Summary
- Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection is set to release soon, bringing back beloved characters in iconic battles.
- A revival of Star Wars: Battlefront 3 is unlikely, but there is hope and potential for new content in the Classic Collection.
- The upcoming remaster may reignite interest in the series.
There have been some beloved Star Wars video game series over the last few decades, but few come close to the crown jewel that is Star Wars: Battlefront. Debuting almost 20 years ago now, Star Wars: Battlefront was one of the first games to capture the franchise's large-scale battles in a realistic, engaging way. Taking fans to iconic planets like Naboo, Hoth, Tatooine, and more, the first Star Wars: Battlefront was an incredible starting point, paving the way for its beloved sequel to overshadow just a year later.
2005's Star Wars: Battlefront 2 is still widely regarded as one of the greatest Star Wars video games ever made, and though its graphics and a handful of mechanics so age the game slightly, it holds up surprisingly well all these years later. And that's not even mentioning the upcoming remaster. A modern-day port of both original titles, Aspyr's Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection is set to release in just a few weeks, and nostalgic fans are very excited. And while this collection is probably just a one-and-done, there's hope that it could spark a little rebellion.
Every Playable Character in Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection Explained
Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection is coming soon, letting players take control of iconic franchise heroes and villains once again.
Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection Could Lead to a Series Revival
Star Wars: Battlefront 3 Has Been a Pipe Dream for Years
Back in 2006, just a year after Battlefront 2's release, LucasArts set about beginning production on Star Wars: Battlefront 3. Rather than get Pandemic Studios to work on the third installment, LucasArts turned to Free Radical, the developer behind TimeSplitters.
According to various interviews over the years with former Free Radical leads, Star Wars: Battlefront 3 was progressing well in development, but did require a few internal delays. While LucasArts' then-president Jim Ward apparently embraced this, his eventual successor Darrell Rodriguez allegedly wasn't as forgiving, and after Free Radical's disappointing FPS Haze was released the relationship between the studio and publisher quickly soured.
Star Wars: Battlefront 3 was eventually canceled in October 2008, though the reasons for its cancelation have been claimed and counter-claimed by both ex-LucasArts and Free Radical employees. Regardless of how it happened, Star Wars: Battlefront 3's cancelation was devastating for fans when they eventually found out, especially as the game was set to be a much more ambitious entry, adding ground-space transitions, along with a dedicated single-player campaign.
As time has gone on, and more early-build footage of Star Wars: Battlefront 3 has continued to leak online, fans' desire for a revival of Free Radical's third installment has only grown. Of course, EA would revive the Star Wars: Battlefront brand in 2015, but neither the reboot nor its sequel scratched that same itch for fans. But maybe not all hope is lost. Based on the reactions to Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection's announcement, there's a surprising amount of buzz surrounding these nearly two-decade-old games.
If that buzz translates to sales and those sales are high enough, it might be enough to stoke the flames under a Star Wars: Battlefront revival.
Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection Could At Least Add More Content
While a revival of Free Radical's Star Wars: Battlefront 3 is unlikely to ever happen, that doesn't mean that it should be the end of the road for the Battlefront franchise. If Aspyr's Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection ends up being wildly successful, then at the very least Aspyr has the option to add more content to the remaster. Both Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron and Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron—two handheld-exclusive spinoffs—could come to Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection in the future as paid DLC, and while it isn't new Battlefront content, it's content that not many fans have experienced before.
Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2005)
- Released
- November 1, 2005
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Pandemic Studios
With brand new space combat, playable Jedi characters, and over 16 all new battlefronts, Star Wars Battlefront II gives you more ways than ever before to play the classic Star Wars battles any way you want. Join the rise of Darth Vader’s elite 501st Legion of Stormtroopers as you fight through an all new story-based saga where every action you take impacts the battlefront and, ultimately, the fate of the Star Wars galaxy.
Fight inside the corridors of the second Death Star, in the marshy swamps of Dagobah, and even aboard the Tantive IV, Princess Leia’s Blockade Runner, as seen at the beginning of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.
Now choose from six distinct soldier classes, plus bonus hero characters for each of the four factions: Rebels, Imperials, CIS and the Republic. Then jump into more than 30 diverse ground and space vehicles, including the clone BARC speeder, AT-RT and new Jedi Starfighter and ARC 170.
Engage in massive online battles with multiplayer action for up to 64 players. Play five different online game modes including Conquest, Assault, one-and two-flag Capture the Flag, and Hunt.
