The Prospect of Upcoming Developments in 'Star Wars Battlefront'
Folks have been chomping at the bit for a fresh installment of the iconic Star Wars Battlefront series, and the recent resurgence of Star Wars Battlefront II has given gamers a taste of what they've been craving. With May 4th and Andor actor Muhannad Ben Amor stoking the flames, the gaming community is determined to capitalize on the renewed interest in a day-long worldwide event.
Remember when the first two Star Wars Battlefront games dropped during the prequel era from the late Pandemic Studios? The more recent iterations, developed by DICE, haven't hit the magic number three yet. However, a third entry came close – an Battlefront III for the first series was in development by several studios, including Freelance Design, before EA took over the Star Wars game license.
LucasArts even attempted to restart the series, with plans for an online-only entry, a smaller scale multiplayer game, and a fourth game set in an alternate reality where Obi-Wan and Luke are Sith Lords, but these ideas never saw the light of day. When DICE stopped supporting Battlefront II in 2020, the franchise went into hiding again.
Whether a new Star Wars Battlefront can resurface and why it deserves a comeback are questions that are tricky to answer. Creating games set in the Star Wars universe has had its share of challenges over the years. From the famous games that never materialized, like the Boba Fett-starring 1313 or third entries for Knights of the Old Republic and Force Unleashed, to EA's own struggles with a pirate project from Visceral Games and Motive Studios, and the recent cancellation of a Mandalorian-focused first-person shooter, Star Wars game development isn't always smooth sailing.
Right now, DICE is solely focused on the upcoming Battlefield game, and other EA studios are on standby to lend a hand. Given this, another Battlefront game coming from EA seems highly unlikely, let alone soon. Mats Holm, a former producer on Battlefront II, even suggests a remaster of the previous game as a stepping stone before developing a proper sequel, with the original team's input, if possible.
Since the release of Fallen Order in 2019, Star Wars has primarily focused on single-player titles, with the exception of the space-combat oriented Star Wars Squadrons. The controversy surrounding Battlefront II's monetization was so severe and criticized, that the publishers no longer have a monopoly on creating Star Wars-licensed games. Additionally, Fortnite has become a major player in the multiplayer shooter scene for the franchise, thanks to the recent "Galactic Battle" tie-in event, in-game skins, and that plot-important audio log revealing Palpatine's return in Rise of Skywalker.
The original Star Wars Battlefront games were standalone entities for the franchise, with Battlefront II marketed as a unifying point for all three trilogies. Since the end of support for Battlefront II, the Star Wars franchise has become increasingly intertwined with Fortnite, and its momentum hasn't been strong enough to justify a real Battlefront III happening. As Star Wars ventures into a new era with more movies and shows, it's uncertain where a new Battlefront would fit and who would be around to create it, given the short lifespan of online games.
In summary, while there's no official word on the development of Star Wars Battlefront III, the recent resurgence of interest in Battlefront II has sparked hope among fans. However, challenges such as licensing issues, the dispersal of the original team, and a potential lack of interest from publishers make a new game seem like a long shot. A fan-made mod called "Star Wars Battlefront III alpha" offers a glimpse into what fans can do in the meantime, but it's not an official game. So, for now, we can only dream.
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- To satisfy the hunger of gamers eager for a new installment, the gaming community is planning a day-long worldwide event on May 4th, akin to past events that celebrates Star Wars.
- Despite attempts by LucasArts and DICE to develop the long-awaited Star Wars Battlefront III, licensing issues, dispersal of the original team, and potential lack of interest from publishers have made a new game seem like a long shot.
- In the realm of technology and entertainment, the future of Star Wars games may not solely reside with EA, as the controversy surrounding Battlefront II's monetization has led to a share of the licensing with other developers.
- Fortnite has recently gained a significant footing in the Star Wars multiplayer shooter scene with events like the "Galactic Battle" tie-in, in-game skins, and an audio log hinting at Palpatine's return in Rise of Skywalker.
- As we look towards the future of Star Wars games, with numerous projects on the horizon such as new movies and shows, it remains unclear where a new Battlefront would fit or who would be responsible for creating it, given the short lifespan of online games.
