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Starcraft II launches July 27

Blizzard reveals street date for long-awaited Wings of Liberty, the first installment in three-part sequel to the popular sci-fi RTS.

Many-a-PC gamers' summer plans were ruined this afternoon, when Blizzard Entertainment announced the long-awaited launch date for its real-time strategy game, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty. The first installment in the three-part sequel will launch worldwide--China excepted--on July 27 for the PC and Mac and will retail for $60 in the US. The game will also be available in a deluxe $100 Collector's Edition that will include a 176-page art book and a flash drive preloaded with the original Starcraft and its Brood War expansion.

The Terrans will lead the Starcraft II charge July 27.

The Terrans will lead the Starcraft II charge July 27.

Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty will focus on the human Terran faction with a 29-mission single-player campaign. However, the multiplayer component will also let gamers wage interstellar real-time strategy warfare as the hivelike Zerg and technologically advanced Protoss factions. Two sequels focusing on those factions--Legacy of the Void and Heart of the Swarm--are also in development.

Eager gamers who preorder the RTS via GameStop will be able to join the ongoing Starcraft II beta. Keep in mind, though, orders cannot be canceled once GameStop sends out the beta key.

Starcraft II is the first new stand-alone game from Blizzard Entertainment since 2004's World of Warcraft, which has dominated the subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing market. Wall Street analysts are bullish on the RTS's potential sales, with Pacific Crest Securities' Evan Wilson predicting the game will sell over 6 million copies. Wedbush's Michael Pachter believes that combined with the launch of the latest WOW expansion, Cataclysm, Blizzard could see game sales of 12 million units this year.

For more on Starcraft II, check out GameSpot's recent hands-on preview, as well as an evaluation of its beta performance.

332 Comments

  • ositopastelero

    Posted Jul 11, 2010 2:43 pm GMT

    no LAN? real?

  • Shadow_Sev

    Posted Jul 9, 2010 7:48 am GMT

    they said early this year that it is going to be LANless but I hope they changed their minds... I think this is going to be pirated even by the people who bought the actual game mainly due to the fact that hackers will probably make a LAN one.

  • NWA89

    Posted May 7, 2010 10:39 am GMT

    B L I Z Z A R D !

  • wolfliquid

    Posted May 6, 2010 10:07 pm GMT

    What are the system requirements for StarCraft II?

  • denicola_a_god

    Posted May 6, 2010 7:44 am GMT

    glad to see a release date going to be a rocking game for summer pleasure

  • RATM_fan_1

    Posted May 5, 2010 7:11 pm GMT

    im in the beta this game is amazing. it was more than i had hoped for when i tried it out for the first time .. just sucks that they took out lurkers for the zerg

  • parsplana

    Posted May 5, 2010 5:23 pm GMT

    Great! Now how about a wide release demo to tide us over please!

  • ag_04

    Posted May 5, 2010 11:06 am GMT

    I feel a bit idiot for pre-order this. 60 euro was not what I expected... but then again I'm not going to buy the other two parts I'll just download them hacked.

  • chappy_man

    Posted May 5, 2010 9:41 am GMT

    oooh snap... so how long till that battle chest with all 3

  • denicola_a_god

    Posted May 5, 2010 7:31 am GMT

    finally a solid datee yess!!!

  • jpsaply

    Posted May 5, 2010 6:59 am GMT

    @Yuck_Too

    I never said anything about whether the game would or wouldnt be good on console. I have all the current generation consoles plus a high end gaming PC and even though some RPGs can be played on both, but so much more can be done with a PC control wise. Theres more buttons to allocate for more skills and control and a RPG built for a PC can have a more due to the unlimited amount of hotbar and customize UI functionality. For me I would prefer games like Diablo 3 be on PC because of customization. On a console you are just locked down to what can be done. If they can find ways to make it work on consoles one day, that would be great. After all PS3 and Xbox have keyboard and mouse capability it just has to be built into the games which is usually limited to what programming the CD has built onto it.

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted May 5, 2010 6:42 am GMT

    @jpsaply

    Age is not important...experience is...and if you think Diablo 2 on consoles would not be possible due to a controller or not profitable then I think that shows your lack of experience.

    Also the "original" staff has moved around between Blizzard / Blizzard North and between being bought out and over the past decade none of it matters...everything changes but several of their biggest and best IPs have been neglected…again mainly due to the success of WoW and the continued sales of those old IPs.

