Blizzard is reportedly receiving several pitches from Korean studios eager to develop new games using the iconic StarCraft IP. This news, highlighted by the X / Twitter account @KoreaXboxnews, was originally reported by Asia Today, which listed four Korean companies in the running: NCSoft, Nexon, Netmarble, and Krafton. These companies are not only competing to create innovative StarCraft games but also to secure the coveted publishing rights. Some have even traveled to Blizzard's headquarters in Irvine, California, to present their proposals in person.
NCSoft, known for the Lineage and Guild Wars MMOs, is reportedly proposing a StarCraft RPG, possibly an MMORPG. Nexon, the developer behind The First Descendant, has pitched a "unique" take on the StarCraft universe. Netmarble, with titles like Solo Leveling: Arise and Game of Thrones: Kingsroad under its belt, is aiming to develop a StarCraft mobile game. Meanwhile, Krafton, famous for PUBG and the upcoming The Sims competitor inZOI, is interested in crafting a game that leverages its own development strengths within the StarCraft universe.
While pitches are common in the gaming industry, and not all may lead to actual projects, StarCraft enthusiasts are buzzing with excitement over Blizzard's apparent interest in expanding this beloved sci-fi franchise. It's been a while since the last major StarCraft release, and fans are eager for new content. When approached for comment by IGN, Activision Blizzard remained silent on the matter.
Adding to the excitement, it was revealed in September that Blizzard is making another attempt at developing a StarCraft shooter, led by former Far Cry executive producer Dan Hay, who joined Blizzard in 2022. This news came to light during a discussion on IGN’s Podcast Unlocked with Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, who mentioned the project in his book, Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment.
Schreier noted the project's tentative status, saying, "If it’s not canceled! This is Blizzard after all. Their history with StarCraft shooters is not good." Despite past failures, such as the canceled StarCraft Ghost in 2006 and the Ares project in 2019, Blizzard's persistence in exploring StarCraft shooters is evident. The latest endeavor seems promising, with Blizzard recently advertising for positions related to an "upcoming open-world shooter game," hinting at another StarCraft FPS.
Blizzard is also actively keeping the StarCraft franchise alive through other means. They've released StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft 2: Campaign Collection on Game Pass, and announced a crossover event with the Warcraft card game Hearthstone. These moves suggest a slow but steady ramp-up of activity around the StarCraft universe, much to the delight of its dedicated fanbase.
