In 2004, Pandemic Studios, which would later create the franchises, launched Destroy All Humans! and Mercenaries, Star Wars: Battlefront. The game drew players to the front lines of some of the most iconic battles of the original and prequel trilogies. The following year, a sequel was launched, introducing a narrative campaign, new game modes, and the ability to play as notable Jedi and Sith characters.
Even after EA and DICE revived the series in 2015 with a pair of similarly named games, the original titles are often considered some of the best Star Wars games to date due to their chaotic combat and faithfulness to the films that inspired them.
Now Aspyr, who previously brought back other retro Star Wars games like Knights of the Old Republic and The Force Unleashed, has once again teamed up with Lucasfilm Games to deliver Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection.
Originally introduced as part of the Nintendo Direct, the Classic Collection will feature both Pandemic-developed Battlefront games with online multiplayer support for up to 64 players on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch, PS4 and Xbox One. Steam Deck owners can also expect full device support when the game launches for all platforms on March 14th.
The Classic Collection will bring back all game modes from both games, including both campaigns and the beloved Galactic Conquest mode, which spans multiple planets and battles as players battle for control of the galaxy as a whole.
When in battle, players can choose from a variety of classes, such as Wookiee Warriors, droids and stormtroopers, or control ground and air vehicles such as Speeder Bikes, AT-STs, TIE fighters and X-wings. Plus, all bonus content for both games will be included at launch, which includes the Jabba's Palace map for the first game along with four extra maps (Bespin: Cloud City, Rhen Var: Harbor, Rhen Var: Citadel and Yavin 4: Arena) and two additional heroes (Asajj Ventress & Kit Fisto) for the second game.
Seasoned gamers may also remember the Hero Assault mode, which allowed participants to fight as iconic heroes and villains like Yoda and Darth Vader. For the Classic Collection, Hero Assault will be expanded to include all maps, making locations like the Death Star and Naboo playable in this mode for the first time.
If you already own one or both Battlefront games on Xbox or PC, Aspyr will be offering a 20% discount during the pre-order period.