The launch of DICE’s **Star Wars Battlefront II** in November 2017 became infamous due to the controversy surrounding its loot box system. Initially designed to provide in-game advantages for real-money spenders, the game faced backlash for monetization practices favoring those who could afford to expedite unlocks. Although developers increased unlock rates through gameplay, a Reddit user famously calculated it would still take approximately 40 hours to unlock a hero. This sparked a response from the EA Community Team, which only fueled the outrage further. The comment about a “sense of pride and accomplishment” resulted in over 683K downvotes, earning the Guinness World Record for the most downvoted comment on Reddit. As Belgian authorities launched an investigation, Electronic Arts maintained that the loot box system wasn’t gambling. Yet, on the game’s release day, EA decided to remove all microtransactions.
The Aftermath and Community Response
This controversy significantly tarnished Star Wars Battlefront II’s reputation. Despite its rocky start, the game found a loyal player base over time, with DICE improving it through content updates, the last of which arrived in April 2020. However, the community craved more, leading to the inception of the **KYBER project**. KYBER offers a custom server platform and mod launcher, revitalizing the game with features like community-operated servers, support for mods, and enhanced gameplay modes.
KYBER: Breathing New Life into Battlefront II
**Star Wars Battlefront II’s community-driven renaissance is powered by KYBER**, which replaces the game’s official online infrastructure on PC. This platform introduces dedicated servers, mod support, and features like proximity-based voice chat and detailed stats tracking. After four years in development, KYBER launched in Open Beta, inviting players to experience these enhancements while aiding in the final bug fixes before full release.
Getting Started with KYBER
For those eager to dive into this revitalized experience, setting up KYBER involves several steps. Ensure you own a legal PC copy of the game, disable conflicting overlays, and register on NexusMods. The installation process includes joining the KYBER Discord, downloading the installer, and configuring antivirus settings. Players must authenticate via their EA accounts and authorize Maxima Launcher access while keeping the EA App offline during play. Moreover, KYBER facilitates mod management and proximity chat configuration, enhancing in-game communication and customization.
The promise to release KYBER’s source code to the public is slated for January 2026, offering further transparency and community engagement. Meanwhile, although some former DICE developers have expressed interest in a potential Battlefront III, KYBER continues to serve the PC community by sustaining and improving the Battlefront II experience.
