Blizzard: Next MMORPG 'brand new' IP

  • By Matthew Peters, GameSpot
  • Posted May 14, 2009 12:52 pm PT

Forum post from publisher reveals next massively multiplayer project will not be based on any existing franchises.

Rumors of a "World of Starcraft" were jettisoned this week when a Blizzard Entertainment representative revealed that the company's next MMOG will be based on an entirely new franchise. When it is finally released, the new, mystery-shrouded game will end the company's 11-year elaboration of its three mainstay franchises: Starcraft, Warcraft, and Diablo.

On Tuesday, Blizzard rep "Zarhym" posted on the World of Warcraft forums that the new MMOG was already underway and that "it'll be a brand-new franchise, which means the lore, art, and gameplay are being developed entirely from scratch." He added, "We have nothing to advertise for the new MMO because it's a shell of a game thus far."

Blizzard Entertainment declined to comment on any further details.

The revelation comes after previous admissions by Blizzard that a new MMOG was in the works, though this is the first time that Blizzard admitted the game was a new franchise. In January 2007, Blizzard revealed that it was already planning for a fresh MMOG that Blizzard's vice president of entertainment, Itzik Ben Bassat, described as "something innovative and new that really brings entertainment to another level."

By October 2008, there were already clues that the MMOG would be an original property. In an interview with Wired, Blizzard CEO Michael Morhaime said that the game would "not be a sequel to World of Warcraft. It will be different," adding that the game would be so different that it wouldn't compete with World of Warcraft.

In a 2007 forum post, Blizzard rep "Drysc" responded to rumors about two job listings for "Next-Gen MMO" artists, stating that the job listings were for an "unannounced Next-Gen MMO," adding "and that doesn't mean for World of Warcraft, either." This February, Blizzard's lead designer Jeffrey Kaplan (aka "Tigole") left his post as game director of World of Warcraft and its new expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, so he could oversee work on the new game.

The last time Blizzard released a new franchise was in 1998, with the distribution of Starcraft. By storming ahead with a new franchise, Blizzard Entertainment hopes to further fatten its engorged pocketbooks. Last week, Activision Blizzard announced that it had exceeded expectations and pocketed $981 million for the January-March quarter. During that period, the company earned more than $100 million a month from MMORPGs sales and subscriptions.

For more on Blizzard's latest MMORPG, watch the video review of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King below:

232 Comments

  • godoo

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 9:14 pm PT

    i just want guild wars 2 >_>

  • inalusi

    Posted Aug 15, 2009 7:46 am PT

    ,,Rumors of a "World of Starcraft" were jettisoned this week when a Blizzard Entertainment representative revealed that the company's next MMOG will be based on an entirely new franchise,, HA HA HA WHO THE Fxxxx WANT SF MMORPG? -----FANTASY----- IS KING FOR MOO....

  • Vicius_Deus

    Posted Jul 18, 2009 3:30 pm PT

    For them making $100 million a month, Blizzard should be able to turn out something pretty awesome.

    Man, I would kill to make that much money....
    ..oh wait I probably could...
    ...
    ...
    ...nahhh not so good at keeping secrets.

  • roryk666

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 2:08 am PT

    its gonna be a golf mmorpg. everyone is gonna make happy gilmore clones

  • spchernandez

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 5:06 am PT

    @taofengxx
    I think they should. If only one tiniy bit of info and/or footage (even game art) would suffice to get people pumped and not think about the soon to be released MMOs

  • GreenDay42k

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 6:18 pm PT

    Blizzard loves beating a dead horse.

  • BertisAU

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 3:59 am PT

    They said it was a different franchise sooooooooo long ago. L2Report

  • taofengxx

    Posted Jul 2, 2009 8:46 am PT

    do you guys think they might announce this new MMOG in Blizzcon? I hope they do plus is there any news on WoW movie since its announcement back in 2007 i believe.

  • -Adob-

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 7:23 pm PT

    @ Keatman

    "it'll be a brand-new franchise, which means the lore, art, and gameplay are being developed entirely from scratch."

  • brian_13un

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 5:38 pm PT

    Hope its great

  • keatman

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 2:48 am PT

    i'm just wondering, will it be a diablo mmo?

  • Limp_Laky

    Posted Jun 30, 2009 12:31 am PT

    Personally if its not a wow competitor it would not surprise me if it didnt follow the traditional mmo where you get a whole bunch of spells and throw em on a taskbar and then push the buttons, I dont know if that means it could end up as a hack and slash or if it could even be a shooter of some kind. Correct me if I'm wrong but no one has directly said it will be an mmorpg just a mmog.

