[Update] Added pre-order information for the US. [End of Update]

While confirming the news that pre-order numbers for EA’s Battlefield 3 are currently sitting at ten times those of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 in a similar timeframe, the Battlefield 3 Limited Edition has been announced and further details on intriguing UK-specific pre-order bonuses have also emerged.

The Battlefield 3 Limited Edition will give players the chance to download the post-launch ‘Back to Karkand’ digital expansion pack, at no extra charge. In Back to Karkand, “players can wage all-out war on four of the most celebrated maps from Battlefield 2 including Strike at Karkand, Gulf of Oman and the Sharqi Peninsula,” all of which are said to have been “stunningly re-created” using DICE’s Frostbite 2 engine.

If you don’t pick up a Limited Edition version of Battlefield 3, you’ll be able to purchase Back to Karkand for $14.99 / £11.99.

In addition, and at selected retailers in the UK, if you pre-order Battlefield 3 you can look forward to the following bonus content:

Physical Warfare Pack

• Storm the battlefield armed with a set of three exclusive weapons in the Physical Warfare Pack including:
  • 1) the Type 88 light machine gun with bipod for deadly firepower and total zone control;
  • 2.) the SKS sniper rifle flash suppressor that provides increased stealth abilities for Recon soldiers;
  • 3.) the lethal armor-piercing flechette ammo for the DAO-12 semi-automatic shotgun that will tear through anything in its path.

Each weapon will be available for a limited time in-game, and will later become available to all players. Also unlocked is instant access to the highly versatile DAO-12 semi-automatic shotgun. This item is available to purchase in the UK at GAME Group (GAME and Gamestation) and Origin, and through GameStop in the US (in addition to Back to Karkand).

SPECACT Kit

• Players can expand their customizable options in Battlefield 3 with a set of eight unique multiplayer skins, one for each class in Battlefield 3. This item is available to purchase in the UK at Amazon, as well as the US at Amazon (in addition to Back to Karkand).

Dog Tag Pack

• In Battlefield 3, dog tags serve as the player’s in-game signature, allowing gamers to customize their soldiers. Dog tags are displayed on screen every time a player takes down an enemy or claims an opponent’s dog tags. This pre-order exclusive item comes with five new, unique dog tags. This item is available to purchase in the UK at Play.com, and through Best Buy in the US (in addition to Back to Karkand).

Don’t forget that author Andy McNab (a highly decorated ex-SAS operator and best-selling author of Bravo Two Zero), collaborating with co-author Peter Grimsdale, has teamed up with developer DICE to release a novel inspired by Battlefield, and has in addition been working with DICE to ensure “authenticity and grittiness of today’s warfare is experienced in the singleplayer, co-op and multiplayer campaigns” of Battlefield 3.

The McNab novel will release under Orion Publishing in time for the game.

Look out for the release of Battlefield 3 on October 25th in the US and October 28th in Europe and the UK - El33tonline’s previous coverage of Battlefield 3 will help you out with a collection of screenshots, trailers and information, but also look forward to our thoughts on the game when we see it at gamescom 2011 this month in Germany.