Star Wars Battlefront Outer Rim
Artwork for the Outer Rim DLC. EA

EA DICE has released the first major, paid-for expansion for hit multiplayer shooter Star Wars Battlefront. Season pass holders on PS4, Xbox One and PC get early access from today (23 March) ahead of the wider release on 5 April.

The game's developer confirmed the release on Twitter. The expansion is the first of four announced expansions, and includes maps based on Jabba The Hutt's palace (above) and factories on the planet of Sullust - two planets that have already hosted maps in the game.

There is also be a host of new weapons, new items, cards, a new Extraction mode and two new playable characters in Greedo and Nien Nunb - not exactly the most exciting additions, but additions nonetheless.

Extraction is described as so: "Rebel forces have entered some of the most dangerous places in the Outer Rim in order to extract a valuable shipment of resources. Now they must bring the shipment to their transport ship before time runs out. The Empire has arrived to stop them from reaching the extraction point."

EA's next expansion, set for release this summer, will be set on Bespin - home of Cloud City, setting of Empire Strike Backs' climatic final act. A third expansion will follow set on the Death Star before a fourth, unannounced expansion in early 2017.

Each expansion can be bought separately by players, or in one go with the season pass - which will grant a similar two week early access period for each expansion. EA DICE is still supplementing the game with free updates however, that bring a wealth of improvements as well as new maps, modes and expansions to what existing modes support which maps.

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