Acting as the firstborn of EA and Lucasfilm’s ten-year licensing agreement, DICE’s Star Wars Battlefront is shouldering a considerable amount of expectation from fans of the film and the Battlefront franchise alike. Having gained unprecedented access to Lucasfilm’s vaults, though, the studio’s big-budget take on a galaxy far, far away is shaping up to be one of the most authentic and faithful licensed titles in generations.
Granted, DICE has made concessions throughout development, reining in the galactic action and cutting space battles altogether, but that doesn’t mean Star Wars Battlefront will be devoid of aerial combat, as the pulse-pounding new trailer for the shooter’s Fighter Squadron mode attests.
“Fighter Squadron will put you inside the cockpit of some of the most memorable vehicles ever seen in the Star Wars galaxy. We want to give fans the thrill of living out their Star Wars battle fantasies in a game that is authentic, visually stunning and fun.”
Prior to Gamescom, all of the footage showcased for Battlefront placed a spotlight on the game’s ground combat, as soldiers from the Rebel Alliance and the villainous Empire duke it out across the likes of Hoth, Tatooine and Endor. Now, DICE is taking the action to the skies, showcasing the pulse-pounding action as you duck and dive between the canyons to avoid enemies.
Commands issued by allies also hint at the type of set-up players can expect, with the mission demonstrated orbiting around an Imperial transport attempting to make it out of the planet’s atmosphere. There’s also a cameo from Darth Vader’s Executor, the Millennium Falcon itself, and even the elongated ship that belongs to the infamous mercenary Boba Fett. As a firefight breaks out, the Falcon swoops in to destroy the escaping transport – but with Fett on its tail, one would hope the pilot doesn’t get too cocky.
Star Wars Battlefront will blast onto PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on November 17.
