Blizzard: Next MMO game "not another WOW"

After hinting at new Diablos and Starcrafts, Itzik Ben Bassat says his company's next MMO game will be more "innovative" than its current cash cow; WOW movie still in development.

Last week, Blizzard Entertainment vice president of development Itzik Ben Bassat dropped something of a verbal bombshell. At the London launch event for the World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, the executive appeared to say the next installments in two of his company's storied series might not be far off.

Is World of Starcraft next for Blizzard? Maybe not...

"We'd like to say to our fans of Diablo and Starcraft that we haven't forgotten we have these franchises," he said. "We cannot wait to be here in a few years, or however long it will be. It won't be a decade, and we'll be celebrating the launch of [the next] Starcraft together." Some took Bassat's comments as meaning that the first Starcraft game since 1998 would be out in 2008. Others thought he meant new games in the franchises would be out by 2017.

Given the success of World of Warcraft--which has 8 million subscribers and counting--and the shelving of Starcraft: Ghost, many have speculated that Blizzard is prepping a Starcraft massively multiplayer online role-playing game. However, Bassat has now hinted that Blizzard's next MMO game won't just be a clone of its current cash cow.

"When we announce our next MMORPG it's not going to be another WOW--we're not a company that tends to tread the same ground," he told British film magazine Empire. "It'll be something innovative and new that really brings entertainment to another level." American Blizzard reps delcined to expand on Bassat's comments, although the fact that the company began hiring real-time strategy developers last summer might offer a clue.

Though such comments will likely fuel the fires of speculation, Bassat had precious little grist for the rumor mill surrounding the forthcoming World of Warcraft film. "Hollywood has its own pace but we're working as hard as we can to push it forwards," he told the mag. "Bringing Warcraft to the movies is the next step for us, we want to let people bring World of Warcraft into other aspects of their lives. After all, we're competing for people's entertainment time, whether it's listening to music, watching TV, or going to the cinema."

227 Comments

  • taggerung000

    Posted Jun 6, 2008 3:57 pm PT

    lol gotta have somebody being polymorphed (or piggy poly) and if theres locks with imps,voidwalkers ect.. hope they have the 'Do I HAVE to?' and other stuff they say tossed into them.

  • dragonkingf3

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 1:04 pm PT

    its all fake none of its going to happen

  • Crystall3d

    Posted Apr 26, 2007 6:43 pm PT

    hm movie.....
    , looking forward to it madly! wonder how the rogues stealth or the CC fear look like, i wonder alot of things that will look in movie... and hope they make some actors do the "bunny-hopping" aswell :p

  • bloodyrooster posted Apr 4, 2007 1:36 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    bloodyrooster

    Posted Apr 4, 2007 1:36 pm PT (hide)

    Hopefully they put Diablo to rest. It's warcraft with lesser lore. We want Starcraft!!! Something seriously innovative, Diablo was so lame ahhh! some of you make me so mad! Why another horribly boring diablo game?

    The movie, oh man oh man. Just like the south park episode this is just another way to market the game.

  • yohanjr

    Posted Apr 3, 2007 10:23 am PT

    THE MOVIE IS GONNA BE STUPID

  • ERE_MAKRILL

    Posted Mar 11, 2007 2:57 pm PT

    Diablo II ownes, DotA ownes, WOW sucks hard!

    Please make a Diablo III.

  • apennismightier

    Posted Feb 9, 2007 8:38 am PT

    saugh "A movie, doesn't that defeat the game experience"

    What're you stupid? By that logic, then the reversal shouldn't work either. Any movie made shouldn't have a video game because it would ruin the movie experience.

    Not every game adapted to a movie has been good, but there have been decent adaptations. The main reason people think most VG to movie adaptations don't work is that they want to see the video game on screen, word for word, action for action. From a franchise standpoint, business standpoint, and movie standpoint, it isn't as good as giving the public a brand new view of the subject with the same characters they love and different but mostly similar surroundings and storylines to set the tone.

    The movie wouldn't be an exact copy of the game ported to the big screen as most idiots like you would expect. If that were the case, they would just loop the opening CGI movie before the game starts 20 times and call it a movie. Basically the movie wouldn't ruin the gaming experience, but enhance it and maybe even add to it with new innovations they wish to bring to the big screen and with acclaim of the fans, have those new innovations brought into the game.

  • Sovako

    Posted Feb 8, 2007 11:16 pm PT

    Diablo 3 please.

  • saugh

    Posted Feb 1, 2007 10:40 am PT

    A movie, doesn't that defeat the game experience

  • Hakensou

    Posted Feb 1, 2007 6:01 am PT

    Yeah baby that's what I like!
    This is Blizzard as I know it and that have grown acostumed to...
    just 2 years ago the BEST (non-discussable) MMORPG got put on the streets by these geniuses and already they're preppin' another MMO bomb!
    You just got to love these guys!
    Go for it Blizzard! You guys rule!

