Exciting news for fans of the StarCraft universe: Blizzard is reportedly receiving pitches from several Korean studios eager to expand the iconic sci-fi franchise. According to an article highlighted by the X / Twitter account @KoreaXboxnews, Asia Today has revealed that four prominent Korean companies are vying for the opportunity to develop new StarCraft games and secure publishing rights. These companies are NCSoft, Nexon, Netmarble, and Krafton, with some even making trips to Blizzard’s headquarters in Irvine, California, to present their pitches.
NCSoft, known for the Lineage and Guild Wars MMOs, is reportedly proposing a StarCraft RPG, possibly an MMORPG. Nexon, the creator of The First Descendant, has suggested a "unique" take on the StarCraft IP. Netmarble, behind titles like Solo Leveling: Arise and Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, is aiming to develop a StarCraft mobile game. Meanwhile, Krafton, the studio behind PUBG and the upcoming The Sims competitor inZOI, wants to leverage its own development capabilities for a new StarCraft game.
While pitches are common in the video game industry, and not all may come to fruition, the interest from Blizzard in expanding the StarCraft universe is a significant development for fans, especially given the time since the last game in the franchise was released. When contacted by IGN, Activision Blizzard declined to comment on these developments.
Adding to the excitement, Blizzard has been making strides in the StarCraft realm. In September, it was revealed 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 surfaced during a discussion on IGN’s Podcast Unlocked with Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, who mentioned Hay’s project in his book, Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment.
Schreier noted the project's precarious nature, stating, “If it’s not canceled! This is Blizzard after all. Their history with StarCraft shooters is not good.” He confirmed that the project was in development as of the time of his book's writing, emphasizing Blizzard’s ongoing commitment to the StarCraft IP despite past setbacks.
Blizzard's history with StarCraft shooters includes the infamous StarCraft Ghost, announced in 2002 and canceled in 2006 after numerous delays. A second attempt, codenamed Ares and described as “like Battlefield in the StarCraft universe,” was also canceled in 2019 to focus on Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2. More recently, in November, Blizzard was seen hiring for an “upcoming open-world shooter game,” which many believe to be another StarCraft FPS.
The momentum for StarCraft is building. Blizzard has released StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft 2: Campaign Collection on Game Pass and announced a StarCraft crossover with the Warcraft card game Hearthstone. These developments signal a renewed focus on the beloved franchise, keeping fans hopeful for what’s next in the StarCraft universe.