  • Wudumann

    Posted Jun 28, 2009 6:54 am PT

    It could be a post apocalyptic mmo, seems like they could squeeze quite a bit of content out of that.

  • doomsdaydave11

    Posted Jun 20, 2009 8:39 am PT

    If this is the case, then maybe it's time to get into the MMORPG world... I've avoided the whole genre for obvious reasons....

  • TenebrionCQ

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 10:15 pm PT

    SilentD2 - I don't think you could possibly have less of a clue if you tried.

    You, sir, are vapid.

  • SilentD2 posted Jun 18, 2009 2:16 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    SilentD2

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 2:16 pm PT (hide)

    The new IP not being a competitor to wow can only mean three things. Either it's for girls, consoles or the current player base is long dead before it's released. In either case, anyone who knows and loves blizzard current games may just as well stop drooling now. This game is not for you.

  • psycho_spaceman

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 6:53 pm PT

    here are a few ideas i'd enjoy playing

    1) steampunk, like the dude said earlier. very cool
    2) PIRATES!!!! hells yeah, tell me you haven't thought about it
    3) AD 1850-1910 louisiana plantation, voodoo, vampires... (kinda stealin' from interview with a vampire)
    4) the moon or mars. keepin' it real.

  • juztrax

    Posted May 29, 2009 9:49 pm PT

    When thinking on MMO you have to think big. Blizzard arnt just going to do something on just a theme like WW2 or Gangster, they think Bigger. It will be a new world idea something that incorporates many areas.
    Thats why they succeed where many have failed.

  • hand4hire

    Posted May 26, 2009 7:32 pm PT

    cool maybe this one they will not have a subscription for those poor people who can afford to play warcraft...........like me

  • Kippie88

    Posted May 22, 2009 7:16 am PT

    Jermone 123, your userpicture looks goooood

  • alrich68

    Posted May 20, 2009 3:14 pm PT

    So, we have had Super Hero MMO's, a few space MMO's, enough Sword and Sorcery MMO's to last an eternity. So what genre is left? If it will be completely different than WoW, then we aren't talking another SaS title. If they did a space title that wasn't Star Craft, SC fans would go ape. So where do they go from there? There are at least 2 space MMO's in the works that will jockey for player dollars next year (Star Trek and SW: Old Republic) so, for Blizz to make a splash they will need to compete with those (and WoW.) I don't see this happening before 2011, so we got time to theorize.

    Alternate history title might be fun...set in WW2.
    Gangster MMO? Na...too controversial...good for Take 2, not for Blizz.
    Horror MMO? Hmmm...might play well. Zombies, vampires, etc.

    Any thoughts?

  • Master_Hav0c

    Posted May 18, 2009 6:40 pm PT

    I like your ideas, RussianRage, but that's what Diablo III is going to be for. I vote for keeping WoW as it is; no need for extra particle effects slowing my game down.

  • dg3215

    Posted May 18, 2009 12:19 pm PT

    RussianRage seriously go see a dr I think you have issues, a lot of them.

  • Hyrulius

    Posted May 18, 2009 8:12 am PT

    Damn, not Lost Vikings then... pity.

  • Scullyy

    Posted May 18, 2009 4:55 am PT

    Totally different? Real time combat or maybe no combat at all? Modern setting perhaps? Zombie survival mmo?

  • Megamanx266

    Posted May 17, 2009 10:22 am PT

    @RussianRage - WoW would've died long ago if it followed that logic. The main point(s) of its success was the fact it WASN'T so violent/gory as well as having low systems specs to run the game.

  • szwierzy

    Posted May 17, 2009 8:52 am PT

    Old news. I am glad that we're not looking at a SC MMO, and I love SC. I lived it for almost an entire 6 years. If you follow IP, the Zerg wouldn't be even playable, and I don't know, being a 4-legged dreadnaught for a gazillions hours just doesn't sound like much fun. Sure, they could branch out classes for zealots to specialize in, but it just doesn't feel right to me.

