Star Wars Battlefront 2’s terrible demise, which included pay-to-win indignation and smashed sales, explains why Battlefront 3 never materialized.
Picture yourself anticipating a Star Wars game and then learning it’s more of a credit card simulator than a Jedi adventure. That’s precisely what happened with Star Wars Battlefront 2, a game that promised exciting interstellar combat but ended up being a mess full of loot boxes.
One of the most notorious controversies in gaming turned into what should have been a successful sequel. The franchise’s ambitious plan from EA hit a Death Star wall with more force than a TIE fighter. There was no chance of a Battlefront 3 because the fallout was so bad.
Let’s examine how the mess developed and why it was the series’ undoing.
How EA lost the war before it started: From hype to horror
Players anticipated a better version of the 2015 reboot when Battlefront 2 debuted in 2017: more heroes, larger battles, and significant progression. EA shared the fans’ optimism, even forecasting (through DualShockers) that the game would sell 14 million copies in just five months.
Their confidence appeared to be warranted given the Star Wars brand, a significant marketing campaign, and the impending release of The Last Jedi. But the picture presented by reality was far more dire. The game was already lagging in its third month, rather than living up to the five-month expectations.
Sales fell precipitously: In comparison to the original Battlefront, physical UK sales fell precipitously. The example of a PR meltdown was what was meant to be the next big thing in gaming. So, what led to this collision? To put it simply, microtransactions.
Prominent figures such as Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader were confined to ridiculously lengthy grinds (about 40 hours for a single character). Alternatively, you could have them right away with a single swipe of your credit card.
The fact that these purchases were more than merely cosmetic was the true issue. The game became a pay-to-win mess as a result of their gameplay advantages. What can be worse? EA attempted to protect the system. Naturally, there was an instantaneous and explosive backlash.
Days prior to release, EA temporarily disabled microtransactions in response to the outcry, but the trust had already been damaged. What should have been a flagship game turned into a worldwide mockery of game monetization.
Why Battlefront 3 was never supposed to be released
Any plans for a third installment were essentially doomed following the chaos of Battlefront 2. Though the numbers showed otherwise, EA may have hoped that updates would win back the community.
Although it wasn’t a complete failure, the game’s sales fell well short of projections, particularly when considering the exorbitant expenses associated with keeping a Star Wars license. According to reports, developers internally presented ideas for Battlefront 3, but EA rejected them. Failure had already served its purpose.
Above all, the controversy had strained EA’s relationship with Disney and tarnished the company’s reputation, which most gamers would never forget. Since Battlefront 2 is now viewed as the quintessential example of corporate greed and dysfunctional progression systems, attempting to sell a direct sequel felt like a futile endeavor.
For EA, the incident brought to light a painful reality: a game based on exploitative monetization cannot be protected by even the most recognizable intellectual property in the world. A silent reminder that some gaming lessons come at a very public cost is the fact that Battlefront 3 was a victim of corporate overreach.