Blizzard: Next MMORPG 'brand new' IP

By Matthew Peters, GameSpotPosted 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

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