Blizzard's next MMOG to have 'more broad appeal'

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick reveals the World of Warcraft developer's upcoming massively multiplayer project will cast a wider net; "prize play" coming to Battle.net.

After confirming it was working on a new massively multiplayer online game in 2007, Blizzard Entertainment has divulged only a few details on the project. Today at the Deutsche Bank Securities Technology Conference in San Francisco, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick offered another breadcrumb of information about the unnamed title--which won't be a competitor to World of Warcraft.

Blizzard's next won't be World of Starcraft.

When asked about the efforts behind the new Battle.net online gaming service, Kotick listed Blizzard's upcoming slate. "What we've announced at Blizzard is that we have Starcraft [II] coming, Diablo has been in production...and a new, unannounced MMOG that has a little more broad appeal," said the executive.

Kotick's talk of a more accessible MMORPG adds a bit more detail to the still very sketchy picture of Blizzard's mystery-shrouded project. Before officially acknowledging it was in development in 2007, Blizzard said that any new massively multiplayer online game would not be a World of Warcraft clone. This February, now-ex-World of Warcraft game director Jeff Kaplan began working full time on the unnamed title, which will be a brand-new property.

Besides mentioning the Blizzard MMORPG and Activision's plans to begin bypassing consoles, Kotick dropped hints of what features the new Battle.net might have. "As we start to add cash play and prize play and better rewards and recognition systems that come through the Internet, you will start to see audiences expand even further," said Kotick, showing a slide of a BlizzCon StarCraft II tournament.

When asked if Kotick's comments meant that cash prizes would be awarded directly over Battle.net, a Blizzard rep pointed out his company's long-standing tradition of having contests that begin online and end at BlizzCon with large cash prizes. "Tournament play and e-sports have been part of the Battle.net experience for years," said the rep who declined to comment further.

234 Comments

  • dg3215

    Posted Oct 11, 2009 4:19 pm PT

    Release starcraft 2 already

  • Lethalhazard

    Posted Sep 18, 2009 2:04 pm PT

    Guessing this MMO will somehow manage to water down the MMO genre even more than WoW's expansions did.

    I blame Activision.....and Blizzard for merging with them.

  • Crimson_xWolfx

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 12:56 pm PT

    I look forward to the refurbished Battle.net system, and I really find it hysterical when people complain about World of Warcraft. If they really have played it, I know their experience in the beginning was quite boring, because the first time you play the game isn't as fun until you reach a higher level. But saying you only played it for a short amount of time, i.e 2 - 3 weeks. Then you really shouldn't be talking, especially if your playtime is below 6 days. @Kashmiro Yeah, that new Star Wars MMO looks real badass..

  • AirPortugall

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 8:01 am PT

    I just had to add this. Even if you say WoW's a good game more factors into it. Tons of my friends play it and they have the worst computers in the world. They tried playing Warhammer Online at my house and they loved it but they said that their computers couldn't handle it so they'd stick to WoW. Along with that, WoW works with Macs. Warhammer Online is on Mac now but other than that most aren't. That obviously helps them rack in more MMO lovers and making WoW that more popular.

  • AirPortugall

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 7:57 am PT

    Ya they have 12 million people on WoW but Activision said that they wanted to bypass consoles...which is more than 12 million. All i know is i tried WoW for a month and it was really boring for me. I have nothing against it (other than that's it overrated) but it's not a bad game, it's just not the game for me.

  • vengeance00

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 1:47 am PT

    if its got a monthly fee, then i ain't playing. wasted my money trying wow for two weeks until it bored me to death.

  • azureblade89

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 6:56 pm PT

    Wouldn't it expand appeal if you just make the game free? or come at a fraction of the cost/upkeep?

  • Kashmiro

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 4:43 pm PT

    lol yea 12 million is pretty broad of an appeal to me... but yea I personally think this sounds cool. Mainly because I have finally after many years gotten tired of WoW (at least for the moment.) So I would definitely like a new MMO from Blizzard now, Star Wars looks pretty sweet so Blizzard has some real competition now also.

  • me123456789O

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 4:42 pm PT

    will someone plz explain to me what the image is?

