EA's certainly taken its sweet time properly unveiling Star Wars: Battlefront on the PlayStation 4. Originally announced all the way back at E3 2013, Swedish developer DICE has been quietly beavering away on the long awaited sci-fi reboot ever since. However, as part of the Star Wars Celebration fan event in Anaheim earlier today, the release finally made its debut, and while we weren't treated to any actual gameplay footage, we certainly know a lot more about the title now than we did at the start of the week. So, if you'll excuse us while we go all Yoda on your ass, let's look at some of the points that have emerged as part of the game's big reveal.
Battles will boast up to 40 players
Unsurprisingly, multiplayer is the big focus in Star Wars: Battlefront, and matches will host up to 40 players at a time. This is the cap, so you won't be experiencing any MAG-esque intergalactic conflicts here – in fact, combat will be more or less rooted to a particular planet's atmosphere, so don't expect to be flying from the dusty expanses of Tatooine into outer-space. Walker Assault is the name of the mode that will boast the largest player count, and we already know that Endor will be one of the compatible maps. There will be smaller game types, too, however, with playlists for just eight players if you prefer your online shooters to be a little more personal.
There won't be a traditional single player campaign
Star Wars: Battlefront will capture the 'big battle' feel from the original movie trilogy – but there won't be a Battlefield-style single player campaign here. DICE is being a teensy bit coy about specifics, but the game will instead boast a series of standalone objectives, which you'll be able to play alone or with friends. These missions will apparently be "short", but have been designed around replayability, with increasing difficulty tiers giving you a reason to come back. Whether they'll actually be successful in that department remains to be seen; we'll see more of these at E3 in June apparently.
Sony appears to be co-marketing it
We heard a little while back that Sony had locked up co-marketing rights to Star Wars: Battlefront, but we weren't ever able to pin down a secure source. It seems, however, that our contacts were on point, as today's trailer opened and closed with plenty of PlayStation branding. In fact, during the DICE panel earlier today, EA was giving away a handful of custom PS4 consoles – and the PlayStation Blog has already updated its layout, employing a big Battlefront banner as its wallpaper. What does this mean? Well, you should probably get used to the idea of this showing up during the Japanese giant's press conferences, with E3 and GamesCom almost certain to include segments on the release. We're confident that there'll be a Batman: Arkham Knight-esque hardware bundle, too – perhaps adopting a Stormtrooper theme.
The game will run at 60 frames-per-second
Much like recent Battlefield games, Star Wars: Battlefront will run at 60 frames-per-second on the PS4. Of course, we should probably include an asterisk after that sentence, because it remains to be seen how successful the title will be at maintaining that target. Sony's next-gen system has certainly proved itself a competent performer over these past couple of years, but DICE's latest is also a looker – and is likely to push the hardware extremely hard when there are 40 players on the screen. It's also unclear what resolution the release will run at: recent Battlefield games have been locked at 900p, providing a slightly blurrier image than the now standard 1080p. As the creators of EA's ubiquitous Frostbite engine, however, we're hoping that the Swedish studio has optimised the technology a bit better for this intergalactic outing.
You'll be able to play in first and third-person
One that will please fans of Pandemic's classic Battlefront games: you'll be able to switch between first-person and third-person perspectives in Star Wars: Battlefront on the PS4. As the developer didn't show any gameplay footage from the title, we haven't actually seen this feature first-hand, but an eyes-on report from Game Informer notes that the animations when over-the-shoulder are great, with troops tracking the action and keeping tabs on what's going on around them. There are conflicting reports on whether the release will feature a Call of Duty-style sights-based aiming system, but the majority of previews are stating that it won't. This would make sense, as we're not sure how the feature would work in third-person.
Darth Vader and Boba Fett will be playable
Once again, as with the classic Star Wars: Battlefront games, you'll be able to assume the role of iconic characters such as Darth Vader and Boba Fett. You'll transform into these by collecting power-ups around the level, and will be granted special abilities as a result – such as the Dark Lord's lightsaber, for example. DICE isn't saying much about these famous avatars just yet, nor is it willing to confirm which other heroes will feature in the full game. Luke Skywalker and Han Solo seem likely, though, don't they?
There'll be two-player split-screen
A feature that's missing from so many big games these days, Star Wars: Battlefront will include split-screen for at least two players. You'll be able to play through the abovementioned "campaign" missions this way, or simply join forces online. There'll also be a Partner system, which will allow you to share your progress with a pal. Essentially, if your buddy's a Battlefront newcomer, you'll be able to allocate all of your progress and unlocks to them, giving them a leg up in battle. You'll also be able to spawn on your accomplice, keeping you as close together as possible.
The Battle of Jakku will awaken in December
Did you see that big Star Destroyer in the Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer? That was downed in the Battle of Jakku, and you'll be able to participate in the conflict as part of a free expansion. The downloadable content – named, er, The Battle of Jakku – will be available from 8th December for everyone, while those that pre-order will be able to grab it a week earlier. We don't know a whole lot more about it at this point, other than that it'll be complimentary, and will bridge the gap between the game and the forthcoming film.
