Korean fans do not want to let go of StarCraft, so their developers are actively offering Blizzard their ideas for a new game in the cult universe.
Some of them even sent their representatives to Blizzard’s headquarters in California to present their projects in person. NCSoft, Nexon, Netmarble, and Krafton have already started promoting their ideas.
The proposals include completely different concepts. NCSoft, known for Lineage 2 and Guild Wars, worked on the role-playing game StarCraft, which could have been an MMORPG. Another studio, Nexon has prepared a «unique» take on the series, but details remain unknown. Krafton, the owner of PUBG, wants to create a game based on its internal technologies. And Netmarble (Game of Thrones: Kingsroad) — quite expectedly — offers a mobile project in the StarCraft universe.
The answer to why Korean studios are so active in promoting their ideas is very simple — StarCraft is a real national phenomenon for Koreans. At one time, Microsoft thought that if they added a Korean faction in Age of Empires 2 will see sales increase amid StarCraft success, but the case ended in imprisonment. Brood War once launched the country’s esports scene, and StarCraft 2 continues to hold on to its fan base despite years without major updates.
However, it is not known whether Blizzard is ready to give its legendary franchise to external developers. It is known that the company is at least considering these proposals. Blizzard itself has not abandoned the idea of reviving StarCraft. According to Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, the studio is trying to make a shooter in this universe for the third time. The project, led by former Far Cry producer Dan Hay, who joined Blizzard in 2022, is still under development.
Fans of the franchise know that more than one game in this universe has been canceled. StarCraft: Ghost, announced in 2002, was supposed to be a tactical shooter but was frozen in 2006. In 2019, Blizzard closed another shooter code named Ares — it was supposed to be a «Battlefield in the StarCraft universe». Then the company decided to focus on profitable Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2.
It is still unclear whether one of the Korean studios will become the savior of the series, or whether Blizzard will decide to go its own way. It is also unknown whether we should expect a mobile StarCraft or a PUBG-style game, or whether we should hope for a franchise revival at all.
Source: PC Gamer
