StarCraft could return, according to Blizzard president, but not necessarily as an RTS

While Blizzard is very much focussed on its big money-makers like its various Warcraft games, from WoW to Hearthstone to Warcraft Rumble, as well as Diablo and the much-maligned Overwatch 2, he’s still open to StarCraft making a comeback. That said, RTS fans shouldn’t get their hopes up. While the series might return, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be an RTS, and whatever shape it takes will depend on the person or team who goes to bat for it.

“It’s not me saying, ‘Go make a StarCraft game,’” Ybarra told Bloomberg. “I need to have someone who has the vision and passion that comes with the idea, and I’ll bet on that team.”

A vision and passion he - according to his own words - clearly does not have. 😑

loo, (edited )
@loo@lemmy.world avatar

The good days of Blizzard are over, I’m not getting my hopes up for anything they produce nowadays.

HuddaBudda,
@HuddaBudda@kbin.social avatar

I'll keep an ear to the ground.

But I don't like that $90 preorder logic at all, it's almost weird it exists.

I try to imagine going to a gamestop and a gaming associate was like, buy that game 3 days later and I'll give you $20.

Skip the in game pet and mount, that most people forget exists after the expansion, and I'll make that $40

But then.... why does this system exist?!

ryathal,

Early access is the new fad, because it costs nothing and has value to some players. The increasing drive for more monetization is Activision’s influence, Blizzard was really lazy about it before being bought.

At least early access makes a little sense in an mmo. The new areas are super crowded on launch, so letting some get through early does help.

Pregnenolone,

Fomo is a powerful drug

Syndic,

But then… why does this system exist?!

Because it works and makes them money! You can bet that other publishers will take notice and you’ll see such money grabbing schemes becoming more and more common.

Buddahriffic,

Not to mention that, to some, seeing you ride that mount or that pet following you tells them that you’re a sucker who pre-ordered the game.

Dicska,

I still have Diablo II Resurrected added to my Steam Library as “Blizzard’s remaining dignity”. And even that is because it’s made by Blizzard North. Apart from maybe WoW (at least the golden years, not necessarily the current state), I can’t think of anything else that has kept its perceived value.

loo,
@loo@lemmy.world avatar

I remember when Overwatch came out. It was so damn fun. Then they ruined it with patches and finally deleted it, only for it to be replaced by that shitty money making machine “Overwatch 2”. It’s kinda sad to know that some games can’t be experienced now in the same way they were when they first came out. Same with WoW.

Angry_Maple,
@Angry_Maple@sh.itjust.works avatar

It feels like it’s been ages since I’ve played WoW.

I remember the days of the spiffworld youtube videos, where Jonathan Coulton songs were played in the background while WoW characters dancing/acting along to the lyrics.

chicken,

When I was playing through the campaign of the last SC2 expansion I couldn’t help seeing the story/dialogue through the lens of, Artanis = how Blizzard executives think of themselves. Was really bad IMO

psycho_driver,

Blizzard died a long time ago.

p03locke,
@p03locke@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

Yeah, let’s not forget that Blizzard was bought by Activision and Activision was just bought by Microsoft.

There is no “Blizzard”, just Microsoft.

Halosheep,

I genuinely have more faith in Microsoft than Activision.

I don’t have any empirical evidence, but for some reason I do.

Sanctus,
@Sanctus@lemmy.world avatar

They need to make a Starcraft vs Warhammer 40k game. If only because Starcraft is 40k lite.

billiam0202,

That’s because, if I remember the story correctly, StarCraft started out as a WH40K game, but Blizzard couldn’t secure the rights from Games Workshop, so they basically made their own universe with hookers and blackjack.

MxM111,
@MxM111@kbin.social avatar

/c/unexpectedFuturama

Sanctus,
@Sanctus@lemmy.world avatar

Thats exactly what happened and its exactly why we should have a cross over. But by the downvotes it seems people dont want it.

Grangle1,

Why do I feel like this is gonna just be M$/Activi$ion/Blizzard going, “Hey look at Starfield, we have a sci-fi thing, let’s copy Starfield with our sci-fi IP”.

Carighan,
@Carighan@lemmy.world avatar

And I mean, while I can’t see a Starfield-clone work in the Starcraft universe, I could see an adjacent spin-off game work really well like being a cargo-pilot having to drop stuff off on planets during active battles with fire all around you, or an exploration game where you explore galaxies and have to avoid being detected/caught by the zerg and/or protoss.

