Star Wars Battlefront to launch with 12 multiplayer maps

Star Wars Day has already treated us to plenty of details about The Force Awakens, but it wouldn't be complete without some talk about DICE's upcoming shooter Star Wars Battlefront.

Today, the developer confirmed that the highly anticipated game will boast 12 multiplayer maps when it launches later this year. This is up from the previously confirmed eight maps that Design Director Niklas Fegraeus mentioned last month.

So far, there are four confirmed planets: Endor, Hoth, Tatooine and Sullust. It's unclear if all 12 maps will be set on these four planets, or if there are still a few planets left to be revealed. We already know two additional maps set on Jakku, the new planet shown in the latest Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer, will be released shortly after the game's launch; this free DLC will allow players to experience The Battle of Jakku. Again, it's also unclear if the figure provided by DICE already includes The Battle of Jakku maps already. Either way, we're getting at least 12 maps when it's all said and done.

While many are already familiar with Endor, Hoth, and Tatooine, the planet Sullest is likely new to many of you. I know I hadn't heard of it prior to Star Wars Battlefront, though apparently it was mentioned in Return of the Jedi. To that end, much of today's post on the Star Wars website was dedicated to explaining how DICE designed and created the lava planet.

"The overall look and feel for Sullust is very much Imperial and under construction, playing in locations within the planet such as a lava theme, sulfur theme, Death Star-inspired theme, and lastly a mine theme," DICE says of the unfamiliar planet. For more details as to the inspiration of the map's design, check out the blog post.

As for the overall look and feel of Battlefront's maps, DICE explains that some will support "our epic modes like Walker Assault, while others are tailored to more intimate, close quarters combat."

"Our goal is to bring a variety of battle fantasies to life, with map design catering to the modes that will play out on those maps," the developer concludes. "Above all, we want you to create new memories of your own in new places you've never seen before."

Since the official unveiling of Star Wars Battlefront last month, DICE has already answered the more common questions, like frame rate, offline/online, and character customization. You can also check out everything we know about Battlefront here.