  • Mikelangelo1

    Posted May 5, 2010 2:14 am GMT

    Ha! I am gonna be on holidays, so the release date for me is post August 15...

  • InExcelsis

    Posted May 5, 2010 1:53 am GMT

    God I cant wait im in the beta and love it

  • N0A

    Posted May 5, 2010 1:11 am GMT

    Hell It's about time !!!!

  • Soccer8642

    Posted May 5, 2010 12:18 am GMT

    also in terms of the upcoming updates.
    I'm not sure if you will have the option of buying the full game with the other chapters, but if so there will probably be 2 options.
    one for buying the full game at that chapter, (and i can't say whether or not it will include the terran campaign) and one as just an upgrade patch

  • Soccer8642

    Posted May 5, 2010 12:16 am GMT

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    FINALLY!!!!!

    CAN'T WAIT!
    and btw, i very much doubt you will have to log in to battle.net to play the campaign.
    but if so, i'll be very annoyed, cause i'm likely to do the campaign on my pc without internet

  • capt_canuck

    Posted May 4, 2010 10:07 pm GMT

    So glad I have a beta key and don't have to wait 3 more months. Though I'm still excited for the single player.

  • Blackrasor

    Posted May 4, 2010 8:49 pm GMT

    Gief Starcraft 2 DotA!

  • True_StormRage

    Posted May 4, 2010 8:08 pm GMT

    @ luisarmando45

    The game being split into "Chapters" and not parts, means that each game after this for Starcraft2 series (Heart of the Swarm and Echoes of the Void), will be 100% stand alone games. Wings of Liberty is just in the series.

    Each chapter, will have 28+ Missions, new achievements, new units, new areas, etc. So each Chapter is a full game on its own and from my understanding does not require previous ones to be playable. Meaning their not expansions but full games.

  • True_StormRage

    Posted May 4, 2010 8:05 pm GMT

    For all those wondering about there being LAN options for it...

    Sorry but there wont be any LAN for the game, to play it online you have to log into Battle.Net each time and supposibly also have to log into Battle.Net to play the Campaign. Not sure about the Campaign but 100% sure about the No LAN Feature and everything going through the new Battle.Net v2 system.

  • geomyr

    Posted May 4, 2010 7:59 pm GMT

    finally it came out hehehehe this july can't wait to have it played heheheeee

  • neodestroyer

    Posted May 4, 2010 7:42 pm GMT

    I honestly don't think they will come out with a Warcraft 4. I doubt there will have LAN. Oh, nothing ever releases smooth from Blizzard.

  • Xaviuz

    Posted May 4, 2010 6:56 pm GMT

    Sweet!! It's about time. Please have LAN game options.

    Crossing my fingers for the quick and smooth release of Diablo 3 and crossing my toes for a Warcraft 4 announcement.

  • jpsaply

    Posted May 4, 2010 3:45 pm GMT

    @Yuck_Too

    Probably the reason they havent made another Diablo sooner is because the original staff that developed Diablo no longer works for Blizzard.

    And by the way...I have been a gamer way before b-net. Try since the ColecoVision in 1982. Not sure why you think age is important, but you seem to think so.

  • AncientDozer

    Posted May 4, 2010 3:23 pm GMT

    @luisarmando45

    You know what, you are right. They probably would do it. Hell, they messed with people all the time on the old battle.net. They locked out bots, they locked out older games, took away ops and did nothing about spam bots, and number of other douche moves.

    People forget quickly that Blizzard is capable of great douche.

  • angeluz84

    Posted May 4, 2010 3:08 pm GMT

    I really dont think u guys should see this as a 1/3 game.... come on... it has full multiplayer and a 30 mission campaign.... its a full game... it has more content than other "full" games.... Think of it as Starcraft II 1, 2 and 3.... and just enjoy the game and be happy

  • HarryMcDoogle

    Posted May 4, 2010 2:39 pm GMT

    @mrzero1982pt2

    Warcraft 3 and Diablo 2 were both $60 at launch. Blizzard used this price model long before the merger with Activision.

  • luisarmando45

    Posted May 4, 2010 2:25 pm GMT

    @ RawhideSphinx and anyone behind that thought

    wow... what are schools teaching kids these days in terms of critical thinking?

