Blizzard hiring RTS developers

Job posting on Web site sparks rumors of Starcraft and Warcraft sequel; developer declines to go into specifics about "unannounced project."

For better or worse, World of Warcraft continues to dominate the PC gaming market. But while nearly 7 million people play Blizzard Entertainment's massively multiplayer online role-playing game, many gamers are wondering if the developer is planning future efforts in the genre that made it a household name--real-time strategy.

Blizzard's first big RTS hit was Warcraft: Orcs and Humans in 1994, followed by Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness in 1995 and the Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal expansion in 1996. The company enjoyed even greater success with Starcraft (1998), Starcraft: Brood War (1998), and Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (2002). However, since Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne was released in 2003, the developer has steered clear of RTS games, focusing on the successful WOW and the now-indefinitely postponed Starcraft: Ghost.

This week, though, the myriad Blizzard RTS fans got some good news, courtesy of a job posting on the official Blizzard Web site. The company is now currently accepting resumes for the position of "Level Designer" with "experience building levels using any popular 3D Real-Time Strategy game toolset." (Emphasis added.) Candidates must have "experience creating levels in [a] 3D RTS game toolset" such as those used in Rise of Legends, Command & Conquer, and--drum roll--Warcraft III.

While the job posting appears to be proof positive that Blizzard is working on a new RTS game--which some speculate is Starcraft II--reps for the Vivendi-owned studio weren't tipping their hand. "We have some unannounced projects in development," a rep told GameSpot, "and we'll be revealing more information about those at a later date."

295 Comments

  • athenian29

    Posted Jun 26, 2008 7:14 pm PT

    It had to be Starcraft II. Of course, the fact that this job was posted in '06 says that Bliz is either:

    a) slow as heck, or more likely:
    b) believers that slow and steady wins the race.

    Although, honestly, going so slow that you cancel the whole darn thing is taking it a tad overboard.

  • Charles_begin

    Posted May 22, 2007 8:42 am PT

    And now we know: it was Starcraft 2 all along!

  • Janpieterzun

    Posted Apr 15, 2007 10:38 am PT

    they cant top starcraft so expect another warcraft

  • jjb1919

    Posted Apr 12, 2007 8:09 pm PT

    Lets see... warcraft is good, but both diablo and starcraft have been long overdue for sequels. I personally am hoping for starcraft 2 to come out first

  • Spartan4001

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 6:49 pm PT

    Is this where Greg went?

  • Ilija_True_Game

    Posted Jan 20, 2007 8:02 pm PT

    I'd love to see Warcraft 4. I love the warcraft series except World of Warcraft but the RTS Warcrafts are nice.

  • rikhan_z

    Posted Jan 1, 2007 6:35 pm PT

    interesting i wonder what kind of game they'll come up with this time?

  • taggerung000

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 7:55 pm PT

    yeah i agree with thrawn. lol

  • ThrawnEternal

    Posted Dec 11, 2006 12:14 am PT

    Crossing my fingers for Starcraft 2. There`s already 3 Warcrafts and an MMO. Let the warcraft fans play WOW and give us some Zerg!

  • Goliath_unit

    Posted Dec 3, 2006 4:47 pm PT

    Starcraft meets Diablo meets Warcraft? that would be kind of cool

  • rugripper40

    Posted Nov 15, 2006 8:21 pm PT

    i would love to see all three games in one....starcraft meets diablo meets warcraft...a big blockbuster of a game...the game of all games...that would be sweet......cheers

  • magoogo

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 4:16 am PT

    Warcraft movie announced...14th April 2007. Lord of the Rings style movie.

  • LocoK1

    Posted Oct 11, 2006 10:01 am PT

    Maybe it would be an rst set around the first demon-man war in the diablo universe (the one where Baal is imprisoned in Tal Rasha)

  • Echo_One

    Posted Oct 7, 2006 8:44 am PT

    Blizz should also hire a balance specialist. WC3 TFT was a joke.... Human castercraft, to Orc cheese, to UD Nuke fest, to hunt cheese. Some heros were 1337 (ex. AM, DK,FS) and some were just brutal (ex. PAL, Tinker).

    Mass those hunts noobelves..ROFL!

  • Goliath_unit

    Posted Aug 21, 2006 2:51 pm PT

    i am interested in this story, and hope that it is a starcraft ii, not a warcraft iv, or a new franchise. but i wun be able to play it cuz of my old computer. i hope there is a ps2 version.

  • AnnoMundi

    Posted Aug 18, 2006 5:09 am PT

    Don't expect too much with Blizzard. Their next project may have an ended like StarCraft Ghost.