Has the Star Wars: Battlefront reveal made you feel the Force – or merely remorse? What do you make of the missing single player campaign, and do you believe that it'll look as good as the trailer indicates? Pick sides in the comments section below.
Are you looking forward to Star Wars: Battlefront? (79 votes)
- Yes, I’m going to pre-order it right now
- I’m intrigued, but waiting for more details
- No, I’m not really sure that it’s for me
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Comments 34
"There won't be a traditional single player campaign."
It goes back to what I said in a forum post that Dice haven't had much development time hence why no SP campaign. Though looking at Battlefield's campaigns we're probably not missing much.
It's an fps regardless of the star wars branding. A story/single player mission was always going to suffer.
Again no space battles is really disappointing considering battlefront renegade squadron had connected battles.
Little disappointed as I was looking forward to maybe playing some of the film scenes in single player, but hey it's BATTLEFRONT and I've waited so freaking long since last playing battlefront. Roll on November 20.
While the trailer was a nice showpiece, it didnt really deliver on just raw gameplay. That bothered me.
Other than the 2-player splitscreen, this reads like it should be much cheaper than $60. I didnt hate all the news though and am eager to hear/see more at E3.
Work a single player mode this would dethrone Call Of Duty. Still might do it
Personally I'm happy about no single player campaign, it's never been dice Strongsuit, and in their games the single player feels like an afterthought, like a splashy tech demo for frostbite. The Co op has me excited though, little short missions to mess around in when your burned out on multi-player. I'm excited. Not run out and pre-order excited, but slightly less excited than I am for project cars/the witcher, but probably on part excited that I am for the God of War remaster. Somewhere in the middle there.
Need more details on the single player aspect, not a big online multiplayer kind of guy, but it's Star Wars and I love Star Wars
psyched! could be the best star wars team FPS yet! can't wait to take down those AT-AT's or AT-ST's. Glad Sonys got its force behind this blockbuster
Sounds awsome no SP suits me Hardlines SP is one of the worst i've played on PS4, I just hope it's nothing like Hardline and to be fair it sounds nothing like it so maybe we are in for a treat. This is a must buy for me I cant wait.
Definitely NOT going to pre-order despite being a huuuuge SW and Battlefront fan.
No space battle, no Single player, and NO CLONE WARS setting...I was excited before, now I'm on the fence.
No single player is a massive kick in the quads for me
I'm just not a fan of multiplayer only games (excluding FFXIV:ARR).
You know, the article says there is Singleplayer, just so you guys know. It just doesn't have a dedicated singleplayer story campaign. You know, stuff that Battlefront wasn't big on in the first place...
No single player = no interest at all
I am super excited. I personally like the lack of single player. I would rather have that time spent on developing the multiplayer instead of a battlefield-esque campaign that feels tacked on (and that I never get around to playing anyway). Plus I absolutely love Star Wars (have a tattoo of yoda), so this is looking like a great year!
@KAPADO COD has been dethroned for a long time now
I'm not sure why anybody is surprised or dissapointed by the lack of a single player campaign since neither 1 or 2 really had one. That's not what battlefrons is about.
@Fenriswolf- By whom exactly?
Battlefield4 is the better game but it has no dethrone King Joffery as the COD machine
Definitely not going to pre-order but definitely going to buy , will let the early adopters pay more and beta test it for me first. Also am overjoyed to hear there won't be any daft tacked on single player , DICE games are all about the MP and they only started SP with Bad Company , the best battlefields where 1942 , Vietnam and 2142 .
@KAPADO Joffrey is long dead.
@MinerWilly And his Lannister Legacy is still alive and destroyING our youth... Just like COD 😈
@KAPADO By it's own failures over the last 3 releases. It sells, but noone plays after a month. And the people who buy are the same 8 year-olds that always buy it haha
..well I guess some are 12 or 13 by now, to be fair..
@Fenriswolf- I don't play it after a month. But I doubt No one plays it. It's the most popular fps game with the most players,Even if we don't likeit's the truth.
@Splat
That was my EXACT reaction, and honestly, it's a deal breaker for me. Between Destiny and Titanfall, this "online only" is sucking any enthusiasm I had right out. I'm thrilled that they have split screen, but the lack of a campaign ensured that I won't be pre-ordering, and unless the final product leaves me extremely impressed in other ways, I probably won't be buying it at all.
@ElkinFencer10 Please watch the language -Tasuki-
no traditional single mode campaign? no thanks, I hate how developers tend to be more receptive on how americans like to play games nowadays, I will pass with this one.
Why no sp? How to alienate players who don't like multilayer or who have friends on another consol!
Question to those people upset about no single player:
How often do you play the single player campaign in COD?
I play it once, takes about 7hrs or so, and then I NEVER play that part of the game again. After that it is all bot matches or online play.
@KAPADO Yea, and they are all 8 year olds, like I said.
@Fenriswolf- 8yo Racist and rapists by their language. And all better than us at Call Of Duty.
Apparently slave owners as well,because I keep hearing I "owned you" over and over.
It will only have 20v20
what the actual F***
Battlefront never had a campaign. The plot is already known 😛
Since when has Battlefront ever had a "traditional" single player? People are asking for something Battlefront has never been about. I am looking forward to it.
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