Bungie May Be Eyeing Development for Star Wars Battlefront 3

There’s a fresh buzz in the galaxy: Disney is reportedly on the hunt for a new Star Wars Battlefront game and is considering two developers for the task. One of the contenders is a familiar name, while the other is none other than Bungie, the studio behind Halo, Destiny, and Marathon. If this rumor holds water, fans of Star Wars shooters might finally see the Battlefront 3 they’ve been dreaming of for over two decades.

The origin of this rumor comes from an unexpected source: the pages of a classic gaming magazine, where the infamous rumor mill “Quarterman” has resurfaced.

How did this long-dormant magazine, which last saw a new issue in summer 2014, come to share such an exciting rumor about Star Wars Battlefront 3? A new print edition is being released as part of a Kickstarter campaign for the Electronic Gaming Monthly Compendium. This campaign included a stretch goal of $250,000, which, once surpassed, would lead to a 265th issue of the iconic magazine, featuring contributions from former staff and notable figures in the gaming industry. The campaign exceeded $1.7 million in pledges back in 2024, ensuring the compendium and its additional goals would be realized.

Recently, the creators of the EGM Compendium confirmed that the new issue is finally going to print. It will feature fresh reviews and, notably, a new column dedicated to rumors from Quarterman. One of these rumors was shared during a recent segment on a gaming show, where a reporter and new EGM contributor revealed some intriguing details.

“Disney has ambitious plans for the Star Wars Battlefront series,” the reporter stated, referencing the magazine’s rumor section. “Given the sustained popularity of EA’s Battlefront 2, which other Star Wars media can only aspire to, it seems logical that they would greenlight Battlefront 3 sooner rather than later.”

The report continued, noting that Lucasfilm has been actively seeking a development partner for this project. While no studio has officially stepped up yet, two major game developers are reportedly interested. The first is EA DICE, who we hope have learned from their past experiences with loot boxes. The second contender is Bungie, which could take the reins if DICE isn’t chosen.

It’s important to mention that the Quarterman was a pseudonym for the magazine’s news editor at the time. Whether the reporter contributed this specific news under that name remains uncertain, but they did clarify that while the game isn’t officially in development yet, discussions about potential developers are definitely happening.

EA DICE has previously developed two titles in the Star Wars Battlefront series. The original Star Wars Battlefront launched in 2015 for PlayStation 4, Windows PC, and Xbox One, featuring characters and settings from the original trilogy. The sequel, released in 2017, expanded the universe to include the Clone Wars and sequel eras.

Going back a decade, LucasArts and Pandemic released two similarly named shooters: Star Wars: Battlefront and Star Wars: Battlefront 2. A third installment was in the works at Free Radical Design but was ultimately scrapped. Incomplete builds of Star Wars: Battlefront 3 have surfaced, including a version for the Wii.

Whether an official Star Wars Battlefront 3 is on the horizon or if this is just speculation remains to be seen. Electronic Arts’ exclusive license to create Star Wars games expired in 2023, although they are still developing a new Star Wars Jedi title with Respawn Entertainment. Meanwhile, EA DICE is focused on supporting Battlefield 6, and Bungie is busy revamping Marathon and enhancing Destiny 2, leaving their capacity for a new Star Wars project uncertain. However, Bungie does have experience with the franchise, having released a Star Wars-themed expansion for Destiny 2 titled Renegades last December.

With positive player sentiment surrounding Battlefront 2 and the potential to capitalize on current trends, Battlefront 3 seems like a golden opportunity for Disney.