Before BlizzCon 2026, rumors are circulating that Blizzard might sell the rights for the development of a StarCraft game to another studio. MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz fears the worst.
What kind of sign of life is this? Yesterday (on September 2, 2026), a report from the South Korean news site Chosun Ilbo made the rounds, stating that Blizzard and Nexon are in advanced negotiations. Specifically, it concerns licensing and development rights for a game with the StarCraft brand (here and there, it is said that Nexon wants to buy the entire StarCraft IP, but that is incorrect).
Nexon is a South Korean developer and publisher, that already made MMO history back in 1996 with Nexus: Kingdom of the Winds. Among the company’s most successful games are titles like Dungeon & Fighter and MapleStory. For Blizzard, Nexon also serves as the local publisher for Overwatch in South Korea. So the two companies know each other well.
The StarCraft 2 trilogy was a celebration for all RTS and story fans:
StarCraft deserves more
How does MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz assess the news? I would be significantly less disturbed by this news if Blizzard hadn’t neglected StarCraft so severely over the past 11 years. Yes, StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void was so long ago. After that, there was only a remastered version of part 1. The universe is one of the most popular and iconic in the gaming sector. What are you doing, Blizzard?!
The universe has such a strong foundation, such great characters, such distinctive races … StarCraft could easily have left the dusty genre of real-time strategy and found its success in role-playing games, action-adventures, or MMOs. At least that’s what my outside brain has been telling me for years when I think about the wasted potential.
If the rights for a new StarCraft really end up with Nexon, I fear two things:
- Blizzard itself could underline how little interest there is in diving back into the IP.
- The game from Nexon will likely be heavily focused on South Korean players, where StarCraft esports has held significant importance for countless years (and still does). I fear Free2Play monetization, PvP focus, Pay2Win or Gacha elements, and Mobile release.
If I am right, many struggling Western StarCraft fans are left empty-handed again. But I could also be completely wrong. Blizzard has conspicuously left a lot of room for a surprise announcement at the upcoming BlizzCon. Maybe … maybe this announcement has something to do with StarCraft. I wish it so … how do you feel? Would you be interested in a new StarCraft? More on this: The schedule for BlizzCon 2026 is set – And there is a suspicious, large gap
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