Battlefield 3 for PS3 gets timed exclusive DLC with Back to Karkand map

Battlefield 3 DLC will be available as a timed exclusive to PlayStation 3 players one week before it arrives on the PC and Xbox 360. The announcement comes from DICE Jr. Product Manager, Tommy Rydling on Sony’s PlayStation Blog.

The timed exclusivity will begin with the first map pack Back to Karkand, a selection of four maps from Battlefield 2. The pack also contains a handful of classic weapons and is expected to be released later this year. It will cost $14.99 for those who wait until after the Battlefield 3 launch on October 25, but pre-orders get the pack for no extra charge. Don't worry, the game itself is still being released simultaneously across all platforms.

Though the deal is only for one week of exclusivity, it's similar to the pact between Microsoft and Activision that keeps most Call of Duty DLC exclusive to the Xbox 360 for some time (usually several weeks) before hitting PC and PS3. Whichever console you prefer to play on, getting access to content days ahead of other gamers doesn't seem like a big enough incentive to sway people wavering between CoD: Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3, but we suppose every little thing helps. In the meantime, you can find out more about the Battlefield 3 beta schedule here.