Blizzard prepping 'next-gen MMO,' Starcraft 2?

  • By thorsen-ink, GameSpot
  • Posted Apr 27, 2007 3:49 pm PT

Source: Several job listings on the official Blizzard Web site and a forum thread on Starcraft-centric Teamliquid.net. What we heard: Barely a month goes by without some sort of speculation--and the occasional prank--raising the prospect of Blizzard Entertainment's next project. One of...

Source: Several job listings on the official Blizzard Web site and a forum thread on Starcraft-centric Teamliquid.net.

What we heard: Barely a month goes by without some sort of speculation--and the occasional prank--raising the prospect of Blizzard Entertainment's next project. One of the most common rumors has the cash-flush Vivendi subsidiary working on a console version of World of Warcraft, its wildly popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game. That theory got a boost this week, when Blizzard posted job listings for a lead technical artist, lead tools programmer, and lead engine programmer for a "next-gen MMO."

"Blizzard Entertainment is looking for an individual to lead an engine-programming team focused on next-generation massively multiplayer online games," read one of the job descriptions. "The ideal candidate will possess outstanding communication and coordination skills and be capable of...[helping in the] design and creation of a next-generation engine."

As if the mention of a new Blizzard MMOG wasn't enough, this week also saw rumors spread that the publisher-developer is resurrecting one of its classic real-time strategy series. According to a Korean newsletter partially translated by Teamliquid.net, "StarCraft 2 will be revealed for the first time to the world at Blizzard's World Wide Invitational (WWI)." According to the letter, Blizzard will also use the event, which takes place in Seoul, South Korea, on May 19 and 20, to show off the game, which reportedly has full 3D graphics, a revamped combat system, and a new race.

The official story: In an unusual turn of events, Blizzard freely admits that it will announce a new game at the WWI in Korea, where Starcraft's popularity is at near-fanatical levels. "We do intend to announce a new product at the Worldwide Invitational next month in Korea, and we appreciate the enthusiasm and interest in getting an advance look at what that will be," a rep told GameSpot.

Unsurprisingly, though, Blizzard's publicity minion became tight-lipped about the new game. "We can't give any further details regarding the product announcement at WWI," the rep said. "Everyone will have to wait until the event to find out the news."

The Blizzard rep was even less chatty when it came to the subject of the next-gen MMOG. "Blizzard has a number of unannounced projects in the works, but we're not prepared to make any announcements about them at this time," was all he would say.

Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus that a new Blizzard game will be announced in just over three weeks. (Mark your calendars!) Bogus that it's been officially confirmed as Starcraft 2. "We have a very strong connection with the characters and settings of StarCraft, and we do plan to revisit that universe at some point in the future, but we don't have anything new to announce in that regard at present," said the Blizzard rep.

As for the next-gen MMOG, the job listings prove that it is not bogus. However, the fact that none of the listings mention any platform means that the game could be a "next-gen" PC MMORPG, not a next-gen console title. This seems the more likely scenario, given that Blizzard reassigned much of its console team to focus on PC projects last August.

605 Comments

  • Agulf

    Posted Feb 17, 2008 7:37 am PT

    World of Starcraft + Diablo MMO + WoW and then make cross game halloween events = instant win.

  • hellboy131089

    Posted Aug 10, 2007 9:05 am PT

    it is along time since broodwar and I can't wait any longer

  • Jkranzler

    Posted Jun 15, 2007 3:20 pm PT

    man skrew the mmo(unless it doesnt cost $15 a month like WoW) i want starcraft 2,

  • TSNSpectre

    Posted Jun 1, 2007 10:52 pm PT

    Now would would be nice would be a Starcraft-themed MMO. Frankly, I'm getting burned out on WoW and the storyline in the Starcraft world is strange yet interesting. The original Starcraft had some fantastic art, gameplay that is addicting, superb voice acting and a great script with lots of sci-fi humour...(keep right-clicking on the terran units and hear what they have to say...lots of movie in-jokes and even a Robotech reference!) it's Blizzard's bread-and butter property, along with Diablo. It's about time they updated it and really gave the Starcraft universe a wider audience, like they did with Warcraft.
    World of Starcraft please!

  • 263603

    Posted May 19, 2007 6:05 am PT

    I wouldn't mind an MMO but i'd prefer starcraft 2 unless the MMO is cheap cos i cant play WoW cos im just a kid and my parents wont pay the monthly fee.

  • MuchHate

    Posted May 18, 2007 11:20 am PT

    It's not Starcraft 2, didn't any of you read the entire article?

