EA and DICE’sStar Wars Battlefront 2just wrapped up a week of being free on the Epic Game Store, and it seems that a lot of people downloaded it. There were so many, in fact, thattheBattlefront 2servers couldn’t handle the load.
However, the game has the reputation of havingone of the worst video game launchesin recent memory, yet it also has one of the best redemption stories. Because of a number of changes made to the game over the years,Star Wars Battlefront 2is simply a much different game.
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Loot Boxes No More
Star Wars Battlefront 2’s disastrous launch was in large part due to the game’s approach to loot boxes and microtransactions, leading many to hate the game even before it launched. EA and developer DICE did fix the pay-to-win part right before the game’s actual release, but the fundamental lack of a progression and unlock system still had to be addressed.
But the changes did come, and nowBattlefront 2has a much more standardized progressionand unlock system that one would expect from a multiplayer shooter. Many skipped the game over the very principle of the game not having a skill-based progression system and a heavy emphasis on loot boxes and microtransactions, and rightfully so, but all of these issues have since been completely fixed. Microtransactions can only be used now to unlock cosmetic skins, like inApex LegendsorOverwatch, and that is only in the base game. All skins are already unlocked and microtransactions are disabled in theCelebration Editionof the game, which is the version that was given away for free on the Epic Game Store. TheCelebration Editionretails for $39.99 and is also available as a cheaper upgrade to those who had purchased the base game prior.
Another lambasted element of the game was that the ability to play as many of the heroes and villains ofStar Wars, one of the most advertised parts of the game, often cost either 40 hours or real-world money, just to unlock Darth Vader in one case. But this issue has also been fixed. Back in 2018,DICE unlocked all heroes, villains, and all of the special shipslike Boba Fett’s Slave I and Luke’s X-Wing for all players, so this past critique is now completely moot. Had the base game launched in the state that it is in now, it seems safe to say that the game’s reception would have been totally different.
Did someone say Clone Wars?
One of the most beloved parts ofStar Warsoutside of the original trilogy is theClone Warscartoon. The series, created by George Lucas and Dave Filoni, told incredibly rich stories about the clone troopers from the prequel era, as well as introducedfan-favorite character Ahsoka Tano. And while Ahsoka was never added intoBattlefront 2, a massive amount of stuff pulled straight from theClone Warscartoon was. Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Count Dooku, General Grievous, droidekas, commando droids, and over 100 unique appearances for different clone troopers are all available now inStar Wars Battlefront 2. The variety of clone skins and otherClone Wars-era skins like General Kenobi’s armor and pajama-wearing count Dooku are all pre-unlocked in the Celebration Edition of the game.
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And it’s not justClone Warscontent that’s been added. A map and modebased on the events ofSolo: A Star Wars Storywas also added, alongside content for theRise of SkywalkerandRogue One.Battlefront 2features content from all 9Star Warsmovies, both theatrical spin-offs, and theClone Warscartoon. Even theStar Warscomics get some play, like with the look Leia dons in the single-player campaign.
The Single-Player Campaign is Canon
The single-player ofStar Wars Battlefront 2tells the story of Imperial Stormtrooper Iden Versio and her team of top operatives in Inferno Squadron after the death of Emperor Palpatine and the destruction of the second Death Star. While the campaign is by no means exceptional, it is a short fun tour of theStar Warsuniverse with an interesting perspective. It also serves to show what the heroes of the original trilogy are up to post-Return of the Jediwith some fun cameos.
The story ofBattlefront 2became much more important, however, when the events of the storywere referenced in the second season ofThe Mandalorianon Disney Plus. Spoilers follow. In season 2, episode 7, Bill Burr reprises his role from season 1 as Migs Mayfeld, an ex-Imperial sharpshooter. Mayfeld mentions Operation Cinder, the final dying order of Emperor Palpatine to destroy multiple worlds without discrimination. Both Iden Versio and Migs Mayfeld defected after the Empire destroyed their homeworlds and killed their fellow Imperials.
What’s more is that it sounds like Inferno Squadron may have their story continue it seems. Just last week,two actors fromBattlefront 2’s campaignwere confirmed to recently be working together again and Iden Versio actress Janina Gavankar recently posted online about working in a motion capture suit again. It could be that these characters might be making a return in a potentialBattlefront 3or anotherStar Warsgame, though, of course, this remains to be seen.
The Mods Are Strong With This One
Another reason to check outBattlefront 2now is to check out the mods the game has to offer for the PC version. The page forBattleftont 2on NexusMods has almost 4,000 mods available for the game, ranging from minor things like lighting and music changes to givingBoba Fett an updated appearance based on his look in Season 2 ofthe Mandalorian.
Some of these mods even go as far to replace sound effects and voice lines to make it feel like a whole new character was added, like this mod thatturns BB-8 into Baby Yoda. Other mods include adding Ahsoka Tano, Sabine Wren from theRebelscartoon, Moff Gideon fromTheMandalorian, Padme Amidala, robot legs Darth Maul from the cartoons, and more into the game.
It seems like the massive amount ofBattlefront 2downloads on the Epic Game Store this week indicates that EA’sBattlefrontseries may still have some life in it, and that EA and Lucasfilm may consider making aBattlefront 3after all. It could very well be that this free giveaway was testing the waters for moreBattlefront.EA says it is going to continue to makeStar Warsgames likeJedi: Fallen Order 2,despite the announcement that other publishers like Ubisoft are going to start makingStar Warsgames as well. So perhaps if enough people pick upBattlefront 2, a sequel could happen.
Star Wars Battlefront 2is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
