'Starcraft Online' confirmed?

Source: See below.

What we heard: What we know: Blizzard is working on a new massively multiplayer online game that doesn't involve the words "world" or "Warcraft." The problem, then, lies in which of the exceedingly popular properties the soon-to-be merged developer will be giving the MMOG treatment--or whether the game will even be a supersized version of an established IP at all. With Starcraft II definitely in the works, and Blizzard brass saying neither the Starcraft nor the Diablo franchises have been forgotten, speculation abounds that one--or both--IPs will be the basis for their next effort.

However, with Blizzard remaining mum on the issue, the studio's devout followers have been keen to latch onto even the slightest tidbit that may confirm which universe the new MMOG will take place. The latest kick to the hive comes from an online report out of Beijing found on financial news service Trading Markets. Citing Caijing Magazine, the report states that online game operators NetEase.com is on track to gaining a license to operate overseas-developed games, and that "industry insiders" say Blizzard's "Starcraft Online" may be the first of its offerings.

So what is Starcraft Online, and what does NetEase have to do with it? The second part of the question is easy. As it does with World of Warcraft, Blizzard often outsources localization and server hosting duties to companies already established in the region it is expanding into. For instance, in 2004, Blizzard awarded Chinese ISP The 9 the license to distribute and localize World of Warcraft in China.

The Trading Markets report notes that no official contract has been signed between Blizzard and NetEase, so neither company is in a position to be forthcoming with specifics of the deal. Even still, it seems far more likely that Starcraft Online is a translation-garbled reference to distribution of the online component of the original Starcraft or its upcoming sequel, Starcraft II. Though the original Starcraft was released 10 years ago, its popularity remains widespread in many Asian nations, so much so that Blizzard unveiled Starcraft II in Seoul, South Korea last year.

The official story: These sentiments are bolstered by Blizzard's official word on the matter. "Our focus right now is on continuing development of Starcraft II and working our way toward beta," a Blizzard rep told GameSpot. "We haven't announced plans for anything called Starcraft Online, and we prefer not to address rumors or speculate on business operations that haven't been determined yet."

Bogus or not bogus?: GameSpot has learned that it is bogus that this report has anything to do with an unannounced Starcraft MMOG.

217 Comments

  • OutlawZaber

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 3:51 pm PT

    Wait, they said they haven't announced plans about StarCraft Online, and that's very obvious, they haven't done that. So what makes this leak bogus? They didn't at all deny the existence of it

  • FireWarriorr

    Posted May 11, 2008 11:44 am PT

    SC MMOG = Awesome

  • FireWarriorr

    Posted May 11, 2008 11:44 am PT

    SC MMOG = Awsome

  • ice_ninja19

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 2:15 pm PT

    It would be awesome!

  • amerus

    Posted Feb 15, 2008 11:23 am PT

    give me starcraft online !!!

  • Treifla

    Posted Feb 10, 2008 12:11 pm PT

    looks like another attempt from blizz to save themselves from the few new MMO's coming out, (warhammer and age of conan) . they have been giving themselves to WoW players ever since warhammer was announced, what with the new expansion pack coming out entirly too soon, the patch making the game entirly too easy, and future patches promising the stealing of mythic's great ideas. i play WoW until somthing better comes out, so when Q2 roles around our abusive relationship ends, and i switch to warhammer

  • ROUNDHOUSE87

    Posted Feb 9, 2008 7:08 pm PT

    Sweet!!!

  • cocob2

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 2:57 pm PT

    Starcraft would mould make a great MMO FPS. Announce it tomorrow and I will plop down my pre-order with out even seeing a screenshot

  • blackwar1

    Posted Feb 5, 2008 5:46 am PT

    ...............nothing to say.....as you know....

  • Hvac0120

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 8:47 am PT

    People are crazy sometimes. I am a fan of gaming a a fanatic of some franchises, but I never go so far as to try and pull out any mini detail that may or may not be a confirmation of a title that I want to see. Some people just have too much time on their hands.

  • BringTheBlood

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 7:26 am PT

    hmm sounds interesting, i would much rather Diablo though, and leave starcraft alone. but thats just me.

  • Phazevariance

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 7:21 am PT

    NOO, Wow is the biggies piece of crap i've ever played/seen, so I hope they don't money suck starcraft into the same fate.

