The original Star Wars Battlefront just got official online multiplayer support on Steam Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. The original Star Wars Battlefront just got official online multiplayer support on Steam UPDATE: And GOG with cross-play! News by Matt Wales Reporter Updated on 1 May 2020 14 comments UPDATE 8pm: Following the appearance of Star Wars Battlefront's online-multiplayer-revealing patch notes on Steam, word has emerged that the update is also now available in the GOG version (as on Steam, it's currently discounted). Better yet, cross-play is supported between both platforms, hopefully boosting the chances of finding an online game. ORIGINAL STORY 5.55pm: If you've been looking for an excuse to pick up Star Wars Battlefront up again, you know, 16 years after it was released, now's the perfect time; entirely unexpectedly, developer Pandemic Studios' much-loved space shooter just got its online multiplayer mode restored on Steam. The original Star Wars Battlefront (not to be confused with DICE's 2015 shooter of the same name) released all the way back in 2004 on PS2, Xbox, and PC, giving players the chance to battle their way to victory across a selection of familiar Star Wars locales - fighting from the perspective of either the Rebel Alliance, Galactic Empire, Galactic Republic, or the Confederacy of Independent Systems, and utilising multiple classes and vehicles. Alongside a variety of solo modes, Star Wars Battlefront originally supported multiplayer - for up to 64 participants depending on platform - through LAN connections and via online play. However, official online support disappeared along with multiplayer service provider GameSpy (which shut its doors completely in 2014), and the version available for purchase on Steam since last year could only be taken online using community workarounds. It's not entirely clear what prompted the decision to restore a feature as significant as online multiplayer (up to 32 players are supported in the new update) to a game that's rapidly closing in on its two decade anniversary, but you can check the announcement for yourself over on Star Wars Battlefront's Steam page. "Online multiplayer on Steam has been added to the game", it reads, matter-of-factly, before passing onto the next order of business as if it's no big thing. And if you're curious to know what else is included in today's update, there's additional, if rather nebulous, "audio support", plus fixes for a variety of menu and gameplay issues across a range of different screen sizes. Those eager to relive Star Wars Battlefront's online multiplayer mode can grab the game - and dozens of other Star Wars titles (just in time for Star Wars Day on 4th May) - for 50% off on Steam. It currently costs £3.59 instead of the usual £7.19. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 11 Latest Articles Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store