    "Bogus that it's been officially confirmed as Starcraft 2. "We have a very strong connection with the characters and settings of StarCraft, and we do plan to revisit that universe at some point in the future, but we don't have anything new to announce in that regard at present,""

  • FISHERBAN

    Posted May 18, 2007 7:26 am PT

    I would love for Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3 to be announced there both awesome games and some of the highest ranking games of all time so I say blizzard do a double whammy of them both

  • Deathgyunos

    Posted May 17, 2007 7:00 pm PT

    There should be an extra race in starcraft 2. In the Starcraft expansion set Samir Duran in a bonus lvl created a zerg/protoss hybrid

  • The-Clairvoyant

    Posted May 16, 2007 6:31 pm PT

    Hmm heres to hoping that Blizzard will make this game, whatever it maybe, playable to the masses just like they did WoW..I think that is one of, if not the greatest reason why WoW is so popular. Plus, if they do this I wouldnt have any worries playing it on my laptop.

  • Medicman_G

    Posted May 15, 2007 2:26 pm PT

    yayyy , im playing bw right now,,, cant wait

  • PGA1991

    Posted May 14, 2007 10:26 pm PT

    I really think they should stick to what theyre good at, mainly strategy games

  • The-Longshot

    Posted May 14, 2007 7:45 pm PT

    SC2 Please!!

  • Draker696

    Posted May 13, 2007 1:48 pm PT

    oh... sorry about the 4 straight messages

    my internet lagged so i clicked a lot of times

  • Draker696

    Posted May 13, 2007 1:45 pm PT

    its so true

    i found a screenshot of a mmo and a rts starcraft game

    search google - images

    and type: starcraft 2

    you will find it

  • Draker696

    Posted May 13, 2007 1:42 pm PT

    LAWL

    http://img.gamespot.com/gamespot/images/2006/089/reviews/932394_20060331_screen001.jpg

  • Draker696

    Posted May 13, 2007 1:41 pm PT

    O_O

    http://img.gamespot.com/gamespot/images/2006/089/reviews/932394_20060331_screen001.jpg

  • Brendonius

    Posted May 12, 2007 6:01 am PT

    World of StarCraft... that sounds awesome... Koera will have a new national sport... as will other countries I'm sure. I still think Ghost will be great from the point of the multiplayer aspect that was shown in the first trailers and tech videos. One week and we will know... Blizzard are the game developer kings!

  • Nodashi

    Posted May 10, 2007 2:51 pm PT

    I'd love either SC2 or WoSC. I'de be more than happy to drop WoW for WoSC, I like the scenario much better, just play WoW cause it's the most popular, suported and overal polished MMORPG out there.

    And SC2 cause I'm a RTF fanatic XD

  • damo69697

    Posted May 8, 2007 7:53 pm PT

    they'd better make it. grrrrrrrr.
    if they don't make it i'll i'll... grrrrrrr

  • MasterBlade7123

    Posted May 8, 2007 5:36 pm PT

    Starcraft MMO? hmmmmmmm.......... seems good but this could also ruin the series we don't need another Starcraft Ghost. But I will try it.

  • snozberry

    Posted May 8, 2007 2:53 pm PT

    We need a Diablo MMO because the best MMO's have been PG-13. Original EQ was pretty adult but then they neutered it. WoW is very PG. We grown-ups need a top-of-the-line MMO also.

  • Danoli3

    Posted May 8, 2007 10:17 am PT

    DIABLO 3 PLZ!

  • Danoli3

    Posted May 8, 2007 10:16 am PT

    DIABLO3!! FFS! PLZ

  • xXrebel666Xx

    Posted May 7, 2007 5:36 pm PT

    anything relating to the starcraft series, starcraft is and always will be superier to the warcraft franchise, better units, buildings and gameplay.

  • marriage0

    Posted May 7, 2007 7:40 am PT

    as long as it has the word starcraft in the title i dont care what it is...i just seriousely hope its nothing to do with warcraft

  • Delta055

    Posted May 5, 2007 5:40 pm PT

    Starcraft mmo? wow blizzard you guys really sold out to corporate greed. Never played WoW and wont touch this one either, I find them boring.

  • jordanbijl

    Posted May 4, 2007 9:48 pm PT

    What ever happened to that starcraft ghost game?
    did it get canceled?

  • yohanjr

    Posted May 4, 2007 5:14 pm PT

    is star craft the mmo then its going down the drain

  • kwstasg

    Posted May 4, 2007 3:29 pm PT

    starcraft mmo?i like this!

  • Najikill

    Posted May 4, 2007 9:56 am PT

    StarCraft 2

  • moospot

    Posted May 4, 2007 6:43 am PT

    awesome!

  • Slayer_vaLI

    Posted May 4, 2007 2:30 am PT

    man finally Starcraft 2 !!! Starcraft Ghost was a big disappointment I hope this will make it better.

