Korean Devs Pitch New StarCraft to Blizzard

Korean game studios have reportedly submitted multiple proposals to Blizzard for new StarCraft titles.

As highlighted by Twitter account @KoreaXboxnews via Asia Today, four major Korean developers—NCSoft, Nexon, Netmarble, and Krafton—are vying for the StarCraft IP publishing rights. Sources indicate several teams visited Blizzard's Irvine headquarters to present their concepts.

NCSoft (developer of Lineage and Guild Wars) proposed a StarCraft-themed RPG, potentially an MMORPG. Nexon (The First Descendant) suggested an unconventional take on the franchise. Netmarble (Solo Leveling: Arise) pitched a mobile adaptation, while PUBG creator Krafton plans to leverage its technical expertise for a unique StarCraft project.

While publisher-developer pitches routinely occur in gaming, these discussions gain significance given StarCraft's decade-long hiatus from major releases. Though Activision Blizzard declined IGN's request for comment, fan interest remains high regarding potential expansions to the sci-fi universe.

Previously disclosed in September 2023, Blizzard is developing another StarCraft shooter—their third attempt—under Far Cry veteran Dan Hay's leadership since his 2022 hiring.

Bloomberg's Jason Schreier revealed details during IGN's Podcast Unlocked while discussing his book "Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment." When questioned about the project's viability, Schreier responded critically: "If it's not canceled! Blizzard's StarCraft shooter track record speaks for itself." He confirmed ongoing development status at time of writing while clarifying his book focused primarily on historical analysis rather than unreleased projects.

This references Blizzard's troubled history expanding the RTS franchise into shooters. The infamous StarCraft Ghost—a 2002 tactical action game featuring Dominion Ghost operatives—was canceled in 2006. Subsequent project Ares (reportedly "Battlefield meets StarCraft") met similar fate in 2019 as resources shifted toward Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2.

Recent developments suggest renewed momentum: November 2023 job listings referenced an "open-world shooter," strongly hinting at a StarCraft FPS. The franchise also saw Game Pass additions (StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft 2 campaigns) and a Hearthstone crossover announcement.