I won’t repeat the news that’s already been shared as the rumour mill begins to shake pretty violently. If you’d like to catch up on Phil’s article from yesterday, you can read more here.
According to the rumours, the candidates involved in developing a successor to Battlefront 2 are EA/DICE and Bungie. EA/DICE may feel like the obvious choice because they developed the previous two games. However, they massively dropped the ball when Battlefront 2 was released.
Even though EA and DICE managed to turn things around and make the game genuinely great, it certainly wasn’t that at launch. The controversy surrounding the game’s progression system and microtransactions became so significant that Disney reportedly stepped in.
This now opens the door to an interesting question. Do we give EA and DICE another opportunity, or should Bungie get the chance instead? Bungie is best known for its incredible run with Halo before 2010 and, more recently, the Destiny series. Both franchises have been hugely successful, especially Halo 3, which remains one of the most iconic multiplayer games ever released.
It does make me wonder whether Bungie would stick to the Battlefront formula we already know or whether the franchise could evolve into something more closely resembling a live-service Destiny project. I personally think either version could work, but the one thing that absolutely needs to be captured is the large-scale battles that Battlefront is known for.
The ability to start as a trooper, eventually earn the opportunity to become a hero or villain (although this definitely needs to be more balanced in future), and go on an absolute tear across the battlefield. That feeling needs to be replicated.
I still wouldn’t mind a live-service game if it was done correctly. While Destiny 2 hasn’t ended, I feel like the experience isn’t quite what it once was, and there’s room for another great live-service game to capture my attention. The biggest question, though, is how that translates into Battlefront. Would we see traditional multiplayer battles supported by regular content updates, or something completely different with progression systems, missions and ongoing activities?
I’d be intrigued to find out.
Bungie’s experience with Destiny could certainly benefit Battlefront in terms of keeping players engaged over several years. Regular updates, new locations, playable characters and additional content could give the franchise a much longer lifespan.
However, I wouldn’t want Battlefront to lose its identity in the process. I don’t want to spend hours grinding for equipment just to enjoy a large-scale battle. Sometimes, I simply want to jump into a match, play as a clone trooper and eventually destroy half the enemy team as Anakin Skywalker.
That simplicity is part of what makes Battlefront so enjoyable.
EA and DICE, though, do have credit in the bank considering how good Battlefront 2 eventually became. I feel like if the game had launched in that state, with modes such as co-op available from the beginning, it would’ve been a much bigger success from the off. I’d like to hope EA and DICE now understand what makes Battlefront a great game and could capitalise on that experience, especially considering Battlefront 2 continues to experience renewed popularity years after its final major update.
I still feel like Battlefront 2 never met its full potential.
There was scope for further factions to be included, bigger battles, DLC for the story and so much more. You can only imagine what a third game could look like if they kept most of what was already included in Battlefront 2 and expanded upon it.
Although, this is EA we’re talking about, so we’d have to tread carefully. You only have to look at the current state of EAFC 27 to know EA doesn’t always have its players at heart. That’s perhaps my biggest concern with EA and DICE returning. We know they can deliver an incredible Battlefront experience because they’ve already done it. However, we also know how badly things can go wrong when questionable decisions overshadow an otherwise brilliant game.
I don’t think Battlefront 3 could afford another disastrous launch, especially after fans have spent so many years waiting for a successor. On the other hand, Bungie would be entering unfamiliar territory. Yes, they’ve delivered some outstanding multiplayer experiences over the years, but Battlefront is a completely different beast. Being successful with Halo and Destiny doesn’t automatically mean they’d deliver an incredible Star Wars game.
There’s also the question of whether Bungie would want to replicate what DICE built or establish its own identity within the franchise. That could be exciting, but equally, it could be a risk. If I had to choose between the two, I think I’d lean towards DICE, simply because of how much I enjoyed Battlefront 2 once the developers were given the opportunity to turn things around.
That doesn’t mean I’d be disappointed if Bungie got the opportunity. Far from it. The prospect of seeing what a developer with Bungie’s history could do with the Star Wars universe is genuinely exciting.
Ultimately, I don’t think the biggest question should be whether EA/DICE or Bungie deserves Battlefront 3. It should be which developer has the better vision for the franchise and, more importantly, which one will be given the freedom and resources to deliver it. I want Battlefront 3 to be ambitious. I want larger battles, more characters, additional eras and a game that builds upon everything that made Battlefront 2 so enjoyable. What I don’t want is another game that takes years to become what it should’ve been at launch.
Of course, all of this remains firmly in rumour territory. There’s no guarantee that Battlefront 3 is happening, let alone which developer could be responsible for bringing it to life. But after years of hoping, waiting and wondering whether we’d ever see another Battlefront game, the possibility alone has me incredibly excited.
Whether it’s DICE or Bungie, I just hope that whoever gets the opportunity understands exactly how much this franchise means to its fans.
