Star Wars Battlefront II, developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts (EA), launched in November 2017 as a sequel to 2015’s Star Wars Battlefront. Built on the powerful Frostbite engine, Battlefront II promised a richer, more expansive experience—featuring a full single-player campaign, iconic characters from all eras of the Star Wars universe, large-scale multiplayer battles, and space combat.
Yet, despite the game’s initial promise, its release was mired in controversy due to an aggressive monetization model that overshadowed its gameplay innovations. Over the years, however, through constant developer support and community feedback, Battlefront II managed one of the most notable turnarounds in modern gaming, evolving into a beloved and content-rich Star Wars experience.
A Galaxy-Spanning Campaign
Unlike its 2015 predecessor, Battlefront II featured a single-player story campaign—a feature long-requested by fans. Set between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, the campaign follows Iden Versio, the commander of Inferno Squad—an elite Imperial special forces unit.
Iden’s story begins as a loyal servant of the Empire, witnessing the fall of the second Death Star and enduring the chaos that follows the Emperor’s death. However, as the campaign progresses, she begins to question the Empire’s morality and eventually defects to the Rebel Alliance. This shift in allegiance mirrors the inner conflict faced by many Star Wars characters and adds a compelling layer to the story.
The campaign offers a mix of third-person and first-person shooting, vehicular combat, and space battles. While not particularly long—spanning 5–7 hours—the narrative is enhanced by strong voice performances, excellent visuals, and a series of missions that let players control iconic characters like Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Kylo Ren.
Despite some criticism for its brief length and pacing, the campaign served as a respectable narrative bridge between the original and sequel trilogies.
Multiplayer Warfare Across Eras
Multiplayer is the beating heart of Battlefront II. The game offers a wide range of modes that immerse players in battles from the Clone Wars, Galactic Civil War, and the sequel trilogy. The inclusion of all three eras distinguishes it from the first game and allows players to experience iconic conflicts in a variety of settings.
Key Multiplayer Modes:
- Galactic Assault: A 40-player objective-based mode, where one team attacks and the other defends across multiple phases. Each map is themed around a classic Star Wars location, from Naboo to Starkiller Base.
- Supremacy: Introduced later in updates, this large-scale mode focuses on capturing command posts before boarding enemy ships in climactic capital ship assaults.
- Heroes vs. Villains: A 4v4 mode that pits iconic characters against each other in fast-paced lightsaber duels and blaster skirmishes.
- Starfighter Assault: Developed by Criterion Games, this mode features space battles with starfighters, bombers, and hero ships. Missions are objective-based, providing dynamic dogfights and cinematic engagements.
- Co-Op Missions: Added later in the game’s lifecycle, co-op allows players to team up in PvE missions against AI-controlled enemies. This mode became a fan favorite for casual play and leveling up characters.
The variety of maps and modes ensures replayability and caters to different playstyles—whether you enjoy strategic team-based objectives or chaotic, large-scale warfare.
Heroes and Villains: The Iconic Roster
Battlefront II features a deep roster of playable heroes and villains, drawn from across the Star Wars canon. Each character comes with unique abilities, weapons, and roles:
- Light Side: Luke Skywalker, Rey, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Lando Calrissian, Finn, BB-8, and more.
- Dark Side: Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, Darth Maul, Count Dooku, Emperor Palpatine, Iden Versio, General Grievous, and others.
These characters are often the centerpiece of intense moments in both multiplayer and single-player. The game’s class system also extends to heroes, allowing players to build loadouts and adapt to different scenarios.
Lightsaber combat was overhauled after launch to improve responsiveness and balance. It eventually evolved into a skill-based dueling system, where timing, dodging, and ability management mattered more than mere button-mashing.
Class-Based Combat and Progression
Unlike the first Battlefront, the sequel introduced a class-based system for infantry, giving the game a stronger sense of team dynamics and tactical play. Each class has distinct abilities and roles:
- Assault: Versatile and aggressive, excelling in close to mid-range combat.
- Heavy: Durable, with suppressive weapons and explosive capabilities.
- Officer: A support class that can buff teammates and deploy turrets.
- Specialist: Snipers and saboteurs, ideal for long-range or stealthy play.
Each class, vehicle, and hero uses a Star Card system that allows customization through unlockable perks. Cards can improve abilities or modify playstyles, offering flexibility but also stirring controversy at launch.
Controversy and Monetization Missteps
Perhaps the most infamous aspect of Battlefront II’s early days was its loot box-driven progression system. Upon release, many abilities, heroes, and upgrades were locked behind randomized loot boxes, leading to a system where gameplay performance was heavily influenced by chance or payment.
The situation reached a boiling point when fans discovered that iconic characters like Darth Vader required dozens of hours to unlock—or could be bought. The backlash was fierce, leading to the most downvoted comment in Reddit history from EA and prompting global discussions about gambling mechanics in games.
In response, EA removed microtransactions temporarily and overhauled the progression system. Eventually, a fairer system was implemented where Star Cards were earned through gameplay, heroes were unlocked faster, and cosmetics were the only purchasable items (via in-game or premium currency).
A Game Reborn: The Support and Updates
DICE’s continued support transformed Battlefront II into a different beast entirely. Between 2018 and 2020, the game received numerous free updates that added new content, fixed issues, and responded directly to fan feedback. Major additions included:
- Clone Wars Content: The most requested addition. Maps like Geonosis, heroes like Obi-Wan and Grievous, and Clone Legion customization brought prequel-era fans into the fold.
- Rise of Skywalker Update: Maps and reinforcements inspired by the final sequel trilogy film, plus new hero skins and units.
- The Age of Rebellion Update: Revisiting the original trilogy, this update added co-op missions on iconic planets like Hoth and Endor.
- Final Update – “Battle on Scarif”: Based on Rogue One, this April 2020 update served as the game’s content finale. It reintroduced the Scarif map from the 2015 game, completed the era rotations, and provided final tweaks to balance and gameplay.
Thanks to these efforts, the game’s reputation was rehabilitated, and its player base flourished, especially with the free Epic Games Store giveaway in 2021 that brought millions of new players.
Visuals, Audio, and Immersion
Built on the Frostbite engine, Battlefront II is one of the most visually stunning games of its generation. Environments like Naboo’s capital city, the lava rivers of Mustafar, or the icy trenches of Hoth are rendered with photorealistic detail. Weather effects, lighting, and animations bring the Star Wars universe to life in incredible fidelity.
Sound design is equally impressive. Blaster fire, lightsabers, TIE Fighter screams, and John Williams’ orchestral themes create a rich, cinematic atmosphere. Voice acting—some by original film cast members—adds authenticity and emotional weight.
Conclusion: A Redemption Arc for the Ages
Star Wars Battlefront II is a lesson in how a game can recover from a catastrophic launch. What began as a cautionary tale about monetization became a model for how listening to the community and committing to a vision can yield one of the best Star Wars gaming experiences.
By 2020, Battlefront II was considered not just a competent shooter but a celebration of the Star Wars franchise, offering a blend of action, strategy, and nostalgia across all eras. Though official support has ended, its legacy endures thanks to a passionate player base, modding communities on PC, and a design that honors the galaxy far, far away.
In the end, Battlefront II proved that even amid controversy, a game—like a fallen Jedi—can return to the light.
