Possibly due to the backlash from all corners of the Internet, Electronic Arts has revealed a new approach to the way it will handle downloadable content charges, a decision which should have been taken a long time ago.

The news comes from EA GAMES STUDIO SHOWCASE event, which has taken place in London today, where the company has said that it will no longer charge gamers for content that directly affects game-play.

Remember the ridiculous amount of content that the company released for The Godfather video game? Where it charged us for individual weapons, additional in-game money and even for hiring an assassin to work alongside us? Well, it doesn’t look as though we’ll have to fork out again for such items, instead we’ll just have to earn them in game - just the way it should be.

This new model will affect the six games on show at the event, that’s Mercenaries 2, Battlefield Bad Company, Battlefield Heroes, Warhammer: Age Of Reckoning, Left 4 Dead and Mass Effect, but it will also carry over to future titles from EA.

During the presentation EA chose the upcoming free-to-play multiplayer game, Battlefield Heroes as an example of how the new model will work. The company will be making its cash through charging for cosmetic changes, such as outfits, but you won’t have to pay for anything that directly affects the game or gives you an edge.

Unfortunately, ‘horse armour’ syndrome will still continue with items that do not affect the game-play, so still expect to be charged for the foreseeable future for the privilege of downloading new maps. Hang on, they affect the game-play too!

Similarly, the plan to offer chargeable weapons for Battlefield Bad Company has been scrapped and instead they’ll be unlockable in the game.

We’re still not satisfied, not until we get free maps anyway, but at least it’s a move in the right direction.