At BlizzCon, Blizzard Entertainment revealed that the long-rumored StarCraft shooter is finally coming to life. The game will be called simply StarCraft and is set for release in spring 2030, 14 years after the Nova Covert Ops campaign was released in 2016. Blizzard describes the new game as an original open-world shooter set in the Koprulu Sector.
The announcement sparked excitement among fans as it marks the first major update to the franchise since StarCraft 2's Nova Covert Ops campaign in 2016. A short teaser was shown during the event, featuring an elite soldier rising and then falling suddenly. The main hall at BlizzCon erupted in reaction to the news, reflecting the strong connection fans have with the brand.
Blizzard had previously attempted to bring StarCraft into a 3D shooter format back in 2002 with StarCraft: Ghost, according to The Verge. That project lingered in development for years before being officially canceled in 2014 by Blizzard president Mike Morhaime. Now, the company is trying again with a new title that carries the same name as its original strategy franchise. Dan Hay, a vice president at Blizzard, took the stage to confirm the project's return and shared a cinematic trailer. The trailer focused on the human United Earth Directorate preparing for battle against the Zerg faction. The Protoss were only briefly mentioned in the teaser, suggesting a shift in focus from past entries. This new version of StarCraft is expected to be intense and unapologetic in its approach to storytelling.
In addition to the StarCraft announcement, Blizzard also revealed updates for several other franchises at BlizzCon, according to a report from CNET. Diablo 5 is set to release in spring 2029, while an animated Netflix series based on the Diablo franchise is also in development. Diablo IV will also feature the Amazon class, returning from Diablo II, through a class pack scheduled for the first half of 2027. Blizzard said Diablo V will take place in a version of Sanctuary where Diablo has already won.
World of Warcraft is getting a new version called WoW Forever, with a beta opening in September and a full launch in November. Blizzard said the beta will begin September 17 and the game will launch November 4. The new version will include three new zones, more than 1,000 quests, nine new dungeons, two raids and a new playable race called the Skyborne.
Overwatch is also receiving updates, including reworks for Roadhog and Sombra, as well as a new support hero named Doctrine. Doctrine is a vampire-inspired support character who uses bat-like drones and will officially join the roster in Season 5. Sombra will move from the Damage role to Support as part of her rework.
Hearthstone is preparing to release its next expansion Reign of the Black Empire, which introduces a new keyword called 'Assemble'. The expansion is scheduled for release on October 20. The game's revamped Journal will also include a Journey with rewards, quests, boss battles and limited-time events. A new class, the monk, is expected to arrive in March, marking the first new class in six years.
These announcements show that Blizzard continues to invest heavily in its long-running franchises.