The early 2000s were an incredible time to be aStar Warsfan. Though the prequels were far from critically acclaimed, they did bringStar Warsfever back with a vengeance.Star Warstoys, novels, comic books, and video games all flooded their respective markets, producing some of the bestStar Warsprojects of all time. 2004’sStar Wars: Battlefrontis one such project.
Released on July 24, 2025, the Pandemic Studios and LucasArts-developedStar Wars: Battlefrontis still widely considered to be one of the most importantStar Warsgames ever made. Though it may not be quite as shiny as its modern EA counterparts, and it may not be as widely beloved as its direct sequel,Star Wars: Battlefrontwas an incredibly influential game, and it set a blueprint for what would become the definitiveStar Warsvideo game experience.
20 Years Ago, Star Wars: Battlefront Set a New Standard For The Franchise
Star Wars: Battlefront Came Close to Offering The Ultimate Star Wars Gaming Experience
WhileStar Warsvideo games had been releasing for almost two decades at that point, the vast majority of those titles were fairly small-scale adventures, movie tie-in games, or games that focused on one very specific part of the universe. Of course, there were outliers like2003’sStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republicand the sprawling MMOStar Wars Galaxies, but generally speaking,Star Wars: Battlefrontoffered a scope that was rarely seen in the realm ofStar Warsgames.
Star Wars: Battlefrontoffered 17 large maps, each based on an iconic location from either the original trilogy,The Phantom Menace, orAttack of the Clones. These larger maps combined with the game’s ability to host up to 32 players in an online match led toStar Wars: Battlefrontfeeling like a truly epic experience, on a scale that no otherStar Warsgame had managed to achieve before.
This feeling was compounded by the game’s vehicles, which let players take control of iconic ships likeX-Wings and TIE-Fighters, along with speeder bikes and AT-STs.Battlefront’s presentation was also top-of-the-line, with each blaster bolt, Thermal Detonator explosion, and Tauntaun grumble sounding exactly how it should.
The cherry on the cake wasStar Wars: Battlefront’s little moments of fan-service, likethe Sarlacc Pitappearing on the Dune Sea map, or the ability to tow-cable an AT-AT. But whileStar Wars: Battlefrontdelivered aStar Warsgaming experience like nothing that had come before it, it wasn’t the definitive experience just yet. For that, fans would need to wait just two more years.
Star Wars: Battlefront’s Groundwork Was Used to Create the Definitive Experience
In 2005,Pandemic and LucasArtstook the groundwork laid byStar Wars: Battlefrontand built upon it, forging what many fans still consider to be the ultimateStar Warsvideo game experience.Star Wars: Battlefront 2delivered exactly what fans wanted from a sequel. From even more maps based on iconic planets – including those from the recently releasedRevenge of the Sith– to space battles to the ability to play as beloved heroes and villains from both the original and prequel trilogies,Star Wars: Battlefront 2gave fans everything they could want from aStar Warsgame, but that wouldn’t have happened without 2004’sStar Wars: Battlefront.
Star Wars Battlefront
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Star Wars Battlefront, produced by Pandemic Studios, is a 2004 first-and-third person shooting game that borrowed many of the same mechanics as the Battlefield franchise. The game focuses on large-scale battles and recreates various encounters from the movies.