  • zh1zha

    Posted Aug 15, 2006 11:35 am PT

    STARCRAFT was, and still is, THE BEST RTS EVER, i know that warcraft was the first and that warcraft has many mods and that WoW originated from warcraft, but it's like the wiseman said :
    - - - - ' STARCRAFT IS NOT WARCRAFT IN SPACE ! ! ! ' - - - -

  • tsb247

    Posted Aug 15, 2006 10:45 am PT

    I was never a fan of SC or WC, but I am nonetheless intrigued. I don't deny that SC and WC were good games in their own right... They just did not appeal to me, but at the same time, I am curious about what Blizzard is cooking up behind the scenes.

  • PSdual_wielder

    Posted Aug 14, 2006 11:46 pm PT

    monkeytoes61
    i say make all 3 of them. all 3 were really good and i hope to see more in the future

    companies are made to make money, blizzard is no exception. With all three of their franchises being so megapopular, I wouldn't be surprised if they are actually resurrecting all three of them at the same time, or simultaneously. Blizzard is definetly onto something currently, its just a matter of time before they show it. WoW took like 3-4 years to make, only at around 1-2 yrs before it released did we learn of the existence of the game.

    be patient people.

  • tpizzy2486

    Posted Aug 14, 2006 7:32 pm PT

    I always found it very odd how much the Diablo and Warcraft worlds recieved so much more attention compared to the Starcraft. There was W1, W2, W2:Expansion, W3, WoW, Diablo, Diablo 2, Diablo 2: Expansion. But the Starcraft world has only seen the original and one expansion. It is quite sad when not only one of the most popluar and best selling RTS game but also best selling game of all time goes neglected. I have been waiting years for them to announce the releases of SC2 and the delays on Ghost have made me become increasingly suspicious that Blizzard just feels the fan base isn't there anymore.

    Battle.net is still filled with SC players. They need to bring this "Ghost" of a world back. (pun intented)

    For all teh SC fans out there keep hoping and one day Blizzard will see toward the truth. SC RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • monkeytoes61

    Posted Aug 14, 2006 6:39 pm PT

    i say make all 3 of them. all 3 were really good and i hope to see more in the future

  • clanusa

    Posted Aug 14, 2006 3:31 pm PT

    STARCRAFT 2 ALLL THE WAY! I just beat starcraft and brood war recently for like the 10th time(dont remember) and i totally forgot the story line till i played it recently. The secret mission totally means a sequal and definitly means a new race. Possible the Xel'Naga??? Cuz lets think, Zerg mixed with Protoss, and who created both? The Xel'Naga. Also duran said sumthing about an acient race or sumthing, so its gotta be sumthin. Also the people who say D3, it'd be cool, but cant happen. 2 people have said it already, so get with the picture. Also, it cant be a starcraft mmorpg or mmofps cuz it says level designer, but lets not get our hopes down. And it cant be called World of Starcraft(im just makin a point) cuz there are tons of worlds in starcraft. but anyways....GO STARCRAFT 2! One more thing, it could be it cuz they are saying for ghost indfefinitely postponed, so if it means postponed, then they could release it and starcraft 2 close to each other for a console starcraft and PC starcraft. But watever.....GO STARCRAFT 2!

  • Bairemuth

    Posted Aug 14, 2006 12:01 am PT

    It's either SC 2 or a new world for us to experience.

    And though we will all initially be saddened if this is the case (as will I), they still turn out an awesome game that will add to their 100% success rate of great games. Even WoW is the best in it's genre, even if there are many haters out there.

  • mrnjau

    Posted Aug 13, 2006 3:35 pm PT

    What about the great DIABLO guys c'mon !!! What are the rumors about that ??? That is a masterpiece seriously

  • xnoisebleedx

    Posted Aug 12, 2006 9:06 pm PT

    If I could see starcraft 2, i'd be living a crazy dream!

  • thorvath

    Posted Aug 12, 2006 4:09 pm PT

    From a money-grabbing standpoint (which Blizz is all about) making WC4 seems counterproductive to the overall strategy of keeping kids hooked on World of Warcrack. Why return to the old ways of making solid strategy games with fantastic storylines at $49.99 a pop when they can sell you expansion packs at the same price along with a modest monthly fee they can hit you with for the rest of your life?
    On the bright side that means the much neglected Starcraft franchise can make a comeback! Though the next step is Battle.net subscriptions only $9.99/month (with a 5% discount to WoW players)

  • recalcitrant1

    Posted Aug 12, 2006 4:01 pm PT

    Luckily I've played them all and enjoyed them equally.

  • CanadianCCP

    Posted Aug 12, 2006 3:40 pm PT

    Starcraft is the better game so why did they continue making Warcraft games? STARCRAFT FTW! WARCRAFT FOR THE LAME!

