'Battlefront 2' Will Explain 30 Years of Missing Star Wars History
The latest trailer teases confrontations with Luke Skywalker and Kylo Ren.
The latest Star Wars game, Battlefront II, will fill in the 30-year gap between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens by exploring what happens to the Empire through the eyes of one soldier: Iden Versio.
What Happened
In a brand-new trailer published on Tuesday, titled “This is Star Wars Battlefront 2,” actor John Boyega — best-known as Finn from The Force Awakens — narrates a comprehensive look at what the new game has to offer. He teases triple the number of locations, characters, and vehicles compared to the first Battlefront game, along with epic new game modes both on the ground and in space.
But one of the most exciting new additions to the franchise is an all-new single-player campaign story mode starring Janina Gavankar as Iden Versio, fighter pilot and leader of the Inferno Squad. The campaign takes place in between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens — which we’ve known since E3 2017 — but a brief sequence in the latest trailer confirms that the story opens with an officer telling Iden Versio about the Emperor’s death. Shots tease confrontations with both Luke Skywalker and Kylo Ren.
Check out the video here:
What It Means
Previously, we could only assume that Battlefront II’s campaign would tell a focused, smaller story within the greater stretch of time. Mitch Dyer, co-writer of the game, did confirm in May that the campaign would explore how Luke Skywalker’s story intersects with Versio’s. But this new video makes it seem like Battlefront II will bridge the entire gap between trilogies.
Boyega says, “With a few familiar faces along the way, it’s up to you to rise as a new Star Wars hero.” Onscreen, we see a quick shot of Versio aiming a gun at Luke Skywalker’s back before it quickly cuts directly to Kylo Ren in his signature mask. Does that mean Ben Solo’s emo alter-ego counts as a “familiar face” we’ll see as part of the campaign? Or is it just the product of random, misleading video editing?
If it’s the former, then Battlefront II’s story will almost certainly include time ,skips, and we’ll get the full story arc of the Empire and how its remnants eventually transformed into the First Order.
The shot of Kylo Ren isn't new, but its placement in the trailer is telling.
What’s Next
Further details are still sparse regarding the length and nature of the Battlefront II campaign, but we can expect more information in the coming weeks as the release date grows closer. The exact scope of the story will likely become clearer as we near the release date.
Will Iden Versio survive the campaign, or will she be killed off before the start of The Force Awakens? That remains to be seen.
Star Wars Battlefront II will be released November 17 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
