New StarCraft Game Pitches from Korean Developers to Blizzard

Blizzard Entertainment is reportedly receiving pitches from several Korean studios interested in developing new games using the StarCraft intellectual property. This exciting development was highlighted by the X / Twitter account @KoreaXboxnews, which shared an article from Asia Today detailing the companies in the race: NCSoft, Nexon, Netmarble, and Krafton. These studios are not only competing to create innovative StarCraft games but are also vying for the coveted publishing rights. Some have even made trips to Blizzard’s headquarters in Irvine, California, to present their proposals.

NCSoft, renowned for the Lineage and Guild Wars MMOs, has pitched the idea of a StarCraft RPG, possibly an MMORPG. Nexon, creators of The First Descendant, proposed a "unique" take on the StarCraft IP. Meanwhile, Netmarble, known for titles like Solo Leveling: Arise and Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, aims to develop a StarCraft mobile game. Krafton, the powerhouse behind PUBG and the upcoming The Sims competitor inZOI, is looking to leverage its development capabilities to create a new StarCraft experience.

While pitches and proposals are commonplace in the gaming industry, the interest from these high-profile studios suggests Blizzard is seriously considering expanding the StarCraft universe. It’s been quite some time since the last mainline entry in the franchise, making any new development a significant event for fans. When approached for comment by IGN, Activision Blizzard remained silent on the matter.

Adding to the intrigue, Blizzard has been reported to be working on yet another StarCraft shooter, marking the company’s third attempt at this genre. This project is being led by Dan Hay, a former Far Cry executive producer who joined Blizzard in 2022. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, while discussing his book "Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment" on IGN’s Podcast Unlocked, mentioned Hay’s project. Schreier emphasized that while the book focused on past events, the ongoing development of a StarCraft shooter was a notable inclusion, reflecting Blizzard’s persistent interest in the franchise despite past failures.

Blizzard’s history with StarCraft shooters has been turbulent. The first attempt, StarCraft Ghost, announced in 2002, aimed to be a tactical-action game featuring a Ghost operative but was canceled in 2006 after numerous delays. The second project, codenamed Ares and described as "like Battlefield in the StarCraft universe," met the same fate in 2019, as Blizzard shifted focus to Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2.

Recent developments suggest renewed momentum for StarCraft. In November, Blizzard posted job listings for an "upcoming open-world shooter game," hinting at another potential StarCraft FPS. Additionally, Blizzard has released StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft 2: Campaign Collection on Game Pass and announced a crossover with the Warcraft card game Hearthstone, indicating that the beloved sci-fi universe is far from forgotten.