According to industry analyst Michael Pachter, EA are to begin releasing large paid-for demos in order to gauge a game’s potential before offering a full boxed release.

Pachter quotes Visceral Games’ Nick Earl as his source.

“Mr. Earl revealed a strategy to release premium downloadable content (PDLC) as a product for sale prior to the release of a packaged product.” (Via gamesindustry.biz).

“The PDLC [premium downloadable content] would be sold for $10 or $15 through Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, and would essentially be a very long game demo, along the lines of 2009's Battlefield 1943. A full-blown packaged game would follow shortly after the release of the PDLC, bearing a full retail price.

Pachter reports that the PDLC will serve the dual purpose of marketing and limiting risk.

“Think about Battlefield 1943 as the prototype, so a full (but short) game experience for a reasonable price. At the same time, an expanded version of the game will be under development for release as a packaged product.

“The idea is that if the PDLC gets favourable reviews, it will build word of mouth for the boxed product. If the PDLC has issues, they can tweak the packaged product to address those issues, improving the final product before release.

Pachter believes the strategy is a solid one: “I don't know if they intend to include the PDLC in the packaged product, but my guess is that they won't. I think that the PDLC will be a 'prequel' to the full game, so that they can keep selling it after release of the full game.”