PixlBit

EA really wants you to like Origin.

UPDATE: For reasons unknown, EA has suspended the promotion and removed all evidence from the Origin site, aside from some small text that reads, "Important Note: ME3 pre-order does not include a bonus copy of Battlefield 3."  Those that already preordered Mass Effect 3 on Origin will still have their code emailed to them sometime around March 8, 2012, but new preorders will not get this code going forward.  As originally reported on March 15th below, the promotion was scheduled to run through March 5th.

EA wants you to know that they are serious with Origin, their digital distribution service.  Most would expect that in order to compete with Steam that EA would simply make the games that they publish exclusive to Origin, but this is something they’ve so far refrained from doing (outside of some special editions, content and that it's necessary to play Battlefield 3).  The company is starting to show that they can attract more flies with honey by giving gamers incentive to use their platform – in other words, they’re giving away free stuff.

Gamers that pre-order Mass Effect 3 on Origin will receive a digital copy of Battlefield 3 for free.  The fine print indicates that the promotion runs through March 5, 2012 (the day before the game releases) and is not eligible for those that already posses a digital copy of the game.  The digital code will be emailed by March 8, 2012.

The offer is only eligible for US and Canadian customers, so those outside of those regions won’t be able to enjoy this particular benefit.  Other incentives include access to the M55 Argus Assault Rifle and the Origin exclusive AT12 Raider Shotgun.

Mass Effect 3 launches March 6, 2012.  Stay tuned to PixlBit for more coverage in the days up to and beyond its launch.