The Outlook on the Future of 'Star Wars Battlefront' Series
Let's Talk about Star Wars Battlefront III: What's the Deal?
Fans and gamers alike have been clamoring for a new entry in the Star Wars Battlefront series - and it seems the recent hype surrounding Battlefront II has ignited a flame. With Star Wars actor Muhannad Ben Amor stamping his approval on a potential Battlefront III, let's dive into what's keeping this game from becoming a reality.
Star Wars Battlefront has experienced two distinct lives, with its early iterations from the prequel era, developed by Pandemic Studios, and the more recent games from DICE. However, neither has made it to version three. Despite initial attempts from various developers, including Timesplitters creator Free Radical Design, a Battlefront III never came to fruition.
lucasArts did make attempts to revive the series with an online-only entry, a smaller scale multiplayer game, and even a fourth installment featuring Obi-Wan and Luke as Sith Lords. Yet, all these plans fell through. When DICE stopped supporting Battlefront II in 2020, the sub-series was left in the dust once more.
But why hasn't a Star Wars Battlefront III come to be? And is it even worth coming back?
This question is a tricky one, fraught with complications. Making games set in the Star Wars universe has been a challenge throughout the years, with some of the most iconic games never seeing the light of day - such as the Boba Fett-starring 1313 and third entries for Knights of the Old Republic and Force Unleashed. Even EA struggled - it canceled a pirate-focused project from Visceral Games and Motive Studios and more recently scrapped a first-person shooter focused on a Mandalorian from Respawn.
Currently, DICE is working solely on the next Battlefield game, and other EA studios are busy providing support - making another Battlefront an unwelcome addition to their workload, and possibly a long shot in the coming years. Mats Holm, a former live producer on Battlefront II, recently shared his point of view on Reddit. Rather than pushing for a sequel, Holm recommends a remaster of the previous game as a stepping stone before developing a new title, involving members of the original team.
EA has shown reluctance when it comes to remastering and remaking its games. While the Pandemic-made Battlefront games have received remasters, Electronic Arts has historically been more selective compared to other publishers. In recent years, Star Wars has primarily focused on single-player titles, like Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws and Zero Company from Bit Reactor.
Perhaps the most significant challenge faced by Star Wars Battlefront lies in the controversy and criticism surrounding Battlefront II's initial monetization. These issues led to changes in the gaming industry and made publishers less likely to adopt similar practices. As a result, EA, no longer the sole Star Wars game creator, now shares the license with others.
Fortnite has also emerged as a major player in the Star Wars multiplayer scene since the "Galactic Battle" tie-in event, which introduced franchise characters as in-game skins and even revealed Palpatine's return in Rise of Skywalker. It seems Fortnite has become an essential part of the Star Wars multiplayer landscape, competition for any potential new entry in the Battlefront series.
Originally, Star Wars Battlefront served as a unifying force for all trilogies, incorporating maps, weapons, and characters from the prequels, sequels, and even Rogue One and Solo. However, since DICE stopped supporting the game in 2019, Star Wars hasn't maintained a consistent momentum, leaving questions about the feasibility of a Battlefront III and its place in the franchise's future.
As the Star Wars franchise evolves and delves further into its new era, it'sunsure whether a Battlefront III would fit into the changing landscape. Yet, the hope of a new installment looms large - there's always a chance that the Force may eventually bring about its return.
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- Despite the enthusiasm of fans and Star Wars actor Muhannad Ben Amor, the possibility of a Star Wars Battlefront III remains elusive, as past attempts by developers like Free Radical Design to create a third installment never came to fruition.
- Current discussions about the future of Star Wars Battlefront III are complicated by the challenges faced by developers when creating games set in the Star Wars universe, such as EA's cancellation of projects like the pirate-focused game from Visceral Games and Motive Studios.
- With Fortnite solidifying its position as a major player in the Star Wars multiplayer scene and EA sharing the license with other publishers, the feasibility of a Star Wars Battlefront III and its place in the franchise's future is uncertain as the Star Wars franchise delves into its new era.
