The Outlook for the Game 'Star Wars Battlefront' Moving Forward
Fan Desire for Star Wars Battlefront III Ignites Community-led Global Event
A wave of excitement swept the gaming community recently, fueled by both Star Wars enthusiasts and Star Wars Battlefront die-hards. The resurgence of interest in DICE's Battlefront II (2017) has sparked a day-long global event, as players band together to boost its player count and exhibit their relentless devotion to the Battlefront series.
This renewed attention can be traced back to actor Muhannad Ben Amor's (Andor's Wilmon) call for another Battlefront III game, "Grew up with Battlefront II; been a veteran since day one, let's hope a Battlefront III happens."
Spanning nearly 20 years, the multiplayer shooter franchise has witnessed two lives. The initial two games were crafted by the late Pandemic Studios during the Star Wars prequel era, while the second wave originated from Battlefield developer DICE. Neither series made it to number three, but one iteration was almost born; Battlefront III, produced by several developers including Timesplitters creator Free Radical Design, briefly emerged before Electronic Arts (EA) gained control over the Star Wars game license.
LucasArts once attempted to reboot the games, planning an online-only entry, a smaller scale multiplayer entry, and a fourth game delving into an alternate reality where Obi-Wan and Luke became Sith Lords. However, none of these innovations materialized. Following DICE's 2020 withdrawal from Battlefront II support, the sub-series vanished once more.
The questions of the possibility and rationale for a Star Wars Battlefront III return are intricately linked and challenging to answer. Developing games based on this iconic franchise has occasionally proven difficult throughout the years. Regrettably, some of the most celebrated Star Wars games are the ones that never came to fruition, including the Boba Fett-centric 1313 or the third entries for Knights of the Old Republic and Force Unleashed, two fan-favorite sub-series alongside Battlefront. Even EA struggled with projects; cancelling a pirate-focused venture from Visceral Games and Motive Studios, and more recently a Mandalorian-centric first-person shooter from Respawn.
Presently, DICE is solely dedicated to the next Battlefield game, with numerous other EA studios offering support. Consequently, a new Battlefront sequel is highly unlikely to emerge from EA, let alone in the immediate future. Mats Holm, a former live Battlefront II producer, recently commented on Reddit, instead advocating for a Battlefront II remaster as a stepping stone for a potential sequel, ideally spearheaded by the previous team's veterans. However, the viability of a remaster hinges on EA's discretion; while the Pandemic-created Battlefront games have experienced remasters, Electronic Arts is more selective than other publishers regarding which titles are remastered or remade.
Since 2019's Fallen Order, Star Wars has largely focused on single-player titles, such as Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws and 2026's Zero Company from Bit Reactor. Apart from space combat-centric Star Wars Squadrons, EA has yet to fully embrace Star Wars multiplayer once more, potentially due to Battlefront II's disastrous initial monetization controversy in 2017, which heavily tarnished its reputation and marked the end of EA's exclusive licensing for creating Star Wars games. Additionally, Fortnite has developed a strong presence in the Star Wars multiplayer arena; Fortnite's recent "Galactic Battle" collaborative event, a wide array of character skins, and crucial plot-revealing audio logs in Rise of Skywalker have fortified Fortnite's status as the most influential multiplayer shooter in the Star Wars franchise.
Echoing the sentiments of the past, the ghost of Battlefront II's failed monetization is the bulwark behind EA's reluctance in committing to Star Wars multiplayer games. Time will tell if the fervor of the Battlefront community, the changing landscape of Star Wars multiplayer, and the unyielding passion for a Battlefront III sequel can break this impasse.
In the meantime, stay up-to-date on the latest Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe on film and TV, and Doctor Who releases.
- The global event organised by gamers aims to demonstrate their enduring passion for the Battlefront series, hoping that this could influence the creation of a future Star Wars Battlefront III game.
- Given their substantial investment in the Star Wars universe, technology-focused sites like Gizmodo and Io9 could shed light on the potential return of the Battlefront series and the prospects of a Battlefront III game.
- As gaming enthusiasts eagerly anticipate future developments in the Star Wars multiplayer arena, they keep an eye on upcoming gadgets and gizmos that could enhance their gaming experience.
- Movies-and-TV entertainment channels occasionally feature documentaries discussing unmade games, such as Battlefront III, offering a glimpse into the future of technology, games, and entertainment in the Star Wars universe.
