Prospects of the Star Wars Battlefront Series Ahead
Gamers and Star Wars enthusiasts have been clamoring for more of the iconic shooter series, Star Wars Battlefront. The renewed interest in Battlefront II, initially released in 2017, has sparked excitement among fans, leading to the organization of a 24-hour global event to capitalize on the growing player base. This surge has been fueled by the recent call for another entry by Andor actor Muhannad Ben Amor, who played Wilmon.
Over the past two decades, the Star Wars Battlefront series has had quite the journey. The first two games were developed by the late Pandemic Studios during the prequel era, while the two more recent installments were created by Battlefield developer DICE. Neither series has reached its third game, but one almost did; a Battlefront III from various developers, including Timesplitters creator Free Radical Design, was in development before Electronic Arts (EA) took control of the Star Wars game license.
In the past, LucasArts tried reviving the series with an online-only title, a smaller-scale multiplayer entry, and a fourth game featuring an alternate reality where Obi-Wan and Luke were Sith Lords. However, none of these ideas came to fruition. In 2020, DICE stopped supporting Battlefront II, and the sub-series went missing in action once more.
Whether a new Star Wars Battlefront game is viable and worthwhile are intertwined questions, and answering them isn't straightforward. Developing games surrounding the Star Wars universe has proven to be a tough nut to crack over the years. Some of the most talked-about Star Wars games are those that never saw the light of day, such as the Boba Fett-starring 1313 or third entries for Knights of the Old Republic and Force Unleashed, two sub-series that ran parallel to Battlefront. EA has also had its fair share of troubles, canceling projects like a pirate-focused game from Visceral Games and Motive Studios, and more recently killing a first-person shooter focused on a Mandalorian from Respawn, the creators of the acclaimed Star Wars Jedi games.
Currently, DICE is fully dedicated to the next Battlefield game, with several other EA studios assisting. As a result, another Battlefront game from EA seems highly unlikely, especially in the near future. Mats Holm, a former live producer on Battlefront II, suggested on Reddit that a remaster of the previous game could be a good starting point before developing a proper sequel, ideally with members of the original team. However, EA's history with remasters and remakes may pose a challenge.
Since 2019's Fallen Order, Star Wars has mainly focused on single-player titles, such as Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws and 2026's Zero Company from Bit Reactor. Apart from the space combat-focused Star Wars Squadrons, EA has yet to recommit to Star Wars multiplayer, possibly due to the controversy surrounding Battlefront II's initial monetization, which was heavily criticized. Moreover, Fortnite has emerged as a significant multiplayer shooter in the Star Wars universe, thanks to the "The Galactic Battle" tie-in event, numerous in-game skins, and plot-important audio logs that revealed Palpatine's return in Rise of Skywalker.
Previous Star Wars Battlefront iterations thrived during a time when they served as a unified hub for all things Star Wars. Battlefront II was marketed as a convergence point for all three trilogies, and as part of the game's rehabilitation, DICE invested heavily in post-launch updates that incorporated content from the sequels, prequels, Rogue One, and Solo. Since DICE ended support for Battlefront II in 2019, Star Wars has found itself intertwined with Fortnite, and it has yet to consistently gain momentum that justifies a real Battlefront III.
As Star Wars moves into its next phase, featuring more films and shows, and aims to delve into the time periods of and following the sequels, it raises questions about where a new Battlefront game would fit within these plans. With online games, regardless of their size, being quickly cast aside, one has to wonder who will be around for a possible Battlefront III.
Looking forward, Star Wars fans can anticipate updates on upcoming Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, as well as developments within the DC Universe and the future of Doctor Who.
[1] https://AboutGame.news/article/Star-Wars-Battlefront-Community-Plans-Day-Long-Global-Event[2] https://Bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-23/star-wars-battlefront-3-fans-petition-for-the-third-game[3] https://www.Forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2021/06/23/star-wars-battlefront-3-remaster-dusts-off-hopes-for-sequel-but-will-ea-go-for-it/[4] https://DenofGeek.com/games/star-wars-battlefront-3-everything-we-know-about-the-third-game-so-far/[5] https://Kotaku.com/ea-has-no-plans-for-star-wars-battlefront-3-perhaps-1847357700[6] https://GameRant.com/star-wars-battlefront-3-remaster-issue-ea-says-no-to-remaking-games/
- With the gaming community organizing a 24-hour global event for Star Wars Battlefront, the demand for a new installment in the franchise remains high, even after the end of support for Battlefront II.
- Many consider the Star Wars Battlefront series to hold a significant place in the history of games surrounding the Star Wars universe, with potential future installments posing intriguing questions about their viability and place within the expanding Star Wars narrative.
- Amidst updates on upcoming releases in the Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek universes, as well as developments within the DC Universe and the future of Doctor Who, the hope for a new Star Wars Battlefront game continues to persist among fans, fueled by remaster calls and the success of Fortnite's "The Galactic Battle" tie-in event.
