Class progression is in a better place now too
The way the Star Wars Battlefront II beta handled progression and loot crates didn’t sit well with some players, and while DICE later clarified certain points to alleviate fears, the studio is now taking more substantial action in light of player feedback. The new system isn’t perfect, but it’s improved.
This is what you can expect at launch on November 17:
- Epic Star Cards, the highest tier of Star Cards available at launch, have been removed from Crates. To help keep everyone on a level playing field, these Star Cards will primarily be available through crafting, with the exception of special Epic Star Cards available through pre-order, deluxe, and starter packs.
- You’ll need to reach a certain rank to craft upgraded Star Cards. You won’t be able to buy a bunch of Crates, grind everything up into crafting materials, and immediately use them to get super powerful Star Cards. You can only upgrade the ability to craft higher tier Star Cards by ranking up through playing the game.
- Weapons are locked behind specific milestones. While a select few will be found in Crates, the rest can only be attained by play. Want to unlock a new weapon for your Heavy? Play as a Heavy and you’ll gain access to the class’s new weapons.
- Class-specific gear and items can be unlocked by playing as them. As you progress through your favorite class, you’ll hit milestones granting you class-specific Crates. These will include a mix of Star Cards and Crafting Parts to benefit your class’s development.
Those last two points are the biggest deal for me (not that keeping a “level playing field” isn’t important too). During the beta, I earned a whole lot of stuff for ships and characters I’d rarely if ever want to use instead of upgrades for the classes I was actually investing time in and doing best with.
EA notes that this revised progression system “will be continually iterated on and improved,” so keep your feedback coming. They are listening. (Though, clearly, loot crates are here to stay.)
