LucasArts confirms new Battlefront game

By Robert Purchese Published 27 May, 2009

Elite Squadron on DS and PSP this autumn.

LucasArts has officially unveiled the Battlefront: Elite Squadron game for DS and PSP that was listed the ESRB site last week. The game will be out this autumn.

Elite Squadron lets players fight on the ground and air during the same battle, which is apparently a first for the Battlefront series. You might start on foot, for example, and then jump in a speeder or fly a spaceship up to a battleship, hop out, and run around causing mischief.

The story spans the entire Star Wars saga and introduces a new chap called X2, who's a clone. But he's made from Jedi Master DNA and was designed to wipe out users of the Light Side, although he's had a change of synthetic-heart and now wants to be a good guy. His brother X1, however, still campaigns for the evil Empire, which probably means there will be a confrontation somewhere down the line.

We're told the PSP version can support an impressive 16 players online and has a deep level of customisation where heroes can be created and not only their weapons, armour and items chosen, but also their species, gender, appearance and physical strength.

The DS version, on the other hand, supports only four players online and has pre-made characters split into classes to choose from.

Still, both apparently have access to the Heroes and Villains mode, which lets us play as familiar faces from the films and videogames like The Force Unleashed and pummel the snot out of each other.

The PSP version looks quite clean, judging by the first screenshots, whereas the DS offering appears squashed, a bit like an Ewok.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (16) Latest comment 3 years ago

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  • Benno #1 3 years ago

    Handheld? FFS

  • smernicki #2 3 years ago

    "Elite Squadron lets players fight on the ground and air during the same battle, which is apparently a first for the Battlefront series. You might start on foot, for example, and then jump in a speeder or fly a spaceship up to a battleship, hop out, and run around causing mischief."

    erm, battlefront 1 and 2 anyone?

  • bad09 #3 3 years ago

    What I really don't understand is why LA keep pouring money into silly little handheld versions of a online multiplayer game not really suited to....handhelds.

  • Spekingur #4 3 years ago

    @smernicki; I guess he means "land and space at the same time". Which is a first.

    But what the heck are they thinking? The main group that is interested in this game are the PC owners. Not handheld owners.

  • Rirekon #5 3 years ago

    "Elite Squadron lets players fight on the ground and air during the same battle, which is apparently a first for the Battlefront series. You might start on foot, for example, and then jump in a speeder or fly a spaceship up to a battleship, hop out, and run around causing mischief."

    <a href=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_starwarsbattlefront _x>Battlefront</a>
    <a href=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_battlefront2_xbox&g t;Battlefront 2</a>

    Muppets

  • Slamhound #6 3 years ago

    "But what the heck are they thinking? The main group that is interested in this game are the PC owners. Not handheld owners."

    And face it, for all its flaws, the Battlefield series is infinitely better than the Battlefront series. Both Battlefront 1 and 2 played like a really poor mod with a premium price.

  • andywilkie35 #7 3 years ago

    If it was on 360 or PS3 I would have been interested.

  • J.C #8 3 years ago

    Handheld? were is the 360/PS3 battlefront 3 then? fucking idiots!

  • Domovoi #9 3 years ago

    I opened up both those screenshot links in separate windows, not checking which was which. At first I thought "What are they talking about, this looks awesome for the DS."

    Then I looked at the other window, and realised my terrible error.

  • BBIAJ #10 3 years ago

    Is this being developed in-house then, or by someone else such as Rebellion?

  • dingo75 #11 3 years ago

    And face it, for all its flaws, the Battlefield series is infinitely better than the Battlefront series. Both Battlefront 1 and 2 played like a really poor mod with a premium price.

    I completed Battlefront 1 in single player and god was that boring.
    Probably this concept mainly flies with multiplayer. No idea whether those handheld versions will offer some or not.

  • Domovoi #12 3 years ago

    Then perhaps you should try just reading the damned article.

  • smelly #13 3 years ago

    Lucasarts confirms working on a new star wars game shocker!

  • AphoticCosmos #14 3 years ago

    Finish BF3 you douchebags -_- Do FRD's work some justice.

  • mrfight67 #15 3 years ago

    Woot anothr new PSP title, it sounds like a PSP warhwk set in space with the ground and air in the same battle thing. Most probably will get it.

  • bratmandu #16 3 years ago

    I wish DICE would pick up Star Wars Battlefront, and use the Frostbite engine for fully destructible scenery.

    That's a game I'd like to play.

    Also, take out any and all Episode 1-3 stuff - just ignore it.

    **Campaign to get Lucasarts to use DICE to make Battlefront 3 anyone?
    Edited by 1 at 28/05/09 @ 17:18