In 2025, Star Wars Battlefront II is making a surprising comeback, with its Steam player count more than tripling in just a few weeks. If you look more closely, you can see that this surprising surge may be part of a bigger Star Wars trend, mostly because of Fortnite’s recent Galactic Battle season. Here’s how this popular FPS is coming back in a big way.
Table of Contents
What Is Star Wars Battlefront II?
Star Wars Battlefront II is a first-person shooter (FPS) game made by DICE and released by Electronic Arts. It has both single-player missions and great multiplayer modes. The game lets players take on the roles of stormtroopers, rebels, and even famous heroes like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. It has famous Star Wars places like Endor, Naboo, and the Death Star.
The game had a rough start in 2017 because of a loot box system that caused a lot of controversy, but EA has since changed the way the game works and added new content on a regular basis. Star Wars Battlefront II has been more popular with players over the years, but it had mostly fallen from view until now.
Star Wars Battlefront II Player Count Surges Over 600%
SteamDB says that the number of people playing Star Wars Battlefront II went from slightly over 1,000 in late April 2025 to around 8,000 by mid-May. This is the most players the game has had in over four years, and it is very close to its all-time high of 10,489 players from January 2021.
The tipping point happened on May 2, 2025, the same day Fortnite started its Galactic Battle event. This was a huge Star Wars-themed season with lightsabers, Force powers, and AI characters like Darth Vader.
Why the Sudden Growth? A Perfect Storm of Star Wars Content
There are a few things that seem to have led to Battlefront II’s recent rise in popularity:
1. Fortnite’s Galactic Battle Season
The Star Wars crossover in Fortnite exposed millions of players to realistic Star Wars-style fighting, but with Fortnite’s customary silly additions, including Hatsune Miku skins and chug jugs. Star Wars Battlefront II was the next logical step for players who wanted a more realistic Star Wars FPS experience.
2. Timely Game Update Featuring Scarif
Battlefront II got a big update on April 29 that added new content and fan-favorite maps, including Scarif, the tropical battlefield from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. This update brought back old fans and fit wonderfully with Fortnite’s themed season.
3. Deep Discounts Made the Game More Accessible
Star Wars Battlefront II was on sale for 60% off from May 1 to 4, bringing the price down from $39.99 to $15.99 on Steam. This made it a lot more appealing a choice than other options that cost more or were free to play.
What This Means for the Future of Battlefront II
The rise of players is a big chance for the Battlefront franchise. EA and DICE now have a chance to take advantage of this fresh enthusiasm from both existing and new fans by:
- Keep putting up useful updates and content
- Making matching and server performance better
- Better advertising of the game in the Star Wars and FPS communities
If these things come together, Star Wars Battlefront II might enter a new golden age and perhaps get people interested in competitive Star Wars gaming again, even in esports.
Final Thoughts
Fortnite’s showy Galactic Battle event may have started the trend, but it’s clear that Star Wars Battlefront II is getting a lot of good out of it. It attracts Star Wars enthusiasts who want more than just casual battle royales by giving them a more grounded, lore-rich FPS experience.
This comeback might be more than just a short-term spike if the correct updates and community involvement happen. It could mean a new life for one of the most ambitious Star Wars games ever developed.
