Blizzard's Latest StarCraft Shooter Project: A New Development at Nexon?
Blizzard Entertainment, the renowned video game developer, has reportedly joined forces with Nexon, a Korean gaming giant, to bring a new shooter game based on the iconic StarCraft franchise. While the project is yet to be officially confirmed by Blizzard, it has sparked excitement and speculation within the gaming community.
The Korea Economic Daily, a prominent business newspaper, reported on this collaboration, revealing that Nexon has a dedicated development team working on the project within its shooter division. Interestingly, a StarCraft modder is leading the initiative, adding a layer of familiarity to the game's roots.
Blizzard has long envisioned a shooter spin-off from its popular sci-fi real-time strategy series, StarCraft. This move aligns with Nexon's recent success in the Western shooter market, as the company owns the Swedish development studio Embark Studio, responsible for titles like The Finals and Arc Raiders.
However, the report also highlights a cautious approach, recalling Nexon's previous partnership with Square Enix on a Final Fantasy spin-off that faced challenges during the planning phase. This serves as a reminder of the potential risks associated with such projects, especially considering Blizzard's history with abandoned StarCraft spin-offs.
StarCraft Ghost, announced in 2002, was Blizzard's initial attempt to venture beyond the real-time strategy genre. It was a tactical-action console game featuring a deadly Ghost operative. Unfortunately, it was canceled in 2006 due to a series of delays. A second StarCraft shooter, codenamed Ares, met a similar fate in 2019, as Blizzard shifted its focus to Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2. Ares was described as a StarCraft-themed Battlefield clone.
Fast forward to 2024, and Bloomberg's Jason Schreier revealed a third StarCraft shooter project in development at Blizzard, led by former Far Cry executive producer Dan Hay, who joined the company in 2022. This new project has raised questions about its connection to Nexon's endeavor.
The uncertainty persists as to whether Nexon's shooter is the same project led by Hay or a fresh iteration. Given that Hay's project was reportedly in development two years ago, while Nexon's game seems more recent and developed on a different continent, the answer remains elusive. IGN has reached out to Blizzard for further clarification.
Tom Phillips, IGN's News Editor, invites readers to stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development.