    I don't think there is too much worry about a new Blizz MMO competing with WoW, because we're probably looking at a 2012 release at the soonest (maybe a month or two before THQ releases Warhammer 40k MMO, eh Blizz? Off topic, but 40k DOES have the right IP to fit an MMO. Who doesn't want to be a face-melting imperial inquisitor augmented by an enslaved demon from the warp that you chained to your own psychic will? This ain't no pet looking for 'tough jerky' but a barely-contained weapon of mass destruction that you constantly stuggle with and torture to do your bidding. /drool) By 2012, maybe WoW will have wound down enough that Blizz wouldn't mind moving people up to the new game. It wouldn't surprise me if Blizz is looking for an new genre bag to dive into. It would have been so easy for them to say 'sci-fi' if it is sci-fi. No real company secrets compromised there. What if it is something new or hasn't been really touched by mmo's before? Post-apocolypse/Shadow Run clone/Cowboys & Indians/or whatever? Something new would definitely be in Blizz's best interest to keep quiet about for now as development continues. Especially if I am right in thinking a 2012 release.

  • RussianRAGE

    Posted May 17, 2009 3:27 am PT

    I just hope that maybe blizzard may redeem itself by making an actually good mmo. WoW needed less elves, Jamaican trolls, cows, and more GORE AND VIOLENCE. IM TALKING ABOUT INTESTINES FLYING THROUGH THE AIR ACROSS A CORPSE LITTERED BATTLEFIELD AS DEMONS RIP AND TEAR INNOCENT VIRGINS TO PIECES WITH BLOODSOAKED CLAWS!

  • InfestedHunter

    Posted May 17, 2009 2:23 am PT

    and to add Blizzards very poor unique character mapping using same items in there games just changing the colors, I just would like blizzard to expand more.

  • InfestedHunter

    Posted May 17, 2009 2:21 am PT

    Yes very bold decision for blizzard to start new a franchise(s) 100 million dollars a month is insane, I think that blizzard can live off the money they earned to experiment a bit on new games. I am actually excited to hear more about this new game, and it sounds like it's going to be nothing like WOW. But I doubt that, if you have people who worked on wow, it's going to look like WOW just not play like it.

  • Megamanx266 posted May 17, 2009 1:41 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Megamanx266

    Posted May 17, 2009 1:41 am PT (hide)

    OLD NEWS!! Failspot has failed yet again.

  • arikela

    Posted May 16, 2009 11:29 pm PT

    This is not news, they've been talking about their new MMO as a new franchise for over a year- it's just it's been very infrequent because there's been nothing to discuss so far. Kinda unsurprised nobody picked it up as "news" until now though.

  • quickchord

    Posted May 16, 2009 12:48 pm PT

    @ fiskefyren: This doesn't mean that there wont be a StarCraft 3, Diablo 4, or Warcraft 4. This is an MMORPG not like any listed (totally new), those 3 games are respective stand-alones.

    Although, how much different can they make the new starcrafts and warcrafts? RTS games are getting mundane imo.

  • Fady117

    Posted May 16, 2009 10:59 am PT

    Still hoping they would release sequels for their big-hits, tho.

  • fiskefyren

    Posted May 16, 2009 9:42 am PT

    hmm... so that means no StarCraft 3, no Diablo 4 and no Warcraft 4? which is a shame because i dislike all MMORPG's, but if its there where blizzard makes their money then sure, i would do the same thing.
    anywho... i think starcraft was kinda neat... not as good as the first CnC and CnC Red Alert (also the first one), so if they made a "world of starcraft" which would make more sence to call it "univerise of starcraft" or something like that... but that might be something worth trying out... even if it is a life and money stealing MMORPG...

  • fhf22

    Posted May 16, 2009 7:01 am PT

    if the new MMORPG is succesful it would probably end with a division of Blizzard, with half working on WOW and the other half on the new game

  • Elhan

    Posted May 16, 2009 2:30 am PT

    Jerome raises good points.

    BTW, why mention Blizzard's "engorged pockets"? I hope only to congratulate it and not as some slight against it...

  • gk_of_berea

    Posted May 15, 2009 11:40 pm PT

    I've always loved WoW. I haven't played a game in months though, and when I do get a chance to play again, I'm going to check out Lord of the Rings Online. I'm a big Tolkien fan and I think I'd get a kick out of running around in the world. I loved it when I tried it for the 10 day trial or whatever it was.

