The Prospects of the 'Star Wars Battlefront' Series
Gamers and Star Wars fans can't contain their excitement as they clamor for another installment of the iconic Star Wars Battlefront series. With Battlefront II experiencing an unexpected resurgence in popularity, the community is aiming to capitalize on the momentum with a global event to boost its player count and showcase the determination of Battlefront enthusiasts.
The frenzy started with Star Wars honoring May 4 and actor Muhannad Ben Amor, known for his role as Wilmon in Andor, expressing his longing for another entry: "Grew up with Battlefront II; been a veteran since day one, let's hope a Battlefront III happens."
Over nearly 20 years, the multiplayer shooter series has had two distinct eras. The initial pair of games, a product of the prequel-dominated Star Wars universe by late Pandemic Studios, stood in stark contrast to the later entries developed by DICE, the team behind the Battlefield series. Despite never reaching the coveted number three, there was a near miss; a Battlefront III for the original series was in development from multiple developers, including Free Radical Design, creators of Timesplitters.
LucasArts made attempts to revitalize the games by launching an online-only entry, a smaller scale multiplayer offering, and a fourth game set in an alternate reality where Obi-Wan and Luke were Sith Lords. However, none of these endeavors bore fruit. Once DICE ceased support for Battlefront II in 2020, the series went into hiding once more.
Whether Star Wars Battlefront can rise from the ashes and why it deserves a comeback are intrinsically linked questions, difficult to answer. Creating games within the Star Wars universe has been a challenging pursuit throughout the years, with many acclaimed titles being conceptualized but never realized, such as the Boba Fett-starring 1313 or third installments for Knights of the Old Republic and Force Unleashed. In the past, even Electronic Arts has faced hurdles; it canceled a pirate-focused project from Visceral Games and Motive Studios, and more recently scrapped a first-person shooter centered on a Mandalorian developed by Respawn, the creators of the critically-acclaimed Star Wars Jedi games.
Currently, DICE is fully engrossed in the development of the next Battlefield game, with several other Electronic Arts studios offering assistance. This means another Battlefront game wouldn't be feasible from EA, let alone anytime soon. Former Battlefront II live producer Mats Holm expresses this view on Reddit, instead suggesting a remaster of the previous game as a stepping stone to developing a proper sequel, ideally with contributors from the original team. A remaster could serve as the best entry point, but the obstacle lies with EA; although the Pandemic-made games have been remastered, Electronic Arts tends to be selective when choosing which games to remaster or remake.
Since 2019's Fallen Order, the Star Wars universe has turned its focus on single-player titles, including Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws and 2026's Zero Company from Bit Reactor. Apart from the space combat-focused Star Wars Squadrons, EA hasn't re-committed itself to the Star Wars multiplayer arena, possibly due to the negative fallout from Battlefront II's initial monetization and the subsequent heavy criticism.
Disney's partnership with Epic Games has become crucial for the Star Wars franchise, with Fortnite serving as a significant multiplayer force. With recent tie-ins, such as the "Galactic Battle" event, and the inclusion of numerous franchise characters and plot-important audio logs, Epic Games' battle royale has become an essential component of the Star Wars universe.
Battlefront II existed at a time when it could be the sole hub for the entire Star Wars universe. As part of the game's rehabilitation efforts, DICE poured every effort into post-launch updates that incorporated maps, weapons, and characters from the sequels, prequels, Rogue One, and Solo. In the time since DICE ceased support for the game in 2019, the Star Wars universe hasn't been able to establish sustained momentum that would justify a real Battlefront III appearing.
By 2026, The Mandalorian & Grogu may secure a Fortnite tie-in, as will the Disney+ series Maul: Shadow Lord and the 2027 Starfighter film. Just like Andor's Lonni Jung, the Star Wars universe has found itself ensnared within the web of Epic Games, making it unlikely that Disney will sever that partnership anytime soon.
Though hopes for a Star Wars Battlefront III may never completely fade away, considering the numerous hurdles, one must wonder if it can find a place within the evolving Star Wars universe, especially when online games, regardless of their scale, often face being abandoned.
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- Coverage on io9 suggests that another entry in the Star Wars Battlefront series might be anticipated, given the community's excitement over Star Wars Battlefront II's revival and the global event aimed at boosting its player count.
- Reflecting on the history of the Star Wars Battlefront series, it's noteworthy that although a third installment was nearly released, it never materialized, with Free Radical Design creating a Battlefront III for the original series.
- Future iterations of Star Wars games, like those on Gizmodo, might explore the challenges developers face in creating games within the Star Wars universe, such as the unrealized third installments for Knights of the Old Republic and Force Unleashed.
- With Epic Games partnering closely with Disney for the Star Wars franchise, it's possible that upcoming Star Wars projects, like The Mandalorian & Grogu and Maul: Shadow Lord, could have Fortnite tie-ins, shaping the future of entertainment in the genre of movies-and-tv and pop-culture.
- As the Star Wars universe continues to evolve, the question remains if Star Wars Battlefront III can find a place within this dynamic landscape, given the challenges faced by online games and the risk of abandonment, even for highly anticipated titles.
