Joystiq

This is what happened to Star Wars Battlefront 3

David Hinkle — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:15:00 EST

Despite our infinite sadness that TimeSplitters 4 is not in development right now, at least we have some closure regarding developer Free Radical Design today. Steve Ellis, one of three individuals who left Rare after the completion of GoldenEye 007 on the N64 and founded Free Radical Design, has shed some light on what happened to the UK-based developer - and why we never got Star Wars Battlefront 3, even though Free Radical basically finished it in 2008.

"It was a big thing, we were very excited and for a long time it was going very well," Ellis told GI.biz in an interview that focuses on the rise of Free Radical and how it eventually became Crytek UK. "That was a big deal for us because it meant putting all our eggs in one basket. It was a critical decision - do we want to bet on LucasArts? And we chose to because things were going as well as they ever had. It was a project that looked like it would probably be the most successful thing we had ever done and they were asking us to make the sequel to it too. It seemed like a no-brainer." But then things got a bit rocky due to a shift in LucasArts management. Key individuals left the company and suddenly things were looking grim for Free Radical's Battlefront 3.

"LucasArts' opinion is that when you launch a game you have to spend big on the marketing and they're right. But at that time they were, for whatever reason, unable to commit to spending big. They effectively canned a game that was finished." As of March 2008, Free Radical had a competent working build. "It was pretty much done, it was in final QA. It had been in final QA for half of 2008, it was just being fixed for release," Ellis concluded.

This is what happened to Star Wars Battlefront 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Star Wars: Battlefront 3 footage from 2008 hits the tubes

Jessica Conditt — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST

The above version of Star Wars: Battlefront 3 was canceled and will never truly exist outside of the YouTube time portal, but sometimes it's nice to get a glimpse of what could have been. We can learn from its failings, reanimate its successes and keep talking about how great the old days were, forgetting that one day right now will be the "good old days."

All premature nostalgia aside, the video above is reportedly a pre-alpha version of Free Radical's vision for Battlefront 3, shot in 2008, and it covers the menu, character creation, general gameplay and a few flight scenes.

More Star Wars: Battlefront 3 footage from 2008 hits the tubes originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Spark Unlimited producing sci-fi sequel, speculation says Battlefront 3

Jessica Conditt — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:45:00 EST

Remember Star Wars: Battlefront 3? It was never really made, but was never officially canceled either, and the idea faded into the background some time in 2010. Not everyone is ready to let the dream go, as PlayStation Lifestyle is reporting a slew of data that it says suggests developer Spark Unlimited is working on Battlefront 3.

Lifestyle's evidence includes a job opening at Spark listing "a 3rd Person Action/Adventure sequel in a high-profile science fiction franchise currently greenlit for full production development for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC markets;" a Spark employee's LinkedIn profile that describes a sword-fighting game for a well-known IP; and another that lists a triple-A third-person shooter that's been in development for three years.

Spark Unlimited's previous projects include 2008's Legendary and Turning Point: Fall of Liberty, and 2004's Call of Duty: Finest Hour. Battlefront 1 and 2 were developed by Pandemic Studios, which was bought by EA and eventually shuttered in 2009. Before closing, Pandemic said it was not working on Battlefront 3, and no developer has officially claimed it since.

Spark's coming title could be one of many unannounced sci-fi sequels, such as Star Wars: Jedi Knight 3, yet another XCOM revamp (why not?) or Asteroids 3D: When Spinning and Shooting Doesn't Work. Spark says it plans on publicly announcing its sci-fi secret this year.

Rumor: Spark Unlimited producing sci-fi sequel, speculation says Battlefront 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Star Wars Battlefront: Online in the works

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:20:00 EST

The development of Star Wars Battlefront III has been rocky, to say the least. Work began at Free Radical before Crytek snapped up the company, then the game was rumored to be in Rebellion's care before it eventually dropped from the face of the earth. Meanwhile Pandemic, the recently shuttered studio behind the first two games, apparently had nothing to do with the title at all.

The latest rumor, courtesy of Kotaku, puts development of a brand new Battlefront project, entitled Star Wars Battlefront: Online, in the hands of Slant Six Games and LucasArts. Slant Six is the studio behind several games in the SOCOM tactical-shooter series, making it a reasonable candidate for a Battlefront developer. The game will reportedly arrive in 2011 on PS3 and Xbox 360. It will focus on online play and, presumably, Star Wars. According to Kotaku, Star Wars Battlefront: Online is also the source of the Star Wars Battlefront III casting rumors that popped up last December.

