StarCraft 2and its predecessor have arguably been some of the most influential real-time strategy games of all time, and Mike Ybarra seems to think the IP still has insane potential. Beloved by fans all across the globe,StarCraftis a franchise that played a key role in establishing the popularity of e-sports duringBrood War. By the timeWings of Libertylaunched, it set the stage forBlizzard to host BlizzConfilled withWorld Championships, where players battled for the ultimate prize in legendary duels.
However,StarCraftwas more than just an e-sports darling. The sci-fi counterpart to theWarcraftgames,StarCraftis unmistakably inspired by Warhammer 40K, but it still managed to carve out its own take by injecting the Terrans, Protoss, and Zerg with that early Blizzard charm. The original game featured a thrilling story, full of intrigue and betrayal, paving the way forStarCraft 2to add a cinematic flair to the formula. Though sometimes hit-and-miss with its narrative, certainStarCraft 2characters quickly became fan favorites such as Highlord Alarak, Abathur, and Nova.
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Many players want a continuation of the story, to see the next chapter ofStarCraftunfold with the chess pieces so carefully assembled in theNova Covert Opsmissions. It looks like Blizzard’s President Mike Ybarra is of the same mind, as he positively replied to a tweet that begged forStarCraft’s return to the spotlight. Though the game is still supported through balance patches, and tournaments are being held on a global level,StarCraft 2has been in maintenance modefor years, and the time for a sequel couldn’t be any better.
Given howMicrosoft rejuvenated theAge of Empiresfranchise, many Blizzard fans are hoping thatStarCraftwill meet a similar fate once the acquisition goes through. It’s certainly an IP worth continuing, and given the renewed interest in the RTS genre, aStarCraft 3would hardly be the worst investment to make.
On the other hand,futureStarCraftgamesmay take on a different genre altogether. Blizzard attempted to tackle the first-person shooter withStarCraft: Ghost, before ultimately deciding to cancel the project and integrate Nova intoStarCraft 2. ThoughOverwatch 2is a different type of game, it has certainly provided Blizzard with experience on how to design exciting gunplay. While Ybarra hasn’t confirmed that any newStarCraftprojects are currently in development, his comments are certainly intriguing.
StarCraft 2is available on PC.
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