Video games maker Electronic Arts is introducing a new $50-a-year games service for players of "Battlefield 3" as it aims to boost its online sales and gain ground against bigger rival, Activision Blizzard, which sells the top-selling title "Call of Duty."

Activision unveiled its own games service last year, "Call of Duty Elite Premium," which offers players extra online features for $60 a year. Unlike Activision which charges per month for its service, EA's "Battlefield Premium" is asking players to pay upfront.

Charging for online play is becoming more popular as video game companies want to generate a steady revenue stream separate from sales of $60 discs after launching a big game a few times a year and squeeze as much money as possible out of their hits.

But making fans pay more for games can be a tricky business.

Game blogs lit up with criticism when Activision first announced its online program last year.