  • okassar

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 2:52 pm PT

    Blizzard pwns,so I trustem with this I don't like Kotick though,in agreement with others on this,a company as frikkin' huuuge as Activision-Blizzard needs a smarter,more well rounded guy.

  • Shtinky

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 1:57 pm PT

    If Kotick can get people to boycott playing WoW, then the man's a god and we should all support his stupidity.

  • Stoneys_Rock

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 1:07 pm PT

    12 million people on WoW and they want a broader appeal? Err okay I'll roll with that.

  • RockySquirrel

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 1:00 pm PT

    Won't be ready until 2015... anyone taking bets?

  • Abrams

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 10:26 am PT

    Cool about a new MMO, I just want Starcraft 2...besides Blizzard seems to be getting to lazy and greedy when it comes to their games.

  • CptJuancho

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 10:21 am PT

    Im tired of hearing about wow! It's not the only game in the world you know. There're other mmo and other games that are still great

  • DarpSyX

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 10:03 am PT

    Im totally agree with Chupamelpo! we need release dates specially for SC2 and D3! we need those before any other mmo....

  • earlthecannibal

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 10:03 am PT

    A game company as big as Blizzard should be proud of their games and make them look like games made in this decade not the last. Graphics in wow are almost unbearable at this point. I see the game becoming text based only in the near future.

  • impl0sion

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 9:08 am PT

    I want a starcraft MMO.

  • chupamelpo

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 7:57 am PT

    enough of this 5H1T !!! some of us are not into MMO gaming. We need a release date for diablo 3 and starcraft 2. Previous versions of both games have close to 10 years and so far just BS. While WoW have like so many expansions. It's just ridiculus how blizzard forgot about other games.

  • panospcm

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 6:14 am PT

    is it gonna be fantasy based or sci-fi based? I prey for the latter!

  • 02sfraser

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 4:17 am PT

    i find it strange the number of people who forget a number of other comments made by Blizzard and Activision. in reply to other comments (without sounding arrogant or a know-it-all) it is a new IP so it is not Diablo and it will not be on a console. also a lot of people seem to hate WoW because it is extremely popular. lets face it, it wouldn't have 11 and a half million players if it was bad and the graphics look beautiful if you have the power to do it. let us all just wait and see what happens

  • IncipitOmega

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 11:34 pm PT

    I don't like Bobby kotick, he's a selfish capitalistic money maker...if he ever comes near me in my life,he's getting a roundhouse kick.

  • Wolfie600

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 9:03 pm PT

    YoungDab: Wow kid.. get a better computer. You haven't seen WoW at it's fullest if you think it has N64 graphics.

  • Kenji_Masamune

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 8:08 pm PT

    considering that WoW has been and probably will be the #1 MMO for the longest time, with 10+ million subscribers dunno what more of 'broad' of an audience they want. The number 1 mmo prior to WoW was the korean Lineage and even that at it's peak didn't even touch 50% of wows sub base.

  • deathismycure

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 7:04 pm PT

    I'd love if they made a PvP based game, kinda like Huxley was supposed to be the best MMOFPS. Blizzard could do a great job and defeat Hells Gate London and Huxley. Those games had so many problems.



    But we'll see. I'm sure people would prefer a real MMO/FPS/RPG combined in a post-apocalyptic era styled like Gears of War 2/Unreal 3. I'd definitely play that.



    Remember though, Bioware is creating Star Wars: The Old Republic is going to come out soon, so if Blizzard has been working on this for 2 years already, hopefully it comes out right near Bioware's game so they can compete.

  • SrTVBR

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 6:47 pm PT

    I think its will be a full new theme.

  • EE2lemmonhead

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 4:45 pm PT

    @Darkness7089: No, its completely new IP and its unannounced. So its not either of the three, nor lost vikings. And D3 we already know will have no more then 12 probably per game, and probably just 8 like d2

  • PhoenixHawk06

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 4:26 pm PT

    I believe that thus far there have only been four people allowed in a game of D3 at a time. If D3 was going to be their next big MMO, I think we would have heard about it by now.

