Blizzard Confirms Development of StarCraft Open-World Shooter

Blizzard Entertainment, a prominent name in the gaming industry, has recently stirred excitement among fans with a new job advertisement. The ad, posted on November 13, seeks an Associate Design Director for an "upcoming open-world shooter game." This announcement has led many to speculate that the game in question is a first-person shooter (FPS) set in the beloved StarCraft universe.

StarCraft, originally a real-time strategy game, has a rich history and a dedicated fan base. However, Blizzard's attempts to expand the franchise into the shooter genre have faced significant challenges. In September, reports surfaced indicating that Blizzard was making a third attempt to develop a StarCraft shooter, with Dan Hay, a former executive producer from the Far Cry series, at the helm. This information was shared by Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier during a podcast, where he discussed his book, "Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment." Schreier noted that while the project is reportedly in development, the history of StarCraft shooters at Blizzard has been rocky.

Blizzard's previous efforts to create a StarCraft shooter include "StarCraft Ghost," which was announced in 2002 but ultimately canceled in 2006 after numerous delays. A second project, codenamed "Ares," was also scrapped in 2019 as Blizzard shifted its focus to other major titles like Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2. Ares was described as being similar to Battlefield but set in the StarCraft universe, yet it too fell victim to the company's shifting priorities.

Despite these setbacks, the recent job posting suggests that Blizzard is not ready to give up on the StarCraft shooter concept. The company has been gradually ramping up its StarCraft offerings, including the release of "StarCraft: Remastered" and the "StarCraft 2: Campaign Collection" on Game Pass. Additionally, a crossover event with the popular card game Hearthstone has been announced, hinting at a renewed interest in the franchise.

As fans eagerly await more information, it is clear that Blizzard is preparing for something significant. The prospect of an open-world StarCraft shooter could potentially breathe new life into the franchise, attracting both longtime fans and new players alike. While the road to this new game may be fraught with challenges, the excitement surrounding the project is palpable. Only time will tell if Blizzard can successfully navigate the complexities of game development and deliver a StarCraft experience that lives up to the expectations of its dedicated community.