  • Vraeth

    Posted Aug 12, 2006 2:52 pm PT

    Starcraft 2. I've played all the WC games and still play WoW, but... that still leaves WC with 3 games and several expansions, while SC has only had one game and one real expansions. It's long overdue for a Starcraft sequel.

  • Galaxy613

    Posted Aug 12, 2006 12:38 pm PT

    I hope whatever the game they are working on is good, I was personally disappointed in Warcraft III.

  • _Mr_Derp_

    Posted Aug 12, 2006 11:16 am PT

    cool beans

  • ninjoslot

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 5:01 pm PT

    will you all shadapyamauts!!! a combination of starcraft,warcraft & diablo would be cool. it should be called "dark star of war". sounds low budget doesnt it? i just know that any game they bring out is gonna rock!!!...but i have to wait 4 a year or so to play it(financial and locational reasons).

  • Navydad101

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 1:39 pm PT

    Wether Blizzard make SC 2 or WC 4 everyone will buy it. You'll be mad for 15 minutes in Wal-Mart that it's not one or the other but in the end they make absolutely awesome games and we will all buy.

  • lavablade

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 9:01 am PT

    Starcraft 2 please ... wanna see Raynor kick Kerrigans ass like he said towards the end of Broodwar

  • HK-Ghost

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 7:50 am PT

    burkmopp said:
    "I just pray to god, whom I dont belive, that if it's SC2 then for god's sake dont mess the game up like ya did with warcraft 3. Damn worst RTS they ever made IMHO. It's al about exping heroes and getting frost wurms or other super powerfull units... Hate it."

    I really hope it's SC2. On another note, WC3 was something very innovative and it came out to be extremely good. I did get to know a lot of ppl that didn't have such good micro and because of the implications that having bad micro brings...they always hated WC3...poor them.

    -Ghost

  • burkmopp

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 7:21 am PT

    Although Im greatly wishing for Starcraft 2, damn best story in a RTS ever and one if not the best balanced RTS there ever was. I must say, to think al other RTS games will be doomed if it get's made is stupid as hell, I still play Total Anhilation every now and then, Im sure supreme commander will be able to compitate i not even do better.

    I just pray to god, whom I dont belive, that if it's SC2 then for god's sake dont mess the game up like ya did with warcraft 3. Damn worst RTS they ever made IMHO. It's al about exping heroes and getting frost wurms or other super powerfull units... Hate it. (DotA doesn't count,

  • soppderock

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 4:00 pm PT

    whatever they actually plan to do. I'm for a totally new game with no relationship to either warcraft of starcraft
    THAT would be great news xD

  • BigD6997

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 1:59 pm PT

    why didnt startcraft ghost ever come out , i was so pumped for that game

  • cyborg100000

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 1:19 pm PT

    I have never played star craft before. Is it just like red alert2?

  • MarcusOfLycea

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 12:49 pm PT

    I would refuse to buy Warcraft 4. Its been 10 years since SC... I think another one is long past due.

  • poopdogg89

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 12:17 pm PT

    WORLD OF STARCRAFT! w00t! jk. but anyways, WARCRAFT IV! That would pwn. As for starcraft 2, meh, Starcraft was fun, but I enjoyed WarCraft SO much more. Unless they made it awesome and based it loosely off the Wacraft 3 engine, I probably wouldn't buy it.

  • Rangent

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 10:16 am PT

    Kinda a bummer, they didn't even post anything about Diablo/Diablo II... I wish they'd do Diablo3... it'd be great

  • Micke12345

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 7:33 am PT

    -Lechuza-
    Startcraft 2
    and please dont make it cartoonish like warcraft 3 & Wow, those games sucked.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I agree whit this guy, its very importent the the grapics are very similar to Starcraft and broodwar.

  • EagleLen

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 3:13 am PT

    StarCraft II is like the most anticipated game d world has ever seen!! StarCraft II all da way!

  • surenintendo

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 8:16 pm PT

    it'd be cool if they release either warcraft IV or starcraft 2!!!!

  • vampirehunter66

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 7:01 pm PT

    Everyone likes Starcraft. Not everyone enjoys Warcraft.

  • tindrli

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 4:53 pm PT

    FALLOUT 3 please

    we are waiting too long

  • _JPH_

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 1:53 pm PT

    Starcraft 2 over Warcraft 4

  • natemanxxx

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 11:23 am PT

    Although I'm atheist, I'll say it anyway:
    PRAISE ALLAH, KRISHNA, THE LORD, JESUS, ZEUS, MORIGAN, AND ALL THOSE OTHER IMAGINARY THINGS!
    STARCRAFT 2 IS UPON US!

  • Wilmc

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 9:34 am PT

    WARCRAFT IV!!!!!

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