Star Wars Battlefront 3 was almost ready for release, reaching 99% completion and requiring only bug fixes before developers unexpectedly canceled it. The Star Wars Battlefront series features four official games, including two classics and two modern releases. Players have waited almost seven years since Battlefront II’s 2017 launch, seeing only minor updates.
The latest Battlefront games fall short of expectations. Players miss iconic characters like R2-D2, Mace Windu, and Ahsoka Tano. Players just need a proper third instalment, which becomes clear through fan-made projects. The “Star Wars Battlefront 3 Legacy” mod shows this passion by adding new characters and redesigned maps to the existing game.
This piece will get into the Battlefront series’ journey, why fans should expect more, and what a true Star Wars Battlefront 3 should deliver to satisfy player expectations.
The Rise and Fall of Star Wars Battlefront
Pandemic Studios freed gaming magic in 2004 with the original Star Wars: Battlefront, which became one of the most beloved Star Wars games that ever spread through the gaming world. The groundbreaking shooter won fans’ hearts by letting them jump into iconic battles across the galaxy. Its release alongside the Star Wars Trilogy DVD set made it even more special.
The original classics (2004-2005)
The first Battlefront game landed in September 2004 on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Windows. Players could switch between first and third-person shooting views. The game let up to 32 players join online battles on PC and Xbox, while PS2 supported 16 players. The game turned into a soaring win, with sales reaching 4 million copies by 2007.
Pandemic struck gold again with Star Wars: Battlefront II on November 1, 2005. The sequel took the original formula to new heights by adding Jedi characters, space battles, and a story campaign. Players followed the 501st Legion’s transformation from Republic clone troopers to Imperial stormtroopers. These additions made the series a fan-favourite Star Wars gaming experience.
Both classics returned in March 2024 through the Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection on modern platforms. The collection brought back online play for up to 64 players. The rerelease faced server problems at launch, with only three servers running for more than 9,000 players trying to play at once.
EA’s revival and its reception
Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm led to EA DICE rebooting the Battlefront series. Their 2015 Star Wars Battlefront focused on the Galactic Civil War era without a campaign mode. Their next release, Star Wars Battlefront II, came in 2017 with content from all Star Wars eras.
The 2017 release sparked controversy over its monetisation scheme. Players who spent real money on loot boxes and micro transactions could gain significant gameplay advantages, which triggered massive backlash. EA’s community team’s response became Reddit’s most downvoted comment ever, collecting over 600,000 downvotes.
EA pulled the microtransactions and rebuilt the game, admitting they “got it wrong”. They worked to fix the game’s reputation through free updates until April 2020, which brought many new players to the game.
The canceled Battlefront III project
The franchise’s biggest “what if” remains the canceled Battlefront III. Free Radical Design started work on it in 2006, aiming to push the series’ technology forward.
Free Radical co-founder Steve Ellis claimed Battlefront III was “99% complete” and needed just weeks of bug fixes before LucasArts pulled the plug in October 2008. Some LucasArts staff disagreed, saying it was “75 percent of a mediocre game”.
Leadership changes at LucasArts, including Jim Ward’s exit and Darrell Rodriguez becoming president, sealed the project’s fate. The new team focused on cutting costs and saw the ambitious project as too expensive to finish and market.
Leaked footage showed amazing features, especially smooth transitions between ground and space combat. Players could fly X-Wings right above ground battles to provide air support. The art team had even started working on assets for a fourth game before the cancelation, including different versions of famous characters like Jedi Darth Maul and dark side Luke Skywalker.
EA might have considered continuing the numbered series, but reports show DICE’s pitch for Battlefront 3 got rejected due to licensing costs. EA claimed they would need “20% more sales to make the same money”.
What Went Wrong with Star Wars Battlefront 2
EA’s Star Wars Battlefront II release in November 2017 became a warning sign for the gaming industry. The controversies that followed overshadowed what could have been an amazing addition to the franchise.
Launch controversies and microtransactions
Players immediately pushed back against the game’s progression system. It tied advancement to loot boxes containing Star Cards – powerful collectibles that gave tactical advantages and boosted abilities. The situation exploded when players discovered they needed about 40 hours of gameplay to unlock iconic characters like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker.
EA’s response on Reddit backfired in a spectacular way. Their suggestion that the grind gave players “a sense of pride and accomplishment” became Reddit’s most downvoted comment ever, with over 675,000 downvotes. Players calculated they would need 4,528 hours of gameplay or £1667.74 to unlock all content.
Players who paid £47.65 for the base game found the micro transaction model especially frustrating. EA had to make several quick changes as pressure mounted:
- They cut hero unlock prices by 75% (from 60,000 to 15,000 credits)
- The campaign completion reward dropped from 20,000 to 5,000 credits
- The company removed all micro transactions 24 hours before the official launch
These problems caught regulatory attention. Belgian authorities broke down the game’s mechanics and declared loot boxes a form of gambling. Hawaiian politicians pushed to classify loot boxes as gambling and keep them away from minors.
