A little over a month ago, EA and Motive Studios launched Star Wars: Squadrons – a multiplayer, space combat game set in the Star Wars universe. Players have had plenty of time to master the art of starfighter combat in the game’s main story campaign, and participate in 5v5 dogfights or huge fleet battles. Now the team has two major updates coming to the game this holiday season.

Later this month, Star Wars: Squadrons is dropping Update 3.0. Motive is bringing additional fixes, balance changes, and extra finetuning to make the overall gameplay experience even better. On top of that, there’s a new map and components being added too. On November 25th, a new map dubbed Fostar Haven is coming to multiplayer.

“Set in a remote, lawless area of space under the light of twin stars, this map has been updated from its story mode counterpart to provide a new experience that should fit well with the other six maps,” Motive described Fostar Haven. “In the Prologue of Squadrons, which is set at the height of the Galactic Civil War, Fostar Haven was an isolated trading station that welcomed smugglers and pirates. Helix Squadron was sent there to search the cargo docks for Alderaanian refugees.”

Additionally, Star Wars: Squadrons will add four new components – a Boost Extension Kit, Ion Rockets, Prototype Piercing Torpedoes, and an Anti-Material Rocket Turret. Those sound heavy and intimidating. If that wasn’t enough, there’s an entirely separate update docking in December too.

Though it doesn’t have an official release date yet, the December update adds two new starfighters – the B-Wing for the New Republic, and The Defender for the Empire. According to Motive, the Blade Wing will be classified as a bomber-class, while the TIE Defender will be classified as a fighter. Additionally, custom matches will make their way to Star Wars: Squadrons.

“Custom matches will allow one to five players per side across two teams to play on any of the (now) seven maps in both Dogfight and Fleet Battles,” the studio explained. “There will also be some additional restrictions and modifiers that you can change.”

In custom matches, creators can customize hull, damage, and shield modifiers. Additionally, capital ship health, starfighter restrictions, and various other settings can up the ante on the battlefield, or make it deliriously fun. Prepare for all the shenanigans!

It hasn’t been an easy road, but it’s certainly been a thrilling one for the team at Motive Studios. Creative director Ian Frazier shared a heartfelt thank you to the Star Wars community for trusting in their work and vision for a multiplayer space combat game. Here’s part of Frazier message:

Your enthusiastic support for Squadrons has enabled us to expand upon it further in all the ways outlined above, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I’m particularly excited about the Custom Matches feature because it will allow you, the community, to take more ownership of the game and create your own experiences for a long time to come.

Thank you for putting your faith in us, thank you for joining the Squadrons community, and thank you for helping us to make the game even better through all your feedback. And especially, a big thanks to those of you who supported us even before launch. It’s because of your backing that we were able to get a bit of a head start on concepting all this cool new stuff. You really did make a difference. Take care, and see you in the stars!”

What do you think about the updates coming to Star Wars Squadrons? Are you liking the game so far, or is there something you’d like to see Motive bring to the table? Let us know what you think in the comment below or start a conversation on Don’t Feed the Gamers Facebook page. To stay up to date on gaming and entertainment news as it happens, follow us on Twitter! Here are some of our latest:

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