The Prospects for the Continuation of 'Star Wars Battlefront' Series?
Star Wars Battlefront III: Rumblings of a Revival Among Gamers and Fans
Gamers and Star Wars enthusiasts have been vocal about their desire for another installment of Star Wars Battlefront, with the growing player count of DICE's Battlefront II on PC fueling the excitement. The community is planning a day-long global event to capitalize on the renewed popularity and showcase the enduring spirit of the Battlefront franchise.
This resurgence of interest follows the Star Wars holiday on May 4 and actor Muhannad Ben Amor, who played Wilmon in the Star Wars series Andor, publicly expressing his hope for a Battlefront III.
Over nearly two decades, the multiplayer shooter series has had two lives. The first two games were developed during the Star Wars prequel era by Pandemic Studios, while the more recent entries were created by Battlefield developer DICE. Despite multiple attempts to bring Battlefront III to fruition, none have been successful. Even EA, the current holder of the Star Wars game license, has faced challenges, cancelling projects such as a pirate-focused game from Visceral Games and Motive Studios and a Mandalorian-centered first-person shooter from Respawn.
DICE's current focus is on the next Battlefield entry, and other EA studios are supporting various projects. This means that another Battlefront likely won't be coming from EA anytime soon. A remaster of Battlefront II has been suggested as a potential precursor to developing a proper sequel, preferably with members of the original team on board.
While Star Wars has been predominantly focused on single-player titles since the release of Fallen Order in 2019, the franchise hasn't made consistent momentum that would justify a real Battlefront III. Fortnite has taken the lead in Star Wars multiplayer with its Galactic Battle tie-in event, numerous in-game skins, and plot-important audio logs.
Battlefront II was designed to be a unification point for all three Star Wars trilogies, incorporating maps, weapons, and characters from the sequels, prequels, Rogue One, and Solo. However, since DICE stopped supporting the game in 2019, Star Wars hasn't found the same success in multiplayer games, with EA yet to recommit to this aspect of the franchise.
As Star Wars enters a new phase of its life, questions remain about the potential fit of a Battlefront III in the franchise's designs, and if it will find a strong team to work on it at a time when online games are often cast aside.
Star Wars fans continue to keep hope alive for a Battlefront III, but with EA's focus on a select number of IPs and the challenges faced in developing Star Wars games, the future remains uncertain for the beloved multiplayer series.
Additional reports indicate that a Battlefront 2 Remaster could be considered in the future, potentially including improvements like cross-play, day/night cycles, dynamic weather, and a 1-vs-1 mode. Licensing costs have also been a factor in EA's decisions regarding Star Wars games.
While no concrete plans for a Battlefront sequel have been announced, other Star Wars games are in development, though none are specifically a Battlefront sequel.
- The renewed excitement for Star Wars Battlefront among gamers and fans has prompted the community to plan a global event, showcasing their enduring love for the franchise amidst rumblings of a potential Battlefront III.
- With EA's current focus on a select number of IPs and the challenges faced in developing Star Wars games, the future of a Battlefront III remains uncertain, despite continued hope from fans.
- As discussions continue about the potential fit of a Battlefront III in the franchise's designs, there are hopes for a Battlefront 2 Remaster, which could include improvements like cross-play, dynamic weather, and a 1-vs-1 mode, before a proper sequel might be developed.