  • trigun123

    Posted Jan 31, 2007 11:41 am PT

    not a fan of RTS games so i dont really care about another starcraft game, but i would love another diablo, its such a great game

  • Digital_DJ_00

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 7:46 pm PT

    skXIe
    "Anyway, i am ambitious about both that and the new Starcraft and Diablo games. ITS GONNA BE TIGHT YALL!"

    I very much agree, I am totally pumped for another Diablo. I can't wait to be smokin' a sweet cigar while opening a fresh can of woop ass on baddies lol.

  • skXle

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 4:45 pm PT

    Whatever Blizzard's next MMORPG is, i hope that i wont have to pay $15 a month for it like WoW. Anyway, i am ambitious about both that and the new Starcraft and Diablo games. ITS GONNA BE TIGHT YALL!

  • Digital_DJ_00

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 1:30 pm PT

    baelrrogg
    "Digital_DJ_00 Hellgate:london is being developped by flagship studios NOT blizzard. It is formed of ex-blizzard employees and directed by bill roper"

    I never said that Hellgate:London was being developed by Blizzard you idiot. " But because that half of the Diablo team is currently already on a project called Hellgate:London." That's what I said, do you see me mentioning Blizzard? I didn't think so. I knew it was being developed by a different company and by a different director. Read my post right.

  • baelrrogg

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 8:43 am PT

    Digital_DJ_00 Hellgate:london is being developped by flagship studios NOT blizzard. It is formed of ex-blizzard employees and directed by bill roper.

  • Digital_DJ_00

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 2:44 am PT

    Well, they said themselves that it's going to be an MMO but it won't be WoW. And I'm going to quote Itzik Ben Bassat: "We'd like to say to our fans of Diablo and Starcraft that we haven't forgotten we have these franchises" I'm pretty sure that since he noted both Star Craft and Diablo, they're definately considering making future projects for both franchises. Half of the fan base that is in opposition to WoW are in favor for Diablo, and the other half is in favor for Starcraft. I'm betting now that Blizzard has pleased the Warcraft fan base, they will start producing a Diablo title, and a Starcraft title. I think Blizzard finally realized they need to tread on lost ground which was cherished alot before WoW. I'm almost posotive that if they make another Starcraft, they'll make another Diablo, or vice versa. If Blizzard makes another Diablo and Starcraft then everyone will be happy, Warcraft fans will be occupied with Burning Crusade while Diablo and Starcraft fans will be happy with their new franchise titles. That way everyone wins, and everyone one is happy. This would be the smartest move for Blizzard to make. And due to the enormous bankroll that Blizzard is getting from WoW, they can totally afford to make two titles at once if they wanted to. I personally think that they will make another Starcraft next. It's not because I favor it more ( I actually favor Diablo over any Blizzard game) But because that half of the Diablo team is currently already on a project called Hellgate:London. And because Itzik Ben Bassat confirmed that they will make another Starcraft ("It won't be a decade, and we'll be celebrating the launch of [the next] Starcraft together.") But ya never know, Diablo might come before. Only time will tell.

  • Lumenadducere

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 11:57 pm PT

    Perhaps, but the rush is one of the few strategies that Zerg actually have - if you hold that off then you've got a decent chance at winning.

    I think they'll manage to keep the balance, but what I'm really interested in is the story/lore. The point the last game left off on and the secret mission make me really interested in how everything winds up getting resolved (or not). Same with Diablo II.

  • Chaos_crying

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 6:18 pm PT

    SC wasn't balanced--at least, not to the millions of games I played where Zerg rushes overran me before I could get a decent base set up.

  • JohhnyPipelong

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 1:21 pm PT

    Am I the only one that fears a Starcraft 2? I mean the reason Starcraft is so good is because of how balanced and amazing it was. They set a new standard for how RTS should be back then. But over time everyone's expectations get higher and higher and if there IS a Starcraft 2, everyone will compare it to Starcraft and say it wasnt balanced or the Lore is messed up and God knows what else.

    Same goes for Diablo 2.

    But what the hey, I would still kill a kitten or two for a Diablo 3 or Starcraft 2.

  • xNJN

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 10:03 am PT

    2w-Sephiroth... Blizzard is not Bungie. Blizzard does not revolve around the Halo franchise. Halo is OK and all, but i do not want to see clones of it everywhere, especially from a highly original company (:/) like Blizzard.

  • LordDarkstorn

    Posted Jan 27, 2007 8:19 pm PT

    ya id say warcraft is actually their weakest "division," considering they also have starcraft + Diablo, i just dont see why they're focusung on it so much...

  • rykh

    Posted Jan 27, 2007 12:00 pm PT

    I would like to see a Starcraft MMOFPS, like planetside...but good. A large worlded Diablo set like Guild wars would be nice as to see. But without subscription fees like the online Diablo has always been.

  • BigBoss7460

    Posted Jan 25, 2007 2:10 pm PT

    thank god, i DONT want another MMORPG that isnt even worth 15 bucks a month..