But I can’t see the modern Actiblizzking pull that off, even with MS throwing endless money at them.

ono,

deleted_by_author

    •
    Zorque,

    If it were twenty years ago, sure.

    bigbadmoose,

    en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarCraft:_Ghost please

    evening_push579,

    My thought exactly!

    AHorseWithNoNeigh,
    @AHorseWithNoNeigh@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

    Beat me to it. I’d put money on them completing this (or a bastardization of what it was supposed to be).

    Illecors,

    that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be an RTS, and whatever shape it takes will depend on the person or team who goes to bat for it.

    So… it’s not Starcraft, then. It’s just another game.

    TheEighthDoctor,

    The name is moneygrab

    The_Picard_Maneuver,
    @The_Picard_Maneuver@lemmy.world avatar

    You know how in Starcraft, Infestors could take over a unit and parade it around to do its bidding?

    It sounds kind of like that, but with the Starcraft brand.

    dudewitbow,

    Would you claim if Starcrft ghost had not been canceled, it would not be a starcrft game?

    ono,

    So… it’s not Starcraft, then.

    I think Starcraft has enough story and character development by now that its identity is more than just the mechanics that it started with.

    It’s just another game.

    It would still be a Starcraft game. If we were to ignore the lore and only consider the RTS format, then even the first Starcraft was “just another game”. Those mechanics weren’t unique or new.

    Similarly, World of Warcraft is still a Warcraft game, even though it’s hung on a different framework from the original.

    Knusper,

    I think Starcraft has enough story and character development by now that its identity is more than just the mechanics that it started with.

    I can imagine that, but I don’t think anyone but RTS fans know that.
    I feel like, if they want to ‘bring it back’ as a brand, they would need to do an RTS game with all the marketing and such, to please the fans and bring it back into the public’s memory, and then they could follow it up with a non-RTS spinoff.

    If they don’t do it like this, they’ll likely have another debacle like with Diablo Immortals, where fans are waiting for a full-fledged title in that series and they’re announcing something that’s just not that.

    EssentialCoffee,

    I mean Warcraft was originally an RTS. No one thinks about that now.

    A StarCraft game in the vein of Mass Effect would be dope.

    c0mbatbag3l,
    @c0mbatbag3l@lemmy.world avatar

    StarCraft extraction shooter confirmed.

    Chozo,

    StarCraft doesn't have to be at RTS, you know.

    RTS is a dead genre, but that doesn't mean the SC universe has to die with it.

    hyperhopper,

    WTF does “dead genre” mean? There are still people that love it and play it and want more.

    The people shouting at blizzcon aren’t yelling because they need a new model and voice lines for protoss units, they are doing it because they want another RTS

    Chozo,

    StarCraft hasn't seen any significant development since 2015. There aren't many other competitors in the RTS space since about that time, as well.

    C&C hasn't had anything since 2010. AoE's last major entry was in 2021 and had a pretty weak reception. I can't think of the last RTS that actually sold well and has large adoption besides SC2.

    It's a very niche genre these days, and few developers are willing to make them in today's climate of looters, extractions, and battle royales. RTS games just simply aren't making the waves they used to anymore.

    azulavoir,

    How about Pikmin 4?

    Maalus,

    Ye, and Stormgate and Zero Space don’t exist, and people aren’t excited for either, am I rite?

    AustralianSimon,
    @AustralianSimon@lemmy.world avatar

    And the new Total Annihilation game!

    Chozo,

    This thread is literally the first time I've heard of either of those.

    Maalus,

    Then you don’t follow RTS news at all. Stormgate is made by ex blizzard employees that made Starcraft. Zero Space is made by Starcraft pros and modders. Zero Space got funded incredibly well through kickstarter. Both of these are a return to Warcraft 3 / Starcraft 2 type of gameplay and a lot of people are waiting for their release.

    Grangle1,

    Crusader Kings, Europa Universalis, Civilization, Total War… Not all necessarily “real time”, but still very much in the grand strategy mold.

    AustralianSimon,
    @AustralianSimon@lemmy.world avatar

    The next Total Annihilation is going to be balls to the wall good. Check the trailers.

    Storm Gate and Zero Space are being made by ex Blizz staff. Both in alpha.

    RTS is back on the menu, boys.

    Toribor,
    @Toribor@corndog.social avatar

    StarCraft Pinball! I can’t wait.

    Illecors,

    Fans of Starcraft Mahjong unite!

    GeneralEmergency,

    StarCraft Ghost is making an appearance.

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