  • Thompson083

    Posted May 15, 2009 8:42 pm PT

    @bozanimal

    I agree completely with the idea that the next blizz MMO could/will be a steam punk MMO. Steam Punk is something that is becoming more and more prevalent in fantasy and popular culture as well as something I believe could easily fit into blizzards highly animated characterizations and "special" sense of humor. Also, the originality factor for such game would be something mostly new to the gaming industry with the only real game I would consider to be steam punk being Bio-shock. Asides from that, there is very little out there even though I'm probably missing a few major titles

  • Mr_Tonylope

    Posted May 15, 2009 7:17 pm PT

    @Jermone123

    I nearly completely agree what your saying, WoW is getting old and there is only so much Blizzard can do before it gets to the point of people leaving it to play other games. Also Blizzard is a great developer that has put quite a lot of quality into WoW (proof of this is Ready at Dawn, where some of the staff came from Blizzard (and naughty dog), their games are also of exceptional quality)

  • Jermone123

    Posted May 15, 2009 7:03 pm PT

    I see what your saying. But why though? How far can they really take this game? The level cap has already been increased twice. How many more times can they do that? There will come a time where people will want something brand new and different. There are already people tired of wow. I think wow is over the hill with the release of WOTLK and I think Blizzard believes this as well. That is why they are making a new MMO

  • 2w-sephiroth

    Posted May 15, 2009 6:58 pm PT

    I am happy they are doing a whole new franchise... I know that blizzard has awesome talent and the 3 universes are vastly expanded. They need something new and give a rest to the other franchises. Besides they got all this money from WoW so now they have the resources to work on 4 games at the same time.
    I wished the next few expansions and updates for wow they could update the graphics, the animation and the physics further... It coul'nt hurt to add some waves to the sea. Some better cloth phisics. More detail on textures. More moving animation on plants and trees. Critters that give more live to the universe... And more actions to the NPC other than just standing there or moving around... after all this 11 million people are paying 15 dollars a month. They can afford this and it can be a single option that people can enable or disable... like the shadows and weather (about time)

  • Jermone123

    Posted May 15, 2009 6:53 pm PT

    And do not say "Blizzard's success is due to other companies/developers." No way! How come every other MMO FAILS to even come close to WOW? Why? Because they are not Blizzard that is why. Why dd D 1 and 2 and SC have so much success? You think Blizzard had nothing to do with that? Are you kidding me? Then how come other developers dream and wish they could have the success that Blizzard has, but CAN NOT? If what Blizzard does is so talentless then why are they on top of what they do? Give credit where credit is due. Don't low ball them that is so uncalled for. Blizzard is a rare breed in the gaming industry. When 99% of developers would of released "SC Ghost" Blizzard chose not to since it would not meet their required quality. I wish more developers in this industry were like Blizzard instead of trying to sell us... well you know what.

  • Jermone123

    Posted May 15, 2009 6:44 pm PT

    OK I had enough.... Some of you are saying "why would Blizzard make a game that would compete with wow"

    When do you think this is coming out? This year!?!? lol This game wont be out maybe till 2013. Any people left playing wow 4 years from now are SERIOUSLY going to be looking for another MMO to play. Hence this one. How many x-pacs do you people expect Blizzard to make for wow? What are they going to do? lvl 120 with under water basket weaving as the new profession? The graphics are getting old and getting older by the day. Do you know what these graphics will be like in 2013?? lol laughable... This game is made to retire wow. Not to kill it, but to retire it. Take the 11 million + players from wow and give them something new to play so they all dont leave and stop paying 15 bucks a month.

  • Jermone123 posted May 15, 2009 6:37 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Jermone123

    Posted May 15, 2009 6:37 pm PT (hide)

    Also, for the people complaining about a 15 dollar monthly payment.... hmmm how should I put this. HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAH HA HA HA.... HA

  • Jermone123 posted May 15, 2009 6:36 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Jermone123

    Posted May 15, 2009 6:36 pm PT (hide)

    Also, for the people complaining about a 15 dollar monthly payment.... hmmm how should I put this. HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAH HA HA HA.... HA

  • Jermone123

    Posted May 15, 2009 6:33 pm PT

    sigh... some of you people really make me shake my head. I will just take it for granted that some of you are in grade school and do not know ANYTHING about business.

  • mad-aussie

    Posted May 15, 2009 5:47 pm PT

    I wonder if the game would be better then world of warcraft???

  • Javico3000

    Posted May 15, 2009 5:46 pm PT

    tottaly agree... ive been waiting ages for starcraft 2...and these guys wanna make something new, are they getting bored??? they still got lots of stuff to finish _ _.. how about starcraft ghost? Diablo III?..

  • nigioh

    Posted May 15, 2009 5:22 pm PT

    Why must they try to make something new when we've been waiting for Diablo 3, Starcraft 2 and possibly a Warcraft 4?

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