In a move that could potentially reinvigorate one of its most legendary franchises, Blizzard Entertainment, now under a much more expansive trillion-dollar umbrella, has signaled an openness to revitalizing the StarCraft series. The real-time strategy genre stalwart, with a legacy that stretches back by well over two decades, is charting a course for a bold new direction. StarCraft’s absence from recent Blizzard headlines, particularly at events like BlizzCon, where the company has highlighted other marquee franchises like Diablo and World of Warcraft, hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans. But, this silence might be changing soon.
Blizzard President Mike Ybarra, in a candid discussion with Bloomberg, hinted that while the company’s considerable or, perhaps even unlimited, resources are currently dedicated to its flagship titles, smaller projects, including StarCraft, are not off the table. This marks a potential pivot for Blizzard, which has traditionally centered its focus on a handful of core franchises, which used to include StarCraft. However, Ybarra’s comments suggest a shift toward embracing a broader array of creative ventures, possibly including an evolution of the StarCraft IP.
Ybarra’s openness to a new StarCraft project hinges on finding someone within the organization who carries the necessary vision for the series matched by genuine passion for the genre – a dream that could warp the franchise into uncharted spaces beyond its RTS roots. This aligns with sentiments expressed by Xbox head Phil Spencer, who expressed enthusiasm about delving into the back catalogs of Blizzard’s venerable series after the deal became official.
The future of StarCraft, however, may look different from its past. With a significant number of developers experienced in RTS having left Blizzard, the evidence on hand suggests that the series could be reinvented in a new genre entirely. A genuinely interesting idea could be a revisit to the infamously canceled game, StarCraft: Ghost, which Blizzard probably thought about with its Nova-centric DLCs for StarCraft II.
It’s worth noting the indelible mark that StarCraft has left on the esports landscape, with StarCraft: Brood War being a pivotal to the emergence of modern esports. Recognizing this legacy, Blizzard’s presence at BlizzCon saw Phil Spencer paying homage to StarCraft’s contribution to the evolution of games as live entertainment. While the company’s shift away from RTS might dishearten some, the possibility of StarCraft’s return, in whatever form it takes, is a compelling one for the series’ ardent followers.
The broader context of Blizzard’s newfound direction is its integration into the Microsoft family. Ybarra indicates that a lot of the decision-making within the company should become swifter under Microsoft’s ownership, the future holds a ton of promise for dormant franchises like StarCraft. The supportive stance from Microsoft, a sentiment shared by Warcraft General Manager John Hight, could herald a renaissance for Blizzard’s beloved IPs.
While the details surrounding the next iteration of StarCraft remain speculative, the allure of the series’ revival, and a potential venture backed by Microsoft’s resources, sets the stage for an exciting chapter in Blizzard’s storied history.
The real-time strategy genre is enjoying a renaissance of its own sans its still-living progenitor, with the return of Sins of a Solar Empire and Homeworld, and former Blizzard developers forging their own path with new titles like Stormgate. It isn’t the worst time to release a new RTS, but if Blizzard believes that there’s a future for StaCraft in other genres, would it be the worst thing to explore such venues?
