The Prospect for Continuation of 'Star Wars Battlefront' Series in the Coming Years
Gamers and Star Wars enthusiasts can't seem to shake the craving for another installment of Star Wars Battlefront. DICE's Battlefront II from 2017 has seen a surge in popularity recently, with a growing player base on PC, and the community is seizing the moment with a global event to ramp up the numbers and flaunt the resilience of the Battlefront fanbase. This renewed interest was sparked by Star Wars holiday May 4 and actor Muhannad Ben Amor, who played Wilmon on Andor, calling for another entry: "I've been a fan since day one; here's hopin' for Battlefront III!"
Over nearly two decades, the multiplayer shooter series has had a tumultuous ride. Its first two games were developed by the late Pandemic Studios during the Star Wars prequel era, while the second, more recent set came from Battlefield developers DICE. Neither version reached a third game, but one almost did; a Battlefront III for the original series was in development with several studios, including Timesplitters creator Free Radical Design. Before Electronic Arts took over the Star Wars game license, LucasArts attempted to restart the franchise with an online-only entry, a smaller-scale multiplayer offering, and a fourth game that envisioned an alternate universe where Obi-Wan and Luke were Sith Lords. Yet, these efforts bore no fruit. Once DICE stopped supporting Battlefront II in 2020, the series vanished once more.
The question of whether Star Wars Battlefront can make a comeback, and why it should, is intricate and tricky to answer. Crafting games in this universe has been a daunting task over the years, with many promising titles never seeing the light of day. Some of the most legendary Star Wars games are the ones that never happened, like the Boba Fett-led 1313 and third entries for both Knights of the Old Republic and Force Unleashed, two sub-series that coexisted with Battlefront. Even Electronic Arts faced obstacles, canceling a pirate-focused project from Visceral Games and Motive Studios, and more recently halting a first-person shooter based on a Mandalorian title that was in production at Respawn, the creators of the critically-acclaimed Star Wars Jedi games.
Currently, DICE is engrossed entirely in the next Battlefield game, with several other Electronic Arts studios standing by as support. Given this, another Battlefront unlikely to be happening any time soon from EA. Mats Holm, a former live producer on Battlefront II, recently stated as much on Reddit, instead suggesting a remaster of the previous game as a stepping stone leading to a proper sequel, preferably involving members from the original team if they were willing to return. A remaster would offer the best possible starting point, but Electronic Arts has a reputation for being selective when it comes to remastering or remaking games.
In 2019, Fallen Order marked a shift for Star Wars, with the franchise focusing primarily on single-player titles, such as Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws and 2026's Zero Company from Bit Reactor. Other than Star Wars Squadrons, Electronic Arts hasn't yet recommitted to Star Wars multiplayer, possibly due to the infamous controversy surrounding the initial monetization of Battlefront II and the ensuing backlash, which led to decreased demand for Star Wars licensed games. Plus, Fortnite has become a major player in the Star Wars multiplayer scene after teaming up for a "Galactic Battle" tie-in event and introducing various in-game skins for franchise characters, including an important plot clue that revealed Palpatine's return for Rise of Skywalker.
When Star Wars Battlefront first appeared, it claim to fame was as the only place where the entire Star Wars saga could be found. Battlefront II labeled itself as a meeting point for all three trilogies, and as part of its rehabilitation efforts, DICE poured resources into post-launch updates that included maps, weapons, and characters from the sequels, prequels, Rogue One, and Solo. With DICE no longer supporting Battlefront II since 2019, and Star Wars finding itself increasingly intertwined with Fortnite, it's uncertain whether a real Battlefront III could find its place in the franchise's future designs.
By 2026, The Mandalorian & Grogu will likely have a Fortnite tie-in, as will the Disney+ series Maul: Shadow Lord and the 2027 Starfighter film. Star Wars now finds itself ensnared in the grasp of Epic Games, and it's unlikely Disney will sever that partnership anytime soon.
Yet, the hope for a Star Wars Battlefront III never truly fades, no matter how seemingly insurmountable the odds. But as Star Wars embarks on a new phase with more movies and series, focusing on a time period during and after the sequels, one can't help but wonder where it would fit in the grand scheme, and who will be around to create it when online games, no matter their scope, have a tendency to be forgotten.
If you're a fan of Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, or Doctor Who, make sure to know the release dates for the latest entries in each series, as well as future plans for the DC Universe on film and TV.
Gizmodo might discuss the anticipation for Star Wars Battlefront III, considering the resurgence of interest in Battlefront due to the fanbase's global event and Muhannad Ben Amor's call for a new installment. The article on io9 could delve into the complexities of creating a Star Wars game, highlighting the ongoing development of a possible remaster of Battlefront as a potential stepping stone towards a sequel. Moreover, the future of Star Wars Battlefront could be tied to the increasing collaboration between Star Wars and Fortnite, raising questions about the viability of another Battlefront game within the ever-expanding Star Wars universe.