  • JoeSSJ3

    Posted Jan 25, 2007 6:55 am PT

    Diablo 3 was already unofficialy confirmed by Richard Knaak.

    GameSpot has a story on it even, basically, Knaak was asked a quesiton and responded.

    "I'm not writing for a dead world, I'm writing for a world with dead in it"

    Might not be the exact quote, but its close, and more or less unofficialy confirmed that the world of Diablo was alive and kicking.

    As for their next MMORPG being new and innovative, that could still mean its Starcraft, or Diablo, or not. So I suggest that all those wishing for a WoS don't get their hopes up in-case its something completely different.

  • cjcr_alexandru

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 9:40 am PT

    2w-sephiroth, I totally agree with you.

  • SilverDeath

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 8:09 am PT

    MMO-FPS in the veins of planet side could work pretty well.

    Except that players playing zerglings control not one, but like 6 of em. That way it'll be a TRUE ling rush.

  • 2w-sephiroth

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 5:59 am PT

    Starcraft and Warcraft 3 was great, I had great times with does games.

    I want a Diablo 3 with fantastic, gore and dark art, fantastic graphics and a "no online game" or a fantastic Starcraft 2 with a fully improved racial with Terrans, Protoss and Zerg and with this all a whole new race: The race that created both the Protoss and Zerg! You guys should know about this if you are really into SC!

    If not... what about creating a whole NEW game? Top and Down to Zero. Something new? I reckon that blizzard is so good at making games that people only want remakes and blaaaah.

    I want a wicked new SC!

  • lil_menace_boy

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 10:21 pm PT

    arggggg waiting to long for starcraft 2

  • Ariketh

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 9:57 pm PT

    "Hell yeah!!! I've been anticipating another Diablo for years! Good times..."

    The guys who made diablo are making another game already called Hellgate: London. I suggest you look into it if you're interested in Diablo as opposed to just a Blizzard fan boy.

  • gibbie_420

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 8:32 pm PT

    I just bought WoW like 3 weeks ago because I gave up on the possibility of another Diablo... and now they tell me this >.

  • Stolen_Kuniva

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 7:35 pm PT

    Hell yeah!!! I've been anticipating another Diablo for years! Good times...

  • lewser5

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 6:56 pm PT

    Starcraft deserves it due! We already gotten 4 warcrafts and 2 diablos, so its a no brainer that we should get another Starcraft next. Come on Blizzard you need to make up for the cancelled Ghost game. Just give us another SC rts and we'll be happy for a little while.

  • sircyrus

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 6:11 pm PT

    "so... was WoS officially a joke? if so who made it?"

    Yes. It was Gamespot's April Fool's joke last year, though many many people fell for it. To be fair to them it was pretty convincing looking... atleast for the first part.

  • Factor-Zer0

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 5:48 pm PT

    so... was WoS officially a joke? if so who made it?

  • ismakun

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 4:14 pm PT

    Star Craft 2 FTW!!!!!! Forget about MMO, WoW is good enough and it completely sucks my life. Give some RTS so I can finally leave WoW out of my life.

  • Kenzo287

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 3:57 pm PT

    oh oh oh! Here's an idea. Finish Starcraft: ghost! Woah! I mean really wasnt than game announced like 100 years ago?

  • LAZZOR

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 3:05 pm PT

    Starcraft MMO ftw!

  • RocKtheCasbaH

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 2:41 pm PT

    World of Warcraft film? Who wants to watch 2 hours of raiding and pay for the pleasure? It couldn't be about pvp WoW hasn't been about that since retail!

  • yosk1

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 1:33 pm PT

    yea that screen is pretty tight.. good editing. had me fooled for a couple sec

  • crapycomputer

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 1:18 pm PT

    if a SC MMO was made, i'd definitely roll a marine or firebat.


    what about you guys?

  • I_Pwn_U_n00bs

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 12:56 pm PT

    Im gonna get flaamed by fan boys here but wat was amazing about starcraft The warcraft series was a hell of a lot better and blizz should know they would have more sucess with that... Bring on the WOW movie

  • palaric8

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 12:47 pm PT

    forget about a warcraft movie!!!!!!!!!!!WE WANT A STARCRAFT MOVIE AND WORLD!!!!!!! lol

  • Alcotamaysees

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 12:44 pm PT

    Warcraft movie. Everybody's selling out.

  • Jebril

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 12:06 pm PT

    Don't you dare make Starcraft a MMORPG!!!

    We loved it because it was a RTS not a FPS or a MMORPG.

  • Paul_TheGreat

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 11:45 am PT

    Bring on Starcraft 2.

  • SilverWolf2047

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 11:42 am PT

    Starcraft FTW!

  • Darth-Revan45

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 11:24 am PT

    Please god new starcraft!

  • SuperGogeta24

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 11:09 am PT

    im praying its a diablo

  • Lanfeix

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 10:45 am PT

    RTS MMO would be imazing!

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 10:44 am PT

    LOL that's a sweet mock up pic

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