The Outlook for 'Star Wars Battlefront' Development
Gamers and die-hard Star Wars fans are clamoring for a new Star Wars Battlefront game, after a resurgence in popularity for DICE's Battlefront II from 2017. The growing player count on PC has sparked the community to organize a global event, with the aim of boosting numbers and showcasing the passion of the Battlefront community.
Star Wars actor Muhannad Ben Amor, famous for his role as Wilmon in Andor, recently added fuel to the fire by calling for another entry: "Grew up with Battlefront II; been a veteran since day one, let's hope for a Battlefront III!"
Over two decades, the multiplayer shooter series has seen two lives, each with its unique development teams. The original games, released during the Star Wars prequel era, were produced by the late Pandemic Studios, while the most recent duo came from Battlefield developer DICE. A Battlefront III almost became a reality; it was in development by several teams, including Timesplitters creator Free Radical Design. But before EA took control of the Star Wars game license, LucasArts attempted a fresh start for the games with an online-only entry, a smaller-scale multiplayer entry, and a fourth game that featured Obi-Wan and Luke as Sith Lords. Despite these efforts, nothing came to fruition.
Deciding whether a new Star Wars Battlefront game will materialize, and if so, why, is a tricky question. Crafting games set in the Star Wars universe has presented challenges throughout the years. Some of the most notable Star Wars games never made it off the drawing board, such as the Boba Fett-focused 1313 or third entries for Knights of the Old Republic and Force Unleashed – popular spin-offs that ran parallel to Battlefront. EA itself has faced troubles, canceling projects like a pirate-centric venture from Visceral Games and Motive Studios, and a first-person shooter centered on a Mandalorian developed by Respawn, the creators of the critically acclaimed Star Wars Jedi games.
Currently, DICE is entirely focused on the next Battlefield game, with several other EA studios supporting their efforts. A new Battlefront game can't realistically be expected from EA, let alone any time soon. According to a former live producer on Battlefront II, Mats Holm, a remaster of the previous game might be a stepping stone toward developing a proper sequel, preferably with members of the previous team willing to work on it. However, the problem lies with EA; while the Pandemic-made Battlefront games have been remastered, Electronic Arts can be selective with what it chooses to remaster or remake.
Star Wars has largely focused on single-player titles since 2019's Fallen Order, including Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws and the upcoming Starfighter film from Bit Reactor in 2027. Apart from Star Wars Squadrons, EA has yet to commit to Star Wars multiplayer games, possibly due to the controversy surrounding Battlefront II's initial monetization and Epic Games' Fortnite, which has become the most important multiplayer shooter in the Star Wars universe thanks to various crossovers and tie-ins.
Both previous incarnations of Star Wars Battlefront existed at a time when they could be the only place where all of the franchise could thrive. Battlefront II was already marketed as a unification point for all three trilogies, and as part of its rehabilitation efforts, DICE poured everything it had into post-launch updates that incorporated maps, weapons, and characters from various Star Wars content, such as the sequels, prequels, Rogue One, and Solo. Since DICE ended support for the game in 2019, Star Wars has shifted its focus elsewhere, joining the web of Fortnite and other popular multiplayer games, making it uncertain whether a Battlefront III would fit into the franchise's plans or when it might occur.
In 2026, The Mandalorian & Grogu and the Disney+ series Maul: Shadow Lord are expected to receive Fortnite tie-ins, along with the 2027 Starfighter film. With Star Wars exploring new time periods in movies and shows, one has to wonder whether a Battlefront III will find a place in the franchise's future, and who will be around to develop it when online games, regardless of their size, are quickly discarded.
Editor's Note: While there is no officially announced new Star Wars Battlefront game in active development or with a release planned, the resurgence of Battlefront II's player base in 2025 has reignited community demand and developer interest. A new Battlefront III could potentially happen in the future after a remaster, but official plans focus on a possible remaster rather than a new game immediately. A new Star Wars Battlefront game remains unconfirmed and is likely several years away. The immediate future may see a remaster of Battlefront II rather than brand-new content.
- Gizmodo and Io9 have discussed the possibility of a new Star Wars Battlefront game, with the growing player count on PC stirring conversations about a potential global event to boost numbers and showcase the enthusiasm of the Battlefront community.
- In light of Muhannad Ben Amor's call for another Battlefront game, discussions surrounding the future of Battlefront technology and gadgets have emerged, particularly considering the challenges faced by game developers in crafting titles set in the Star Wars universe.
- The future of Star Wars games might not only involve single-player titles; as Fortnite and other popular multiplayer games tie-in with Star Wars properties, there are speculations about a potential Battlefront III, although it remains unconfirmed and is likely several years away.
