Unsuprising news: Dedicated servers, 3rd person + more confirmed for EA’s Battlefront II
While it’s not terribly surprising, dedicated servers have been confirmed for EA’s Battlefront II.
This fact was revealed by the game’s designer director, Dennis Brannvall:
@AngryJoeShow @MrProWestie @spoki83 we will have dedicated servers, like always.
— Dennis Brännvall (@DICE_FireWall) April 16, 2017
This isn’t very revealing —DICE usually uses dedicated servers—but it’s still nice to know that they are confirmed. However, we don’t know just yet if a server browser will be happening—EA’s first Battlefront lacked one, unfortunately.
Additionally, the game is confirmed to have a third-person option. This comes by way of Battlefront II’s community manager Mathew Everett:
@SG_17 @DICE_FireWall Confirmed
— Mat Everett (@sledgehammer70) April 15, 2017
This also isn’t too surprising. Brannvall alluded to the inclusion of a third-person option back in February.
It’s also worth noting that those who watched the behind-the-scenes trailer at Star Wars Celebration saw snippets of what was possibly campaign gameplay in third-person. No official word yet on if the first-person option will remained, but I wouldn’t shocked if it didn’t.
Slave I vs. Obi-Wan’s Jedi Starfighter concept art for Battlefront II (Source.)
Beyond those two tidbits, Brannvall commented that the game will feature both overheat and reload mechanics for gunplay:
@EnSh93 Both, kind off. We're doing some improvements and we'll have more details later.
— Dennis Brännvall (@DICE_FireWall) April 16, 2017
EA’s first Battlefront featured mostly guns that overheated rather than reloaded. The one exception to this was the DT-29 (used by Director Krennic). Personally, I enjoy the overheat mechanic so I wouldn’t mind seeing it return. However, having a few weapons with reload capabilities could help spice things up.
It’s also worth mentioning that the campaign is being written by Mitch Dyer, who wrote for IGN, and Walt Williams, who penned Spec Ops: The Line:
Excited to finally reveal what @MitchyD and I have been working on for the last year. Can't wait for you to meet Inferno Squad. #StarWars https://t.co/J4qJlWMmxH
— Walt Williams (@waltdwilliams) April 15, 2017
I’ve only played a bit of Spec Ops: The Line, but I know that it was well-received, especially when it came to the difficult choices the game made you make.
Kamino concept art for Battlefront II (Source).
Finally, if you are worried about clone troopers not appearing yet in any of the promotional materials, don’t be. Branvall confirmed that their models are still in development and aren’t ready to show off:
@ObeyCrazy14 hehe no since we're still in development some models weren't ready to be shown yet. They'll be there ?
— Dennis Brännvall (@DICE_FireWall) April 16, 2017
We do have some concept art featuring clones (as shown above), but their absence so far in rendered images and videos was rather apparent.
Personally, I think that EA is holding off on revealing clone troopers until EA Play in June. That way, the clones’ reveal will add extra hype to the event. However, I’m just speculating on that bit.
I’m sure we’ll find out more in the coming months and weeks. The next big event is EA PLAY, which will be held in Hollywood, California from June 10 to 12. EA has already promised that Battlefront II will be playable on the show floor, so I’ll certainly be eager to see how the gameplay aspect looks.
