Electronic Arts is reportedly developing a new installment in the Star Wars: Battlefront series, with both Respawn Entertainment and DICE involved in its creation. According to a report by Variety, the project is intended to unify the strengths of these two studios.
This development follows EA's recent announcement of layoffs and a restructuring that involved consolidating teams, including the aforementioned studios. In a statement addressing the changes, EA mentioned its intention to "bring[ing] together our Respawn and DICE studios to collaborate on a future project" to "balance our resources, and leverage the technology to deliver a shooter portfolio that unlocks growth."
While EA has not officially confirmed the new Battlefront title, Variety's sources indicate that this collaboration is indeed focused on the Battlefront franchise. The previous entries in the modern Battlefront series, released in 2015 and 2017, received mixed reception, with the latter notably drawing significant criticism for its controversial loot box mechanics, which even led to investigations by the Belgian Gambling Commission.
However, the potential for a new Battlefront game is seen by some as promising, given the established success of both Respawn and DICE in the shooter genre. Respawn has garnered acclaim for its Star Wars Jedi series, and DICE has a long-standing history with the Battlefield franchise, which received positive reviews for its recent installments. The prospect of these two studios working together on a Star Wars shooter could offer a compelling experience for fans.