It only took Star Wars Battlefront 2 a mere few days to go from one of the most anticipated titles of last year, to, quite possibily, its most infamous. The controversy surrounding its pay-to-win loot box progression not only made reddit history, with the most downvoted comment of all time, but also spurred state institutions into investigating loot boxes themselves.
Looking back on Star Wars Battlefront 2’s first year, EA noted that the game’s launch “did not go as planned”. “With the understandable frustration around progression in the game, a decision to change the initial Crate system was made. A large part of the team was put on the task to fix the game’s economy and progression. This new system was implemented in March – one without random progression and where everything is unlockable through gameplay.”, the publisher continued in a post on its website.
This misstep most likely affected the cadence at which content was released, but the title wasn’t abandoned, receiving a suite of DLC based around the two Star Wars movies that followed. The most recent offering focuses on the Clone Wars, introducing General Grievous, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Geonosis and, Battlefront 2’s largest vehicle, the AT-TE. Overall, however, the publisher declared itself “happy” with the improvements the game received throughout the year.
Although the first-person shooter came out limping, it already has content scheduled for 2019. January will bring Count Dooku as a playable hero, alongside Clone Trooper Coruscant Guard appearances, earnable through both in-game credits and premium Crystals.
February will have an even bigger offering. Anakin Skywalker will expand the hero roster and Clone Troopers will received their 501st Legion appearances. On top of that, Star Wars Battlefront II will receive a new game mode “featuring command posts and capital ship takedowns”, alongside capital ship interiors and the Venator-class destroyer and dreadnaught.
The new mode sounds like something Star Wars Battlefront 2 fans have been asking for since the 2015 reboot. It could be that the mode from 2005’s Battlefront II, where space battles were mixed with infantry engagements and capital ship sabotage, might be making a comeback; or, perhaps, something more akin to Battlefield 2142’s Titan mode is on the way. Only time will tell but, regardless, the news is sure to be welcomed by those still playing.
