Following numerous rumors dating back many months, it’s official: StarCraft is returning with a new game, but that game won’t be in the traditional real-time-strategy genre the franchise is known for. Instead, the new StarCraft game is described as an open-world shooter.
The news was revealed as part of BlizzCon’s opening ceremony. However, that’s essentially all we know, as the new game-referred to only as StarCraft–won’t be released until 2030. As such, there were no further details shared about how it will play or anything else.
After Blizzard’s Dan Hay said, “It’s about damn time” that we returned to the interstellar war of StarCraft, we did see a cinematic trailer. Dominion forces are shown being pumped up after being trained as elite warriors. They’re then sent onto the battlefield against a massive wave of Zerg forces.
When it does arrive, this will mark the first original game in the StarCraft franchise since the StarCraft II trilogy wrapped up with Legacy of the Void in 2015. The original game did receive a remaster, StarCraft Remastered, in 2017, but Blizzard’s focus has otherwise shifted to its other franchises over the last decade.
While a StarCraft shooter had been rumored for some time, the reveal is still sure to come as a contentious piece of news for fans starved for a traditional StarCraft game. (The audible reaction from the crowd when “open-world shooter” was said was not necessarily one of elation.)
This isn’t the first attempt to spin off the series into something else, as StarCraft Ghost was meant to be a stealth-action entry, but it was ultimately canceled prior to release. A recent report indicated that Nexon is seeking the StarCraft license in order to make a new game–possibly StarCraft III–so there may still be some hope for another StarCraft RTS.
Teases for a StarCraft revival began earlier this month, after the game’s official website started to “glitch” and fans discovered hidden text logs. Each one appeared to be a secret transmission hinting at something on the horizon, with rumors circulating that it could be anything from a Helldivers-inspired co-op shooter game to the revival of StarCraft: Ghost.
But the main takeaway is that StarCraft is back, and in a big way. While it wasn’t the first successful franchise to emerge from Blizzard, it still remains a key pillar for the company even after years of dormancy. The original StarCraft real-time strategy game and its Brood War expansion were huge hits upon release, and in South Korea, local internet cafes became hubs for competitive PvP that laid the groundwork for the rise of esports.