While there’s still no official sign of a sequel toStar Wars Battlefront 2getting announced anytime soon, that hasn’t stopped its resurgence in popularity among fans. Following the success ofAndorseason 2, theBattlefrontgames have seen a massive resurgence in playercount. With how much of a chokehold theBattelfrontfranchise has on theStar Warsfanbase and gaming community as a whole, I’m hesitant to believe that EA is willing to let the series rot.
AlthoughBattlefront 3has been shut down previously by EA over rising development and licensing costs, that hasn’t stopped fans frompetitioning for its revival. From starting viral trends to proving their dedication through sheer numbers, fans have firmly putBattlefront 2back on the menu for the time being. While I’m excited about the concept ofBattlefrontreturning in any capacity,there are more than a few additions I would want to see in a true sequel to the series.
10Replacing Paid Power-Ups With More Cosmetics
Learning From The Mistakes Of Past Entries
One of the biggest failures ofBattlefront 2was its less-than-consumer-friendly monetization style, locking plenty of heroes and weaponry behind paywalls. While these problems were eventually alleviated after release, it resulted inBattlefront 2launching with a terrible public image, doing little to help the game’s longevity.
One of the easiest ways EA can rectify this problem in the future while still satisfying its development costs is by introducing more dynamic cosmetics, but it’s easy to overdo it with immersion-breaking outfits.Finding the right balance between cosmetics through microtransactions or battle passes that fit into the world ofStar Warswithout being intrusive is a challenging task, but thankfully, there is plenty oficonic source material to borrow from.
9Even More Destructible Environments To Fight Through
Making The World Of Star Wars Feel Like More Than Decoration
Another surprising absence fromBattlefront 2’s list of features was the lack of destructability for the next generation title, with the maps not changing much based on player influence. While it makes sense that EA would want to keep itsBattlefrontandBattlefieldfranchises separately identifiable, the nextBattlefrontgame should put the studio’s greatest strengths to use.
The sheer cinematic feeling of aBattlefront 2match was practically unmatched in the sci-fi shooter market for a long time, butbeing able to blow apart buildings or tear through hallways with a lightsaber could easily take the experience to the next level. Not only would destructible environments add more immersion, but they could also allow for dynamic levels that change over the course of a match.
8Incorporating More Complex Lightsaber Combat
Adding More Engaging Gameplay By Raising The Skill Ceiling
One ofBattlefront’s greatest strengths is how accessible it is for players of any skill level, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for more challenging gameplay. Whether introduced as an optional setting or solely for the Hero Showdown mode,I would love to see more complicated lightsaber duels similar toFor HonororJedi Academy.
Thelightsaber combat systems don’t need to be nearly as complexas pure swordfighting games, buteven a few additional moves or blocking techniques would be more than enough to satisfy my lightsaber addiction. With the future ofBattlefrontstill up in the air, taking its gameplay in a somewhat more competitive direction with smaller game modes could be just the kick EA needs to revive the franchise.
7Incorporating Even More Gear & Character Customizability
Giving Players More Room For Individuality
Lightsabers aren’t the only area ofBattlefrontthat could use a facelift in a sequel, asregular troopers, droids, and rebels have just as much need for a revitalized toolkit. There’s still a need for different classes to stand apart from their own, but introducing more variety of gear would allow more replayability and variety between matches.
There are still countless items to choose from that never made their way intoBattlefront 2, including the Pulse Cannon and Pulse Bacta Bomb fromBattlefront 1, and plenty more from the franchise.Even without actual gadgets to use, offering more ways to add flair to character armor could greatly expand its replayability options, allowing players to individualize or cosplay as their favorite clone factions after unlocking new cosmetics.
6Allowing For More Realistic Vehicle Mechanics To Aid Immersion
Making The Experience Less Isolating To Play
One of the larger complaints about the moment-to-moment gameplay of theBattlefrontreboots is how they treat vehicles, with very limited options in how they function on the battlefield. While it would take some work to completely fix all their issues,simply having vehicles require, or benefit from being controlled by multiple players, would be a significant improvement.
On top of havingmore team-oriented vehicles, changing vehicles to be part of the game world that can be entered or exited at will would be a fantastic return to form. While the more arcade-style gameplay ofBattlefront 2allows for much faster-paced combat with little downtime,being able to transport squads of teammates using Gunships or transition from dogfights to invading an enemy ship would easily elevate theBattlefrontexperience.
