StarCraft is coming back as an open-world shooter, but you'll have to wait until 2030

Blizzard Entertainment is set to bring the beloved StarCraft franchise back, but not in its original real-time strategy format. Instead, the company is reimagining the series as an open-world shooter, with the first game not arriving until 2030. Rumors about a new StarCraft title have been circulating for years, with the first confirmed via a three-minute cinematic video during the opening ceremony of BlizzCon.

The video showcases a young recruit undergoing training before being dropped onto an alien planet to face a horde of Zerg forces. Despite the lack of gameplay footage, it's confirmed that the game will be an open-world shooter rather than an RTS. Dan Hay, Blizzard's General Manager and Vice President of StarCraft, revealed that the decision to change formats was made to emphasize the themes of exploration, discovery, and disruption.

The game aims to offer players a unique opportunity to experience the different factions and cultures within the StarCraft universe. Hay also discussed using enemies as "tools" against each other, hinting at potential gameplay mechanics. The delay in revealing a release date is attributed to keeping the team "honest," ensuring the game is ready for its 2030 debut.

This isn't the first time Blizzard has pushed back a StarCraft release - in 2003, the studio announced StarCraft: Ghost, a third-person shooter set in the StarCraft universe for Xbox. However, development was eventually halted due to competing priorities like World of Warcraft and next-gen consoles.