Prospects for the Future of 'Star Wars Battlefront' Series Explored
Gamers and die-hard Star Wars fans are clamoring for another installment of the classic shooter series, Star Wars Battlefront. The recent surge of attention on DICE's Battlefront II from 2017 is fueling this desire, with its player count growing steadily on PC, and the community planning a global event to boost its numbers and celebrate the spirit of the Battlefront community.
All of this excitement was sparked by Star Wars actor Muhannad Ben Amor (best known for his role as Wilmon on Andor) calling for a new entry in the series: "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 franchise has had two lives, with its first two games released during the Star Wars prequel era by the late Pandemic Studios, and the second, more recent pair developed by Battlefield developer DICE. Despite numerous attempts, none have made it to number three, making fans of the series hungry for a new addition.
There's a lot to consider when thinking about the likelihood and desirability of a Battlefront III. Making games based on the Star Wars franchise has been challenging at times, and some of the most memorable Star Wars games are the ones that never came to be, such as the Boba Fett-starring 1313 or third entries for Knights of the Old Republic and Force Unleashed. Even major publishers like EA face obstacles: they canceled a pirate-focused project from Visceral Games and Motive Studios, and more recently killed a Mandalorian-centered first-person shooter in the works at Respawn, creators of the acclaimed Star Wars Jedi games.
Currently, DICE is solely focused on the next Battlefield game, while several other EA studios provide support. This means an additional Battlefront game from EA is unlikely, let alone in the near future. Mats Holm, a former live producer on Battlefront II, suggested on Reddit that a remaster of the previous game and collaboration with members of the original team could be a viable route to creating a proper sequel. However, the decision ultimately lies with EA, and they have been selective about what they choose to remaster or remake.
In recent years, Star Wars has been largely focused on single-player titles, such as Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws and 2026's Zero Company from Bit Reactor. The only notable exception has been the space combat-focused Star Wars Squadrons. EA's recent hesitation to commit to Star Wars multiplayer might be due to the controversy surrounding Battlefront II's initial monetization, which was heavily criticized and contributed to EA not being the sole creator of licensed Star Wars games anymore.
The powerhouse that is Fortnite has also made a significant impact on the Star Wars multiplayer scene, with a recent "Galactic Battle" tie-in event, numerous in-game skins for franchise characters, and a plot-important audio log that revealed Palpatine's return in Rise of Skywalker. It's increasingly likely that popular Star Wars properties like The Mandalorian & Grogu, Maul: Shadow Lord, and the 2027 Starfighter film will have Fortnite tie-ins in the near future.
With the new phase of Star Wars that promises more movies and shows, focusing on a time during and after the sequels, it's uncertain how a Battlefront III would fit into the franchise's plans, or who would be around to develop it in an era where online games are often quickly discarded.
So while enthusiasm for a new Battlefront game exists among fans and former developers alike, no new game is officially planned or underway at this time, and EA remains the key decision-maker regarding the future of the Battlefront series. Keep an eye out for the latest updates on Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe, and Doctor Who to stay informed about the state of your favorite franchises!
- The excitement for a potential Battlefront III is palpable among gamers and Star Wars fans, with one actor, Muhannad Ben Amor, openly expressing his desire for the game's third installment.
- When considering the prospect of a Battlefront III, factors such as the challenges in developing Star Wars games, the cancellation of several planned projects, and EA's current focus on different titles come into play.
- With EA being the key decision-maker for the future of the Battlefront series and the recent focus on single-player games in the Star Wars franchise, a new multiplayer game like Battlefront III seems uncertain at present.
