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How EA talks about loot boxes depends on who's listening
Electronic Arts is in a familiar position: Apology mode. The company spent a lot of time on Saturday self-flagellating in front of a global audience, recapping the mistakes it's made in the past year while promising that it won't make them again. EA wants you to know that it has changed; that it isn't the same company that put pay-to-win progression systems and loot boxes in two of its biggest games last fall. "We are always trying to learn and listen, and are striving to be better," CEO Andrew Wilson said before closing out the keynote address. He continued that, for people that purchase his company's games, he wants them to feel like they're being treated fairly. "No one is given an unfair advantage — or disadvantage — for how they choose to play. That for every moment you invest, you feel like you're rewarded, and you're given value for that investment."
'Star Wars Battlefront II' revives microtransactions for cosmetics
Star Wars Battlefront II's pay-to-win loot crate fiasco more or less ended when Electronic Arts made it so the game's Star Card power ups could only be earned through gameplay. A month later, the company is cautiously reintroducing the buy-with-real-money Crystal currency, but you can only use it to snag cosmetic upgrades. Oh, and there's a new stormtroopers-versus-ewoks mode that will be available on April 18th for a limited time.
'Battlefront II' will finally make in-game progression fair next week
Electronic Arts' long, awkward nightmare over Star Wars Battlefront II's multiplayer progression might finally be over. With next week's patch, dubbed the "Progression" update, EA promises that Star Cards (power-ups) or any other item that impact gameplay will only be earned through gameplay from here on out -- not via paid loot crates. Previously, EA had adjusted and removed some of the pay-to-win aspects, saying that eventually real-money transactions would return.
'Battlefront II' under investigation in Belgium over loot crates
EA isn't only getting a lot of flak over Battlefront II's loot crates, it's also under investigation from Belgium's gambling authority. According to VTM Nieuws, the country's gaming commission is in the midst of taking a closer look at both Battlefront II and Overwatch, since add-on boxes that have to be purchased before you can see what's inside might constitute gambling. As Commission chairman Peter Naessens points out, random loot boxes are a game of chance.
Of course ‘Star Wars: Battlefront II’ is getting 'The Last Jedi' content
Fans of a galaxy far, far away are paying attention to two countdowns leading up to the holidays: The release of Star Wars: Battlefront II on November 17th and the next film in the saga, The Last Jedi, which comes out on December 15th. In a shrewd (but not unexpected) move, publisher EA has announced that the first batch of new (and free) content featuring locations and heroes from the new movie will be added to the game days before The Last Jedi hits theaters.
You won't have to pay to win in 'Battlefront II' after all
If nothing else, EA is listening to the fans for Star Wars: Battlefront II. After all, outcry was the reason the game will have a single-player campaign mode and an awful lot more depth. So, perhaps it isn't too surprising that the game company paid attention when people were up in arms over the game's loot box implementation.
EA extends 'Star Wars Battlefront II' public beta until Wednesday
If you didn't get enough rebel-on-galactic action during EA's Star Wars Battlefront II beta this past weekend, you're in luck. EA announced on Monday that it is extending the public event until Wednesday, October 11th. While players won't have access to the new cinematic campaign during the beta, they will be able to experience the large-scale combat in Galactic Assault mode, fight against the AI in Arcade, pilot starships in Starfighter Assault and lead an 8-member fireteam in Strikes. BF2 is available on both the Xbox One and Playstation 4 consoles and is slated for release on November 17th.
'Star Wars Battlefront II' adds tactical weight to space combat
As my T-65B X-Wing glides into view, I survey the scene up ahead. TIE fighters chase after nimble A-Wings, a flurry of green laser fire in their wake. A group of X-Wings circle an Imperial Cruiser, unloading proton torpedoes in a desperate attempt to lower the Empire's defences. To my left, I spot some TIE Interceptors headed toward my fellow X-Wings. Instinctively I barrel forward and harry them before a well-timed missile turns my ship into space debris. My heroics were short-lived, but I'm soon able to pick a new vehicle and rejoin the fray, gaining my revenge on the TIE Bomber that so casually stopped me before.
Watch Disney's D23 video game event at 4PM Eastern
You probably don't think of a Disney fan expo as a go-to source for video game news, but you might need to reconsider this year. The media giant is livestreaming a Video Game Showcase starting at 4PM Eastern, and it promises better looks at Disney-themed games than you might have had in the past. The event will center around Square-Enix's elusive Kingdom Hearts III, Insomniac's take on Spider-Man and EA's much-hyped Star Wars: Battlefront II -- those first two in particular haven't had much screen time. Whether or not there are any big revelations, you'll have plenty of opportunities to tune in. Hosts Jacksepticeye and Strawburry17 are streaming the event on their respective Twitch and YouTube channels, while Disney itself is offering a live feed through the D23 website as well as its Facebook games page.
'Star Wars Battlefront II' is a friendlier 'Battlefield'
It's hard to talk about EA's multiplayer Star Wars shooter without accidentally stumbling over your words and mentioning the company's other large-scale war series: Battlefield. It's only natural. Long before Disney gave Electronic Arts the exclusive rights to create Star Wars video games, the Battlefront series was taking notes from DICE's own shooter -- draping science fiction trappings over the WWII game's vehicle combat, large battlefields and even its name. When EA took over the franchise its own game inspired, however, the resulting game was accused of being gorgeous, but shallow. Fortunately, the company seems to have heard player complaints. According to Star Wars Battlefront II executive producer Matt Webster, the next game in the series could play like a more accessible, but still sufficiently deep, Battlefield title.
'Star Wars Battlefront II' campaign looks like a spin-off movie
Star Wars Battlefront II is definitely much bigger than its predecessor -- but we knew that. EA's E3 presentation did its best to balance new multiplayer tid-bits (Chewbacca, the planet Naboo, Yoda, Darth Maul, Rey and more) with the highly-anticipated campaign mode, which appears to center on the "good" Imperials fight to beat the upstart Rebel Alliance. The sequel will focus on its story more than pretty much any Star Wars game that's come before it. As Janina Gavankar, who plays Inferno Squad Commander Iden Versio, puts it herself, it's all about "in-depth cinema-caliber stories in a game". Battlefront II will apparently bridge the story gap between Return of the Jedi and the The Force Awakens, similar to how spin-off movie Rogue One connected older Star Wars chapters. And it'll all look a little bit like this:
