EA and DICE have officially launched Battlefield 3 Premium Edition, the promised retail bundle version of their well-received shooter, that packs all of the post-launch content updates into a single package, as well as a "head start kit" designed to give newcomers a bit of a boost into the game's many unlocks.

Most surprising is the price point, which EA has marked at A$69.99 for the Australian release on all platforms, unusually not to disparate from the North American release at US$59.99.

The Premium Edition launch coincides with the latest DLC map, weapon and vehicle-pack, Armored Kill, which will be later followed by at least two more expansions: Aftermath, and End Game, in the coming months.

Battlefield 3 Premium Edition is available in Australia today and in New Zealand on September 13 for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC. All Battlefield 3 digital expansion packs will be available individually for $23.95(AUD) on the PlayStation Network and on PC at Origin.com, or for 1200 MS Points on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. PlayStation 3 players will also receive an additional week of early access to all remaining digital expansion packs

Hit up the completely Australian press release for the rest of the localised details, and stay tuned for our own impressions on the Armored Kill DLC.