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Star Wars Battlefront II is free over on the @EpicGames store later this week. If your only connection to the game was a sense of pride and accomplishment back at launch, here's a thread with some of my favourite things we added to the game.
First up some general housekeeping. There are no loot boxes, no pay 2 win. The team (<3 you all) spent multiple years releasing free update after free update.
It all started with a new progression system, meaning all that talk you heard around the launch was null and voided.
It all started with a new progression system, meaning all that talk you heard around the launch was null and voided.
One of the first big updates we released focused around a new mode called Ewok Hunt. Ewoks go up against a team of Stormtroopers who are waiting for extraction off Endor. Ewoks start with few numbers, while Stormtroopers have 1 life, got killed and you become an Ewok.
What you end up with is a bit of a survival horror experience that is genuinely quite scary in places. One of my favourite moments during development was when we checked out the in-game telemetry and we could see clusters of Stormtroopers hiding together using the crying emote.
The Solo Movie was coming out so we had updates lined up to coincide with it. New appearances based on the movie, a new map in the form of Kessel and some other bits were all added across two months. But it was what happened next that would set things in motion.
We rolled into EA Play 2018 with news that more Clone Wars would be coming to the game. This remains one of my favourite moments throughout my entire career, you could feel the enthusiasm, joy and relief all rolled into one. A community united.
General Grievous arrived, who at the time was one of the most complex characters we had ever made for the game. “Your screams are like music to my audio receptors” remains one of my favourite voice lines we've added (fun fact, this came directly from a community suggestion).
All eyes were now on the arrival of the greatest Jedi of all time arriving into the game (search your feelings, you know it's true.) Obi-Wan Kenobi arrived, along with his 212th Attack Battalion of Clones. Kenobi would square up against Grievous on the iconic planet Geonosis.
Dropping this trailer here because it remains one of the best trailers released in 2018.
2018 finished with one last update. I've not really spoken about appearances much so far but General Kenobi was so requested and looks so damn good. But also, a special shoutout to the Shattered Grievous and of course Bandaged Chewie, which also released in 2018 (among others).
Next on the list was Count Dooku, or as he would be affectionately referred to within the Community thanks to a well-timed autocorrect, Earl.
General Grievous, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Count Dooku...but now was time for the Chosen One to make an appearance. Anakin Skywalker was added to the game and with his arrival, our eyes began to turn elsewhere...
Capital Supremacy was a brand new game mode that saw you fight for control of a planet and then head into the upper atmosphere to destroy the enemy Capital Ship. We also added both the ARC Trooper and the BX-series Droid Commando.
I mentioned earlier the Grievous was complex, the Droidekas more so. The team did a great job on these and their release was a fantastic achievement. Not only did we release these, but we also officially called an update "where are those Droidekas". Peak prequel memes.
Talking of update names, we also had one called "The Roger Roger Update". You know things are going well when you're getting sign-off to name official things with memes.
It was during an update where we added some new appearances to the Droids.
It was during an update where we added some new appearances to the Droids.
Clone Commando. Not more really needs to be said about this, except they are totally badass.
Fun fact: myself and our content strategist were talking about their reveal for months, we always had an idea to do something with their helmet coming into view. Was a good day.
Fun fact: myself and our content strategist were talking about their reveal for months, we always had an idea to do something with their helmet coming into view. Was a good day.
A brand new planet arrived in the form of Felucia. The team did a great job on this one. There's quite a few Easter Eggs on this map. I personally enjoy turning on/off the laser fence and turning it into a makeshift 1v1 arena.
Screenshot from the talented @CineCaptures.
Screenshot from the talented @CineCaptures.
A new game mode was added which we called Co-Op (no prequel memes here sadly). The premise is simple, you and up to 3 other players take on an enemy team of AI to capture various objectives.
We had a ton of fun playtesting this in the office and were really confident about it.
We had a ton of fun playtesting this in the office and were really confident about it.
If you are new to the game then I strongly suggest checking out Co-Op as your first port of call. It remains one of our most popular game modes and is incredibly good fun. Some of my favourite moments playing the game have come from last second defends or wins within the mode.
New appearances came to the ARC Troopers, BX Commando Droids and Clone Commando. Even the Droidekas got a new appearance.
ARC Trooper ones were by far my favourite.
ARC Trooper ones were by far my favourite.
Then this happened, which packaged up everything we had released so far into one neat and tidy collection. The base game, 150+ appearances, 100+ emotes, 90+ victory poses, and of course all the other free content (heroes, planets, modes etc).
A new Star Wars movie means new game content. We added a new planet, Ajan Kloss and 4 new reinforcements. The Sith Trooper, Ovissian Gunner, First Order Jet Trooper and the Caphex Spy. There were new appearances for Kylo, Finn and Rey.
The Ovissian Gunner is <3
The Ovissian Gunner is <3
BB-8 and BB-9E were two new heroes. Never underestimate a droid...
Ewok Hunter and ISB Agent were two brand new reinforcements. We brought Co-Op to the Original Trilogy and to 7 maps. 4 new weapons, and more.
Yes, you can shoot Darth Vader in the knee with a bow and arrow as an Ewok.
Yes, you can shoot Darth Vader in the knee with a bow and arrow as an Ewok.
Our last major update focused around bringing Scarif into the game. A map that was long desired by the Community and the team did absolutely everything they could to get it out.
If you think you have what it takes, have a go at getting the Old Master Maul appearance.
I mentioned the Geonosis trailer earlier, but I should also mention the Rise of the Skywalker one. We actually watched this as a team in the cinema before the movie. Knowing we were finishing the project, it was very emotional, to say the least.
Anyway, that's my trip down memory lane. I could talk for hours about this, with so many more stories to share.
If you pick up the game this week, I hope you enjoy it.
Transmission Over.
If you pick up the game this week, I hope you enjoy it.
Transmission Over.
