The Outlook for Star Wars Battlefront Moving Forward
Unleashing the Force:
Fans and gamers alike have been buzzing with excitement lately, calling for a new instalment of the beloved Star Wars Battlefront series. With the recent surge in popularity of DICE's Battlefront II, the community is jumping on the opportunity to boost numbers and shine a spotlight on the devoted fanbase. This revival has been triggered by Star Wars' beloved holiday, May 4, and a tweet from Andor's Wilmon actor, Muhannad Ben Amor, expressing his desire for a third entry.
Over nearly two decades, the multiplayer shooter franchise has had a rollercoaster ride. The first two games, developed during the Star Wars prequel era by the late Pandemic Studios, set the foundation, while the more recent offerings were crafted by the Battlefield gurus at DICE. Unfortunately, neither reached the third game, but rumours of a third installment for the original series circulated, with exciting developers like Timesplitters creator Free Radical Design on board.
The obstacles faced in developing games centred on the Star Wars universe have been numerous and challenging. Some of the most anticipated Star Wars games that never saw the light of day include the Boba Fett-starring 1313 or third entries for Knights of the Old Republic and Force Unleashed. EA itself had its fair share of hurdles, canning projects from Visceral Games and Motive Studios, and more recently, a first-person shooter based on The Mandalorian from Respawn Entertainment.
Currently, DICE is entirely focused on the next Battlefield game, while other EA studios pitch in as support. Given this focus, it's uncertain if another Battlefront could realistically come from EA, or even in the foreseeable future. In light of this, a former live producer on Battlefront II, Mats Holm, has suggested a remaster of the previous game as a stepping stone before developing a sequel. However, the issue lies with EA - while the Pandemic-made Battlefront games have been remastered, the publisher can be selective about what it chooses to revitalize or re-create.
Since 2019's Fallen Order, Star Wars has mainly kept its gaming sights on single-player titles. Star Wars outlaws from Ubisoft and 2026’s Zero Company from Bit Reactor are just a couple of examples. Apart from the space combat-focused Star Wars Squadrons, EA hasn't made a comeback to Star Wars multiplayer, possibly due to the traumatic aftermath of Battlefront II's initial monetization which was heavily criticised. Additionally, Fortnite has emerged as the most significant multiplayer shooter in the Star Wars franchise, thanks to its recent “Galactic Battle” event and an extensive collection of in-game Star Wars skins.
The first two iterations of Star Wars Battlefront gained popularity during a time when they were the sole platform for the Star Wars universe. Battlefront II was marketed as a unifying point for all three trilogies, and post-launch updates incorporated maps, weapons, and characters from sequels, prequels, Rogue One, and Solo. However, since DICE halted support for the game in 2019, Star Wars hasn't managed to maintain a consistent momentum that would justify a real Battlefront III happening.
By 2026, the Mandalorian & Grogu and the Disney+ series Maul: Shadow Lord, along with the 2027 Starfighter film are set to receive Fortnite tie-ins, solidifying the deep relationship between Star Wars and Epic Games. It seems unlikely that Disney will sever this partnership anytime soon.
While hope for a Star Wars Battlefront III remains, it's unclear how it would fit into the Star Wars universe's longer-term plans. With an abundance of movies and shows on the horizon, exploring a period beyond the sequels, it will be interesting to see who joins the Star Wars gaming battlefield in the future.
In the interim, keep track of the latest Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe, and Doctor Who releases, as the gaming world and the Star Wars universe continue to evolve.
1. Io9 and Gizmodo have been discussing the growing anticipation among fans and gamers for a new installment of the Star Wars Battlefront series, sparked by recent events and expressed desires from Star Wars actors.
2. In the past, Star Wars games have faced numerous challenges in development, with several promising titles like 1313 and a third entry for Knights of the Old Republic never seeing the light of day.
3. With DICE currently focused on the next Battlefield game and EA's uncertain plans for another Battlefront, a remaster of the previous Battlefront game has been suggested as a potential stepping stone towards a sequel.
4. As the Star Wars universe continues to grow with movies, shows, and games, it remains to be seen who will join the Star Wars gaming battlefield in the future, with other franchises such as Marvel, Star Trek, DC Universe, and Doctor Who also evolving in the gaming world.
