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Exploring Predicted Prospects for the 'Star Wars Battlefront' Sequel

Star Wars Battlefront comeback may have been straightforward a decade ago, but current circumstances present more complexities.

EA's DICE Studio Unveils New Info on Upcoming Project
EA's DICE Studio Unveils New Info on Upcoming Project

Exploring Predicted Prospects for the 'Star Wars Battlefront' Sequel

Gamers and Star Wars fanatics have been hollering for a fresh Star Wars Battlefront game lately. The renewed interest in DICE's Battlefront II from 2017 can be attributed to its recent surge in player population on PC, with the community intending to capitalize on the buzz with a global day-long event to invited more players and highlight the tenacious spirit of the Battlefront community.

May 4 (Star Wars Day) and Andor actor Muhannad Ben Amor (who played Wilmon) calling for another Battlefront entry have stoked the flames of excitement. Over nearly 20 years, the multiplayer shooter series has lived through two lifetimes, with its first two games produced during the Star Wars prequel era by Pandemic Studios and the more recent pair by Battlefield developer DICE. Neither series has hit number three, but an almost-realized Battlefront III from several developers, including Timesplitters creator Free Radical Design, almost came to pass before Electronic Arts took control of the Star Wars game license.

Back then, LucasArts tried restarting the games with an online-only entry, a smaller-scale multiplayer title, and a fourth game set in an alternate reality where Obi-Wan and Luke were Sith Lords. However, nothing bore fruit. Once DICE ceased supporting Battlefront II in 2020, the sub-series vanished again.

Whether a Star Wars Battlefront sequel will resurface and why it should be revisited are interconnected questions difficult to answer. Crafting games for this property can be tough at times. Some of the most memorable Star Wars games are the ones that never saw the light of day, such as the Boba Fett-starring 1313 or third entries for Knights of the Old Republic and Force Unleashed, two series co-existing with Battlefront. Even Electronic Arts struggled; it axed a pirate-focused project from Visceral Games and Motive Studios, and more recently nixed a first-person shooter centered on a Mandalorian that was in pre-production over at Respawn, creators of the acclaimed Star Wars Jedi games.

Presently, DICE is fully committed to the next Battlefield game, with several other EA studios只是为扶手,意味着另一个 Battlefront您可能无法从 EA 的手中获得, darkness storm squad breach尤或以后任何时候。Mats Holm, a former live producer on Battlefront II, recently asserted this on Reddit, instead suggesting a remaster of the previous game as a stepping stone before elaborating a proper sequel, preferably with anyone from the previous team who desired to work on it. A hypothetical remaster could be a viable entry point, but the problem arises with EA – while Pandemic-made Battlefront games have been remastered, Electronic Arts can be more selective with what it chooses to remaster or remake.

Since 2019's Fallen Order, Star Wars has primarily focused on single-player titles, including Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws and 2026's Zero Company from Bit Reactor. Apart from Star Wars Squadrons, EA has yet to recommit to Star Wars multiplayer, possibly because the controversy surrounding Battlefront II's initial monetization was so chaotic and criticized, it's the reason why the publisher no longer has an exclusive hold on licensed Star Wars games. Additionally, Fortnite has become the most significant multiplayer shooter Star Wars could associate with, thanks to the recent "Galactic Battle" tie-in event, in-game skins for several franchise characters, and a plot-relevant audio log indicating Palpatine's return for Rise of Skywalker.

Both previous incarnations of Star Wars Battlefront thrived during a time when they could be the only place for the Star Wars universe to exist. Battlefront II was already being marketed as a convergence point for all three trilogies, and as part of its rehabilitation efforts, DICE went the extra mile and poured every ounce of effort it had into post-launch updates that incorporated maps, weapons, and characters from the sequels, prequels, Rogue One, and Solo. In the time since DICE discontinued support for the game in 2019, Star Wars hasn't developed consistent momentum to justify a real Battlefront III coming to fruition.

By 2026, The Mandalorian and Grogu will likely receive a Fortnite tie-in of some kind, as will the Disney+ series Maul: Shadow Lord and the 2027 Starfighter film. Much like Andor's Lonni Jung, Star Wars has become ensnared in Epic Games' web, and it's unlikely Disney will end that partnership anytime soon.

Although hope for a Star Wars Battlefront III can never truly perish, despite the odds stacked against it, one must wonder how it would fit into the franchise's designs, and whether there will be a team around to bring it to life in a time when online games – no matter their size – are swiftly abandoned.

Want more io9 news? Check out the latest Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe film and TV releases, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

  1. The community of Star Wars Battlefront players is planning a global day-long event to attract more players and showcase the game's tenacious community spirit.
  2. The multiplayer shooter series, Star Wars Battlefront, has a history spanning nearly 20 years, with two lifetimes represented by games produced during the prequel era and more recent pair by DICE.
  3. Electronic Arts (EA) can be selective with what it chooses to remaster or remake, making a potential remaster of the previous Star Wars Battlefront game a viable entry point for a sequel.
  4. Fortnite has become the most significant multiplayer shooter Star Wars could associate with, thanks to tie-in events, in-game skins, and potential plot-relevant audio logs, making it unlikely that Star Wars Battlefront III would find a prominent place in the franchise's plans.

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