Blizzard revives StarCraft as an open-world shooter, targeting 2030 release
Blizzard used BlizzCon to reveal that the StarCraft franchise is returning not as another strategy game but as an open-world shooter, with a 2030 release window.
Blizzard has announced that the StarCraft franchise is coming back after more than a decade of dormancy, but in a radically different form: an open-world shooter rather than the real-time strategy games the series built its reputation on. The announcement came from Blizzard VP Dan Hay, who took the stage at BlizzCon to reveal the new title, simply named StarCraft, with a release planned for 2030.
This isn't the franchise's first attempt at a 3D shooter spinoff. Blizzard first tried this move back in 2002 with StarCraft: Ghost, a project that languished in development hell for years before then-Blizzard president Mike Morhaime confirmed its cancellation in 2014.
Trailer centers on human faction
At the reveal, Blizzard showed a cinematic trailer focused on the human United Earth Directorate faction as it prepares to confront the Zerg. The Protoss received only a passing mention. The tone of the trailer suggests the new take on StarCraft won't shy away from grim material: it opens with a militaristic, propaganda-tinged call to arms before turning to the brutal realities of combat, ultimately revealing that the character followed throughout is simply disposable cannon fodder in a larger war.
While fans have expressed excitement that Blizzard is finally reviving the long-dormant series, many are reportedly still hoping the company will eventually deliver a proper real-time strategy sequel to 2010's StarCraft II.
