Electronic Arts is bringing together two of its most experienced first-person shooter studios for what multiple sources describe as Star Wars Battlefront 3. The publisher confirmed in an employee memo that DICE and Respawn Entertainment will collaborate on a future project, though it stopped short of naming the game directly.
The announcement came as part of a broader restructuring at EA, one that included the closure of BioWare and approximately 400 job cuts across the company. Yet within that sombre context, the DICE-Respawn partnership emerged as one of the few forward-looking elements in an otherwise contraction-focused memo.
What EA Actually Confirmed
EA executives Cam Weber, president and chief studio officer, and David Timson, president and COO, addressed staff in a memo reproduced by Variety. They praised Battlefield 6 as a success and outlined the publisher’s shooter strategy going forward.
Key detail: EA did not officially confirm the project is Star Wars Battlefront 3. The identification comes from Variety’s independent reporting, which cites multiple sources familiar with the publisher’s plans.
The memo stated: “In addition to our future Battlefield titles, we’ll be bringing together our Respawn and DICE studios to collaborate on a future project that will help us achieve that ambition. We can’t wait to share more when the time comes.”
That language left room for interpretation, but Variety reported separately that multiple sources confirmed the collaboration is indeed Star Wars Battlefront 3, developed for Lucasfilm. Earlier rumours had suggested Bungie, the studio behind Destiny, might be involved in a new Battlefront, though those claims remain unconfirmed.
Why This Pairing Makes Sense
DICE developed both entries in the modern Battlefront series, with 2017’s Star Wars Battlefront 2 receiving its final major update in 2020. The studio has deep institutional knowledge of the franchise’s mechanics, from class systems to vehicle combat.
Respawn, meanwhile, has built the Star Wars Jedi trilogy, demonstrating its ability to craft narrative-driven experiences within the galaxy. The studio is also known for Apex Legends, giving it substantial live-service expertise that a modern Battlefront would likely require.
Combining DICE’s large-scale multiplayer infrastructure with Respawn’s live-service know-how creates a team with complementary strengths. Both studios operate under the EA umbrella, making resource-sharing straightforward from a corporate perspective.
What Remains Unknown
Despite the reports, significant details about Battlefront 3 are absent. Neither EA nor Lucasfilm has announced a release window, supported platforms, or gameplay features. How development responsibilities will be divided between the two studios is unclear.
EA has also not publicly confirmed whether the project will carry the Battlefront 3 name. The publisher’s memo referred only to a “future project,” leaving official naming rights open.
Respawn is currently finishing Star Wars Jedi 3, reportedly targeted for a 2027 launch with marketing expected to begin later this year. Once that trilogy concludes, the studio can shift focus to the unannounced Battlefront collaboration.
“Building EA’s Next Chapter” — the memo’s title — signals that the publisher views this collaboration as part of a broader pivot toward live-service shooters and established franchises.
The Broader EA Context
The Battlefront 3 reports arrived alongside news that EA is shutting down BioWare and cancelling the next Mass Effect game. The restructuring affects roughly 3% of EA’s global workforce, with layoffs expected to impact around 400 employees.
EA’s action-adventure lineup remains intact, however. The publisher reaffirmed its commitment to Marvel’s Iron Man, developed by Motive Studio, and Star Wars Jedi 3 from Respawn. These titles, combined with the Battlefield franchise and the DICE-Respawn collaboration, form the core of EA’s post-restructuring development strategy.
For Star Wars fans, the prospect of a new Battlefront game offers a counterbalance to the BioWare closure. The 2017 entry remains one of the most polished Star Wars games ever made, and a successor with both DICE and Respawn’s combined expertise could bring the franchise up to date with content inspired by newer releases like Andor and The Mandalorian.