Content gaps at release
The game’s content problems went beyond its money-making schemes. EA promised “more than three times the content than the previous game at launch”, but players felt cheated, especially with prequel-era content.
The initial release had just three prequel maps and left out fan favourites like Mustafar, Coruscant, and Geonosis. The character lineup disappointed fans too, as it missed key heroes like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.
The campaign left players wanting more. Instead of telling a compelling story, it worked as “digital Star Wars tourism tied around the loose concept of Iden’s battles”. Critics said it felt like “a series of barely connected missions” without cohesion and ended abruptly with “an unanswered question”.
Post-launch support and improvements
Battlefront II went through a remarkable change during its lifetime. DICE spent “a good chunk of their post-launch development time fixing someone else’s short-sighted mess”.
DICE completely rebuilt the progression system four months after launch in March 2018. The new system made more sense: “you play, you unlock stuff, the stuff you actually want”. The game started to turn around by December 2018 with new additions like Geonosis, General Grievous, and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The game grew substantially throughout 2019 with major updates:
- Count Dooku and Anakin Skywalker joined the roster
- Capital Supremacy mode added large-scale, non-linear battles
- Clone Wars content expanded based on player feedback
DICE had released 25 free content updates by April 2020 when support ended. They rebuilt the game into what fans wanted from the start. Design director Dennis Brännvall admitted they “hit rock bottom in terms of player sentiment” but noted it “climbing every month” afterward.
This experience showed the risks of aggressive monetisation and proved games can be redeemed—valuable lessons to consider for any future Star Wars Battlefront 3.
Missing Elements Fans Still Crave
EA’s Battlefront titles still lack crucial content that fans desperately want, even after years of updates and patches. The game’s modding community stepped up to fill these gaps. Projects like “Kyber V2” added 22 new heroes and 66 new blasters to a game many players thought was unfinished after its post-launch support ended.
Iconic characters left on the cutting room floor
Battlefront 2‘s character roster shows some of its biggest gaps. Players have voiced their disappointment about several missing fan-favorites:
- Ahsoka Tano and Asajj Ventress (who were “SO close” to making it into the game)
- Mace Windu, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Padmé Amidala
- Jango Fett, Captain Rex, and Poe Dameron
“Ahsoka and Ventress always hurt because we were so SO close to actually getting them in game,” a Reddit user shared, echoing what many in the community felt. DICE’s decision to add BB-8 and BB-9E instead of these iconic characters left players scratching their heads.
Gameplay modes that never materialized
Battlefront 2 launched without several key features from the classic games. The canceled original Battlefront III project had almost completed ground-to-space combat. EA’s version kept these experiences separate instead of letting players move freely between land and space.
Players still wish they had:
- Galactic Conquest mode (a beloved feature from the original games)
- Vehicle entry animations rather than spawn-in mechanics
- Destructible environments and larger-scale battles
- More offline gameplay options beyond the basic arcade mode
These missing elements could have made Battlefront 2 feel like a true successor to the classics we loved.
The campaign that could have been
Battlefront 2 added a single-player campaign that its 2015 predecessor lacked. Yet Imperial Commander Iden Versio’s story didn’t reach its full potential. The original pitch showed promise – a unique Imperial view from Return of the Jedi through The Force Awakens.
The concept seemed fascinating – following a loyal Imperial soldier from a military family becoming an elite operative. But the story took a sharp turn when Iden defected to the Rebellion early on, abandoning the Imperial storyline.
Players wanted more from the short campaign and its rushed character development. Walt Williams, one of the game’s writers, said “As a Star Wars fan, I’m as obsessed with Darth Vader, Maul, Boba Fett, and other villains in the galaxy as I am with heroes like Leia and Yoda.” This highlighted a missed chance to dive deep into the dark side story that fans craved.
Will There Be a Star Wars Battlefront 3?
EA’s commercially successful Battlefront franchise is unlikely see a third instalment. The gaming giant’s priorities have changed over the last several years, and fans keep wondering about their long-awaited sequel.
EA’s current Star Wars strategy
EA completely changed its Star Wars gaming direction. The company announced a major change in January 2021 that put Respawn Entertainment at the helm of three new Star Wars titles. None of these games are Battlefront. The projects consist of a Jedi sequel (which became Jedi: Survivor), a first-person shooter, and a strategy game called Star Wars: Zero Company created with Bit Reactor.
This new direction focuses on single-player experiences instead of Battlefront’s multiplayer emphasis. EA also lost its exclusive rights to create Star Wars games, and Ubisoft released its own open-world Star Wars adventure – Star Wars: Outlaws.
Analyzing recent leaks and rumors
December 2024 brought unexpected news to the gaming community. A complete playable Wii version of the original Star Wars: Battlefront III from Free Radical appeared online. The build dated November 21, 2008 – just one week before the project ended – shows players what might have been.
