Bo-Rifle to be “viral pickup” in Battlefront, according to data miner
Update: The Bo-Rifle is confirmed to be a viral pickup as the weapon is now out in Battlefront. For more details, check out this article.
Data miner Unispired Zebra recently revealed clues on the CJ-9 Bo-Rifle, a previously leaked weapon for Battlefront.
Posting on Reddit, Unispired Zebra called the Bo-Rifle a “viral pickup”:
I’m not 100% on the details right now, but from what I understand: Players with the Bo-Rifle will drop a pickup when they die. Anyone who collects that pickup will unlock the Bo-Rifle. And then they’ll also drop a pickup when they die etc.
This pickup wouldn’t work like other pickups in-game that provide a single use, such as the Smart Rocket or Thermal Imploader. Instead, once a player picks up the Bo-Rifle, it would be permanently unlocked alongside their other weapons.
Unispired Zebra speculated that DICE employees will start the initial Bo-Rifle drops.
Previously, Unispired Zebra has data mined upcoming items like the Bacta Bomb or features like Skirmish, so this new information is likely accurate. However, don’t consider this to be confirmed until EA/DICE officially announces the weapon.
Battlefront’s weapons designer Christian Johannesen previously confirmed that the Bo-Rifle will be coming to the game.
This method of unlocking the Lasat-designed bo-rifle would actually fit perfectly with Star Wars canon. As shown in the Disney XD show Star Wars Rebels, non-Lasat honor guards could only obtain a Bo-Rifle by defeating the owner of the weapon.
The leaked in-game description for the weapon actually references this tradition:
…the Bo-Rifle became renowned as a weapon owned solely by the one strong enough to defeat its wielder…
Definitely would provide an interesting and new mechanic for unlocking the weapon! I would certainly be excited if this “viral pickup” idea becomes true. I really like how it connects with canon in Star Wars.
For those interested, Unispired Zebra has posted gameplay footage of the weapon, which includes a new melee mechanic:
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