Rumor mill: Star Wars video games have been doing surprisingly well lately and many fans believe it’s time for another Battlefront game. If recent rumors about a tribute issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly are to be believed, Disney agrees, but hasn’t decided on a developer yet. DICE is the obvious choice, but Disney may be exploring alternatives.
Aside from DICE, which revived Star Wars Battlefront in 2015, Bungie could be the top contender to develop a new entry, according to EGM and prominent leaker Jeff Grubb. If true, the news suggests the project is still years away, potentially leading to the longest release gap in the franchise’s history.
Disney has not yet approved Star Wars Battlefront 3, but is looking for potential development partners. While no one has fully committed to the project yet, DICE and Bungie are the two bidders most likely to express interest. DICE developed the last two titles and is the clear favorite, with Bungie as a potential replacement.
The news comes from the Quartermann section of Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 265, part of a compendium commemorating the legendary gaming magazine, which ceased publication in 2014 with issue 264. Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb, who contributed to the compendium, read the section on a recent episode of the outlet’s Game Mess Mornings podcast.
A new Star Wars Battlefront could be an interesting addition for Bungie, the company behind Halo, Destiny and Marathon, especially as it begins to recover from repeated layoffs. However, Bungie may be busy with its recently announced new direction, which involves reversing its decision to cancel Destiny 2 and making significant changes to Marathon following its lukewarm commercial performance.
EA’s apparent abandonment of Star Wars Battlefront has stunned fans. The 2017 first-person shooter continues to have an active modding community, and last year’s increase in player count dwarfed its performance when it launched on Steam in 2020. By the time a new installment arrives, the series will likely have experienced a release drought longer than the decade between Pandemic Studios’ Battlefront II in 2005 and DICE’s revival of the franchise in 2015.
Disney may want to capitalize on the good reviews the recent Star Wars games have received, which stands in sharp contrast to the disastrous box office returns of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. While Star Wars Outlaws was moderately successful in 2024, this year’s Star Wars Zero Company is well-reviewed, and Star Wars: Galactic Racer opened with the highest Metacritic score for a Star Wars game since Knights of the Old Republic 23 years ago.