  • Darkness7089

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 4:10 pm PT

    diablo 3 will probably be the new mmorpg, they mentioned it wouldnt be SC or War, they didn't say it wouldn't be diablo.

  • baal46

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 4:04 pm PT

    I'm guessing MMOFPS.

    And, LOL@haters.

    Warhammer sucks and nobody cares.

    Activision is "bypassing consoles", meaning PC-only titles or independent hardware. Pretty hard to peg that as a "console MMO."

    LOL@graphicswhores. You think people pay money to play WoW because of its graphics? LMAO.

  • VexedLucifer

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 3:52 pm PT

    Steal moar Warhammer plox.

  • dmcguk

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 3:49 pm PT

    sounds like a console MMO with what Activision had been saying either way I wont be checking it out unless it is really amazing

  • PhoenixHawk06

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 3:31 pm PT

    That's great, you know. I'm looking forward to this, and I'm looking forward to the new Starcraft trilogy, and I'm looking forward to Diablo 3, and I love hearing new things about them. But Bobby Kotick should not be the mouth piece for announcements like this. After his other recent appearances in gaming news, talking about his total lack of interest in the product itself, his desire to create a culture of 'skepticism, pessimism, and fear,' and his glee about taking all the fun out of making games, I am just not interested in hearing his name or seeing his mug. Get this goon off the stage, I have no love for him.

  • cyborg100000

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 2:27 pm PT

    "World Of Warcraft has nintendo 64 graphics and people are actually spending money to play it? You would never see me on it."

    Have you seen it on ultra high textures, shadows, full distance view & soon to be realistic water effects? It looks pretty good to me & unlike Crysis style games fights are a lot larger than usual...

    Broader appeal still means it could be anything. CoD has a broader appeal so it could be an MMO FPS, who knows at this stage though it could be anything. People seem too quick to dismiss it.

  • MichaelMorbid

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 2:27 pm PT

    so it's going to have a broader appeal than warcraft (?) and not be a competitor to warcraft? either way it sounds like they're cracking open a new IP. having a hard time figuring out what's broader than the obligatory middle earth elf orc setting.

  • xxscammersxx

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 2:19 pm PT

    GOGO Blizzard!

  • supercrazyhorse

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 2:12 pm PT

    I thought to myself... "What has a more broad appeal than World of Warcraft?"

    And then it came to me: Call of Duty. Imagine a Blizzard/Infinity Ward team-up to create the ultimate FPSMMORPG.

  • YoungDab posted Sep 15, 2009 2:07 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    YoungDab

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 2:07 pm PT (hide)

    World Of Warcraft has nintendo 64 graphics and people are actually spending money to play it? You would never see me on it.

  • toddze

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 1:55 pm PT

    I have no idea how they could have a more "broad of appeal" than WoW.

  • 24k_Solid_Gold

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 1:45 pm PT

    @DarxPhil

    Lol, that very well may happen

    @Jettaelas714

    Apparently not...

  • upgate

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 1:37 pm PT

    @ DarxPhil
    I'd be happy to be in this day...

  • DarxPhil

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 1:33 pm PT

    If Blizzard announced World of Starcraft, the internet would explode for a day.

  • Jettaelas714

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 1:30 pm PT

    i guess 11 million people paying $15 a month just isnt good enough

  • Red_A_Link

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 1:16 pm PT

    i agree with shabulia & green_dominator

  • mad_gamer23

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 1:06 pm PT

    Broader appeal sounds like a bad idea. Why not tailor specific games for specific demographics instead of just bunching everyone together. That's how WoW got ruined, in my opinion.

  • VladanStef

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 1:05 pm PT

    I think by "broad appeal", they're actually referring to domesticated animals.

  • Mystoksor

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 1:02 pm PT

    WoW is one of the most popular video games in the world, how can you make an MMO with broader appeal? They should make a game for the more hardcore crowd with gameplay unlike that of WoW (maybe a PvP focus?)

  • bloodyrooster

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 1:00 pm PT

    Just like the DS won't replace the Gameboy but coincide with market share.

  • lil_luz_10

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 12:49 pm PT

    ha improved "friend" network for WoW...isnt that a little ironic?

  • insanitycheck2

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 12:40 pm PT

    nice

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