It's no secret that the Battlefield 3 PC experience is better overall than that of the console versions. This is to be expected, as DICE built the PC version first, scaling back features and other elements so the title could perform on admittedly-weaker consoles. For instance, the PC version of Battlefield 3 supports massive 64-player combat, with gigantic sized maps to accommodate this. But the console versions support just 24-players, with the smaller map sizes reflecting a much different experience. There's also a noticeable differences in graphics, with some reporting that the reduced texturing on far-off players can make it hard to zero on a target, as well as some other problems which make the PC version the preferred experience for those who can run it.

I'm not trying to insinuate that console gamers are getting a bum deal, that's just the price you pay for running the game on your $200 console as opposed to a dedicated $1000 gaming rig. However, you think the PC community would be more supportive of the fact that they get the best version of the game, and not immediately run out and start torrenting the thing on launch day.

Already, a working crack of Battlefield 3 is running rampant on torrent hubs such as ThePirateBay.org, with over 30,000 people actively leeching the game from peers. With the full release of the game retailing for $60, that's just about $2,000,000 in lost sales to piracy on just the first day. Of course, it's a leap of faith to assume these pirates would've purchased the game if not for this crack, though it's obvious DICE can't be happy with these cheapskates happily pilfering their latest blockbuster.

Luckily, the cracked version of the game only gives access to the single player campaign, and it seems unlikely a multiplayer crack will be found given that EA's new Origin system is required to play online.  Then again, many of those pirating the game claim to be doing so due specifically due to EA's controversial Origin requirements, with the content delivery service's EULA once stating that EA has to right to collect third-party information from users to share with potential vendors (this section has since been revised).

Neither EA nor DICE has personally commented on the piracy, though with Battlefield 3 already on track to sell millions, these 30,000 or so pirates may be nothing more than an annoyance.

Link: http://www.gamezone.com/news/battlefield-3-loses-2-000-000-in-launch-day-sales-to-pirates

I've said this countless times before; those are not losses. Those people weren't going to shell out 60$ for the game anyway. And the Origin system is a major piece of shit, I've never used a more clunky and slow-moving interface all my life. I'm pretty sure Origin will put off a lot of gamers, especially those who are spoiled (like me) with the likes of Steam, GOG or even Green Man Gaming. Get that shit together, or you'll truly lose money, EA.
Before anyone whines on me, I bought the game, was activated at 01:00 here. Not a huge fan of the campaign for now but I'm only 2-3 missions in. Checkpoints are reserved for strange spots some places and the first mission was a long series of quicktime events interspersed with somewhat bland shootingwith poor sounding weapons. It is getting better though!

As Mummelmann said, that would be assuming absolutely all those people would've bought the game if they didn't have the option to pirate it, which is probably far from the truth.

They didn't "lose" jack.

Only 30k? Wow that is very low, I guess that PC gamers are really coming out in force to buy this. That or no one is interested...

Starcraft 2 for example toped 2.4 million downloads within the first 24h and had serveral torrents top 100k, and that went on to sell 3 million (including digital ) in the first month. BF3 could sell well over 5 million in the first month and with EA taking in 100% of revenue from Origin sales that is a hell of a lot of chedder.

You're not missing much on the singleplayer campaign to be honest, I just finished it on PS3 a short while ago. It does the open environments and destruction well, sound effects are awesome and there are a few cool moments (like the first half of the F-18 level among some others), but the story isn't that interesting. Since being with the Battlefield series since Battlefield 2's demo, I'd rather just shrug off the singleplayer and hop into some 64 player battle action. I'm debating if I should even try the multiplayer before it's due back tomorrow.

The PC beta had some fun moments and all, but I'm still unsure about EA and Origin and have since uninstalled it. I would say that I'd be waiting for the Steam winter sale, but oh wait... it's not on Steam. 

The only way those can possibly be categorised as potential sales is if they were all put off by EA's stupid decision to keep BF3 off Steam. To be fair, quite a few of them probably were.

Well done, EA. In that case, you've lost $2 million because you tried to strangle a competitor far more powerful than you. Or at least, I'd like to believe that. Really, most of them would never have bought the game.

I hear you. I haven't been blown away by the destruction just yet, it seems thoroughly scripted even on PC. Only certain bits and parts will respond to fire and explosions. Example; first mission, every seat and window in the train cars can be shot but only certain pieces fall off, some will stay attached even when fired directly upon. Another example of strange physics; throwing a grenade into a small room with brick walls, not even the oil can inside was damaged and the walls were unscathed.

Either do destruction properly or don't do it at all, Crysis had similarly silly physics.

I am looking forward to the multiplayer though!

Wow...just wow... what a disappointment in gamers.

I wonder if the multiplayer will have the destruction of Bad Company 2. Caspain Border kind of had it and you could destroy certain walls in Metro, but it didn't seem to come into play as much as Bad Company 2's maps.