14 DAY TRIAL // The development team at DICE working on Star Wars Battlefront has made it clear that it will not deliver any kind of content based on the recently launched The Force Awakens, outside of the already available free Battle of Jakku package with its two new maps and associated Turning Point mode.
New statements from the leadership of publisher Electronic Arts are now suggesting that the company has a deal with rights holder Disney that might mean that at no point will it be able to create video games that directly feature characters or situations from new movies in the franchise.
Blake Jorgensen, the chief financial officer of the company, tells investors that, "One thing that we are adhering to, and I think this is part of our arrangement with Lucas and Disney, is you can’t make a game in Star Wars that violates the canon of Star Wars. Mainly you can’t take something from the future and bring it back into the past unless it’s a reference."
Electronic Arts is apparently carefully vetting all new content for Star Wars Battlefront to make sure that it does not violate the rule.
The publisher has made it clear that new video games based on the series are coming during the next few years, with DICE eager to take the core mechanics, refine them and apply them to other moments of the movies.
Presumably, the prequel trilogy, although fans do not love it, will be explored and only after that The Force Awakens will supply its locations and characters to a new title.
Fans of Star Wars might expect a video game associated with this year's Rogue One movie, but that also might be outside of Electronic Arts' mandate for a while.
Battlefront will be expanded all through the year
In February, DICE is planning to introduce a new free content drop for the multiplayer themed shooter, which will include a new Hoth-based Survival missions for gamers to enjoy and a new multiplayer map set on the ice planet that will be designed for later battles.
Gamers will also be able to play the Battle of Jakku introduced Turning Point mode on all the maps on which Walker Assault and Supremacy are currently available.
In January, Star Wars Battlefront received a new private match feature and gamers can now also take part in special daily and community events that can give them access to extra content.
DICE has made it clear that it is also working to improve the overall balance of Battlefront, with the most recent nerfs affecting Boba Fett, the Millennium Falcon and the Slave I.
The paid DLC pack for the Star Wars video game is set to debut in March, with gamers able to get an Outer Rim pack that opens up new maps and deliver more heroes and villains, although none has been named yet.
DICE is also set to deliver a Bespin pack and another based on the Death Star before the end of the year, and free new content will include more modes and Star Cards.