Blizzard Entertainment is reportedly developing a new StarCraft shooter, marking the company’s third attempt at bringing the beloved sci-fi universe into the first-person shooter genre.
Source: StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty (2010), Blizzard Entertainment
A New Hope in the StarCraft Universe
StarCraft, one of Blizzard’s flagship franchises, has seen multiple efforts to expand beyond its real-time strategy roots. The ill-fated StarCraft Ghost was canceled in 2014, and Project Ares was scrapped in 2019. Both of these games failed to make it to release despite significant progress.
The latest project, still in its early incubation phase, is headed by Dan Hay, a veteran game developer known for his work on the Far Cry series. According to Schreier, Hay remained with Blizzard after most of the developers working on Blizzard’s canceled survival game were laid off earlier this year, following the company’s acquisition by Microsoft.
“Most of the developers were laid off, while a few would remain with Hay to begin incubating, of all things, a new StarCraft shooter,” said Schreier, hinting at Blizzard’s renewed efforts. “Perhaps after Ghost and Ares, the third time would be the charm.”
Follow us on MSN for more exclusive content.
Source: StarCraft II
Challenges of Developing a StarCraft Shooter
Blizzard’s previous attempts at integrating the StarCraft universe into an FPS setting have been fraught with challenges. Schreier noted Blizzard’s “cursed experience” with the genre, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding the new project’s future. “If it’s not canceled, I mean, this is Blizzard after all,” he remarked, underscoring the company’s history of abandoning ambitious projects.
The timing of Schreier’s revelations adds weight to the ongoing saga. His book was announced on February 5, 2024, just weeks after Blizzard’s January layoffs, suggesting the project is still in its infancy. Despite the setbacks, Schreier believes the news of Blizzard’s third attempt will capture significant attention. “I suspect that this one will make a lot of headlines,” Schreier predicted, highlighting the anticipation among fans and industry watchers alike.
Source: StarCraft II
Can Blizzard Overcome Its Past?
Blizzard’s track record with StarCraft shooters makes the future of this new project uncertain. StarCraft Ghost was once considered a promising expansion of the franchise, complete with a full gameplay trailer, while Ares was reportedly well-received internally before being abruptly canceled. “Ares was looking quite good, and that its cancellation came as a massive shock,” Schreier recalled, reflecting on Blizzard’s repeated hesitancy to commit fully to these projects.
You can check what gameplay footage made it online below:
Now given the project’s current “incubation” status, it remains unclear how far along development truly is. Industry skepticism is warranted, as Blizzard has developed a reputation for abandoning projects at advanced stages. The gaming community may find itself waiting years before any substantial updates, with fears that this project could follow the same fate as its predecessors.
News
Twitch Promises More Transparency Over Bans After FallenShadow Outcry, Assures “There Is No Mod Who Hates Vtubers”
FallenShadow finger-wags moderators over her ban on Twitch In light of the controversy surrounding the dubious ban of vtuber FallenShadow, Twitch has sworn to be more transparent in communicating their reasons for temporarily removing any given streamer from the platform….
‘Helldivers 2’ Introduces The Democracy Space Station: Are You Ready To Change The Course Of The Galactic War?
A Helldiver is ready to spread democracy in Helldivers 2 (2024), Arrowhead Game Studios Arrowhead has thrown a new challenge into the Galactic War of Helldivers 2. There’s a new Major Order that tasks players with securing a location for the…
‘Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’ Still Trying To Cling To Life, Launches New Zoe Lawton DLC To Less Than 300 Players
Zoe Lawless (TBA) is absolutely giddy to join Task Force X in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Rocksteady Studios (2024) Rocksteady has a lot in store for Season 3 of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League – however, the community isn’t…
‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Dev Team Reportedly Using Delay To Address “Many Of The Historical And Cultural Concerns”, Problems Said To Have Been Caused By Historians Being “Brought Onto The Project Much Later Than Usual”
Yasuke (TBA) draws his rifle in Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft A new report has potentially shone a light on just how Ubisoft is planning to use the extra Assassin’s Creed Shadows dev time allotted to them by the game’s recent delay….
‘Ghostbusters: Answer The Call’ Director Paul Feig Blames Backlash On “The Political Climate Of The Time”, Claims Critics Were “Trump Supporters”
Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) lets loose in Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016), Columbia Pictures In yet again attempting to blame the film’s failure on the undefined spectre of ‘bigotry’, Ghostbusters: Answer the Call director Paul Feig has claimed that not only was…
‘Dragon Age: The Veilguard’ Creative Director Explains Why Player Choices In ‘Dragon Age: Origins’ And ‘Dragon Age 2’ Will Not Influence ‘Veilguard’
A screenshot from Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024), BioWare John Epler, the Creative Director for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, explained why choices that players made while playing Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age 2 will not influence The Veilguard. A screenshot from Dragon Age: The Veilguard…
End of content
No more pages to load