Star Wars Battlefront 2 had one of the most infamous launches in gaming history, yet today, it stands as one of the best multiplayer Star Wars experiences ever made. Developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts, the game was meant to be a grand follow-up to the 2015 reboot of the Battlefront franchise, offering larger battles, space combat, and a single-player campaign—all while spanning multiple Star Wars eras. However, its launch in 2017 was overshadowed by loot box controversy and pay-to-win mechanics, which led to massive backlash from the community. But through continuous updates and reworks, Battlefront 2 managed to turn things around, eventually becoming a fan-favorite Star Wars shooter.
The most significant change from the first Battlefront (2015) was the introduction of a single-player campaign. Players stepped into the role of Iden Versio, commander of the Imperial special forces unit known as Inferno Squad. The story followed Iden as she witnessed the fall of the Empire after the Battle of Endor and struggled with her loyalty to the remnants of the Empire. While the campaign wasn’t groundbreaking, it provided a fresh perspective, showing the aftermath of Return of the Jedi from an Imperial point of view.
The heart of Battlefront 2 lies in its multiplayer, which featured battles from across all three Star Wars trilogies. From the forests of Endor to the Clone Wars battlefields of Geonosis, the game’s environments were visually stunning and incredibly immersive. Players could engage in massive 40-player battles in modes like Galactic Assault, fight as Jedi and Sith in Heroes vs. Villains, or take part in intense dogfights in Starfighter Assault.
At launch, the game suffered from a pay-to-win progression system, where players could buy loot boxes that granted in-game advantages. This led to one of the biggest controversies in gaming, forcing EA to completely overhaul the system. Over time, Battlefront 2 shifted to a fairer, skill-based progression, unlocking characters and upgrades through gameplay rather than microtransactions.
The game’s post-launch support was phenomenal. DICE consistently added new heroes, maps, and modes, including content from The Clone Wars, The Rise of Skywalker, and The Mandalorian. Characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi, General Grievous, and Anakin Skywalker were introduced, along with iconic locations like Felucia and Scarif. These updates kept the game fresh, transforming it into the Star Wars battle simulator fans had always wanted.
By the time the final Scarif Update released in 2020, Battlefront 2 had redeemed itself, going from one of the most controversial games to one of the most beloved Star Wars multiplayer experiences. Even years after support ended, the game maintains a strong player base, proving that with the right changes and dedication, a flawed launch doesn’t have to define a game’s legacy.
