Microtransactions are coming back to ‘Star Wars Battlefront II’

By Gabe Gurwin January 31, 2018

Star Wars Battlefront 2 Launch Trailer

Star Wars Battlefront II‘s launch was the most controversial gaming story of 2017, with publisher Electronic Arts’ decision to include gameplay-focused loot boxes and microtransactions angering fans looking to play the online game in the traditional manner. The controversy has affected Electronic Arts’ bottom line, but microtransactions are still coming back to the game.

Electronic Arts CFO Blake Jorgensen told the Wall Street Journal that Star Wars Battlefront II sold about 9 million copies during the last few months of 2017, which is 1 million short of the publisher’s expectations. This is substantially lower than the sales of the first game, and Jorgensen blamed the loot box controversy for the lower figures.

Jorgensen also revealed that microtransactions would be returning to Battlefront II in a few months, though it’s unclear what form they will take.

Currently, the progression system in Battlefront II is still painfully slow for all players, as it was clearly designed with the paid loot boxes in mind, and the decision to temporarily removed microtransactions failed to adequately address this issue. In a recent blog post, developer DICE revealed that it is working on a “revamped progression system” that was designed with the feedback of players.

More details will be shared in March, but it isn’t clear when the change will actually be implemented. A new season of content is also in the works, and in February, players will be able to try out the Jetpack Cargo game mode for a limited time. It’s an eight-on-eight mode where all players have jet packs, which should add a level of vertical movement and speed we haven’t seen in the game yet.

We actually enjoyed Star Wars Battlefront II when it first released, praising new characters introduced in the campaign as well as the sheer amount of content compared to the previous game. Its story isn’t anything to write home about, but with the addition of free post-launch missions, it offers a good sense of closure and feels at home in the franchise’s canon. Also, Han Solo also has a beard, so there’s that.

Star Wars Battlefront II is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

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Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…

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Star Wars Jedi: Survivor offers a big glimpse into Disney’s High Republic era

star wars jedi survivor high republic facility

After Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, it will be impossible for Star Wars fans to ignore The High Republic era. Once limited to books, Disney is starting to make the fictional time period matter a lot more to the overarching narrative of Star Wars. If upcoming shows like The Acolyte weren’t already an indication of that to you, then The High Republic’s presence and relevance in Survivor will be. Although the game isn't set during The High Republic -- it takes place in the Reign of the Empire time period between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope -- characters and locations heavily tied to that era play a major role in the game's narrative.

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So, what exactly is The High Repbulic, and why does it matter? This is what you need to know as the franchise looks to a new era.
What is The High Republic?
The High Republic is the third of nine Star Wars eras designated by Disney. It’s snuggled between The Old Republic, which we see in the aptly named Knights of the Old Republic, and the Fall of the Jedi era seen throughout the Star Wars prequel film saga. Disney first unveiled it in 2020, and Lucasfilm described it as “an era when the Galactic Republic and Jedi Order are at their zenith, about 200 years before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" in a blog post.

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All perks in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Cal Kestis with BD-1 droid on his shoulder.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has a wide variety of skills to learn alongside its five unique lightsaber stances, ensuring you have no shortage of ways to customize your playstyle. The addition of perks bumps up those options even further, granting you the ability to equip badges that improve certain aspects of protagonist Cal Kestis' kit, such as increasing XP earned or improving his ability to break the guard of his foes. Some are found by exploring, while others are purchased from a particular vendor and unlocked fairly early in the game. A handful of perks are unlocked only after beating the game and starting New Game Plus.

Each of these perks uses a certain number of perk slots when equipped, so you'll have to make some tough decisions about which ones you want to have active at any one time. Luckily, exploring the galaxy will net you some additional perk slots, so you'll be able to equip more as you get further in your adventure. Even with all of the perk slots unlocked, however, you'll still want to strongly consider which perks will benefit you best. We'll make that a bit easier on you by listing all of the perks you can find in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, what boons they offer, and how many perk slots they'll take up.
Perks discovered by exploring
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All lightsaber stances in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Jedi Cal Kestis.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor takes place five years after its predecessor, and Cal Kestis has definitely gained some new Jedi tricks during the time that has passed. While there are some returning features that you're likely to recognize and appreciate, there are also a wide variety of new mechanics, skills, and more to check out in this highly anticipated follow-up. Among those new additions are an expanded set of lightsaber stances that allow you to decide what kind of fighter you want Cal to be. Whether you want to strike fast at the cost of defense, take things slower with bolstered protection, or find the middle ground between the two, you have five options that can ensure you'll find what works for you.
How to change stances
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Single Blade Stance

This stance is unlocked from the beginning of the game.