Star Wars Battlefront III was just about ready but you still couldn’t have it

Those of us who loved the first Star Wars Battlefront games have been eagerly awaiting the release of the third console installment ever since the current generation of consoles hit the market.  After nearly an entire console generation of rumors and leaked videos without a single release announcement, the truth has finally been revealed.  Free Radical Design had a nearly-complete, working version of the game that was going through the final round of quality assurance.  After a few leadership changes at LucasArts, the game was scrapped citing a lack of funding for marketing.

The real insanity there is that this game would have been huge with tiny marketing budget.  After all, it would have been the latest title in a popular franchise, the only game from said franchise on a new console, the internet would have given it wall-to-wall coverage, and it was Star Wars game.  You can read a more detailed account of what happened with Battlefront III and Free Radical in general at GameIndustry International.

Source GameIndustry International via Joystiq