E3 2017: Everything We Know About Star Wars Battlefront 2

Heroes, villains, and a single-player campaign! Those are just a few of the things we know about Battlefront 2 as we head into E3.

7

A long time ago (2015), in a galaxy far, far away (ours), EA Dice put out a gorgeous and cinematic Star Wars Battlefront game with one fatal flaw: no single-player campaign. Battlefront 2, announced last spring, will address that glaring omission and bolster the already-strong multiplayer component of the original game.

Electronic Arts is expected to devote a healthy portion of its E3 press conference to Star Wars Battlefront 2. Before E3 2017 begins in earnest, here's a rundown of everything we know about the game so far.

Release Date

You won't have to wait a long time in this galaxy or any other to get your hands on Star Wars Battlefront 2. EA Dice will release the game for Xbox One, PS4, and Windows PCs on November 17.

Characters

Whether your lightsaber glows blue or red, Star Wars Battlefront 2 will contain a Palpatine... er, plethora of heroes and villains for you to play as during both the campaign and multiplayer modes. EA hasn't announced every character yet, but a few movers and shakers have been confirmed. Darth Maul, Yoda, and Luke Skywalker will represent the original Star Wars trilogy. Do-badder Kylo Ren and Jedi-in-training Rey (whose last name is still under wraps at Disney) hail from Star Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens.

Depending on how much synergy EA and Disney want to create between Battlefront 2 and this holiday's Star Wars Episode 8: The Last Jedi, fans could see even more new characters from the ongoing through trilogy join the battle. Additionally, EA has said that characters and locations from all the prequel, original, and new trilogies will be featured.

Modes

EA's staying mum on details regarding many of the online modes fans can expect in Star Wars Battlefront 2. In a recent interview, however, developers did say that there will be more multiplayer modes than in the original. One or more of them will see players take to the starry expanses of space for dogfight-style battles featuring up to 24 players, each piloting one in a wide selection of vehicles that will include renowned ships from the Star Wars franchise.  

Single-Player Campaign

Star Wars Battlefront, a game set in a universe predicated on characters and stories, lacked a campaign mode. Many players considered that a big strike against it. EA knows it messed up, and believes Battlefront 2's story will make up for its mistake and then some. Interestingly, the narrative will position the Imperial army as heroes and the rebels as terrorists. "We wanted to give the Empire heroes," said Mark Thompson, game director at Motive Studios, which is collaborating with EA Dice on the project. "Who are the soldiers that lead the rank-and-file Stormtroopers? Who are the elite pilots that inspire kids to join the Imperial Academy? Focusing on Special Forces soldiers gave us a chance for a new hero."

Long Reads Editor

David L. Craddock writes fiction, nonfiction, and grocery lists. He is the author of the Stay Awhile and Listen series, and the Gairden Chronicles series of fantasy novels for young adults. Outside of writing, he enjoys playing Mario, Zelda, and Dark Souls games, and will be happy to discuss at length the myriad reasons why Dark Souls 2 is the best in the series. Follow him online at davidlcraddock.com and @davidlcraddock.

From The Chatty
Hello, Meet Lola