Star Wars Battlefront 3 has been on the minds of many fans eager for a new chapter in the series.
However, creating a follow-up to the Battlefront games is not as simple as it seems.
Electronic Arts (EA), the publisher behind the previous Battlefront titles, faces many challenges that make a third installment unlikely anytime soon.
If you are holding out hope for Battlefront 3, you might be disappointed.
The Problems That Haunted Star Wars Battlefront 2
Star Wars Battlefront 2 launched in 2017 but was met with significant criticism.
Many issues revolved around its microtransaction system and complicated progression mechanics.
The game used multiple currencies and loot crates that contained items like Star Cards and Crafting Parts, which affected gameplay by boosting stats or adding new abilities.
Players found it frustrating that unlocking popular characters such as Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker required excessive playtime or spending real money.
Initially, it was estimated that unlocking just one hero might take up to 40 hours of gameplay.
Alternatively, players could buy Crystals, the in-game currency purchased with real money, to obtain loot crates with random rewards.
This system was widely seen as pressuring players into spending more money beyond the game’s purchase price.
The player community responded with outrage, arguing they had paid full price for a game that felt like a free-to-play title with aggressive monetization tactics.
On Reddit, an EA representative’s comment that the microtransactions were meant to give players a “sense of pride and accomplishment” became the most downvoted comment in the platform’s history, with over 660,000 downvotes.
Further backlash arose when critics claimed the loot boxes resembled gambling, prompting government investigations in regions such as Belgium and Hawaii.
Due to the immense criticism and pressure, including intervention from Disney, EA temporarily removed microtransactions just before the game’s official release.
They promised to redesign the progression system based on player feedback.
Months later, microtransactions returned but were limited to cosmetic items only, with gameplay-affecting items and hero unlocks tied solely to in-game progress.
The Challenges of Making a New Battlefront Game
Developing a new Star Wars Battlefront game is fraught with hurdles.
One major challenge is developer morale and talent retention.
DICE, the studio responsible for the recent Battlefront games, has lost many key team members over time, especially after plans for a third game were shelved.
Losing experienced developers who know the series well makes starting anew much more difficult.
Rebuilding a team and rewriting the game from scratch can drain momentum.
Additionally, the Battlefront brand itself has a mixed reputation, which may deter publishers and developers from investing heavily.
Other recent Star Wars games made outside EA’s exclusive license period also highlight the difficulty of success with this franchise.
For example, Star Wars Outlaws received mediocre reviews and poor player ratings, and its publisher Ubisoft saw a significant stock drop after the game’s release.
Licensing and Financial Complications
Producing a high-budget AAA game involves massive financial and legal complexities.
Budgets for such projects can reach tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars.
Costs include years of research, salaries for large teams, technology development, multi-platform support, platform fees, and marketing campaigns that sometimes exceed development costs.
When using a licensed intellectual property like Star Wars, there are added licensing fees and revenue-sharing agreements.
Electronic Arts previously held an exclusive license to create Star Wars games and paid Disney substantial fees as part of that deal.
These licensing agreements often give the IP owner a significant cut of the profits.
Reports suggest that EA rejected a proposal from DICE for a third Battlefront because the licensing terms required selling 20% more copies than Battlefront 2 to break even.
This financial risk, combined with other factors, likely influenced EA’s decision not to proceed.
A Reboot Seems More Likely Than a Sequel
Given the challenges, the next Star Wars Battlefront game will probably be a reboot, not a direct sequel.
Disney’s exclusive licensing deal with EA has ended, allowing multiple studios to develop Star Wars games.
EA continues to work on some Star Wars projects but focuses on story-driven single-player titles rather than large multiplayer shooters.
A reboot would give developers creative freedom to change gameplay, stories, characters, and settings without being bound by the expectations tied to previous Battlefront games.
This fresh start might appeal more to Disney and other developers who want to avoid the baggage linked to EA’s Battlefront 2 launch.
Activision, known for its success with Call of Duty, is one potential candidate to take on a new Star Wars shooter project.
Conclusion
While fans eagerly await Star Wars Battlefront 3, the reality is complicated.
The troubled history of Battlefront 2, loss of key developers, high licensing fees, and market risks make a direct sequel unlikely in the near future.
Instead, expect Disney to consider a reboot with a new developer to breathe fresh life into the franchise.
For now, it’s best to manage expectations and look forward to new Star Wars games that might take the series in a different direction.