Battlefront 2 is entering the hot phase! Even before the launch next week, some players can play a trial version. In addition, a new feature video has been released and the loot box question has been raised.
Starting today, November 9, the trial version is playable! Subscribers of the paid service Origin Access already have the opportunity to try the demo in advance. However, there is a small catch: this applies only to PC and Xbox One.
You can play up to ten hours. While you can run wild in multiplayer, only the first three chapters “The Cleaner”, “Battle of Endor”, and “The Dauntless” are available in single-player.
Download size and start time: What is the exact release time of Star Wars Battlefront 2
And don’t worry: If you purchase the full version, your save from the demo will be transferred, and you won’t have to start from scratch. The download sizes are quite hefty, with 55.7 GB for PC and 52 GB for Xbox One.
Moreover, EA has now announced the worldwide start times. Regardless of system or location, the launch will take place on the night of November 16 to 17 at 12:01 AM. The reason not everyone starts at the same time is simply due to time zone differences.
#StarWarsBattlefrontII launches worldwide at 12:01 AM on November 17.
Prepare your squadron by following @EAStarWars. pic.twitter.com/FRPiReC5b7
— Electronic Arts (@EA) November 6, 2017
First impressions – How does the new Battlefront play?
Logan Moore from DualShockers has been playing Battlefront 2 intensively for the past two days and can therefore provide a nuanced insight into the gameplay. Consciously, he played and leveled a class: the Assault Trooper.
He noticed that even though he was already level 17 later and thus significantly stronger than most others on the battlefield, he could not see a striking difference. When he lost, it was not because the level of the others was higher or the equipment was better, but simply because he was playing poorly.
Conversely, he did not win because of improved skills, but rather due to pure tactics. How that will change with advancing knowledge about the game itself, as well as after trying different combinations and ultimately his own know-how with the different classes, remains to be seen.
The most important insight from his game is perhaps that he got far even without paying and saw the promised changes implemented. It is reassuring to see that the developers listen to player feedback.
This impression is also supported by the interview that Fandom.com conducted with Game Director Dennis Brannvall yesterday.
“Everything in the game can also be earned without money.”
This makes it even clearer that the developers are closely examining feedback and want to implement it when the criticism is reasonable. After all, it’s about keeping players entertained in the long term, not scaring them away after just a few hours of play.
To this end, it should be ensured that players can earn everything that can be purchased with loot boxes on their own. As the level of a class increases, one can craft better pieces of equipment and optimize their character accordingly. Furthermore, random items are also to be acquired regularly, which will encourage interest in other classes.
Initial tests show that advantages can be bought with cash
However, there are also critical voices from initial tests. In a video by XfactorGaming, $90 was spent to obtain 12,000 crystals. As a result, the testers unlocked a level 14 Interceptor early on and are on a kill path with it. A highly purchased Interceptor is significantly harder to take down.
“Let’s tell a story about who is inside the helmet.”
In their latest feature video, the developers once again focus on Iden Versio, the main character of the single-player campaign. This gives insight into the behind-the-scenes look at how American actress Janina Gavankar brings the pixel figure to life.
In addition, author Walt Williams and Game Director Mark Thompson discuss the motivations for allowing players to experience the game from the Empire’s perspective. According to them, it is important to show that behind the masks of the stormtroopers are real humans instead of robots. This makes the story of Star Wars overall more tangible.
