New Star Wars: Battlefront Game in Development by Respawn and DICE
- A new Star Wars: Battlefront game is reported to be in development with Respawn and DICE involved.
- This follows EA’s recent layoffs of 400 employees and closure of BioWare.
- Battlefront 3 would be published by EA, which was recently acquired by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund for $55 billion.
A new installment in the Star Wars: Battlefront series is reportedly under development, featuring contributions from Respawn Entertainment, known for Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi, alongside DICE, the studio behind previous Battlefield and Battlefront titles.
This information comes from “multiple sources” cited by Variety. The announcement follows EA’s unexpected decision to lay off 400 staff members, the closure of the esteemed BioWare studio, and the cancellation of various projects. An internal memo from EA executives confirmed the collaboration between Respawn and DICE but did not specify the details of the project.
The speculation about a third Battlefront game has been intensifying, initially sparked by a rumor reported by Electronic Gaming Monthly (via Giant Bomb), which indicated that Disney was searching for a studio to advance the development of Battlefront 3. Potential candidates mentioned included DICE and Bungie, developers known for Destiny and Marathon.
Joe Brammer, head of Wardogs studio, addressed the rumors on X, asserting that DICE and Respawn are indeed collaborating on Battlefront 3, a claim that now aligns with emerging reports.
In 2022, EA cancelled several Star Wars projects, including a sequel to Battlefront 2. The last installment of the Battlefront series was released in 2017 amidst mixed reviews, mainly criticized for introducing loot boxes that contributed to in-game advantages via random chance. The backlash against the loot box system was significant enough to inspire global legislative scrutiny regarding its classification as a gambling mechanism, consequences of which continue today.
DICE subsequently reworked these systems, eliminating loot boxes entirely, which helped to rehabilitate Battlefront 2’s reputation and player community, allowing continued support for the game until its last major update in 2020.
If developed, Battlefront 3 will mark a new phase in the series, being the first published under EA’s ownership by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which, along with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, acquired the company for $55 billion in a leveraged buyout this past summer.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
