More bad news for gamers who buy pre-owned games. Electronic Arts has adopted the same strategy that it used with Mass Effect 2, by offering a code with every new purchase of Battlefield Bad Company 2. Similar to the Cerberus Network in Mass Effect 2, the VIP code will allow gamers to access exclusive content. Once that code has been used it can't be downloaded again if you sell the game on. Instead buyers of second-hand copies of Battlefield Bad Company 2 will have to purchase the VIP code from the official website.

We currently don't know what the free DLC is, but like Mass Effect 2, EA will probably make it substantial enough to encourage people to buy new copies of its shooter.

Speaking to MTV Multiplayer Blog, senior producer Patrick Bach stated:

"We want people to insert the code they get when they buy the game to get access to [DLC content]. It’s connected to your personal account, more or less, and what we want to do is give you something extra, added value, for that. In the future you will get more content, for free, if you have this VIP code."