Rumor: Star Wars Battlefront: Online in the works originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Battlefront 3 still in development, casting director claims

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST

We haven't heard anything on the subject of Star Wars: Battlefront 3 in quite some time -- so long, in fact, that we had nearly forgotten all about it. But when a forumgoer pointed out to Battlefront3.net that a casting director named Chris Marazzo noted on his personal website that, "After casting over 200 commercials and various projects in NY and LA, including most recently Star Wars: Battlefront 3 with Lucas Arts," the rumor popped right back up onto our radar. The folks at BF3.net asked Marazzo about his involvement with the title and got a somewhat straightforward, if not partially confusing, response. "The original title was Battlefront 3, but it evolved into Star Wars Empire at War: Forces of Corruption ... however, Battlefront 3 is also in development. "

There's a possibility we'll find out more about a new entry in the Battlefront series this evening when the Spike VGAs premiere information on what's next for the Star Wars gaming franchise. In the meantime, we've contacted LucasArts for comment and will update this post if we hear more.

[Via VG247]

Battlefront 3 still in development, casting director claims originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ESRB details new Star Wars: Battlefront titles

Xav de Matos — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:30:00 EST

As it has in the past (accidentally so, we assume), the ESRB has leaked details for upcoming as yet unannounced titles. This time, the ESRB has trickled out details for two games -- both titled Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron -- for the Nintendo DS and PSP, Kotaku reports.

According to product descriptions for each title, the games are presented in third-person and showcases battles throughout the Star Wars universe; in space, on land and in the air. Whether Elite Squadron is related to the Star Wars: Battlefront 3 title (formerly in development at Free Radical) remains to be seen.

Full product descriptions can be found after the break. Joystiq has contacted LucasArts for a comment regarding the listings.

Continue reading ESRB details new Star Wars: Battlefront titles

ESRB details new Star Wars: Battlefront titles originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 May 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumorang: Star Wars Battlefront III 'not currently' at Pandemic

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:04:00 EST

Despite the rumor to the contrary, it appears that Star Wars: Battlefront III is not in development at Pandemic, the studio responsible for the first two games. Just last week an employee from Rebellion -- where Battlefront III development moved after its initial stint at Free Radical -- reportedly stated that development had shifted to Pandemic. According to Mathew Everett, community manager at Pandemic, the game "is not currently" with the studio. He added that only LucasArts would know the fate of the title at this point.

Depending on your point of view, this news is either a terrible blow or a tremendous relief (unless you're just middlin', of course). Given the popularity of the most recent Star Wars title, The Force Unleashed, we imagine Battlefront III will find a home somewhere. Here's hoping Jabba is finally playable.

[Via VideoGamer]

Rumorang: Star Wars Battlefront III 'not currently' at Pandemic originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Star Wars Battlefront III goes home to Pandemic [update]

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:31:00 EST

Update: According to Pandemic community manager Mathew Everett, the studio is not currently working on Star Wars Battlefront III.

Star Wars Battlefront III has been jumping developers like a frog on a hotplate. First under development at Free Radical, the title was then supposedly moved to Rebellion. Now that Rebellion is hard at work on Aliens Vs. Predator, the latest rumor has the game right back at square one: Pandemic. The rumor comes from website DarkZero, which claims that it received the news directly from a Rebellion employee.

It would make sense, given that Pandemic was responsible for the first two games. Considering the studio also just pushed Lord of the Rings: Conquest out the door, its Batman title was canceled and the only other project we know about is Saboteur, Pandemic doesn't exactly have a full plate.

Rumor: Star Wars Battlefront III goes home to Pandemic [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Leaked footage of Star Wars Battlefront 3

Dustin Burg — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: News, Rumors

Sporting a Free Radical logo watermark, a video of supposed Star Wars Battlefront 3 alpha footage has made its way onto YouTube and - if legit - gives us nearly six minutes of gameplay to drool over.

The footage was supposedly shot during an "internal show and tell Alpha meeting" that took place in November and not only shows impressive visuals, but nifty gameplay elements including airborne combat that flows seamlessly from planet-level to space. It should be stated that the status of Battlefront 3 is still relatively unknown thanks to the predicament developer Free Radical is in.

[Via Joystiq]

Rumor: Leaked footage of Star Wars Battlefront 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: 'Leaked' footage shows Star Wars Battlefront 3 in action [update]

Randy Nelson — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:55:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360

A video posted on YouTube purportedly shows gameplay from an alpha version of Star Wars Battlefront III. Indeed, the footage -- while low in quality -- appears legitimate, with its poster reporting that it "was taken in an internal show and tell Alpha meeting back in November."

