On the right battlefield,
anyone can be a hero

Later this year, Electronic Arts (EA) plans to release a PC-ready online version of Battlefield Heroes, supported by ads and micro payments.

The BBC calls the action "EA's first major attempt to tap into new sources of ad-driven revenue in Western markets." The game will appear in North America and Europe.

The online-ready version of Battlefield Heroes was simplified to emphasize fun over strategy, thereby lowering barriers to entry. Ads will appear on the website and in the game's front-end.

Gamers can buy items to customize their in-game appearance, but cannot develop competitive advantages by buying weapons or coins — a gaming trait that is often abused by hackers or virtual property sharks.

EA expects that 95 percent of people who play the game will not spend money. But Senior Producer Ben Cousins of Vice called Battlefield Heroes' online debut "the first step" towards "a real source of growth in the industry."

Currently, a free version of Fifa earns EA over $1 million per month in game sales.

Last year, EA partnered with Microsoft to develop a dynamic in-game ad platform for the Xbox 360 and PCs.