Free Radical Archive restored this build that needs a custom version of the Dolphin emulator. The unfinished build shows visual problems and placeholder graphics but has proper cut-scenes and gameplay elements.
Industry insiders’ perspectives
Tom Henderson, a respected industry insider, revealed that EA turned down DICE’s modern Battlefront 3 pitch because of high licensing costs. A former developer mentioned the game needed “20% more sales to make the same money” under EA’s Disney licensing agreement.
Battlefront’s future looks even bleaker after several key developers left DICE. Creative director Dennis Brännvall and lead hero designer Guillaume Mroz moved on to other projects. Michael Barclay, who now leads design at Naughty Dog, called the original Battlefront III’s cancelation “an absolute crime” and said it was “gonnae be legit incredible.”
What a True Battlefront 3 Should Deliver
A new Star Wars Battlefront 3 must be better than previous games and give fans what they’ve wanted all along. The path to success is clear – just look at the countless forum posts, upvoted Reddit threads, and passionate YouTube comments.
Character roster expansion
The game needs a complete overhaul of its character lineup that brings in heroes from every corner of the Star Wars universe:
- Classic era characters: Qui-Gon Jinn, Mace Windu, Padmé Amidala, and Jango Fett haven’t made it into the games yet
- Clone Wars favorites: Fans really want to see Ahsoka Tano, Asajj Ventress, Captain Rex, and Commander Cody
- Expanded universe icons: Adding Darth Revan, Bastila Shan, and Old Republic characters would make gameplay more exciting
Reddit users have been vocal about this. One user even listed more than 100 characters they’d love to play across different eras.
Era-spanning campaign
The original Battlefront III document showed plans for an amazing 12-hour campaign. Players would follow clone trooper TK-124, a force-sensitive soldier cloned from Jedi Master Dur-Iza. The story would have taken players through all six films and beyond in three acts.
Today’s players would love a campaign where characters grow stronger. Starting as a regular trooper and slowly gaining force powers and lightsaber skills makes the story more rewarding. This creates a great mix of storytelling and gameplay growth.
Multiplayer innovations
Free Radical’s “Vertical Battlefront” concept remains the biggest missing piece in newer games. Players could fight on the ground, jump into a star fighter, and fly into space without any loading screens.
The multiplayer should also have better squad controls, vehicles that multiple players can use, and open maps where you capture strategic points. The original plans described big sandbox areas with spread out command points and ships that teams could land and enter together.
A Reddit user said it best: “The simple spirit of the Battlefront series is seeing what battle is like from the viewpoint of the soldiers in the Star Wars universe”—this is what Battlefront 3 must bring back.
Conclusion
Star Wars Battlefront faces a significant turning point. EA’s latest entries eventually found solid ground after difficult launches. However, they never captured the magic that made the original games legendary. Free Radical Design’s canceled Battlefront III project came close to completion with trailblazing features like uninterrupted ground-to-space combat. This remains a stark reminder of missed opportunities.
The future of a true Battlefront 3 remains unclear. EA has moved away from multiplayer-focused Star Wars games. Higher licensing costs mean fans might need to wait longer for a new instalment. The recipe for success already exists – complete character rosters from every era, fresh multiplayer systems, and engaging campaigns that celebrate Star Wars’ legacy.
Battlefront’s dedicated community deserves more than half-measures and watered-down concepts. A proper Battlefront 3 must deliver what fans want: smooth combat transitions, bigger rosters with fan favourites like Ahsoka and Mace Windu, and gameplay depth matching the original classics. The dream of creating the ultimate Star Wars battlefield experience still waits just beyond our grasp.
FAQs
Will there be a Star Wars Battlefront 3 game?
While there’s no official confirmation, it’s unlikely EA will develop Battlefront 3 in the near future. The franchise’s future is uncertain, but a new Battlefront game from a different developer is possible in the coming years.
Why did EA reject the idea of Battlefront 3?
EA reportedly rejected DICE’s pitch for Battlefront 3 due to high licensing costs associated with the Star Wars IP. The game would have needed significantly higher sales to be as profitable as EA’s own franchises like Battlefield.
What features do fans want in a potential Battlefront 3?
Fans desire an expanded character roster including favourites from all eras, seamless ground-to-space combat, a compelling single-player campaign, and innovative multiplayer modes that capture the essence of large-scale Star Wars battles.
How did the controversies of Battlefront 2 affect the series?
Battlefront 2’s launch controversies, particularly surrounding micro transactions and progression systems, damaged the franchise’s reputation. While post-launch updates improved the game, the initial backlash likely influenced EA’s decision-making regarding future instalments.
Are there any alternatives for fans waiting for a new Battlefront game?
Currently, fans can enjoy the remastered Battlefront Classic Collection, community mods for existing Battlefront games, or explore other upcoming Star Wars titles from various developers as alternatives while waiting for a potential new Battlefront entry.
