The Outlook for the Upcoming Developments in 'Star Wars Battlefront'
Gamers and Star Wars enthusiasts have been buzzing for a brand new Star Wars Battlefront game recently. With recent attention being refocused on DICE's Battlefront II from 2017, a passionate day-long global event has been arranged to drum up support for the game and celebrate the dedicated Battlefront community.
This renewed interest was sparked by the Star Wars holiday on May 4th and by Andor actor Muhannad Ben Amor's (playing Wilmon on the show) call for another entry in the series: "Grew up with Battlefront II; been a veteran since day one, let's hope a Battlefront III happens."
For nearly 20 years, the multiplayer shooter series has had a rollercoaster ride. Before the series even reached its third installment, first brought by the defunct Pandemic Studios during the Star Wars prequel era, attempts to release a third game have been thwarted. DICE's versions of the second and third games never saw the light of day, with the closest attempt being a Battlefront III led by Timesplitters creator Free Radical Design. Later, LucasArts tried rebooting the series with online-only and smaller-scale multiplayer games, as well as an alternate reality entry where Obi-Wan and Luke became Sith Lords, but those plans never developed. Following DICE's ceasing support for its Battlefront II in 2020, the sub-series vanished once more.
As many ponder over if Star Wars Battlefront can stage a comeback and why it might be worth the effort, the questions are not easily answered. Developing games tied to the Star Wars franchise has proven to be a challenging undertaking, with many well-known Stars Wars games either being canceled or never materializing—some of which featured favorites like Boba Fett and first-person shooters set within the Mandalorian universe.
In the current landscape, a new Battlefront game seems an improbability. DICE is presently hard at work on the upcoming Battlefield game, while other EA studios have their hands full with The Sims, Skate, Apex Legends, and supporting Motive's Iron Man project and Respawn Entertainment's next Star Wars Jedi game. Mats Holm, a former live producer for Battlefront II, has expressed his doubts about endorsement for another Battlefront game anytime soon. Instead, Holm suggests remastering the previous game as a prelude to developing a proper sequel, preferably with key members of the original team on board.
These remasters may be the best option to raise interest, but licensing concerns with Electronic Arts could present a snag. While the Pandemic-made games have undergone remasters, EA has the final say on which titles receive the remake treatment.
Since 2019's Fallen Order, Star Wars has largely steered towards single-player games, including Ubisoft's Outlaws and Bit Reactor's 2026 Zero Company. The only multiplayer Star Wars game to gain traction since then has been Fortnite, thanks to recent tie-in events, in-game skins, and a crucial plot detail in Rise of Skywalker which hinted at Palpatine's return. It's possible that EA is wary of developing Star Wars multiplayer titles due to the backlash experienced from Battlefront II's initial monetization and poor reception.
Star Wars Battlefront II thrived during a time when it occupied a space as the franchise's sole online hub, merging elements from all three trilogies and receiving post-launch updates with characters, maps, and weapons from the sequels and prequels, Rogue One, and Solo. Since ceasing support for the game in 2019, Star Wars gaming has found itself tied to Fortnite, with tie-ins expected for upcoming series such as The Mandalorian & Grogu, Maul: Shadow Lord, and the 2027 Starfighter film.
The future of Star Wars Battlefront III hangs in the balance. While fan interest is strong, official announcements or commitments remain uncertain, given EA's strategic focus and licensing concerns. Whether it fits into the franchise's future plans and if there's a team ready to tackle it—especially during a time when online-focused games can be considered disposable—are questions that remain to be answered.
If you're in the market for more Star Wars news, be sure to check out the upcoming releases of Marvel, Star Trek, and DC Universe films and TV shows, as well as the latest updates for Doctor Who.
- Gizmodo and io9 have been discussing the potential for a new Star Wars Battlefront game, given the surge in interest from gamers and Star Wars enthusiasts.
- In a social-media post, Andor actor Muhannad Ben Amor, who plays Wilmon on the show, expressed his desire for another entry in the series, saying, "Grew up with Battlefront II; been a veteran since day one, let's hope a Battlefront III happens."
- Despite the passion from the Battlefront community, developing a new Star Wars Battlefront game might face challenges, as DICE is currently focused on its upcoming Battlefield game, and other EA studios are busy with other projects.
- Mats Holm, a former live producer for Battlefront II, suggested remastering the previous game as a prelude to developing a proper sequel, with key members of the original team on board.
- In the current market, licensing concerns with Electronic Arts could present a challenge for any potential remasters of the Star Wars Battlefront games, given that EA has the final say on which titles receive the remake treatment.