  • evezina007

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 5:49 am PT

    Microsoft should sign with Blizzard to put WOW and Starcarft on XBOX LIVE. That would be awesome.

  • Chris23

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 5:22 am PT

    I remember seeing a job posting on blizz.com for a programming position for a Next Gen MMORPG and the ad specifically said the candidate must be a fan of Diablo and Diablo 2. but the ad is no longer active.
    http://www.blizzard.com/jobopp/programmer-senior-tools-mmo.shtml

  • Kelemhuma

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 1:45 am PT

    I don't care what all of you say Starcraft MMO would be so fantastic I would piss my pants with anticpation to play this game. I have played World Of Warcraft since release 2003. My Char is is mostly tier 5. First of all Wow is terrific game. Just imagine Sci fy MMO like Starcraft with Blizzard's touch with diffrent planets different types of spacecraft for purchase Epic futuristic weapons and battle armor. Im my opinion where is no better direction for Blizzard to go except into space with there next MMO. As far as Diablo goes for MMO. Don't get me wrong I love Diablo but its too much like Wow. Its time for Blizzard to paint a fresh new canvas for MMO one thats not in fantasy setting. Their is already demons to slay in Wow. The sky is not the limit for this setting. Go Starcraft MMO!!! Signed

  • marco0798

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 1:10 am PT

    If anyone here was at Midnight launch for TBC in London's HMV Oxford Street you would know that Diablo will not be coming out until 2010+ and starcraft would end up playing like Tabula Rasa so i doubt blizz is going to put that as an MMO

  • tomagabriel1

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 11:16 pm PT

    I couldn't care less if Starcraft would spawn a MMO or not. I only want to hear that a sigle player Diablo III will be delivered eventually.

  • -JinRoh-

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 11:10 pm PT

    oh my god.... I hope that starcraft online becomes a reality! To hell with world of warcraft! I want World of Starcraft!!! I'm still wondering how they will incorporate melee, especially for terrans cause I dont think terrans really got any melee other than a firebat and firebats are basically close ranged units not really melee.

  • HappyBB

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 10:55 pm PT

    Please don't let there be another MMOG made in the name of StarCraft!! MMOGs should rest for a few years now. There are just too many of them out there and I really hate to devote my life in such online activities. Personally, I would like to play my game(s) offline w/ online enabled functionalities. No MMOGs for now, please!!

  • Night_Frost

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 10:05 pm PT

    Well, on the brightside, at least it's not another WoW game. What Blizzard should do is focus on getting SCII here ASAP!

  • Fighter_of_Foo

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 6:37 pm PT

    Are we done with misleading headlines yet? No?

  • glitchgeeman

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 5:33 pm PT

    Ugh, I'd rather have a Diablo 3 than another MMORPG. But if it had to be one, I think Diablo would fit better than Starcraft. Starcraft has always been about lots of faceless men/aliens/creatures dying for their cause with only 2 or 3 memorable characters. It wouldn't really work considering the scale of most Starcraft battles.

  • pandresvillare

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 5:24 pm PT

    this is scary...............

  • augustoc2001

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 5:10 pm PT

    i want to be a prottos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • redskinStu

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 5:03 pm PT

    Why do I read these columns when the writers know nothing more than I do?

  • genequagmire

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 4:40 pm PT

    WGAS?

  • Da-Chicken

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 3:55 pm PT

    A Starcraft MMO would just be evil. Plus, they're making Starcraft II. So no. Also, I would have to count Warcraft out, since EVERY game they've made since the release of Diablo II has been something Warcraft. Warcraft III, expansion, World of Warcraft, expansion. Upcoming, there's Starcraft II, and another WoW expansion. Anything that's an MMO made by Blizzard at this point (especially if they ARE currently working on it) would have to be something OTHER than Starcraft or Warcraft.

    Here's hoping for a new Diablo MMO with no monthly fees. We've already seen examples of games like this...Ragnarok Online, Guild Wars, and all of the countless Ragnarok clones available here and there. So we know they don't HAVE to make it 'pay-per-month' to make the next Diablo endlessly profitable. A 'pay-for-extra-ingame-perks' system would be just fine.

