Prognosis of Star Wars Battlefront: Upcoming Developments and Possible Outcomes
Gamers and Star Wars fans are hankering for another instalment of the iconic Star Wars Battlefront series, sparked primarily by the resurgence of Star Wars Battlefront II in recent times. The rising player count on PC is being used to rally the community for a day-long global event to further boost numbers and bolster the spirit of the Battlefront community.
This enthusiasm stems from actor Muhannad Ben Amor, who starred as Wilmon in Andor, voicing his support for another entry. Apart from reminiscing about his childhood with Battlefront II and his veteran status, he expressed hope for a Battlefront III.
Over the past two decades, Star Wars Battlefront has had an intriguing history, with two phases of development and two sets of games – the first two made by the late Pandemic Studios, while the second half, from Battlefield developers DICE, remain without a third entry. A Battlefront III nearly happened, with several developers like Timesplitters creator Free Radical Design in the mix before Electronic Arts (EA) took control of the Star Wars game licence.
In an effort to rekindle the series, EA tried various approaches like online-only entries, smaller multiplayer games, and an alternate reality game featuring Obi-Wan and Luke as Sith Lords, but these efforts bore no fruit. The turning point came when DICE ceased supporting Battlefront II in 2020, relegating the series to another hiatus.
Whether Star Wars Battlefront can resurface and why it should comes down to a complex quandary. Fashioning games for this beloved property has proven to be a challenge over the years. Some of the most iconic Star Wars games, such as 1313 starring Boba Fett or third entries for Knights of the Old Republic and Force Unleashed, never saw the light of day, and even EA has had its fair share of troubles, such as cancelling projects by Visceral Games and Motive Studios, and more recently, a first-person shooter based on The Mandalorian from Respawn.
Currently, DICE is fully engrossed with the development of the next Battlefield game, leaving little room for another Battlefront. EA's other studios are otherwise occupied as well, making a new Battlefront an improbable near-term prospect. Mats Holm, a former live producer on Battlefront II, suggests a remaster of the previous game as a springboard for a sequel, emphasizing the importance of involving original team members to ensure authenticity[1][3].
Since Star Wars games have largely gravitated towards single-player titles such as Fallen Order, Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws, and Bit Reactor's 2026's Zero Company, it seems unlikely that EA would reinvest in multiplayer versions anytime soon. The controversy surrounding the monetization of Battlefront II created a substantial backlash, and EA no longer holds the exclusive right to create licensed games for the franchise[5].
Additionally, the integration of Star Wars content and characters into Fortnite, like the Galactic Battle tie-in event and the numerous in-game skins, has made Epic Games' battle royale the go-to multiplayer experience for the franchise[4]. With Disney+ series like Maul: Shadow Lord and the 2027 Starfighter film set to be tied to Fortnite, along with The Mandalorian & Grogu and the upcoming Mandalorian III, Disney doesn't appear to be ending its partnership with Epic Games any time soon[2].
Despite the seemingly insurmountable odds, the flame of hope for a Star Wars Battlefront III remains alive. However, as Star Wars enters a new chapter of its life, with more movies and shows in the offing, it's unclear how a new Battlefront would fit into the broader narrative and who might champion its development in a world where online games are often cast aside quickly.
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Sources:1. Mats Holm on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsBattlefront/comments/t6da8h/dice_right_now_is_not_working_on_bf3_also_you/2. Kyber v2: https://www.kastusken.com/3. IGN: https://www.ign.com/articles/star-wars-battlefront-iii-possibility-discussed-by-former-developer4. Epic Games: https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/star-wars-event5. Eurogamer: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-10-06-efa-revokes-exclusive-ea-console-licence-for-star-wars-games
- The anticipation for a third installment of Star Wars Battlefront persists, particularly with Muhannad Ben Amor, known for his role in Andor, expressing his desire for Battlefront III.
- With DICE fully committed to the development of the next Battlefield game and EA's other studios occupied, the prospect of a new Star Wars Battlefront in the immediate future seems unlikely.
- Amidst the rising popularity of single-player Star Wars games and the integration of Star Wars content into Fortnite, the possibility of EA reinvesting in a new multiplayer Star Wars Battlefront may be slim, but the hope for a Battlefront III endures.
