Star Wars fans have long lauded the classic Star Wars: Battlefront games as being among the franchise's best video game adaptations, but one of their game modes has remained forgotten by the modern reboots, and could be utilized on a massive scale. Long-time fans of the series will recall the Galactic Conquest game mode, which added a tactical strategy metagame to the usual Battlefront formula. This concept is ripe for reintroduction, and while it could make its modern debut in a main-series Battlefront game as it's done in the past, it truly deserves its own standalone title that expands upon its premise to create an unprecedented Star Wars experience.
Both of the original Star Wars: Battlefront games, as well as Renegade Squadron and Elite Squadron, included the Galactic Conquest mode, which pit players against AI opponents or other players in a full-scale war over the galaxy. Each iteration focused on a set number of key planets within the galaxy, such as Kamino, Kashyyyk, and Geonosis, and saw both sides deploy fleets of troops and battle over each planet for its resources and strategic value. Once one player had conquered all planets, including their opponent's homeworld, the war had been won. This framework could certainly be replicated in modern Battlefront titles, but it could also be reimagined as a more ambitious, larger-scale game of its own.
One incredibly enticing concept for a Galactic Conquest game would be an MMO or live-service project that truly allowed its players to live up to its name. An apt example for such a game would be Planetside 2, whose world record-breaking player count facilitates a never-ending war with multiple factions fighting to control ever-shifting borders. The Skywalker Saga alone provides three distinct eras to work with, each with its own dichotomous factions and innumerable planets on which to wage war. In this escalation, the forces being maneuvered and deployed to various corners of the galaxy could all be actual players, with battles being fought around the clock in real time. As much of a pipe dream as such a concept may be, the groundwork has been laid by other titles, and the result of such a massive undertaking would be a game that many Star Wars fans have always wanted.
An Ambitious Galactic Conquest Game Would Be Incredible
In of scale, the upper limit of a Star Wars game encoming an entire galaxy could theoretically be second only to the likes of No Man's Sky. The sheer size of No Man's Sky's universe is daunting, made possible largely because of its procedural generation. A Star Wars game employing such technology would need more limitations, but it would also need far fewer planets. For more strictly competitive games, it's ideal to have a limited number of maps in order to allow players to devise reliable tactics for each location. Important Star Wars planets - Kamino, Coruscant, etc. - could serve as such mainstays, but having a rotating array of other tactically advantageous battlegrounds would keep battles refreshing and unexpected over long periods of time.
With so many worlds to conquer, both sides of the conquest would need order and direction, functions that could be fulfilled by a player-run military structure. Allowing players to mechanically emulate such a command structure would improve Star Wars: Battlefront games in general, and it would be a perfect fit here. Multiplayer games such as Battlefield and ARMA have employed chains of command in the past, with individual players reporting to squad leaders, and those squad leaders in turn reporting to more senior commanders. This system provides room for casual players to take on the role of standard soldiers as they otherwise would, while more ambitious, skilled, or respected players could be appointed to commanding roles and participate in the more RTS-like aspects of Galactic Conquest.
Galactic Conquest Could Redefine The Franchise's Space Battles
To break the mold of simply having terrestrial combat with a metagame ed by its outcome, a Galactic Conquest game could borrow from the DNA of its Battlefront predecessors and introduce dedicated space battles into the mix. Adding the gameplay of Star Wars: Squadrons or Battlefront 2's Starfighter Assault would add another dimension to the galactic war and further diversify the Galactic Conquest formula. Battlefront 2 even created a sort of middle ground, with its Supremacy mode taking place both on land and within capital ships. With a Galactic Conquest game, that concept could be taken one step further.
The strategic leadership of each side would have the ability to maneuver a ship or fleet (each with players designated as its troops) over a contested planet, disrupting the supply lines going to opposing forces on the ground, hindering their ability to acquire reinforcements and resources such as vehicles. If and when the other side sends spacecraft to retaliate, a space battle would initiate and disrupt all ground forces' supply lines until one side claimed victory. Integrating classic ground-based matches with players fighting for control over command points with Battlefront's iconic space battles could lead to some of the best moments in Star Wars gaming.
Keeping such an ambitious Galactic Conquest game alive would necessitate implementing the live-service genre's trademark monetization and player attraction techniques, which could fit surprisingly well. Ideally, mechanical microtransactions would be out of the picture to prevent fostering a pay-to-win environment, but purchasable cosmetics would be perfect. Players could purchase different armor, weapon, and vehicle styles, and those in commanding roles could even have the option to add signature flair to their subordinates' appearances, like the 501st Clone Battalion all having blue detailing on their armor. As each season progressed, the new auxiliary planets could even be accompanied by a new "battle " with various rewards as well.
While it may not necessarily be too late for Battlefront 3, a change of direction might be needed in order to recapture fans' trust and interest after the abandonment of Star Wars: Battlefront 2. Bringing back the classic Galactic Conquest game mode, returning space battles to their former glory, giving each of them an unprecedented platform would make an enormous splash in the Star Wars community. If Star Wars: Battlefront takes cues from other long-lived titles and revitalizes Galactic Conquest with consistent , the result may be an unrivaled Star Wars multiplayer experience.