  • poopdogg89

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 3:54 pm PT

    please blizzard. finish starcraft 2, then get us diablo 3, then warcraft 4. NO MORE MMOs!!! PLEASE! unless you're planning on making this one free, I'm not interested.

  • VegasAceVII

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 3:41 pm PT

    Diablo online, sounds more interesting to me though. Even though I love Starcraft too.

  • imnodewd

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 3:11 pm PT

    I was barely able to free myself from WoW's icy clutches... for god's sake Blizzard, have mercy! No more incredible MMOs please.

  • AceCometh

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 2:21 pm PT

    A Starcraft MMOG? Bring it on. As far as Starcraft 2 is concerned, I'm glad Wrath of the Lich King comes out at the end of the year because Starcraft 2 will most likely run into a delay or two. I can wait for it as long as the end result is worth it.

  • x-TwilighT-x

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 2:07 pm PT

    I'm not sure about an MMO, but an RPG, made as Diablo would be neat, with a bit of hellgate london style, Using and character to play as, A ghost could call down a BC, like the Engineer in HG:L. Its possibilites could be limitless....

  • amerus

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 12:32 pm PT

    sure gona be intresting, wow in starcraft enviorment hehe, hope not, but ye sci fi is allways good, and starcraft sure got potential to be a great first person mmo.

  • weaselciuy

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 12:09 pm PT

    WTF everithing is going MMO ??? I want simple games...diablo 2 war omg, I the same . Starcraft is da best, Enough of warcraft, we want diablo and starcraft the old fashion way....frikin MMOrpgs and the sorts.. Diablo 3 would kick ass

  • DFTricks

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 11:18 am PT

    I dont see how another MMORPG would make much difference or bring anything new for the matter, altrought i think a diablo MMO is more likely then a Starcraft MMO as much fun as it would be to have marine.

  • Mkherkzen

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 11:12 am PT

    @ kaziechameleon -> Yeah what? They said it's a bogus - no Starcraft Online for now :/

  • parrot_of_adun

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 9:54 am PT

    Personally, the only way I'd play EITHER, is if the combat system wasn't sooo... crappy. MMORPGs ALWAYS have a terrible combat system IMO. And so I most certainly would not play a "Click-on-target-and-watch-it-die" kinda game, which A diablo MMO would almost certainly be.

    If an SC MMO was actually FUN (ie, MMOFPS), than I'd give it a shot.

    Either way, I'd prefer it were an original title, Diablo and SC don't need MMO treatment.

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 9:31 am PT

    yeah!

  • sergio_afonso

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 9:24 am PT

    I prefer to wait for Warhammer 40k Online.

  • giuse92

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 8:58 am PT

    a mmorpg DIABLO, or DIABLO III will be a lot more cool than a starcraft online

  • SuperGogeta24

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 8:50 am PT

    diablo 3 or GTFO
    lol
    D3 would so much be better seeing as D2 broke records with people online

  • micahspringer

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 8:50 am PT

    SC would make a way better MMO then WoW.
    We need SC2!!!

  • Eclipse_ShinRa

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 7:33 am PT

    I hope its true. We need a new MMOFPS and SC would work great..

  • Lonelynight

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 3:35 am PT

    Please don't butcher the starcraft storyline by making a MMO

  • Avenger1324

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 3:07 am PT

    Keep everyone happy

    Starcraft vs Diablo MMO

  • o_laggy_o

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 1:45 am PT

    I would be so happy.

  • ill001

    Posted Feb 3, 2008 12:08 am PT

    People have been wanting a StarCraft MMO for a long time! Give us what we so desperately need, Blizzard!

  • Stesilaus

    Posted Feb 2, 2008 11:25 pm PT

    "Starcraft MMO would be great but we all need a Diablo MMO."

    More hacking, slashing and spellcasting? Bah! A Diablo MMO would be too similar to WoW, or to Hellgate: London.

    Blizzard's next MMO should be set in the Starcraft universe, or in a completely new one.

  • Narok

    Posted Feb 2, 2008 11:17 pm PT

    Pleeaaaase be a Lost Vikings MMO.

  • Slaveways

    Posted Feb 2, 2008 10:46 pm PT

    i don't want a mmo i want diablo 3

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