  • mrzero1982pt2

    Posted May 4, 2010 2:25 pm GMT

    has a pc game ever been 60 bucks at launch? i remember when pc games were like in the range between 20-50 bucks... is this activision's price demons at it again?

  • luisarmando45

    Posted May 4, 2010 2:20 pm GMT

    @ space_loner

    Hehe... I got my beta key 4 business days and 2 customer service calls later... Hope it's not as long for you!

  • neodestroyer

    Posted May 4, 2010 2:18 pm GMT

    yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa baby

  • luisarmando45

    Posted May 4, 2010 2:17 pm GMT

    @AncientDozer

    Next sequels will probably be handled as expansion packs as far as new units go. That would mean that people that only buy wings of liberty won't be able to use battle.net for multiplayer with the ppl that bought the later 1, and later on, 2 games. Kinda like people with the original starcraft not being able to play on bnet with ppl that installed brood war.

    There's no info on this, but I would bet anything that blizzard will do this on at least one of the next sc2 games. They will lose literally millions if they don't. In the end it all comes down to numbers... Meh.. I don't mind, I'll gladly buy them

  • FanFicGuru

    Posted May 4, 2010 1:12 pm GMT

    All I have to say is that it's a good year to be working for Blizzard.

  • MehowPwned

    Posted May 4, 2010 1:05 pm GMT

    Damm I've been waiting for this about... 5-6 years.. ever since the first talier with the marine.....it sure took them a long hell of a time... well I hope it was worth the waiting

  • MehowPwned

    Posted May 4, 2010 12:55 pm GMT

    OMG FINALLY!!!

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted May 4, 2010 12:51 pm GMT

    @jpsaply

    LOL...thumbs down and told I'm not paying attention?...D2 shipped over 10-years ago and D1 over 4-years before that...I bet I have one of the oldest b-net accounts running....I'd go so far to say as I bet I was playing before some here were born.

    Why that upsets some of you is beyond me. Doesn't change the fact that Starcraft and Diablo 2 are still sold in stores which probably has more to do with Blizzard dragging their feet on sequels (that and the morphing of warcraft into WoW)...

  • apegamer

    Posted May 4, 2010 12:42 pm GMT

    How about games like Starcraft 2 and Diablo 2, which are totally point and click, being played on a tablet PC where you can use your fingers to point, click, drag, etc?

    It seems to me that ten fingers are better than one mouse.

  • alixkid

    Posted May 4, 2010 12:39 pm GMT

    Well i guess Blizz is copying there WOW success and making you buy expansions to get the full game...

  • AncientDozer

    Posted May 4, 2010 12:31 pm GMT

    I'm only going to get the first game unless they do revolutionary things with the second and third. As far as I know, in multiplayer you can use all three races. I can always watch youtube or read wiki about the story for the other two.

  • cancel13

    Posted May 4, 2010 12:28 pm GMT

    icepodish ill take a beta key
    I hope this game is worth the 60 bucks it looks good so far

  • vicsrealms

    Posted May 4, 2010 12:26 pm GMT

    Hmm, too many good books coming out that month. Sorry Bliz.

  • Lach0121

    Posted May 4, 2010 12:24 pm GMT

    man, wow we are literally looking at $200 for the entire game... at 60 + tax-shipping..... 3 times...

    I sure as hell won't buy it at $60, I'll pick this up when it reaches $35-40 lol and yes it will.

  • mrzero1982pt2

    Posted May 4, 2010 11:42 am GMT

    i guess they officially have said "it is done?" but blah, i can no longer say ill believe it when i see it. i will believe it when i see the disc in my computer, now

  • Ninpo187

    Posted May 4, 2010 11:40 am GMT

    For sixty bucks they better put a dime bag in every box...

  • commander1122

    Posted May 4, 2010 11:36 am GMT

    finally a date -_-

  • icepodish

    Posted May 4, 2010 11:33 am GMT

    @TheDefragmentor
    very well said

  • TheDefragmentor

    Posted May 4, 2010 11:27 am GMT

    Hell, It's about time.

  • icepodish

    Posted May 4, 2010 11:13 am GMT

    anyone want an xtra beta key?

  • space_loner

    Posted May 4, 2010 10:57 am GMT

    Hey what's the deal... it's been almost 24 hrs, where my beta key.

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