Starcraft Is Back From The Most Unexpected Developer

For some time now, discussions have been buzzing about an upcoming installment in the Starcraft series. Today, Money Today Broadcasting (MTN) revealed that Nexon has secured the rights to develop a new game set in this beloved universe. Additionally, Nexon will also be the publisher of a mobile adaptation of Overwatch.

The report doesn’t specify the gameplay style for the new Starcraft title, but it is unlikely to be a real-time strategy (RTS) game. Evidence leans toward it being some form of shooter, a claim initially made last year by Jason Schreier in his book, Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment. Furthermore, multiple job postings at Blizzard hint at the creation of an “open-world shooter,” although none explicitly mention it being tied to the Starcraft brand.

On another note, Nexon recently launched The Finals, a high-octane free-to-play shooter that has maintained a solid player base—an impressive achievement considering the challenges faced by live-service games in sustaining player interest beyond initial hype.

According to MTN, “Blizzard has been soliciting bids since the last quarter of the previous year from major gaming companies in Korea, offering content development rights for the Starcraft IP along with Korean and Japanese service rights for Overwatch Mobile as a bundled deal.” The report goes on to mention that other companies like NC and Netmarble also participated eagerly in the bidding.

The details are somewhat lost in translation, but the excitement is unmistakable: many companies are eager to keep the franchise alive. The report adds, “Domestic gaming companies that took part in the bidding proposed various ideas, including developing spin-off games or platforms utilizing the Starcraft IP.” There is still uncertainty about the specifics of Nexon’s proposal.

While nostalgia for another RTS game is strong—after all, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty remains a classic—it seems more plausible that the new title will lean toward a shooter format, potentially reminiscent of the unfinished Starcraft: Ghost. With Nexon collaborating closely with Blizzard and their successful titles like Overwatch and The Finals, they form a formidable partnership.