With the new hero coming to Apex Legends, fans are also getting hyped for a certain other franchise that Apex is based on. Obviously that's Titanfall, as the latest "Northstar" teaser for the upcoming Valkyrie legend is a clear reference to the Apex Predators from Titanfall 2. Valkyrie's design in Apex Legends will presumably be influenced by Titanfall-like abilities, something Respawn Entertainment has had plenty of experience with previously. Of course, while Apex Legends players are presumably excited to try out the new combatant, this reference has once again stirred up conversation regarding many fans' wishes for a new Titanfall entry in the future.
Respawn Entertainment has spent the last few years diversifying itself greatly after the successes of Titanfall and Titanfall 2. The studio's foray into the battle royale subgenre with Apex Legends has become a quick success, and solidified itself as one of the better battle royale offerings for first-person shooters. Respawn also had the opportunity to expand its singleplayer ambition with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which received a ton of praise from Star Wars fans. These new projects have come at the cost of the Titanfall franchise's dormancy, so this latest Apex Legends callback to the series has fans wanting another entry in the Titanfall universe.
A New Titanfall Game Coming Soon Is Unfortunately Unlikely
In terms of where a hypothetical Titanfall 3 would fit into Respawn Entertainment's current plans, it's hard to say. EA's chief studios officer Laura Miele has mentioned previously that the very existence of another Titanfall entry lies solely in Respawn's willingness to return to the franchise. With the studio's focus on Apex Legends currently, as well as the reportedly upcoming sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, there'd have to be a significantly renewed interest in Titanfall for it to return. The announcement of Valkyrie coming to Apex Legends in the upcoming "Legacy" season seems to have generated that renewed interest, at least to some degree.
Even putting aside any barriers preventing Respawn Entertainment from working on a new entry, whether it's the team's willingness or the feasibility of such a project, fans certainly want it. Plenty of Titanfall and Apex Legends fans came out in droves on Twitter after the Valkyrie "Northstar" announcement, with many either singing praises for Titanfall 2, and/or asking for a new Titanfall entry. Callbacks to Titanfall in Apex Legends are certainly a welcome surprise, but it's hard to expect anything more than that. Respawn Entertainment is clearly focused on expanding Apex Legends, which has become far more popular than any previous Titanfall game anyway.
Bringing Back Titanfall Would Require Plenty of Ambition
That being said, it's not impossible for Titanfall to return, but it'd have to be a pretty significant effort if a hypothetical Titanfall 3 was in development. Based on what's been established in Apex Legends, a new Titanfall game would probably need to be a prequel of some kind, considering the main conflict of Titanfall has already ended. The Frontier War takes place several years prior to Apex Legends, but it's also worth noting that Apex is well divested from Titanfall lore with its setting. The titular blood sport takes place several planets away, several years after the Frontier War, and has only really been tangentially related to Titanfall canon until the recent Valkyrie reveal.
If the franchise were to return in Titanfall 3, or some kind of spin-off within Titanfall canon, the scale and scope should expand upon what was established in Titanfall 2. Titanfall 2's singleplayer campaign operated on a similar level with games like Halo, where the intergalactic threat of the IMC threatens to destroy the Militia and cease control of humanity's galaxy. A new Titanfall game would have to follow or surpass those stakes in a singleplayer campaign, whether that's through exploring other portions of the Frontier War, or a completely new conflict. So long as it doesn't interfere with the world established in Apex Legends, it's certainly possible.
Gameplay-wise, multiplayer in Titanfall 2 was a superb iteration off the original game, one that's quickly become a cult classic for the remaining fans still playing to this day. Even now, when similar multiplayer shooters and studios (including Respawn itself) are responding to different gaming trends, Titanfall 2 is still very unique. That being said, a new Titanfall would do well to push the ambition of its Pilot/Titan dynamic further in some way.
Whether that's done through greater variety in Titan design, or incorporating unique attributes like Apex Legends, new Titanfall multiplayer shouldn't just be Titanfall again. Playing as a Titan or Pilot lends itself well to self-contained and objective-based modes, rather than a battle royale, so it could certainly stand out from Apex Legends whilst still being familiar. Either way, there's certainly room for a Titanfall sequel in the shooter space, but the ambition required for such a project probably wouldn't fit in with Respawn Entertainment's current development plans at this time.
Titanfall 2 released on October 28, 2016, for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.