Watermarked with a Free Radical logo -- much like pre-release builds of Haze were -- the game appears very similar in mechanics to Star Wars Battlefront II, albeit with dramatically improved visuals (particularly in the area of screen-rocking special effects). Elements of note include airborne combat that seamlessly transitions from a planet's atmosphere into space, the presence of a playable "old" Ben Kenobi (on what appears to be Tatooine) and even playable Ewoks.

There's still no word on the fate of the game given Free Radical's current predicament, but this footage -- if authentic -- has us ~~hoping~~ Jedi meditating that the dev's work so far doesn't go to waste. See the video for yourself after the break.

[Update: YouTube has removed the video at the request of Lucasfilm. GameVideos' version can be found after the break.]

[Via GameVideos]

Continue reading Rumor: 'Leaked' footage shows Star Wars Battlefront 3 in action [update]

Rumor: 'Leaked' footage shows Star Wars Battlefront 3 in action [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars Battlefront 3 renders revealed by former Free Radical artist

Randy Nelson — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:26:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action

3D artist Richard Smith - one of 140 employees of Time Splitters (and ... Haze) developer, Free Radical, laid off as the company went belly-up-for-sale - posted images from some of his modeling work on Star Wars Battlefront III on his personal blog. Or, shall we say, what could have been Star Wars Battlefront III.

The renders have since been pulled; lucky thing the internet is faster than the Millennium Falcon making the Kessel Run. Apparently, Smith was working on concepts for Han Solo (above) and a bounty hunter named Shara. Two of the images carry a game logo and are dated 2007, indicating that Battlefront III had been in development for some time prior to Free Radical's demise.

Development on the game is now rumored to continue at UK-based Rebellion, which just so happens to have created Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron for PSP.

[Via X3F]

Source - Richard Smith (blog)
Source - Rebellion Battlefront III reports aren't wrong (Videogamer.com)

Star Wars Battlefront 3 renders revealed by former Free Radical artist originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Former Free Radical employee leaks original Star Wars: Battlefront III renders

Xav de Matos — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: News, Galleries

Former Free Radical employee Richard Smith has uploaded original renders created for the company in 2007 as part of the production for Star Wars: Battlefront III to his personal blog. The very early renders include images of Han Solo and Sahra The Bounty Hunter. Smith, along with over 75% of his coworkers, was recently laid off from as the developer attempts to sell its studio. Free Radical had previously developed the TimeSplitters series and the poorly received PS3-exclusive Haze.

According to a report on Videogamer.com, an unnamed inside source has told the site production of Star Wars: Battlefront III has been taken from Free Radical Design and placed in the hands of Oxford-based Call of Duty: World at War (PS2) developer Rebellion who also developed the 1999 sensation, Alien vs. Predator.

Gallery: Star Wars: Battlefront 3 - Original Renders

Former Free Radical employee leaks original Star Wars: Battlefront III renders originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars Battlefront III appears on Amazon

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: News

And, naturally, it was taken down. Thankfully, the internet is always there to catch the truth. However briefly, a listing for Star Wars Battlefront III was up on Amazon announcing that the game was coming to every platform under the sun including our beloved Xbox 360. Amazon was offering the game for pre-order with a release date of March 15, 2009. Something tells us that date is probably a placeholder.

With Battlefront series creators Pandemic currently hard at work on Lord of the Rings: Conquest for their new bosses at EA, the question remains as to who will develop the third installment of the series. Joystiq surmises that it will be UK studio Rebellion, which was responsible for Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron for the PSP. Assuming the 2009 release date is even close to accurate, it looks like we'll have quite a while to find out.

[Via Joystq]

Star Wars Battlefront III appears on Amazon originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars Battlefront III could be heading to PSP

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:15:00 EST

Filed under: Star Wars

LucasArts has always been good about supporting Sony's handheld. In fact, they even graced the PSP with an exclusive Battlefront game, Renegade Squadron. In spite of the handheld's diminutive capabilities, the wizards at LucasArts managed to get 16-player infrastructure gameplay onto the system. The upcoming Force Unleashed reaffirms the commitment Lucas has towards the PSP.

A new listing on amazon.com shows Star Wars Battlefront III arriving on PSP, in addition to every other platform out there. With the last PSP Battlefront game being such a success, we can only hope that this listing turns out to be real. Guess we'll have to wait until E3.

[Via Joystiq]

Star Wars Battlefront III could be heading to PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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