The Battlefront series has been dormant for years, but the wait for a third entry may finally be coming to an end. Multiple sources point to DICE, the studio behind Battlefield, and Respawn Entertainment, the team responsible for Apex Legends and the Star Wars Jedi games, co-developing Star Wars: Battlefront 3. For fans of Star Wars Battlefront II who have been holding out hope since the last game wrapped up its post-launch support in 2020, this is the news they have been waiting for.
The development pairing is a big deal. DICE has the institutional knowledge of the Battlefront formula, having built both previous modern entries. Respawn brings a different kind of energy to the table, with deep experience in fast-paced shooter games and a proven track record working within the Star Wars universe through the Jedi series. Together, they represent a genuinely exciting combination of skills.
How the rumor became a report
The story picked up steam when Electronic Gaming Monthly floated the idea that Disney had been searching for a studio to take on Battlefront 3, with DICE and Bungie among the names circulating. Then Joe Brammer, studio head at Wardogs, stepped in on X to clarify that it was actually DICE and Respawn collaborating on the project, not Bungie.
What pushed this from industry gossip into credible territory was EA itself. In an internal memo sent to staff amid a broader wave of layoffs and studio closures, EA executives confirmed that Respawn and DICE are working together on a new project. They did not name the game, but the timing and context made the implication hard to miss.
Here's the thing: EA closing BioWare, canceling multiple projects, and laying off around 400 workers across studios including Respawn, Maxis, Full Circle, and EA Motive makes this confirmation land differently. The company is clearly consolidating resources, and Battlefront 3 appears to be one of the projects they are betting on.
The shadow of Battlefront 2's launch
Any conversation about a new Battlefront has to address the elephant in the room. Star Wars: Battlefront II launched in 2017 with a progression system built around loot boxes that let players pay for a statistical advantage. The backlash was immediate and severe, triggering government investigations in Belgium and sparking a broader global conversation about loot boxes as gambling mechanics, the effects of which are still being felt across the industry today.
DICE did eventually course-correct, overhauling the progression system, removing loot boxes entirely, and supporting the game for years after launch. Player sentiment recovered significantly. But the damage to the series' reputation at launch was real, and it almost certainly contributed to EA quietly shelving Battlefront 3 plans back in 2022 while DICE shifted focus entirely to Battlefield.
What this pairing could actually mean for players
The key here is understanding what each studio brings. DICE knows Battlefront's large-scale, cinematic multiplayer inside and out. Respawn knows how to build movement systems and combat that feel responsive and rewarding, as Apex Legends demonstrates every season. If the collaboration leans into both strengths, Battlefront 3 could be the version of this game that fans have been imagining since the series went quiet.
The Battlefront II community has kept the game alive well past its official support window, with player numbers recently climbing again around the Resurgence Day community event. That kind of grassroots momentum tells you the appetite for more Battlefront content is very much still there.
No release window has surfaced yet, and no official announcement has been made. For players who want to revisit the series in the meantime, the Star Wars Battlefront II guide collection covers everything from hero loadouts to the best modes for grinding credits while the wait continues.
