Star Wars Battlefront3’s Missed Opportunity: EA’s Live-Service Dream Denied

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The Star Wars Battlefront series hasn’t had great success with its third releases. Back in 2009, LucasArts apparently called off Free Radical’s Star Wars Battlefront 3 just before completion. More recently, it was reported that EA turned down DICE’s proposal for a Star Wars Battlefront 3, supposedly because of the high costs associated with licensing the IP.

As a die-hard Star Wars gamer, I have to admit that the initial releases of Star Wars Battlefront 1 and 2 were met with some heated debates among fans. However, over time, these games have become cherished memories for many, particularly the 2017 version of Battlefront 2 which significantly improved after its launch thanks to regular free updates and the elimination of its notorious loot box system. The absence of Star Wars Battlefront 3 is almost a legend among fans, and considering EA’s current approach, it feels like a squandered chance.

Star Wars Battlefront 3 Could Have Been EA’s Perfect Live-Service Vehicle

EA Is Still Trying to Break Into The Live-Service Genre

For a long time, Electronic Arts (EA) has aspired to claim a piece of the live-service gaming market. The release of 2021’s Battlefield 2042 is one of the most well-known instances where EA tried to transition to this model and didn’t quite achieve success. Critics and fans alike criticized Battlefield 2042 for its significant shortage of maps and game modes, the absence of traditional franchise elements, and its numerous technical problems.

From the start, it was evident that EA was disguising their live-service model as a means to release an incomplete game, banking on fans buying it at launch if they were promised additional content down the line. Despite Battlefield 2042 receiving considerable post-launch support from its developers, the harm had already been inflicted, and the Battlefield series has been struggling to recover almost four years later.

As a devoted gamer, it’s hard not to notice that even after the apparent setbacks with Battlefield 2042, Electronic Arts (EA) seems unwavering in their pursuit of the elusive live-service goldmine. The much-anticipated Skate reboot, which is yet to leave early access, already incorporates microtransactions. And in a recent earnings call, EA’s CEO, Andrew Wilson, explained their approach to games like Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which was critically acclaimed but commercially underperformed: “To break free from the core audience, games need to bridge the gap with players who are more and more interested in shared world features.

Star Wars Battlefront 3 Could Have Been EA’s Live-Service Hit

Besides The Sims 4, most of Electronic Arts’ live-service projects haven’t fared too positively in the past. However, there might be a successful venture just waiting to be discovered by the publisher. Launched in the same year as Fortnite’s Battle Royale mode, Star Wars Battlefront 2 was essentially an early adopter of the live-service model, offering regular updates even before the genre became mainstream (excluding MMOs). It released fresh content every few months.

Instead of immediately launching Star Wars Battlefront 3 as a complete package, developers could have gradually expanded upon the foundation laid by Battlefront 2 over time. This would involve regularly releasing fresh maps, game modes, classes, vehicles, and characters at a consistent pace. The rich Star Wars universe offers an abundance of content that can be tapped for regular updates, while the potential for various cosmetics in a live-service multiplayer game is vast, which could generate significant revenue.

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2025-03-22 21:37