Electronic Arts’ and DICE’s ace online shooter, Battlefield Heroes, is offering a pair of Michael Jackson-inspired costumes as a tribute to the man. Sort of.

The ‘Smooth Suit’ and ‘Thuggin’ Outfit’ are inspired by Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal’ and ‘Bad’ personas. Players fighting for the Royal Army will get the slick white two-piece complete with black armband and matching trilby, while their National Army opposites can jump into battle in the iconic leather n’ buckles get-up beloved of iffy Jacko impersonators the world over. Will either costume improve your sharpshooting skills? Nope. Will they make you an easier target on the battlefield? Hell to the yes!

So, is all this a fitting way to remember a man who was known to love his videogames or a cynical attempt to cash in on his untimely demise? Well, any suspicions of the latter are somewhat undone by the fact that these outfits will be FREE to download. Huzzah!

It all kicks off this month – see Battlefieldheroes.com for more details, and prepare yourselves for arenas full of squealing Jackson clones until the novelty finally wears off. And that’s unlikely to be any time soon...