Star Wars Battlefront II had a rough launch in 2017. The game was heavily criticised for tying core gameplay progression to loot boxes and quickly became the industry’s tipping point for backlash against microtransactions.

Developer DICE eventually overhauled the progression system, making everything unlockable through gameplay. But the damage was done. EA’s reputation took a massive hit, and for many players, trust was broken.

It wasn’t until 2020 that Battlefront II ended its live service run not with a whimper, but with a final update that was widely praised by its community. In 2021, the game saw a surprising resurgence in players. Even more impressively, it broke its own peak player count twice in 2025.

So that begs the question: has EA earned back the goodwill and is it finally time for a Battlefront III?

The current state of battlefront 2.

As of July 2025, Star Wars Battlefront II is just £3 ($4) on Steam, and despite being nearly eight years old, it has a very healthy player base. Every cosmetic skin is unlocked with the base game, and all Star Cards and weapons can be earned purely through gameplay. There are no microtransactions, no loot boxes , just classic Star Wars battles.

Starting fresh on a new account, I did notice a steep learning curve when going up against level 100 players with maxed-out Star Cards. But despite that, the core gameplay was still fun and rewarding. After a bit of grinding, I was unlocking gear and holding my own.

Progression quirks aside, the gameplay is smooth, the visuals are still stunning, and it might just be the best all-around Star Wars experience available right now. Naturally, this surge in popularity has reignited one big question:

With Battlefront II back in the spotlight, is a sequel finally possible?

So, Is Battlefront 3 Likely?

The short answer is: no — at least not anytime soon.

Here’s why:

1. EA No Longer Has Exclusive Access to Star Wars
   EA’s exclusive licensing deal with Disney for the Star Wars IP expired in 2023. While EA can still work with the license, they now have to negotiate case-by-case, and pay significant licensing fees. That means a hypothetical Battlefront 3 would need to be massively profitable just to justify the investment.
2. The Brand Still Carries Baggage
   Despite Battlefront II’s redemption story and dedicated community, the franchise still suffers from the stigma of its 2017 loot box controversy. Gaming media, casual fans, and mainstream audiences still associate Battlefront with predatory monetisation, and that kind of brand damage is hard to shake. Even if EA promised a clean, microtransaction-free experience, public trust would be difficult to rebuild at scale.
3. Development Bandwidth Just Isn’t There
   Even if EA wanted to greenlight the game tomorrow, nothing has been commissioned yet. A Battlefront 3 would require 2–4 years of development at minimum — and DICE, the studio behind the previous games, is currently focused on reviving the Battlefield franchise. That puts a potential release window 4–6 years away, with no guarantee that the demand will still exist by then.
4. What Would It Actually Offer?
   Perhaps the biggest question: What would Battlefront 3 bring to the table?
   With Battlefront II already offering massive 40-player battles, space combat, and an expansive roster of characters from across the saga, any sequel would need a compelling reason to exist beyond just being “the newer one.”

And here’s the bigger issue, Star Wars itself has had a mixed run in recent years. The sequel trilogy left fans divided, and Disney has pivoted hard toward streaming series like The Mandalorian, Andor, and The Acolyte. While that’s kept the IP alive, it’s also fragmented the fanbase and made it harder to pin down what a “mainstream” Star Wars experience should even look like.

Final words

So, to conclude: despite the hype and recent surge in player numbers, Battlefront is probably a franchise EA doesn’t want to revisit anytime soon. The company isn’t in a position to take big creative risks, it’s chasing safe, proven hits. And right now, Battlefront 3 would be anything but guaranteed.

Thankfully, the community is doing an incredible job of keeping Battlefront II alive. It’s still a genuinely fun, content-rich experience, and for just a few quid, it’s absolutely worth your time.

As for the future? The opportunity might be there someday. But for now, I wouldn’t get your hopes up.

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