Lucasfilm is actively searching for a studio to create a third entry in the “Star Wars Battlefront” series, with longtime developer DICE and “Destiny” creator Bungie emerging as prospective candidates, according to an industry report circulating Monday.
The possibility surfaced in issue 265 of Electronic Gaming Monthly, which distributed copies to crowdfunding backers earlier this month. The magazine’s revived “Quartermann” gossip section reported that Lucasfilm executives are exploring development partnerships following the sustained player interest in 2017’s “Star Wars Battlefront II.” The claims were brought to wider attention on Monday by journalist Jeff Grubb on the podcast “Game Mess Mornings.”
Two studios circling the project
According to the EGM report, Lucasfilm did not automatically greenlight a sequel with DICE, the Electronic Arts studio behind both the 2015 “Star Wars Battlefront” reboot and its 2017 sequel. Instead, the company has weighed its options across the broader industry. EGM noted that two studios are currently circling the project: EA’s DICE and Bungie, best known for creating “Halo” and running the live-service shooter “Destiny 2.”
Neither studio has finalized an agreement, assembled a team, or started active production on a game, according to reporting cited by The Game Post. The talks appear to remain in very preliminary phases, and no release window exists.
While DICE represents the established path for the shooter franchise, Bungie would mark an unexpected shift. Bungie is a subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment, meaning a selection of the studio would involve a PlayStation first-party developer managing a multiplatform Star Wars shooter. Bungie also recently experienced restructuring and layoffs while managing updates to “Destiny 2” and its upcoming shooter “Marathon.”
However, Bungie previously worked directly with Lucasfilm Games on “Destiny 2: Renegades,” an officially licensed Star Wars crossover expansion that introduced franchise-themed equipment and missions to the game last year.
Sustained interest in Battlefront
Lucasfilm’s reported search comes amid durable engagement with the franchise. Electronic Arts previously held an exclusive license to produce major Star Wars console games, but Disney and Lucasfilm have since shifted toward partnering with a wide variety of external developers and publishers.
Despite receiving no official game updates in years, “Star Wars Battlefront II” has maintained an active community. The title saw major surges on digital storefronts such as Steam during discount sales and community promotions, Wccftech reported. Lucasfilm Games Vice President Douglas Reilly had also previously highlighted the Battlefront property as a central element of the company’s forward-looking gaming strategy.
On his podcast, Grubb indicated that while an eventual sequel makes sense given the brand’s enduring strength, he remains skeptical that Bungie would ultimately take the helm.
“I think Bungie could do a good job with that game,” Grubb said, according to Wccftech, while predicting that a prospective third installment is still more likely to end up back with DICE.
Representatives for Lucasfilm, EA, and Bungie have not publicly commented on the report. Because discussions remain exploratory, industry observers note that any prospective release remains several years away if a project moves forward at all.