5Adding Heroes And Maps From Outside The Films
Taking Advantage Of Popular New Star Wars IPs
Given that one of the main reasonsBattlefront 2is blowing up so much in the first place is the success ofAndorseason 2,it would be fantastic to see more elements from outside the films make their way intoBattlefront. While most characters from Andor couldn’t appear inBattlefront,giventheir place in theStar Warstimeline, characters fromStar Wars:Rebels,The Mandalorian, or evenJedi: Fallen Orderwould be amazing inclusions.
After rewatchingAndor, it was incredibly easy to see how the narrow side streets, open squares, and factory buildings of Ferrix could provide an excellent map variety forBattlefront 3. On top of the characters and maps available to choose from,I desperately hope that Luthen Rael’s Fondor Haulcraft also makes an appearance in the highly requested sequel, as its sleek design and unique combat abilities would easily make it one of the coolest starships inBattlefront 3.
4Introducing Creative New Modes Like Order 66
While it might not have had the same long-term enjoyment as the more traditional game modes like Supremacy,the creative Ewok Hunt was more than a pleasant surprise to experience. While an Order 66-themed game mode wouldn’t have the same fear factor, it could still capture the feeling of separation and dread that makes for an intense match.
With Order 66 being one of the most pivotal moments inStar Warshistory,being able to play through the emotional betrayal with its very own game mode would be a fantastic offering. Even if a full game mode couldn’t make the cut, there are still plenty of interestingbattles shown duringRevenge of the Sithand the Order 66 scene that would be great to play through.
3Reviving Iconic Locations With Dense Maps Like Coruscant
Creating A Massive Sense Of Scale For The Series
It’s easy to simply ask for more maps and heroes to choose from, but there are a few options that easily rise above the rest. Although it might be a bit more resource-intensive to bring to life,the dense Coruscant cityscape would be an excellent way to push next-generation hardware to its limits.
While theBattlefrontseries has incorporated Coruscant battles in space or the Jedi Temple, being able to fly between buildings, or fighting through the back alleys of Coruscant’s network of living spaces could make for a unique gameplay experience. While films and official media, and games likeJedi: Survivorhave shown Coruscant’s gameplay potential,several modders have already worked on their own custom maps set in its massive cityscape.
2Introducing More Content From The Extended Universe
Limitless Potential For Powerful Fan-Favorite Characters
While it’s hard to compare the popularity of the extended universe to the mainStar Warscanon,there is limitless potential for characters and environments to borrow from or even finally bring into the official timeline itself. Although I doubt there will be anything to the extent of a full-blown expansion featuring factions, maps, and characters from theOld Republicera,there’s still room for some fan-favorite inclusions.
Even if lore-breaking anti-heroes like Starkiller or Jade Skywalker are unlikely to make an appearance, an emphasis on cosmetics by EA to make up for development costs could allow fan-favorite returns through transformative cosmetics. Even if I can’t cause chaos inBattlefront3 with characters like Darth Malgus or HK-47,I would be more than happy to be able to change my appearance to the likes oficonicStar Warsprotagonistslike Revan.
1Bringing Back The Legendary Galactic Conquest Mode
A Missed Opportunity For The Modern Reboots
While thecomplex nature ofBattlefront’s Galactic Conquestmode could warrant its own game,recreating the game mode in its simplest form forBattlefront 3would be a surefire way to win over the community afterBattlefront 2’s mismanagement. Although the resources required for a Galactic Conquest remake would certainly outweigh those dedicated towards its limited co-op missions, there’s still a way for it to make a return.
AlthoughBattlefront2’s campaign explores interesting concepts and has some great moments, it was hard to get past its shortcomings and missed potential. Compared to the lack of any real story outside of limited missions inBattlefront (2015), I would be more than happy if the resources instead went to creating a new Galactic Conquest mode inBattlefront 3. Combining the cinematic action ofBattlefront's combat with thoughtful turn-based strategy,Galactic Conquest was one of the most standout game modes of the originalStar Wars Battlefront 2by far, allowing for galaxy-wide battles to play out at your fingertips.
