No new content will be created for StarCraft II. However, the developers have “in passing” already hinted: Something new is coming for StarCraft.
For many Blizzard strategy fans, this may be the horror news. Development on one of the last major RTS games is being stopped. There will be no major updates for StarCraft II anymore. But is the game “dead”? What are the developers doing now, and will StarCraft II still be playable?
What will happen to StarCraft II? In a big blog post, the developers of StarCraft II announced that they will scale back development. There will be no major updates with new content like commanders or battle chests anymore.
However, the game will not be completely neglected. There will still be balance patches if necessary. The competitive esports scene is important to the community and the developers, which is why work will continue if balance changes are needed. The game is therefore still fully playable.
What are the developers working on now? From the quotes, it can be clearly deduced that the developers are considering the next direction to take. It is stated, for example:
(…) Through this change, we can think about what we want to do next, not just regarding StarCraft II, but also for the entire StarCraft universe.
Later it was added:
We are infinitely grateful for your long-standing support and we will keep you updated on all plans for future ventures into the Koprulu Sector.
This indicates that the developers are considering a new project and that the StarCraft universe will continue to be expanded.
Is there a StarCraft III coming? A StarCraft III seems rather unlikely based on initial considerations. This is due to several reasons:
- StarCraft II has been overshadowed by its predecessor, StarCraft: Brood War, for many years. Although StarCraft II was already released, many professional players still prefer the predecessor, which is still considered one of the best strategy games of all time – it even got a remaster. It seems rather unlikely to further split the RTS community with a third game.
- The story of StarCraft is basically over. The expansion “Legacy of the Void” ends with a spectacular finale that resolves a huge cosmic threat. Many antagonists have been defeated. There is currently no obvious enemy anymore.
Of course, it would be possible for Blizzard to focus on smaller conflicts or create a prequel – or simply continue the story with new problems.
Some hope that the next journey into the StarCraft universe will be a shooter or an MMO instead of a strategy game. Blizzard attempted this before and wanted to bring a shooter centered around the ghost agent Nova with “StarCraft: Ghost” long ago. However, the project was canceled.
When will there be new info? We shouldn’t expect an announcement in the next few weeks at least. At best, new information could come in February 2021, as the “BlizzConline” takes place then – a replacement event for the BlizzCon. It is quite possible that the developers will tease a new project here. On the other hand, Blizzard is also known for years of development. It could be that we won’t hear anything from StarCraft for the next one to two years.
Would you be excited for a StarCraft III? Or would you prefer to see a different genre, such as a shooter or an MMO, in the StarCraft universe?
