Iron sight aiming has become one of the most ubiquitous features in the modern shooter, but DICE’s Star Wars Battlefront will be having none of it. DICE executive producer Patrick Bach sat down with OXM for June’s issue and gave the studio’s rationale behind the choice:
Some features of course resemble [our other shooters], because we want to make the best possible shooter, but in general we’ve tried to do something completely unique.
From a design standpoint, it’s certainly unique. Iron sight aiming has been in vogue ever since Call of Duty popularized the mechanic and the industry ran with it. Bach and DICE seem committed to buck the modern shooter trends and deliver a game that hopefully is more than just a total conversion mod for Battlefield 4.
Bach did tell OXM that players will “have scopes on some rifles.” These weapons seem to be in the minority, though. It is still unclear how DICE will fill the gameplay function that iron sight aiming performs.
Star Wars Battlefront will ship with 12 maps over four distinct planets: Endor, Hoth, Sullust, and Tatooine. Sullust, a charred, lava-filled wasteland, was only mentioned in the films. These maps will range in scale from gigantic, open maps that feature Walker Assault mode to others designed for “intimate, close quarters combat.”
Battlefront is set to release on November 17th in North America and November 20th in the UK on the PC, Xbox One, and Playstation 4. The game will only cover the original trilogy, though free post-launch DLC will allow players to participate in the Battle of Jakku that sets the stage for Episode VII.
Check out our first real glimpse of in-engine footage: