The online shooter Star Wars Battlefront 2 is doing really well right now. This is not only due to the general “Star Wars” hype from Star Wars 9 or the series “The Mandalorian,” but also to new updates that have been released over time. The number of players is as strong as it has been since January 2018.
What is the status of Battlefront 2? Dennis Brännvall, the design director for Star Wars Battlefront, announced on Twitter that the shooter is currently surpassing the weekly player numbers from January 2018.
While the numbers are not as high as at the release of the game in November 2017, it is still impressive that the multiplayer shooter has managed to gain so much traction after more than 2 years:
Fun one, we’re now beating our weekly player numbers going back to January 2018. Not quite launch numbers but still very impressive #battlefront
— Dennis Brännvall (@DICE_FireWall) December 22, 2019
The hype around Star Wars 9 helps Battlefront 2
Where does the growth come from? The high player numbers are likely also due to the current small “Star Wars” hype. The reason for this is the film “The Rise of Skywalker” (Star Wars 9) and the series “The Mandalorian,” which have also sparked interest in the MMORPG The Old Republic.
But the shooter itself has also contributed to the increase in numbers. The latest updates have all been well-received, and there are already new contents matching Episode 9.
In addition, the Pay2Win content that originally came in the form of loot boxes was completely removed a long time ago.
New updates brought characters from all “Star Wars” stories
What has changed in Battlefront 2 in 2019? The year 2019 was used to bring in content from the prequels into the game. DICE aimed to supplement the game, having already included many contents from the original trilogy and the new episodes 7 and 8:
- On January 23, the Sith Lord Count Dooku was added to the game. At the same time, a new battlefield, Geonosis, was released.
- In February, a new hero, Anakin Skywalker, was introduced.
- A patch on March 26 brought the new game mode “Total Domination” into the game. This is the largest game mode in Battlefront 2, which is also divided into several phases of ground and air combat.
- On June 26, a major update that introduced Naboo, Droidekas, and a new tank was released.
- In October, the new planet Felucia was added to Star Wars Battlefront 2 for the “Total Domination” mode. The update also brought back the PvE co-op mode “Instant Action” from the predecessor.
The year 2019 was rounded off with the update for Episode 9. On December 17, the new location Ajan Kloss, 4 new classes, and 2 new heroes, BB-8 for the Resistance and BB-9E for the First Order, were released.
Massive battles and many free updates create hype
What do players say about Battlefront 2? In a reddit thread, the statement regarding the strong player numbers is currently being discussed. Many users praise Battlefront 2:
- QueenKaijuLexi: I’m honestly surprised. You would think that the January update with the Clone Wars and two new heroes would have brought players back. It also shows what a good trailer can achieve.
- jduncan26: I’ve been playing since the release. By far one of the biggest video game comebacks of all time, like No Man’s Sky. I’m so glad that so many people are coming back to this game!
- blahblahblahvampire: Battlefront 2 surpasses Battlefield 5 in every regard.
However, the matchmaking is criticized, which can sometimes lead to long wait times despite the good player numbers:
- willoftheboss: It’s strange that I keep going through phases where I wait forever for a game or get shoved into nearly empty lobbies. I’m not saying that he [Dennis Brännvall] is lying, but the matchmaking is broken.
Is it worth playing Battlefront 2? Star Wars Battlefront 2 places great emphasis on large and varied battles. The many updates, which were all free, have meaningfully expanded the shooter in 2019. As a result, there is much to experience for returnees and newcomers.
Additionally, Battlefront 2 also offers a story campaign, which is a step up from its predecessor. At the same time, it avoids Pay2Win and fairly adjusted the shop in 2018.
If you love the world of Star Wars and shooters, you should definitely check out Battlefront 2. Battlefront 2 can be tried for 3.99 euros per month through EA Access. Alternatively, you can purchase the new Celebration Edition for 39.99 euros.
