With Skate 3, you can still get the ach's for sharing and rating skate parks...they never turned them off...I paid $10 for that pass like 2 months ago, when they were supposedly turning them off. GRR. I bought a new game, and it didn't have it. That's the only one I'm burned on. MOH servers are online, and you don't need the pass to play. Now if only they would put Battlefield 2 back online for a weekend or two....
  • Also, according to IGN these are free now too (but I haven't looked to confirm) Might be worth checking out--- Battlefield 3 Dead Space 2 Dead Space 3 Mass Effect 3 NFS: Hot Pursuit NFS: The Run Sims 3
  • Too late
  • @92 That happens to me too, even clicking from " American Mccgee's alice available now" in game does not work :/
  • The Original Alice has been pulled from Microsoft's servers. Both on the site & Live (NA), it is gone!! If this stays this way, this makes it an incomplete game & the 1000 can no be gotten.
  • Damn. I meant to say the 1000 will NOT be able to be gotten. That's what happens when I try to type too fast. lol
  • I just checked, and if you have the original Alice already installed, you can still play it (which makes sense, but I wanted to double check). Wonder why it was pulled?
  • Is it only for XBox 360?
  • On the "American McGee's Alice" DLC... if you have downloaded it before, you can still download it (again) from your Download History. Not to rub it in anyone's face (because I feel for the gamers who can't get DLC anymore - like the DLC for Doritos Crash Course - ARRGH, that makes me mad)... but I completed all the achievements for Alice: Madness Returns, so I deleted it when I needed to free-up some HD space. Now that I hear it is no longer available for purchase/free download... I am re-downloading it. It's just under 1 GB of DLC... but I don't want to lose it forever! I suggest contacting EA about the DLC, and see if they are planning on restoring it, or if not... if there's another way you can get it (even if you have to pay for it) - if you REALLY want to get all 1000gs from Alice:MR. Maybe they'll re-issue the game, with the DLC included?!
  • ok soooooo i purchased most of these passes. basically im sayin..... what the fuck EA!? do the people who paid for them get kick backs or is EA still in a way sayin FUCK YOU to the customer....AGAIN?!
  • not to mention. yea lets put some free passes to games that NO ONE PLAYS!!! they should do a MoH Warfighter free online pass and DLC considering how hard it bombed in sales. ironically enough other then a few glitches. its a really good fucking game. BF meets COD. that sums it up...
  • Seems EA is doing Online Passes for 360 first, then they'll get to PS3 later.
  • Note that non EA games that might have online passes are not affected.
  • @63 no they aint they have the exclusive deal with M$ which earns them GUARANTEED $$$££££ for every pre owned sale, they dont make money from online passes because people have a choice not to pay it where as though this new deal irradicates the consumers choice, no matter what EA will make ££$$$ seriously though how naive are you?
  • Don't really care about the online pass, I just wish they would remove the mandatory EA account for online play. Would actually like to try out the online play for Mass Effect 3 but I'm just not going to couple my GT with an EA account.
  • @108 The EA account does nothing, just links your GT together.
  • Actually no if you don't create or link an EA account to your gamertag you won't be able to play online. They would like to let you believe that this is to fight piracy and modders and stuff. I refuse to create an EA account especially since I already used to pay for XBLive so I shouldn't be locked out because I don't want to compromise my Gamertag to the security breaches of EA. As far as I know all hacked XBL-accouts have them linked to EA-accounts. But this is offcourse my paranoia right!!! Anyway it doesn't matter I'm against this mandatory control they try to force upon you and it is the same reason I might not go for the next-gen XBox simply because of the 24 hour parole officer and Kinect, although these things still seem to be up in the air.
  • do i need to have the games to download this for free or can i do it through marketplace? reason i ask is cos i cant find the american mcgee one?
  • @111 you need madness returns to play am alice. the first game isn't stand alone, it actually launches from inside of madness returns (and the achievements count towards madness returns as well)
  • "Well done EA!"...that felt weird
  • I fucking KNEW people would bitch about refunds... for fucks sake...
  • @110 You're too stupid to own a console.
  • Good job EA. Might actually buy Alice: Madness Returns now
  • Is battlefield 3 also free now?
  • Thank you E.A. for doing this. I have some games like Bullet Storm still tucked away because I like to collect games. Now I will look into getting back to it sooner with the interest you seem to have struck in the audience now. I like many others I am sure, can NOT wait for hot pursuit to be on the list tho. It has been on my top racer game for a many a year, including prequels of course, and I just cant wait too whoop A&$ online and rise to the top
  • Wait... Am glad they made this free but they were asking for online passes for a highly Multiplayer based game like BF3? That's pretty funny.
  • You need to register before being able to post comments

Game navigation