Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection is a Painful Reminder of the Series’ Elusive Threequel

Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection is a welcome surprise, but it’s also an unfortunate reminder of Battlefront’s tumultuous history.

The Star Wars franchise has featured a laundry list of stellar titles over the years. From KOTOR to Jedi: Fallen Order, game developers have consistently found exciting ways to bring gamers into a galaxy far, far away. Very few of those games, however, establish a legacy beyond their years that allows them to remain a fixture in the Star Wars community long after release. The original Star Wars Battlefront games thoroughly fit that description, and fans who remember capturing command posts back in the day will soon be able to do so once again in the upcoming Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection.

Announced at the most recent Nintendo Direct, Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection packages the original two games together and enhances the experience with 4K textures and full online multiplayer support. For Star Wars fans new and old who have longed for a rerelease of these classic titles, Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection feels like a dream come true. At the same time, however, this compilation also serves as a reminder of everything the Battlefront franchise could have been but was never able to achieve. For as historic as it is, Battlefront has seemingly been destined to never reach a third installment.

Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection File Size Revealed
The Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection, set to launch in March, confirms the file size of these classic titles for the Nintendo Switch.
Two Generations Have Seen A Battlefront 3 Fail To Materialize

The Battlefront series has lived two separate, but very similar lives since the first game released in 2004. Both LucasArts and EA’s first Battlefront game served as a bit of a proof of concept, offering an experience that did well on a lot of fronts, but had a lot of room to grow. Then, when it came time for a second installment, both Battlefront 2 titles thoroughly expanded on their predecessor in meaningful ways. In the aftermath of those sequels, however, both generations of Battlefront failed to complete a trilogy. Though almost a decade separates them, the cards have been stacked against Battlefront 3, no matter the iteration.

The Original Battlefront 3 Still Feels Like A Tragedy
2005’s Star Wars Battlefront2 was a landmark achievement for the franchise, as its grand battles, deep well of playable heroes, and varied maps made for one of the most immersive Star Wars experiences at the time. A Battlefront 3 was put into development not long after its release, but over the course of its production it came across a litany of issues. Developer Free Radical Design was unable to reach deadlines, LucasArts’ restructuring at the time was disruptive, and the project was ultimately canceled in 2008.

The tragedy of this story comes from leaked gameplay of Battlefront 3, which includes footage of its ambitious ground-to-space mechanics. It certainly doesn’t speak to the quality of the finished product, but for many fans, the unrealized potential of Battlefront 3 is as haunting as that of Star Wars 1313. The gameplay shows what could have been for the Battlefront franchise, and what will never be.

A Modern Battlefront 3 Seems Less Likely Day After Day
While EA’s Battlefront 2 didn’t have the smoothest launch, the finished product as it stands today is a stellar multiplayer experience that evokes a similar ambition to the original Battlefront 2. Unfortunately for those hoping for a modern Battlefront 3, EA has given no indication that it plans to support such an endeavor. Developer DICE reportedly pitched a threequel to EA, but the publisher ultimately turned it down. Now, it seems fans are once again back at square one regarding Battlefront’s future.

Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection may not be the Battlefront 3 many players have been hoping for, but with no new games in sight, it’s a commendable way to keep the franchise name alive. For some gamers, though, this collection will make the original Battlefront games feel new, as DLC characters like Kit Fisto and Asajj Ventress will be included. It’s a far cry from a threequel, but some updated nostalgia may just be enough for some Battlefront fans.