Battlefield 5 - Silly Release Schedule?

Personally, I'm not a fan of this type of "early access", particularly for multiplayer titles, but as you mentioned it's become quite the common trend and I don't see it going anywhere.

No issues with the other benefits of the upgraded edition, such as the exclusive cosmetics in the form of the airdrops for example, I just find locking access and trying to push consumers to pay more or have to wait a bit too much of a business decision rather than a consumer-friendly one.

Being that they aren't charging for maps or having premium, and are starting out without microtransactions, I'm totally cool with them generating some extra revenue this way. So many games now are paid and still use a free-to-play style business model that pushes pay to win stuff, this is better. 

Personally I find it quite funny when "fans" moan about microtransactions, loot boxes or early release. Video games is a business and every business needs to make as much profit as it can. In fact by making a healthy profit these businesses will invest more into making better games over the years to come.

I spent 89.99 on BF5 and if I play it as much as I did BF1 then every cent spent will be worth it. If the game lasts two years then I am paying 12c a day to play it and thats a bargain for the enjoyment I get out of it!

I'm fine with microtransactions. I'm not fine with pay-to-win free-to-play business models. People spending money on cosmetic items and such is fine. But a person shouldn't be at a performance disadvantage if they didn't pay extra money to get weapons with better stats. Games in general have gone in that direction, and it's pretty irritating.

I've played NBA 2K since the Dreamcast days, and it's become a game where people who have spent $100 have base 85 characters to compete against the people that have purchased the normal game and have base 60 characters. The only way to compete is to pay more money to also be 85. I don't want to see the Battlefield equivalent.

Thus far it appears that Battlefield is doing it the right way. There will eventually be microtransactions, but not to the point where we're forced to pay the money if we want to be on a level playing field. They're getting some extra dough with the Deluxe Edition early access, and with EA Access subscriptions and such. I think we should support that move, so that we're less likely to have the "pay $40 more to have every weapon and upgrade unlocked".

I don’t mind paying a high price for the game or buying some optional extras done as micro transactions. I do think that no amount of cash should be able to give one player a tactical advantage over the other. If you want more costume choices, gun skins, face paints or vehicle colours, you go buy them and good luck to you. If someone can buy better weapons, more equipment or a genuine upgrade that’s not cosmetic, then it’s just promoting elitism rather than meritocracy. There’s too much of that already. Games should be exactly that. Played for enjoyment, teamwork, friendly competition and community. Push too many business minded cash cows in and it soon loses one or more of those factors. Sure they have to make money, but at £89.99 (or say £55 average), and expected sales of 16M, how much do they really need? That’s £880M btw! 

Paying for early release I can live with, though I agree that for the standard access people, the first week or two of playing against experienced players will be hell