Sony's Bungie May Make Star Wars Battlefront 3 for Disney

A new Star Wars: Battlefront game could finally be back on the table, with Disney reportedly exploring a partnership with DICE and Bungie to develop a follow-up to 2017’s Star Wars Battlefront II.

The report, shared by gaming journalist Jeff Grubb during the October 19 episode of Giant Bomb’s Game Mess Mornings, suggests Lucasfilm is looking for a development studio to bring the multiplayer shooter series back. DICE, which developed both modern Battlefront games, is reportedly among the candidates, alongside Bungie, the studio behind Halo, Destiny and Marathon. 

However, Star Wars: Battlefront 3 has not been officially announced and is reportedly not in development. Disney is still said to be searching for a studio willing to take on the project, so the conversations do not guarantee that a sequel will happen.

Why Disney Is Looking for a New Star Wars: Battlefront Developer

The most interesting part of the report is not simply that Disney wants another Battlefront game. It is that Lucasfilm is reportedly looking for the right studio to make it happen.

According to Grubb, who discussed information from Electronic Gaming Monthly’s latest rumour column, Lucasfilm has been searching for a development partner for a follow-up to Battlefront II. The report points to the continued popularity of the 2017 game as a possible reason to revisit the franchise. 

That makes sense because the modern Battlefront series already has an established audience, a recognisable multiplayer format and decades of Star Wars locations, characters and battles to draw from. A new game would not need to introduce players to the concept of fighting across the galaxy; it would need to deliver the experience fans have been asking for since support for the previous game ended.

However, finding a studio is only the first step. A project of this scale would need a team capable of handling large multiplayer battles, character abilities, vehicles, maps and the technical demands of bringing Star Wars combat to modern consoles and PC.

Disney reportedly has two potential candidates in mind, but neither has been confirmed as the studio responsible for the next game.

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DICE Is the Obvious Choice for Star Wars: Battlefront 3

DICE is the most familiar name in the conversation. The EA-owned studio developed Star Wars Battlefront (2015) and Star Wars Battlefront II (2017), giving it direct experience with the series' large-scale battles, familiar Star Wars settings and multiplayer systems.

The first reboot brought players back to locations such as Endor and Hoth, while its sequel expanded the experience with a single-player campaign, more heroes and villains, and additional ways to fight across the Star Wars universe.

Neither game had a completely smooth journey. Battlefront II faced heavy criticism over its progression system and loot boxes at launch in 2017, prompting a major overhaul after widespread player backlash. DICE subsequently improved the game, and its reputation recovered as the experience grew beyond its original release.

That history gives DICE both an advantage and a responsibility. The studio understands the franchise's strengths, but another instalment would need to avoid the problems that overshadowed its predecessor's launch.

DICE has also continued working on Battlefield, so taking on another major multiplayer shooter would require a significant development commitment. Whether it wants to return to Battlefront remains unconfirmed. Even so, handing the series back to the team that built its two modern entries would be the most straightforward route to a sequel.

Could Bungie Develop the Next Star Wars Shooter Instead?

Bungie is the more unexpected candidate, but the studio has plenty of experience with science-fiction shooters.

Its work on Halo helped shape console first-person shooters, while Destiny 2 demonstrated its ability to build a long-running online game around gunplay, cooperative missions and competitive multiplayer.

Those strengths could be useful for a new Battlefront. Star Wars offers a huge arsenal of blasters, iconic vehicles, specialised soldiers and Force-wielding heroes, all of which could benefit from Bungie's experience designing responsive combat.

But there is a difference between making a great shooter and making a great Battlefront game. The series relies on more than its gunplay appeal which comes from the scale of its battles, the interaction between infantry and vehicles, and the feeling of participating in a recognisable Star Wars conflict.

Bungie would need to bring those elements together without losing what makes the franchise distinct. The studio is also managing its own challenges. Its extraction shooter, Marathon, has faced a difficult commercial reception, while Bungie has undergone layoffs and other organisational changes in recent years.

A major Star Wars project could offer a new opportunity, but it would also demand resources and long-term commitment. There is no confirmation that Bungie has agreed to take on the game, or that its existing projects would change as a result.