  • Alex055

    Posted May 3, 2007 2:45 pm PT

    THIS BETTER BE SC2!

    Although the inevitable will happen:
    WoW (World of Warcraft)
    DoD (Dungeon of Diablo)
    SoS (Space of Starcraft)

    lol...
    SC2! SC2! Come on, everyone, with me! SC2! SC2!...

  • xkilla96

    Posted May 3, 2007 2:12 pm PT

    World of StarCraft

  • Tsunami_pt

    Posted May 2, 2007 4:49 pm PT

    I've been thinking about this and I think that:

    -Starcraft 2 will be anounced
    -The next gen MMO will be WOW for consoles, OR the new expansion for WOW.

    Think about it...

  • MattMyers_5

    Posted May 2, 2007 12:27 pm PT

    Starcraft was a great game. A sequel is long overdue... hopfully I will get to kick Kerigan's butt, once again.

  • aura_enchanted

    Posted May 2, 2007 11:17 am PT

    nex-gen mmo..go get drunk and hospitalized blizzard... havent you caused enough of a disturbence of the once slumber bear we call "the best mmo ever" title. as for starcraft 2.....to late blizzard you've gotten a lot of people disbelieving or impartial to your cause (such as myself)

  • jknight5422

    Posted May 2, 2007 8:36 am PT

    Whatever it happens to be, I hope it will be interesting, but I'm surprised that they haven't put WOW on a console already as that will grow their WOW customer base to a larger degree.

  • bodylotion

    Posted May 2, 2007 7:26 am PT

    Put yourself in Blizzard's Perception. WoW is a goldmine, games like Diablo 3 probably sell good but nothing compared to WoW. So what would you do ? Personally i think WoW is a good game but nothing more. Technically the only thing that really is nice about the game is the fact that you can interact and play with many other people kinda like some new kind of chatbox. WoW is addictive, 7 million people are playing this game so you can't call WoW a bad game but the fact that it's addictive is just because people want to be better than other people with their character so they spend lots of time on a game like this. But in the end when you've seen most if it , you most likely won't put this game on your all time greatest games list. Because games like this don't have an emotional story, or even a real story for that matter, and all the other acspects of a good game.

  • ZippyDSMLee

    Posted May 2, 2007 7:05 am PT

    I have pretty much given up hope on blizzard, WOW is nice but their main cash cow and I am sick of dim repetitive MMOS, WC3 was barely ok the story kept me playing the gameplay turned me off(dumb AI).

  • KnightsofRound

    Posted May 1, 2007 11:17 pm PT

    Please for the love of god, StarCraft 2 better not have heroes like in WC3. WarCraft III's heroes are cool for WarCraft, but that would be so god damn stupid in StarCraft.

  • ABBAtoir

    Posted May 1, 2007 6:28 pm PT

    Starcraft 2....I would sh#t a brick

  • budboarder

    Posted May 1, 2007 2:23 pm PT

    where "they" worship starcraft. Starcraft is one of my all time favs. It was way ahead of its day andmost who are into games and everone who is into RTS should have a large place in their hearts for starcraft

  • ThE_SoCK

    Posted May 1, 2007 1:28 pm PT

    yes, finally starcraft 2 will be announced! seems logical that blizzard would do that in a country where they worship starcraft

    and it will be a diablo MMO, ive heard other leaked information about the new MMO being diablo based.

    Finally, games to look forward to!

  • LukeMadrid

    Posted May 1, 2007 1:17 pm PT

    Starcraft 2... now.

  • The_General2000

    Posted May 1, 2007 1:15 pm PT

    The fact that Blizzard could possibly steal even more of my life away from me is a sickening and tantalizing thought... all at the same time.

  • DamnedChild

    Posted May 1, 2007 10:10 am PT

    DIABLO 3 - BE SURE About it . i'm telling u it's DIABLO 3 - they have gathered some of their old designers which worked on DIABLO series - so it's defenetly is DIABLO 3 .

  • taylormadederek

    Posted May 1, 2007 10:08 am PT

    Sure WOW is a nice tagline but Warcraft sucks.......Bring on the good stuff!

  • portej

    Posted May 1, 2007 9:27 am PT

    As long as it is a RTS game, I am happy

  • Crush_Project

    Posted May 1, 2007 9:07 am PT

    Perhaps they turned the old starcraft ghost game that they canceled into an mmo.

    I personally hope not tho. Imo WOW is just a broken plain vanilla game that is WAY over hyped. Im not eager to see another game like that come out of blizzard. They need to go back to thier roots. its been way too many years since the leader in rts's has made a rts. (which is sad that they are still the leader after all this time but you know what i mean)

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