Update coming March 21, with cosmetics to follow in April
It’s been a long time coming, but DICE has detailed its progression overhaul for Star Wars Battlefront II.
There are a number of changes planned for March 21. As of that date, gameplay-affecting items can only be earned through gameplay. Players will earn XP (and, in turn, skill points) for their individual classes, heroes, and ships that can be used to unlock or upgrade Star Cards. As EA puts it, “progression is now linear.” Everything you’ve unlocked up until now will still be there after the update.
As for the dreaded loot crates, they’re still in the game, but in a different capacity. Crates will no longer contain Star Cards, and they can’t be bought; instead, they’ll be earned from logging in daily, clearing milestones, and completing timed challenges. These new loot crates will come with “Credits or cosmetic items, such as emotes or victory poses, but nothing that impacts gameplay.”
With these changes in mind, you might be wondering where the microtransaction hooks are; they’ve gotta be in here somewhere, right? As expected, EA is pushing the cosmetic angle. Beginning in April, Star Wars Battlefront II will offer “new looks for your heroes and troopers directly by using either Credits (earned in-game) or Crystals (available to purchase in-game and through first-party stores).”
All in all, I’m happy with these changes and wish they would’ve been there from the get-go. There’s a detailed FAQ over here that’s worth a look if you still play Battlefront II or are thinking of returning. One interesting note: “All Star Cards and Weapons are going to be unlocked, at the Epic level, in Arcade mode so you can try out the best combinations and help you identify how you want to spend your Skill Points.”
